I have spent some time swapping components in/out of my USB signal path to see how the combination of a Singxer SU-1 and Intona USB isolator would change the performance of my Holo Spring DAC.
I have a Windoze 10 laptop and have found that "straight USB" output to the Holo Spring sounds "meh". It's good, but not inspiring.
I'll share an example of how the different combinations of equipment changed my perceptions of one song - Eric Clapton's performance of Signe from his unplugged album. It's a small setting in front of a live audience. You can really focus on the details in this simple performance.
Adding the Intona by itself made a significant difference in my system. ...and I have been a skeptic of USB decrapifiers! With the Intona I felt an improved the soundstage. The crowd noise wasn't 2-dimensional, the audience seemed to wake up and I got a sense of a wider soundstage.
Next I took the Intona out of the stage and plugged into SU-1 by itself. The sound of the triangle ringing improved. The guitars presence improved and I could hear more details in the strings and fingerwork.
If I could afford only one device - I would opt for the SU-1. While both devices were significant improvements over straight USB. I felt like I got more improvements in detail and soundstage with the SU-1. (For the curious, I used the I2S output)
However, combining the Intona and the SU-1 really made the most significant difference in my system. Most notably was the sense of soundstage. As the track starts, there's a bit of banter between Clapton and his band. The combination of the SU-1 & Intona made that little dialog a lot more realistic. I lack the more eloquent words of a skilled author. I can only sum it up as "you feel like you are there". The crowd noise opened up even more than the intona or SU-1 alone and I got an sense of more detail overall. The cymbals shimmered, the double bass is rich and the fingerwork on the guitar seems to come through. The combination of the two worked very well for me. The increase in detail over "straight USB" is fairly stark.
If you have a better source than a laptop, the SU-1 might make less of a difference in your system. YMMV.
I can say that the combination of the two is the right choice for me.
I have a Windoze 10 laptop and have found that "straight USB" output to the Holo Spring sounds "meh". It's good, but not inspiring.
I'll share an example of how the different combinations of equipment changed my perceptions of one song - Eric Clapton's performance of Signe from his unplugged album. It's a small setting in front of a live audience. You can really focus on the details in this simple performance.
Adding the Intona by itself made a significant difference in my system. ...and I have been a skeptic of USB decrapifiers! With the Intona I felt an improved the soundstage. The crowd noise wasn't 2-dimensional, the audience seemed to wake up and I got a sense of a wider soundstage.
Next I took the Intona out of the stage and plugged into SU-1 by itself. The sound of the triangle ringing improved. The guitars presence improved and I could hear more details in the strings and fingerwork.
If I could afford only one device - I would opt for the SU-1. While both devices were significant improvements over straight USB. I felt like I got more improvements in detail and soundstage with the SU-1. (For the curious, I used the I2S output)
However, combining the Intona and the SU-1 really made the most significant difference in my system. Most notably was the sense of soundstage. As the track starts, there's a bit of banter between Clapton and his band. The combination of the SU-1 & Intona made that little dialog a lot more realistic. I lack the more eloquent words of a skilled author. I can only sum it up as "you feel like you are there". The crowd noise opened up even more than the intona or SU-1 alone and I got an sense of more detail overall. The cymbals shimmered, the double bass is rich and the fingerwork on the guitar seems to come through. The combination of the two worked very well for me. The increase in detail over "straight USB" is fairly stark.
If you have a better source than a laptop, the SU-1 might make less of a difference in your system. YMMV.
I can say that the combination of the two is the right choice for me.