[rsbrsvp]

I had the 1.2 from Uptone and compared it directly to my Mojo Audio Illuminati LPS. The Mojo BLEW it away.

I know Uptone claims all this "isolation science stuff" which I imagine is true - but my ears liked the Mojo much more- as it was just more dynamic and clear, and it should be better at three times the cost. The Uptone LPS sounds coloured.

But even with my Mojo LPS- the Regen ISO is rounding things out. I owned a SOTM USBtx-ultra which was clearly better than the Regen ISO but even it was not great in my system.
My DI-20HE is already galvanically isolated and has a regenerative power supply of the highest calibre and a Mutec Ref.10 120SE clock attached to it. Adding multiple reclocking and regeneration at this point deteriorates the sound IMHO.

If anyone wants to purchase my Regen ISO and Mojo power supply- they are available.

 

[Zenvota]

I had the 1.2 from Uptone and compared it directly to my Mojo Audio Illuminati LPS. The Mojo BLEW it away.

I know Uptone claims all this "isolation science stuff" which I imagine is true - but my ears liked the Mojo much more- as it was just more dynamic and clear, and it should be better at three times the cost. The Uptone LPS sounds coloured.

But even with my Mojo LPS- the Regen ISO is rounding things out. I owned a SOTM USBtx-ultra which was clearly better than the Regen ISO but even it was not great in my system.
My DI-20HE is already galvanically isolated and has a regenerative power supply of the highest calibre and a Mutec Ref.10 120SE clock attached to it. Adding multiple reclocking and regeneration at this point deteriorates the sound IMHO.

If anyone wants to purchase my Regen ISO and Mojo power supply- they are available.

Gotcha, thank you very much for clarifying, that's very interesting. Speaks volumes to the DI-20HE and is why I'm curious as that component is on my shortlist for upgrades, actually your system is my shortlist for upgrades ;] I would imagine the mutec offsets benefits of the regen as well. I'm still apprehensive about a direct electrical connection to a larger pc, which probably influences my experience with the regen, compared to using a mac mini.

The only thing I'm still curious about is the dc power cable between the regen and the ultracap, those standard high inductance cables increase another layer of noise and when you remove that(use a simple quadrapole dc cable) you get the transparency and dynamics similar to what you described when you pulled the power distributor out from after the topaz. I would be curious, if you still have the components, of the sound when swapping out that dc cable between the psu and the regen.

 

[Zenvota]

Just to add, the main benefit of the Regen being to reduce error correction performed by the usb receiver, and the phy noise generated by that error correction.

With that mac mini to the di20, what usb cable? and what's the cable length?

 

[Zenvota]

@rsbrsvp sorry for the excess of questions, also curious what power supply you're using for the mac mini and if you have a monitor connected to the mac mini and plugged into the isolation transformer as well.

 

[rsbrsvp]

I do NOT have my LPS 1.2 anymore. Sold it.

I do have the Regen ISO and my Mojo Audio illuminati LPS.

I use Nimak Purple USB cables same company that made my power cables. I have their reference USB and power cables. My USB is one meter long.

My Mac Mini is an 2018 new design model with an i7 8th generation 6 core chip. No LPS;- just straight to the wall. But again- I have NO V-Bus attached to the DI-20HE from my mac mini- only data line- so there should be zero noise transferring between the mac and the DI-20HE. The Amanero USB receiver used by audio-gd only needs v-bus for the initial handshake when I restart the computer- so Nimak made me a dual headed USB cable with separate data and v-bus lines so I can disconnect the v-bus after I restart the mac and the mac and DI-20HE make that initial handshake. I do not believe that the best galvanic isolation in the world will ever beat removing that v-bus from the usb connection.

 

[oneguy]

The T100R arrived today. I haven’t plugged it in yet because I need need to re-terminate the plug.

There is so much empty space in there, lol.

 

[Zenvota]

bigger chassis more surface area for heat dissipation?

 

[oneguy]

I suspect the width and height are to accommodate larger cores. {See edit below} Also, they may be larger so they don’t have to tightly bend wires?

EDIT: there are two sizes for the 1.8 kVA and larger with the same length, width and 0.206” difference in height. The smaller cases are all the same size save for the 0.065” height difference between the two variants.

For reference, this 1.8kVA core is 7.5”wide and 6.25” tall.

There isn’t much surface area for conduction of heat so I’m not sure the case dissipates a lot of heat that way. Just a conjecture though. The “L” bracket in the photo keeps the core off the metal chassis at the bottom.

 

[oneguy]

I just re-terminated the plug. I’d rate the magnetostriction transformer noise as on par with the large unbalanced -31 and -32 transformers. Makes sense considering the multitude of vents means the core isn’t well sealed from the air outside the enclosure.

 

[oneguy]

Based on the photos (since I closed the case up) it appears the T100R core can be wired for balanced power if so desired. My guess is this allowed the manufacturer to use the same core for both the T100R and T100H models that corresponded to each other.

I plan on testing this out and wiring one a T100R for balanced power. If it works out this opens up a new avenue of isolation transformers for Topaz/MGE seekers that prefer balanced power to unbalanced power.

 

[oneguy]

Confirmed: The T100 R can be wired for balanced power just like the -31 and T100H. The magnetostriction transformer noise has now subdued to the point where it can only be heard from 6” or less from the core with the case off.

 

[oneguy]

Wiring instructions (the wires were labeled with numbers)

Original wiring:
1/3 were tied together with the hot wire coming off the fuse
2/4 were tied together with the neutral wire coming off the cord
5 and 7 attached to hot side of receptacle
6 and 8 attached to neutral side of receptacle

Balanced power wiring:
1 goes to hot wire coming off the fuse
2/3 tie together
4 goes to neutral wire coming off the cord
5 attaches to hot side of receptacle
6/7 attach to ground
8 attaches to neutral side of receptacle
REMOVE WIRE GOING FROM NEUTRAL RECEPTACLE SIDE TO GROUND

Ground to 5 should measure 60VAC
Ground to 8 should measure 60VAC
5 to 8 should measure 120VAC
None of the input wires should measure as a short with ground

 

[mkaza]

Very useful info on this thread - many thanks to all the contributors. Am trying to revive this thread - hopefully will get some guidance!

I am evaluating deploying an Isolation Transformer in my setup to primarily tackle any EMI/RFI noise on the lines. I currently have an Emerson 3KVA double-conversion online UPS on a dedicated circuit/phase feeding the entire components - both digital/ analog and amplifier.

I see the recommended setup is: wall plug --> IT --> Online UPS --> components; have any of you used an IT in conjunction with a double conversion UPS in a dedicated circuit and still obtained SQ benefits? Or are these predominantly useful in a shared circuit where other household appliances emit noise on the line?

Secondly any views/ experiences on the noise filtering capabilities of an IT versus a more compact surge suppressor/ EMI filter from SurgeX etc.

I will NOT be able to import/source a Topaz but the best available locally is rated 0.001 pf with >100 db of common-mode noise rejection ratio. Would it be useful at all or turns out a more futile exercise - from SQ perspective?

Appreciate any inputs/ guidance,

regards

 

[zilch0md]

Hi mkaza,

I wish I had an equation for calculating the maximum frequency at which NR is "effective" vs. the pF capacitance rating, but all I can say is that 0.001 is pretty good, compared to most new isolation transformers available today. Still, the smaller the pF, the higher the audio frequencies at which effective noise reduction is audible. I just don't have any data points to share.

 

[oneguy]

@mkaza

I’d think the best sound quality would come from the wall/IT/component combination but since you already have the UPS it won’t hurt to give it a shot.

I had a Surgex SA1810 prior to my Topaz/MGE units. They are good but don’t offer the same level of performance as my ITs. In the purely surge protector category, I’d highly recommend trying one though.

A dedicated circuit will provide less noise for an IT to attenuate but there still will be noise on a dedicated circuit due to upstream power components outside of your home. If you are in the US it’s possible to use other 120v wire that comes into your house as a quieter and cheaper source for a “dedicated circuit.” It’s not truly dedicated since it has 240v components on it but the number of devices on it is smaller.