ISO REGEN launch thread! (product web page up; photos, etc.)

[firedog]

3 hours ago, rickca said:

Do we get the $50 rebate if we order the ISO REGEN/LPS-1 bundle, assuming we satisfy all other qualifications?  It's a valid question because this bundle includes a Mean Well SMPS.

 

Would an individual exception be required? 

I think if you look again you will see that if you order the bundle you get a straight up discount when you buy; the rebate is for buyers who previously bought both a Regen and a LPS-1, and are now ordering the ISO-Regen.

[rickca]

Just now, firedog said:

If you order the bundle you get a straight up discount when you buy; the rebate is for buyers who previously bought both a Regen and a LPS-1, and are now ordering the ISO-Regen.

Yeah, I know that.  I previously bought both a REGEN and an LPS-1, and I now am going to order an ISO REGEN.

But instead of ordering only an ISO REGEN, I'd like to get an additional LPS-1 ... so the bundle is attractive.  

 

There are two distinct discounts, one for the bundle and one for customer loyalty.  Can we please leave this for Alex to answer?

 

[chetthejet]

4 hours ago, R1200CL said:

1. Will a combination of MicroRendu and the ISO Regen improve SQ ? Did any of you test ?

2. Should I use a Y-split or a second LPS-1 ?

3. And what should be the difference expected with dual LPS-1 vs an Y-split. Maybe John can explain ?

4. Any plans of offering DC cables at some stage ? (With that original Oyaide plugs )

5. If you say Y-split will not affect SQ, any plans of offering a Y-split DC cable with original Oyaide plugs. (If that is doable at all. Is it ?)

6. Can I order now and postpone shipping in order to have a second USPCB added to the order ?

7. Reason for asking is of cause to have USPCB in both ends of the ISO Regen, or is that wrong way of thinking.

8.Can you post pictures with use of both  90 degree and straight USPCB together with MicroRendu and DAC or USB/SPDIF converter added.

 

I'd be interested in the answers to questions 1 & 2, also.

[JohnSwenson]

7 hours ago, Em2016 said:

Hi Alex @Superdad @JohnSwenson

 

Has John heard the absolutely final production build too?  Or has he left the final approval to your expert ears !

 

Only asking because of his movements with looking for a home etc and wondering if he's had a chance to hear the final thing. Perhaps it was difficult for him (logistically) to hear the final thing, so thought I'd ask.

 

Only asking out of general interest and as a John S fan, no other reason.

 

Cheers, Sean

 

No, I have not been able to listen to the final production board. I have no separate DACs with me at this point. The only thing I have is a SqueezeBox Touch which has an integrated DAC and headphone amp. (oh yeah the LPS-1 to power the SBT). There is no way I can listen to the board at this point, all I can do is plug a USB stick in and see that it does in fact work as a hub and transfer data.

 

When we moved I had to really streamline things and take the minimum amount of stuff, basically what would fit in the car. It will be July before I can actually hear this.

 

John S.

[darren700]

Hello all,

I currently own a sMS-200 feeding a W4S USB Recovery into my DAC (Yulong DA8 MKII), both the sMS-200 and W4S Recovery are powered by separate LPS-1's.

 

I plan on replacing the W4S Recovery with an ISO Regen.

 

Once I have an ISO Regen in place, is there any advantage to using a sMS-200 or another NAA vs a normal USB 3.0 port out of my computer?

 

Since the ISO Regen creates a "Moat" between incoming and outgoing USB signal, does the original signal quality still matter?

 

Basically I would like to eliminate the need for a sMS-200 and go back to the following chain:  computer --> ISO Regen --> DAC. but I will only do this if if there is no loss in sound quality vs the sMS-200.

 

Thanks

Darren

[kukiman]

6 hours ago, R1200CL said:

1. Will a combination of MicroRendu and the ISO Regen improve SQ ? Did any of you test ?

2. Should I use a Y-split or a second LPS-1 ?

3. And what should be the difference expected with dual LPS-1 vs an Y-split. Maybe John can explain ?

4. Any plans of offering DC cables at some stage ? (With that original Oyaide plugs )

5. If you say Y-split will not affect SQ, any plans of offering a Y-split DC cable with original Oyaide plugs. (If that is doable at all. Is it ?)

6. Can I order now and postpone shipping in order to have a second USPCB added to the order ?

7. Reason for asking is of cause to have USPCB in both ends of the ISO Regen, or is that wrong way of thinking.

8.Can you post pictures with use of both  90 degree and straight USPCB together with MicroRendu and DAC or USB/SPDIF converter added.

 

Really wish to know answers to 1,2,3,6,7,8 too. Especially, if we use microrendu to isoregen, is it unnecessary to use the uspcb inbetween? or it would improve the signal integrity?

 

thank you!

[Middy]

Just an open Question for the Regen owners. What was the best way to support it? I know people used wood blocks. I can only think of Lego as an adaptable solution. Or find a mini bottle jack.

Anyone come up with a good solution?

Cheers Dave

[kilroy]

12AX7 tube box.

[jcn3]

5 minutes ago, Middy said:

Just an open Question for the Regen owners. What was the best way to support it? I know people used wood blocks. I can only think of Lego as an adaptable solution. Or find a mini bottle jack.

Anyone come up with a good solution?

Cheers Dave

 

the regen is quite light so you don't actually have to support it -- i've had mine hanging off the back of my gumby for a couple of years with no problems.

 

if you need to support it, you can use just about anything.  legos actually sound like a great idea -- you can get an exact fit.

[Middy]

I saw Darko's one when he had the curious cable but how that works with the USPCB adapter coming with it..

Probably solid as a rock. Like you say an old toilet roll would work..?

Cheers for the answers

[austinpop]

18 minutes ago, Middy said:

Just an open Question for the Regen owners. What was the best way to support it? I know people used wood blocks. I can only think of Lego as an adaptable solution. Or find a mini bottle jack.

Anyone come up with a good solution?

Cheers Dave

 

You can get creative with coasters too!

[kennyb123]

@SuperdadWill i be able to add a second USPCB to my ISO REGEN order?  I'd like to be able to completely eliminate my USB cable.

[satfrat]

32 minutes ago, Middy said:

Just an open Question for the Regen owners. What was the best way to support it? I know people used wood blocks. I can only think of Lego as an adaptable solution. Or find a mini bottle jack.

Anyone come up with a good solution?

Cheers Dave

I use stacked up rubber/cork squares to support my Regen. I use a quite heavy USB cable so my Regen needs the support.

[lmitche]

Alex and John, congratulations on the rollout of this exciting product!  I know it will be a great success!

[JohnSwenson]

On the questions about what I have tested, my testing has been before we moved, and primarily concerned with getting it to work with all sources and DACs. This product was very difficult to get out, we found all kinds of strange interactions between the isolator chip and the hub chip, and in isolated systems period. The last several months before we moved I was spending almost every moment packing, but Alex kept on bugging me to get the ISO REGEN working, so I spent as much time as possible on it. Well I got it done the day before I packed up the listening room, so I have not had hardly any time to actually listen to the final design.

 

So any questions about what configuration sounds best etc, as far as I am concerned, here is my answer "I have NO idea". My testing in the last several revisions has all been about getting it to work, it now works, so you all out there can figure out what configuration sounds the best. You are going to be able to hear what this really does long before I get to.

 

As to theoretical analysis of specific configurations, this is only as good as what we know about a system and unfortunately we don't know the ultimate reasons that different things sound better, so it is hard to come up with any "configuration A is always going to sound better than configuration B" .

 

For example the one EVERYONE is asking (and not just here, I have a bunch of PMs and emails on this) is "what about the microRendu and ISO REGEN". First see above, I HAVE tried it but only to see if it actually works, it does.

 

From a theoretical standpoint, SQ improvement from an ISO REGEN comes from two different things, signal integrity and blockage of leakage loops. The ISO REGEN does have better SI, so from just that it should sound better. As far as leakage goes it is a more complicated. A microRendu when powered from an LPS-1 should be blocking leakage loops already so there should not be an overall improvement because of the isolation of the ISO REGEN, BUT there are other things involved here. How are you going to power the microRendu? One configuration is to power both from the same LPS-1. As long as the DAC does not take a lot of current this should work, BUT you are now adding the current spikes of both devices at the output of the LPS-1. Now the LPS-1 has very low impedance (one of the best out there) but it is NOT perfect, the current spikes from the load do cause some small voltage noise on the output. Putting both devices on the same LPS-1 will increase the noise seen by the ISO REGEN. Will this degrade the sound? Who knows. It may, it may not.

 

Then there is all the talk about the Ethernet, there are a lot of people talking about SQ changes with different Ethernet configurations. At this point I don't know what is going on. The way the Ethernet inputs are done is SUPPOSED to block leakage loops, but some of the reports seem to indicate that this may not be true, but we don't know for sure one way or the other. So IF there is some leakage current through the Ethernet input, then having the extra isolation of the ISO REGEN is a GOOD thing. BUT if you feed both microRendu and ISO REGEN from the same LPS-1 you are disabling that isolation so you won't get the isolation advantage, but there may not BE an advantage. I don't know.

 

So there are several combinations:

1) Same LPS-1 on microRendu and ISO REGEN

2) Separate LPS-1 on microRendu and ISO REGEN

3) LPS-1 on ISO REGEN and something else on microRendu

 

If you have the money and want the configuration that has the highest probability of giving the best SQ, go with #1.

 

BUT #2 or #3 may sound just as good and going with #1 is just spending money you don't need to spend.

 

Unfortunately there is no way I can tell you which it is going to be. You guys out there are going to have to do some experimentation and figure out what where it lies.

 

Remember that Alex has a 30 day money back guarantee, so you can get two LPS-1s and try different configurations. If you decide there is no advantage (or the advantage is so small it is not worth it) you can get a refund for the second LPS-1.

 

If you decide to do the trials, please let us all know the results, I'm very interested to find out how this comes out.

 

John S.

 

[asdf1000]

7 hours ago, JohnSwenson said:

No, I have not been able to listen to the final production board. I have no separate DACs with me at this point. The only thing I have is a SqueezeBox Touch which has an integrated DAC and headphone amp. (oh yeah the LPS-1 to power the SBT). There is no way I can listen to the board at this point, all I can do is plug a USB stick in and see that it does in fact work as a hub and transfer data.

 

When we moved I had to really streamline things and take the minimum amount of stuff, basically what would fit in the car. It will be July before I can actually hear this.

 

John S.

Thanks John. Really appreciate the honesty and full transparency. Even though it wouldn't affect my decision to purchase the ISO REGEN anyway, since there is a 30 day trial offered. 

 

Hope the search for a new place is going well.

[asdf1000]

1 hour ago, JohnSwenson said:

On the questions about what I have tested, my testing has been before we moved, and primarily concerned with getting it to work with all sources and DACs. This product was very difficult to get out, we found all kinds of strange interactions between the isolator chip and the hub chip, and in isolated systems period. The last several months before we moved I was spending almost every moment packing, but Alex kept on bugging me to get the ISO REGEN working, so I spent as much time as possible on it. Well I got it done the day before I packed up the listening room, so I have not had hardly any time to actually listen to the final design.

 

John S.

 

 

John, I'm going to grab the bull by the horns here (respectfully as always of course).

 

Any chance you will publish test results of the original REGEN vs ISO REGEN?

Eye pattern measurements that have long been mentioned in other threads?

 

Obviously you don't have the gear to measure right now but I assume you did at some point?

 

Cheers! 

[jtwrace]

20 hours ago, Superdad said:

• A USB 3.1 hub chip specially selected for both its proven compatibility and for its extraordinary measured signal integrity (the best we have seen).

 

Since you brought it up, can you provide measurements of the ISO REGEN as a complete system?  That will show the big picture of what the ISO is doing objectively, which I really do like.  

[Superdad]

14 hours ago, pl_svn said:

 

forgive me Alex ("early morning" here and still on my first cup of coffee)... the above means we have to wait for second batch to get the rebate or just that *refunds* will be issued after May 20?

 

Does not matter which order batch you get in on.  No rebate/refunds will be made until about May 22nd (noticed the 29th is a weekend--one I will need after the big shipping week).

 

It is just about me trying to be realistic with my time.  After tomorrow's big order wave, I'll have a pile of tasks--including shipping JS-2s and LPS-1s, and ordering parts for the second run of ISO REGEN--before my vacation starts on Saturday.  Then, once I am back (with my assistant hopefully having assembled all of the first ISO REGEN cases and boards), we make a few hundred USPCBs, sort and prepare all the various order combinations that were ordered, and hope we don't have any stumbles.

I just can't fathom having the time to sort, validate, and fulfill lots of rebate refunds during that period.  

 

That said, I have already created a "Rebate Request" e-mail folder to shunt all such that arrive in the meantime.

[greenleo]

2 hours ago, JohnSwenson said:

 

...

From a theoretical standpoint, SQ improvement from an ISO REGEN comes from two different things, Putting both devices on the same LPS-1 will increase the noise seen by the ISO REGEN. Will this degrade the sound? Who knows. It may, it may not.

 

Then there is all the talk about the Ethernet, there are a lot of people talking about SQ changes with different Ethernet configurations. At this point I don't know what is going on. The way the Ethernet inputs are done is SUPPOSED to block leakage loops, but some of the reports seem to indicate that this may not be true, but we don't know for sure one way or the other. So IF there is some leakage current through the Ethernet input, then having the extra isolation of the ISO REGEN is a GOOD thing. BUT if you feed both microRendu and ISO REGEN from the same LPS-1 you are disabling that isolation so you won't get the isolation advantage, but there may not BE an advantage. I don't know.

 

So there are several combinations:

1) Same LPS-1 on microRendu and ISO REGEN

2) Separate LPS-1 on microRendu and ISO REGEN

3) LPS-1 on ISO REGEN and something else on microRendu

 

If you have the money and want the configuration that has the highest probability of giving the best SQ, go with #1.

 

BUT #2 or #3 may sound just as good and going with #1 is just spending money you don't need to spend.

 

Unfortunately there is no way I can tell you which it is going to be. You guys out there are going to have to do some experimentation and figure out what where it lies.

 

Remember that Alex has a 30 day money back guarantee, so you can get two LPS-1s and try different configurations. If you decide there is no advantage (or the advantage is so small it is not worth it) you can get a refund for the second LPS-1.

 

If you decide to do the trials, please let us all know the results, I'm very interested to find out how this comes out.

 

John S.

 

John,

 

I'm confused.  Should combination 1 and 2 be swapped?

[Superdad]

9 hours ago, rickca said:

Yeah, I know that.  I previously bought both a REGEN and an LPS-1, and I now am going to order an ISO REGEN.

But instead of ordering only an ISO REGEN, I'd like to get an additional LPS-1 ... so the bundle is attractive.  

 

There are two distinct discounts, one for the bundle and one for customer loyalty.  Can we please leave this for Alex to answer?

 

 

Hi Rick:

Just catching up here.  This morning I had over 100 new messages in my e-mail box!  So I've been avoiding the forum for most of the day (can't believe it is already 6:00 p.m. here).

 

We really appreciate all the enthusiasm--and past purchases--from so many here.  But my thinking behind the "loyalty rebate" was for it as a way to bring parity with the $50 savings of the ISO REGEN/LPS-1 bundle for those who already bought an UltraCap LPS-1 for their original USB REGEN.

 

I have thought about this for a long time, and while I am sure we could debate and find merits in doing things differently, I have decided that the rebate terms will remain just as set forth, and that no rebate will be made for purchasers of the $655 ISO/LPS-1 bundle.  The discount is "baked into" the price, and anything further would be "double-dipping."

 

We believe that, even separately,  both the ISO REGEN and the UltraCap LPS-1 are priced VERY fairly for the performance they deliver.  Plus all ISO REGEN are coming "free" with the USPCB adapter, which unlike the prior adapter (bought in bags of 500) takes some as yet unknown amount of labor time to prepare (and we have to keep track of standard and 90-degree-rotated requests.)

 

All our products are priced for direct sale with modest profits--hopefully enough to fuel our ambitious planned (and staying secrete!) future adventures.

 

[Many of our competitors have to retail price their products to allow for 30-60% discounts to their networks of dealers and distributors, so by default they are building in a bunch of flexibility to offer special sales and discounts.  We could price our products higher and then offer specials, but that is not our model.] 

 

Thanks in advance for your understanding regarding all this.

 

--Alex C.

 

 

[Superdad]

6 hours ago, Alexandre said:

Hello Alex can you sendo iso regen To Brazil?

 

Of course, we ship worldwide all the time!  

For Brazil I recommend you either stay with the $34 Priority Mail Intl., or go for the $88 FedEx option.  We have had trouble with Express Mail (EMS) into Brazil in that USPS won't pay for loss claims to Brazil.  For regular Priority Mail we use a private insurance company that make claims very easy.

[jamesg11]

All clear, Alex.

 

Now, just setting the alarm for the Melb, Aust 2am wake up ... hmm, maybe there's a midnight futbol kickoff somewheres ...

[ted_b]

I did a search on "red switch" and didn't find anything.  Sorry if I missed this...but..what is the red switch (on and 1 being the choices) for?

[Superdad]

6 hours ago, kennyb123 said:

@SuperdadWill i be able to add a second USPCB to my ISO REGEN order?  I'd like to be able to completely eliminate my USB cable.

 

Sorry, but NOBODY is going to receive more than one USPCB until ALL of the first 250 ISO REGENs are shipped.

 

Only way to get more than one USPCB (short of ordering 2 ISO REGENs) is to wait until the first ISO REGEN run is sold out and then order in the second round (ship date not yet known, but early-June seems likely.

We will produce USPCBs in the days/weeks between first and second ISO REGEN shipments, so mailing small First Class Mail pouches with them might be a reasonable choice.

 

All you will ever have to do to know if you can order extra USPCB A>B Adapters is to check the product web page.  The moment I am comfortable accepting orders for those the "AddToCart" button will appear (as will a promised shipping timeframe).