USB isolator - Neutron HiFi Isolator V1

[TRHH]

USB isolator - Neutron HiFi Isolator V1

If you connect USB dongle directly to a computer, the Neutron HiFi Isolator V1 is a great little "thing".

It isolates USB Host data signal and power from USB receiver and provides advanced digital and analog signal functionality. It completely isolates your USB input interface from the rest of the device's power circuit. This leads to a cleaner signal, less (or zero) electrical noise, which results in a clearer sound with a blacker background. Often you don't even notice "noise" in your system until you hear something with less noise.

It's well built, has easy plug and play functionality, and "sounds" great (improved sound quality by reducing interference, if one can say that).

Have been using it with my iBasso DC07 Pro for more than a week now and more than happy with the result.

Torben

 

[TRHH]

The Isolator use an ADUM4166

https://www.analog.com/en/products/adum4166.html

Torben

 

[TRHH]

The final configuration

Torben

 

[Matez]

Just to clarify, does it feature in-built galvanic isolation?

 

[Ghoostknight]

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-v1-high-speed-usb-data-power-isolator.55288/

Just to clarify, does it feature in-built galvanic isolation?

probably if it features a ADUM chip


for the price of 120 euro this might be worth considering

 

[Matez]

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-v1-high-speed-usb-data-power-isolator.55288/


probably if it features a ADUM chip


for the price of 120 euro this might be worth considering

The price seems fair indeed. iGalvanic (very good IMO) was 3x more expensive when it came out.

 

[TRHH]

Neutron HiFi Isolator V1 test/review:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ynapse-neutron-v1-usb-isolators-review.59111/

 

[GoldenSound]

Would be nice to see ASR also doing actual direct noise tests on these. Inferred noise from testing a DAC can be variable and unpredictable.
With the help of Pete at Double Helix Cables and Daniel from Intona I've been doing some direct measurements of the noise at the outputs of a few different USB Sources and isolators.

Haven't tested the Neutron (if anyone in the UK has one they could lend for a day or two let me know!) but the synapse is drastically quieter than my phone, PC, or the Eversolo DMP-A6:

Red: PC
Brown: Phone (Samsung Z-Fold 5)
Purple: Eversolo DMP-A6
Blue: JDS Synapse

It gets VERY close to the Intona 7055-C for a fraction of the price:

Blue: JDS Synapse
Purple: Intona 7055-C

 

[Ghoostknight]

Would be nice to see ASR also doing actual direct noise tests on these. Inferred noise from testing a DAC can be variable and unpredictable.
With the help of Pete at Double Helix Cables and Daniel from Intona I've been doing some direct measurements of the noise at the outputs of a few different USB Sources and isolators.

Haven't tested the Neutron (if anyone in the UK has one they could lend for a day or two let me know!) but the synapse is drastically quieter than my phone, PC, or the Eversolo DMP-A6:




Red: PC
Brown: Phone (Samsung Z-Fold 5)
Purple: Eversolo DMP-A6
Blue: JDS Synapse

It gets VERY close to the Intona 7055-C for a fraction of the price:




Blue: JDS Synapse
Purple: Intona 7055-C

kind of interesting that even with a intona there are still a good amount of spurious tones above 5Khz

looks like the intona is actually falling above 200khz where the synapse just starts producing a big hump, might be fixable by some ferrite chokes?

 

[GoldenSound]

kind of interesting that even with a intona there are still a good amount of spurious tones above 5Khz

looks like the intona is actually falling above 200khz where the synapse just starts producing a big hump, might be fixable by some ferrite chokes?

To be honest, I wouldn't read too much into that bit (yet).

These are all initial measurements, and since doing them I've added a few more controls like ensuring the cable is twisted the same way each run for better CMRR. It could have been something as simple as that but I'll need to re-run those tests to check.

I'm also hoping to have a much shorter cable made soon too just in case

 

[Ghoostknight]

To be honest, I wouldn't read too much into that bit (yet).

These are all initial measurements, and since doing them I've added a few more controls like ensuring the cable is twisted the same way each run for better CMRR. It could have been something as simple as that but I'll need to re-run those tests to check.

I'm also hoping to have a much shorter cable made soon too just in case

ah... alright please keep us updated is there a dedicated thread for this?

not sure how far you wanna dig in regards to usb filters but would you be interested in also measuring an DIY usb filter attempt?

i builded one here: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/diy-usb-ground-loop-eliminator-and-filter.410706/ and i plan todo a second revision, probably utilizing the TI ISO chip and making it more userfriendly, as you have to be somewhat careful with the unprotected supercap on the prototype/first revision

 

[Svperstar]

Its a neat little device but I know computers have come a long way dealing with noise and things, and my DAC is an RME ADI-2 which has a great reputation so I assume it already is good enough at its own filtering?

 

[Ghoostknight]

Its a neat little device but I know computers have come a long way dealing with noise and things, and my DAC is an RME ADI-2 which has a great reputation so I assume it already is good enough at its own filtering?

make potentially use of the return policy and test it out probably the best advice here as it really depends on multiple factors including your listening habbits

If you heared a improvement with the Furman power conditioner or UPS in your bio you might also be able to hear the difference of a usb filter imo (for best results make sure your PC and peripherals are not hooked up to the same power conditioner as your hifi) power conditioner and usb filter keep the noise from the PC away from your hifi

 

[Svperstar]

make potentially use of the return policy and test it out probably the best advice here as it really depends on multiple factors including your listening habbits

If you heared a improvement with the Furman power conditioner or UPS in your bio you might also be able to hear the difference of a usb filter imo (for best results make sure your PC and peripherals are not hooked up to the same power conditioner as your hifi) power conditioner and usb filter keep the noise from the PC away from your hifi

My PC isn't hooked up to the power conditioner at all. Its running directly off a UPS, so is my audio setup, off a different UPS.

If you plug directly into the wall you can get DC warnings on the RME ADI-2, I have the filter turned off completely on the UPS since I never saw the warning. Would be curious to see if any kind of UPS filter made a difference.

 

[Matez]

Neutron HiFi Isolator V1 test/review:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ynapse-neutron-v1-usb-isolators-review.59111/

Interesting read. I thought that Amir dislikes USB sorters by default.