Just an update on this for those that are interested - I ended up getting one of these LHY UIP USB isolators/regenerators, after considering other cheaper devices with the latest gen USB isolator chips over a few interesting exchanges with
@sajunky over on the Douk U2 Pro thread in recent weeks. Delivered yesterday.
Might've been a bit extravagant but I'm glad I did as it is, when externally clocked by the Ock-2, exceptional. Brings my system greater tonal density/saturation, refinement, cleaner background, dynamic scale and impact - a 360° uplift. The UIP (USB > USB) blows away an externally clocked U18 DDC (USB > I2S), just not in the same class and with just 24 hours of burn in has - I think I can safely say - vaulted past my previously undefeated champ - the R26's internal HQP NAA renderer fed by a pretty OTT/OCD network chain. This with stock power cable for the UIP.
I appreciate that better clocking at this upstream step only means a more precisely timed asynchronous USB data stream (cleaner square waves / eye pattern etx) for my DAC to receive. Analogous I guess to external reclocking an Etherregen and its TCP/IP packet flow.
Be that as it may, gee what an effect better clocking has with this unit - it more than doubles the UIP's effect and is a noticeably greater delta than external clocking my DAC or the U18, and with a less fancy clock cable too (Gustard C2 to UIP vs Harmonic Tech DC III to DAC). Similar observations over on the CenGrand DAC thread re this combo.
Early days but thought I'd share this - we live in a cool age of access to high quality gear becoming increasingly democraticised. I reckon this LHY unit is another piece of such gear.
OT ends /
Someone should try one feeding a DI-20/24HE, I'd wager it'll be quite something.