LHY UIP USB audio isolator

[TedB]

Between the UIP and USB from a Holo Red, what would be the best choice for me? I use Roon on a NUC with a RPI4 endpoint on a Linear Power Supply into a Gustard U18 DDC at the moment. This feeds IIS to my Audio-GD R28MK3 and sounds good.

I'm having a small issue with 24/96 content having some distortion, all other resolutions sound fine. The U18 sounds great on my old Topping D70S with all resolutions so thought i'd switch to USB input on it. No distortion that way...

It is concerning that you would hear distortion with 24/96 content, and it would be good to know the cause, but there appears to be no other means with which to try a different connection between the U18 and R28MK3. If the U18 is fine with the Topping DAC, then all seems well there.

If you were intending to use the Holo Red as a streamer/source device, that would be a sensible route. Used solely as a DDC or a USB isolator/clocker however, the LHY UIP is perhaps a more reasonable choice here. I say this because the LHY UIP routinely delivers a nominal enhancement with DACs that have good USB performance, and the onboard USB implementation of the R28MK3 appears to be good (galvanic isolation and Accusilicon clocks). Additionally, because the LHY UIP costs around 40% less than a Holo Red, I see no reason to pay more for features you don't need.

If the USB performance of the R28MK3 was sufficiently lacking to make a USB connection undesirable, that would make better a case for spending more for a Red or LAIV μDDC and using an I2S connection, which bypasses the R28MK3's onboard clocks entirely.

 

[richie60]

It is concerning that you would hear distortion with 24/96 content, and it would be good to know the cause, but there appears to be no other means with which to try a different connection between the U18 and R28MK3. If the U18 is fine with the Topping DAC, then all seems well there.

If you were intending to use the Holo Red as a streamer/source device, that would be a sensible route. Used solely as a DDC or a USB isolator/clocker however, the LHY UIP is perhaps a more reasonable choice here. I say this because the LHY UIP routinely delivers a nominal enhancement with DACs that have good USB performance, and the onboard USB implementation of the R28MK3 appears to be good (galvanic isolation and Accusilicon clocks). Additionally, because the LHY UIP costs around 40% less than a Holo Red, I see no reason to pay more for features you don't need.

If the USB performance of the R28MK3 was sufficiently lacking to make a USB connection undesirable, that would make better a case for spending more for a Red or LAIV μDDC and using an I2S connection, which bypasses the R28MK3's onboard clocks entirely.

Thanks for good advice there. Buying the Holo Red would give me the chance of testing the IIS output with 24/96 to see if the same distortion is heard, but I probably would use the USB if it sounds good just to simplify things.

I have tested the coax out on the U18 and there’s no noise there, only on IIS. 24/96 played via USB is fine too. It is a bit of a mystery why this particular resolution is giving me a bit of trouble. When I play music, it sounds like a sort of low volume clicking or popping that plays with the music, 16/44.1 and 24/192 are perfect.

 

[TedB]

Thanks for good advice there. Buying the Holo Red would give me the chance of testing the IIS output with 24/96 to see if the same distortion is heard, but I probably would use the USB if it sounds good just to simplify things.

I have tested the coax out on the U18 and there’s no noise there, only on IIS. 24/96 played via USB is fine too. It is a bit of a mystery why this particular resolution is giving me a bit of trouble. When I play music, it sounds like a sort of low volume clicking or popping that plays with the music, 16/44.1 and 24/192 are perfect.

This seems odd, and my concern is that if the issue is on the DAC side, it may persist with any device used in place of the U18 with an I2S connection. This furthers my previous suggestion and makes a good case to stick with what works.

 

[jacupmakeup]

I'm stuck in the Apple Music universe, and am using the Eversolo a6 (the most budget piece in my system). I've done my best to gussy up the Eversolo, with a linear power supply and with two USB regenerators/reclockers (the LHY UIP and the Gieseler Reinigen) running in serial. I'm curious how much one can upgrade a streamer by improving things like power supply and noise filtration. Can it completely overcome the shortcomings of the internals of a budget streamer? And wondering what level I've brought my Eversolo to with my added components. Auralic introduced LightningCast, which allows the use of Apple Music. I'm tempted to buy their Aries S1, but not sure what benefits I would get over my current setup. I have absolutely leveled up my stock Eversolo, but how much? Wish I knew.....

 

[theveterans]

I'm stuck in the Apple Music universe, and am using the Eversolo a6 (the most budget piece in my system). I've done my best to gussy up the Eversolo, with a linear power supply and with two USB regenerators/reclockers (the LHY UIP and the Gieseler Reinigen) running in serial. I'm curious how much one can upgrade a streamer by improving things like power supply and noise filtration. Can it completely overcome the shortcomings of the internals of a budget streamer? And wondering what level I've brought my Eversolo to with my added components. Auralic introduced LightningCast, which allows the use of Apple Music. I'm tempted to buy their Aries S1, but not sure what benefits I would get over my current setup. I have absolutely leveled up my stock Eversolo, but how much? Wish I knew.....

Make sure that the lightningcast is NOT Airplay or anything like that though