Uptone Audio USB Regen

I bought mine from the USA and its came with a US type SMPS.  A better power supply defo helps

I used to have one, and according to the web site it still comes with a world-voltage-compatible SMPS - you will only need a local kettle lead of your choice to plug into the PS and your wall.

The lead in the package is US only.

I never tried upgrading the PS as i eventually moved to a micro-Rendu making the Regen superfluous, but many played around with linear supplies for the Regen with purportedly positive results. 

Good idea Mr West. Green or Orange LED version ?Mine worked really well with a Mac up front. It didn't improve the output of the Melco so it went to a new owner.

Let us know how you get on 

James

Thanks for the replies chaps.

Sam, I'm pleased with this, thank you. I was concerned I would have to go and spend more on power a supplies although I have read, like Steve points out, that a good power supply can improve things. I'll be more than happy to just use the stock supply for now.

James, I've bought it new from the website so I'm under the assumption that it will be the latest (Orange) LED version. The feedback I've read seems to be universally positive and I know a few on here are happy with theirs as well. So I'm very much looking forward to trying it out. I'll report back when its in

Ah ok - yes that's the one i had. The stock PSU is plenty good enough but it's something to play with if you like what the Regen does (and i think you will). If your DAC will accommodate it, use the solid adapter between the Regen and DAC - the Mac to Regen isn't so critical (indeed i didn't find much difference at all with a few different cables fronting the Regen). Enjoy 

Thanks James. I've got a Hugo so I've ordered a Male USB A to Male USB Micro adapter for £0.79... I'm hoping that will do the trick. Otherwise there's a very short USB cable supplied with Hugo which may have to go in if the cheapo adapter doesn't convince me!

I strongly recommend that you use it with a good linear power supply, as its performance gets a major boost. The supplied mean well adapter can be noisy if it is plugged to the same power strip of your naim gear. The latest LPS-1 PSU by Uptone audio is the best I have tried so far,but a bit expensive!

Well, I'm afraid that I've ended up at a bit of a disappointing crossroads with the Regen... I've had it for a week or two now but haven't been able to use it. Unfortunately, when I plug it in and hook it up to the system via USB, I get a high pitched ringing noise through the speakers. I've singled it down to some sort of interaction with the SN2, which is odd because I know lots of other people have used it successfully in their Naim systems.

Anyway I have been in contact with Alex, one of the Uptone guys who has been very helpful. He says that he and the other Uptone guy are pretty sure it sounds like I have an 'AC leakage loop'. He said that the only thing that he knows will definitely cure it would be Uptone's own LPS-1 power supply (mentioned by Moussa above). However, he said that hopefully, a standard linear power supply would be able to cure it. I wasn't intending on spending any more money on this venture to be honest, but before I stick some more money on one of the cheaper but well thought of LPS's made over in China, I just wondered if anyone else had any advice on whether they think an LPS would sort the problem or whether I would continue to have problems? The Regen is currently powered by a standard supplied SMPS which apparently can be problematic in some systems.

Alex said that he would happily refund the money for the Regen if I couldn't manage to find a solution, but of course I want to try to explore every avenue possible before sending it back.

Hmm - couple of things to try. Can you plug the Regen PSU into a separate mains supply from the main hi-fi. An extension lead from a socket in the kitchen etc just to try. Apart from the Hugo, do you have anything else plugged into your SN2 - if so just unplug and only leave the Hugo connected to see if this helps (not a long term solution but  it would at least allow you to demo the Regen). If not then get your hands on a linear supply as suggested.

Just a few more thoughts - The LPS-1 Uptone suggest may fix the issue but then you're trialling another bit of kit without knowing if the Regen is really for you. Once you start approaching those costs then you're starting to come up towards Mutec territory too. One other thing i'd suggest is the Intona USB isolator which works very well and doesn't need a PSU. Worth trying one if you can get one on demo. Don't forget the Microrendu which seems to be the biggest bang for buck item out there at the moment for a decent USB source. 

James

Hi James, thanks for your thoughts!

Hugo is the only thing plugged into the SN2. Yes I did just that and plugged the Regen into a socket as far away from the hi-fi as possible but it didn't seem to work. I then tried a variety of plugging arrangements with various components. I also ran the Mac and the Hugo off battery only which seemed to make the problem worse; Alex said that this was consistent with an AC leakage loop. 

Yep the Uptone LPS-1 is out of budget at the minute and like you say, it would be a shot in the dark when I can't even tell whether the Regen is definitely going to work for me. I'm not even entirely sure I want to buy an LPS (the Chinese ones seem to be £50-100) but if it would definitely solve the issue then I would be a lot more tempted.  The route I was going down was to just try to max out the Mac until I could move on to something dedicated i.e. Melco, Uniticore, Microrendu, et al. However, adding more bits onto a Regen starts to approach those kind of costs anyway so I'm tempted to just let it lie for now.

I'll see if anyone else has any additional thoughts before potentially taking (or not) the plunge on an LPS.

Hugo does not use power from the Regen - can you  isolate the VCC (pin 1) of the adapter and stick a bit of thin insulating tape on it while leaving the other three pins clear? It may be  tricky to do and the pin needs to be cleaned after.

if it helps, Mr. Mayor, you can use the LPS-1 on a microRendu if you decide to go that route. (and then you don't have to spend $50 on the iFi power supply for the 'Rendu.)

Brilliant posted:

Hugo does not use power from the Regen - can you  isolate the VCC (pin 1) of the adapter and stick a bit of thin insulating tape on it while leaving the other three pins clear? It may be  tricky to do and the pin needs to be cleaned after.

Hi Brilliant,

This did cross my mind, although I think that Hugo needs the 5v supply for a handshake to activate the internal DAC. I do however have an SBooster Vbus2 Isolator which does exactly as you have suggested by disconnecting the Vbus power. I placed this before and after the Regen to see if it had any effect but this did not work either. Whatever the high pitched noise is that gets into the system seems to find its way into the signal paths on the USB line 

joe9407 posted:

if it helps, Mr. Mayor, you can use the LPS-1 on a microRendu if you decide to go that route. (and then you don't have to spend $50 on the iFi power supply for the 'Rendu.)

Thanks for this Joe. I hear great things about the LPS-1 in conjunction with the microRendu and the Regen. It's definitely something to consider in future.

Yss - I seem to remember something about sensing the 5V to activate the HD USB port or something similar now that you mention it -memory is short!  If you fancy the microRendu in the future may be just return the Regen.

One source (and only one) needs to earth the 0v of the input signal to the pre-amp. It sounds like you have none and this is allowing the SN2 to oscillate. You could use a length of cable between the brass thumb-screw connection on the back of the SN2 and a convenient mains earth. e.g. the earth pin inside the mains plug, or just hold the bare end of the cable against one of the fixing screws on the front of the mains socket to see if it solves the problem before going to the effort of a more permanent connection.

It's definitely worth persevering and getting your Regen working as it should. A few months ago, spurred on by the comments here, I bought a Hugo to compare to my 2Qute+TP power supply. Yep a very worthwhile improvement, should have just bought a Hugo in the first place. I then tried a Regen between Mac-mini and Hugo and that was better again. Similar improvements as going from 2Qute to Hugo, but maybe not quite to the same extent. I swapped the stock Regen SMPS power supply with the TP power supply I was previously using to power the 2Qute and that was a similar improvement again. Maybe not quite as big as the improvement adding the Regen made but added together the overall improvement the Regen + TP supply makes to the Hugo is about as big as the change from 2Qute to bare Hugo. So that should give you an idea of what to expect if you can get your earth problem sorted out

Hi Allan,

Thanks for this, I'll have to get my friend to make me up a cable to try it. It would be fantastic if this works because I would prefer not to have to try an LPS in the hope that it cures the issue. Its interesting that you mention that it is causing to SN2 to oscillate... that's exactly what I would liken the unpleasant sound to.

I will persevere then. I've read nothing but positive reports for the Regen so it would be a shame to send it back. My thoughts mirror yours re: Hugo vs 2Qute.

Thanks to everyone who made kind suggestions of how to fix the issue that I was having with the Regen. It turns out however that Allan was right on the money...

Allan Probin posted:

One source (and only one) needs to earth the 0v of the input signal to the pre-amp. It sounds like you have none and this is allowing the SN2 to oscillate. You could use a length of cable between the brass thumb-screw connection on the back of the SN2 and a convenient mains earth. e.g. the earth pin inside the mains plug, or just hold the bare end of the cable against one of the fixing screws on the front of the mains socket to see if it solves the problem before going to the effort of a more permanent connection.

I went with the above advice which has done the trick for me. Initially I couldn't understand the reasoning behind connecting to a fixing screw on the front of a mains socket, however after getting an explanation off my electrician friend it seemed to make sense. Anyway, so I did the experiment as advised by Allan and the high pitched oscillating noise disappeared immediately. I've therefore had my friend make me a cable up that allows a more permanent connection from SN2 earth screw to the earth pin inside the Regen mains plug. This works an absolute treat, so many thanks Allan!

Currently having a listen to Regen which has been running in now over the last couple of days. Initial thoughts are that of a more natural, fluid, smoother sound which lends itself to an easier listen. Bass seems to be deeper and more defined. Backgrounds are a touch darker and I feel I'm definitely sensing more micro-detail. Soundstage depth is improved as well. All seems to point to the suggested cleaner re-clocked USB signal proposed by the Regen guys. All in all it seems like an excellent value for money upgrade so far... I'm impressed and glad I persisted. I can't help but feel though that a £0.79 adapter between Regen and Hugo may be the limiting factor now though. Has anyone tried anything else in between Regen and their DAC?