|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
70.181.190.47
In Reply to: RE: Ifi Audio Mirco iUSB 3.0 vs Intona USB Isolator posted by el34eh@yahoo.com on February 05, 2017 at 09:27:14
I think the micro - iUSB3.0 does a better job in terms of sound. Especially if one uses a good USB 3 cable like the Wireworld .5m Starlight USB 3.0 cable to feed the iUSB. Also, a decent linear power supply also improves the sound for the iUSB 3.0.
The iFI has a bigger soundstage and is more detailed with the improvements I mentioned compared to the Intona.
Follow Ups:
Thanks Doc.
It appears I've had a better unit all along......., I'll stay put.
Good move!
Thanks again....., I guess there are times during this journey, where one has to learn to be content as it seemingly changes at lightspeed like any other digital type technology.
And I'd have to honesty say......., I trust in your opinions on said matters more then most.
So it is written, let it be done.
"I guess there are times during this journey, where one has to learn to be content as it is."I have used 4 different computers over the last 7 years and my current Mac mini/ DDC combination sounds far and away the best of them all and so I remained on the fence concerning the Ifi Audio Mirco iUSB 3.0 and Intona USB Isolator for over a year until I finally decided to take a chance and place a JCAT USB Isolator between my late 2014 3.0GHz Core i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD Mac Mini and the Theta Digital LPS powered SOtM DDC using a pair of Moon Audio Silver Dragon UPOCC Silver USB cables.
That was 2 months ago and I remain in awe every day that I listen to this new setup at how the JCAT has done such an astounding job at cleaning up the USB connection between the Mini and the DDC. Over all those months of being on the sidelines doing research I had no idea how awfully poor the USB music signal from my Mac mini actually sounded and how much of an amazing improvement this USB Isolator or other devices like this could actually make.
Edits: 02/05/17 02/05/17 02/05/17 02/05/17
Maxxwire1,
Your photo was actually one of the key one I spotted which attracted me to the JCAT, and being that I'm relying upon a Mac Mini myself, until I've decided if I'd care to pursue either an entry level Aurender or Lumin at some point this year!, I merely would like to get a decent enough performance from it as is........, as I'm not trying to buy into these $400 - $1.200 LPSs just for the sake of filtering, nor am I interested in using daisy-chained multiple units or an UpTone Audio UltraCap LPS-1 LPS which then has another LPS connected to it to replace its stock SMPS.
It just seems to go on and on........, and here I'm looking for a simpler means of bringing it all together, hence looking into something which is well built ( as the JCAT is very very nice on the eyes ) that doesn't require a LPS in the least. In the end........, I'm going to have to base this one on gut instincts and don't look back.
Thanks for chiming in.
That particular USD400 LPS from Jcat (really a HD-Plex) LPS is an overkill. If you buy that one you are only using the 5V output. (well you can use the 19V to power your notebook as well).There are much cheaper 5V (2-3amp) LPS around which is just as good.
See the link.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TALEMA-25VA-Linear-Power-supply-DC5V-3-5A-with-USB-port-/301911731146?hash=item464b576bca:g:mvYAAOSwdU1W-QkN
Edits: 02/10/17
el34eh@yahoo.com asked- " I'm wondering if any of you can break it down sonically for me what to expect from either of these two units?"During the many months that I spent in search of answers to my own questions about how the Intona (JCAT) USB Isolator might perform in my own audio system one of the landmark descriptions that I came across was from a fellow who placed an Intona between his Uptone Audio LPS powered USB card and his galvanically isolated Berkeley Alpha USB and these were his exact comments:
"A concomitant improvement in the sound quality: improved clarity from top to bottom, resolution, soundstage depth, dynamics, decay, separation of instruments, more full bodied voices, and more accurate timbers; in short, a more realistic and engaging presentation."
Comments like these eventually convinced me that the Intona would probably work well with my Mac mini. Soon after the aluminum encased JCAT iteration of the Intona industrial USB Isolator was introduced this last August I ordered one and the sonic improvements very closely paralleled those stated above which easily succeeded in surpassing all of my expectations. The fact that I didn't need to add yet another LPS in order to get this stunning level of results made the JCAT USB Isolator the perfect solution for transforming what I eventually came to discover was my mediocre sounding Mac mini into an extraordinarily better sounding music player.
Edits: 02/06/17 02/06/17
And having spoken with a very close friend of mine on said matters. It seems as if logic would predict I ride out the option towards the JCAT USB Isolator, as I'm seriously trying to avoid adding a costly LPS. And once again might not need the extra sense of detailing or better put transparency on my DAC as it is, as I've invested a nice amount on my present USB cables and don't see spending another $500 - $895 on a dual-headed version as being practical.
Come on JCAT........., yet I'd once again like to thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to chime in. As it's because of all of you this has become one of the most happiest quest in my life.
Thanks All. I'm done.
I thought the Intona was pretty good. But the iFi with the goodies I mentioned sounded better to me on my system. Your JCat looks great compared to the Intona.
It looks like a repackaged Intona. Looks nicer than the Intona IMHO but do they modify it in any way?
I haven't tried the iFI but I preferred the Intona over the Regen in my setup.
USB product like the REGEN that is contained within the microRendu.
"The JCAT USB Isolator blocks all noise coming from a PC and re-generates clean USB signal from scratch."
Yes Abe,
It's basically an Intona wrapped in an aluminum classic, and from what I've read offers better shielding. As I've noticed a few guys putting different sorts of aluminum foil around their units. And I recall that you didn't get along with the Regen at all......., in which case nor did I.
Abe- From what I understand the JCAT USB Isolator is simply a repackaged industrial version of the Intona.I certainly don't want to overstate, but in my opinion the JCAT (Intona) USB Isolator did such a competent job of cleaning up my Mac Mini's USB output that the impression I'm now left with is not that of just another USB tweek, but that of a component level improvement in sound quality. I'm still struggling to understand how the USB output of my seemingly good sounding late 2014 Mac mini could have been so unknowingly flawed as to have allowed the JCAT (Intona) to make such a huge difference in sound quality even though it was by far the best sounding of the 4 different PCs and Macs I've used for computer audio over the last 7 years?
Edits: 02/05/17 02/06/17 02/06/17
The JCat is the Intona industrial pc board in an aluminum case. They are the same other than the composition of there cases
Alan
Hi Alan. Have you tried either of them?
I have the original Intona galvonic industrial isolater
Of all the various devices I have used to clean up the USB connection the Intona had the greatest positive effect on my system. If you want it to look nicer get the Jcat but it is the same Intona industrial device. I highly recommend it
Alan
.
You're more then welcome. I wish I'd have written you and asked you from the start instead of having to post it here. But you've helped me more then you'll ever know......, much thanks and respect.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: