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    1. Ciúnas Audio Forum
    2. Ciúnas Audio Devices
    3. ISO-DAC
    4. World First USB isolated DAC
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    Admin
    Aug 28, 2017
      ·  Edited: Oct 13, 2017

    World First USB isolated DAC

    Discussion about this isolated USB DAC - it's not just isolating the I2S output signal lines after the USB receiver - it isolates & reforms the incoming USB signals before the USB receiver. This is the optimal configuration!


    125 comments
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    Matthew Trower
    Sep 14, 2017

    Does your isolation work differently to asynchronous isolation? Or is it a completely different thing? I'm not a tech guy Tbh Kenny, so excuse my ignorance

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    Admin
    Sep 14, 2017  ·  Edited: Sep 14, 2017

    Good question, Matthew - confuses many people.

    I'll repeat a post I made on Audioasylum which I hope explains things?

    USB sends data in packets, not a continuous flow. Inside the receiving device, the packet data is continually stored in a small buffer & converted to a continuous stream by using the local clock to time the data out of the buffer (it's this timing that is critical & the advantage that asynch provides - the timing out of this data is done from the clock in the audio device rather than a clock derived from the PC's USB packet stream).
    Asynch tells the computer how much data to send in each USB packet in order to keep the buffer about half full.
    All USB hubs do the same as the above - they are simply an intermediate station along the way between computer & final USB device
    However, in this case, it is being used to receive USB packets & at the same time isolate/eliminate any noise on the data signal lines (D+ & D-) as well as the ground or 5V line - this is the isolation part. It also allows, by using ultra low noise & stable battery power, to provide a clean & optimally formed USB signal as output for transmission to the final USB audio device.
    This is what an ISO-HUB does as a stand-alone device
    That same technology is incorporated into my ISO-DAC & ISO-SPDIF thus avoiding the cables, different PS, etc. These are the first DACs & SPDIF converters that has incorporated such technology. Other DACs may say they have galvanic isolation but this is only a band aid partial solution as it doesn't isolate & clean the incoming USB signal - it isolates after the USB receiver - it's a case of the horse has already bolted.
    Hope that helps?
    Robin Carmack
    Sep 18, 2017

    I have the ISO-DAC and an ISO-PS powering an Sonore Ultrarendu. I have heard other dacs and have owned 4. I have never, ever imagined such a BLACK background....I mean not a hint of noise. What is stunning to me is how the dynamics of music changed. All the years I have been in this hobby, I never imagined the importance of the power supply until now. I have never heard such a soundstage and the bass is just exceptional. The sound seemed so much bigger than I had ever heard. I have a SonicTransporter i7 as a Roon server with the ISO-DAC > PS LanRover > Sonore Ultrarendu and just could not be happier. I have stopped wondering about other dacs or setups for that matter. I am listening to music that I never listened to before especially enjoying anything with strings. I cannot say that I understand the technology or the science but I know what I hear and continue to be very impressed. I have also ordered an ISO-PS to power the LanRover. I would highly encourage anybody interested to take advantage of the trial that is offered. You won't be disappointed

    Admin
    Sep 19, 2017

    Thanks Robin, I missed this post until now. Much appreciate your impressions.


    One thing - when you first enquired about the ISO-DAC you asked about DSD -can you say something about where you stand with not having DSD playback now?

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    anthonymcevoy2
    Oct 9, 2017

    Hi Robin

    I have the ISO - DAC and Microrendu. I know some people speak very highly of the Lanrover as well, but I haven't come across someone using both at the same time. How have you set the chain up ?

    Many thanks

    Tony


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    Robin Carmack
    Oct 9, 2017

    The LanRover is powered by John's latest Iso-Ps (very nice changes such as power light is dimmer and it will not let you know if the voltage goes below 3.3v I think?) and it sits in b/w the Iso-Dac and the uR. I have tried to remove it from the chain but always end up putting it back after 1 song. It is subtle but obvious to me. My system sounds totally vinyl to me.

    Robin Carmack
    Oct 9, 2017

    Sorry that I am just seeing the DSD comment above. I have had 2 Dacs that played back native DSD - a Resonessence Veritas and the Oppo UDP-205 with the dedicated stereo dac. I have done A/B comparisons and to my ear, the ISO-DAC converting to PCM is equally good in both cases and actually better than the Oppo unit. I was stunned at how good it sounded but then again, this whole battery technology has blown my mind.

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    anthonymcevoy2
    Oct 9, 2017

    Thanks Robin , so in your listening room you have ethernet going into the Microrendu first.

    I was looking at the Lanrover specifications and I'm not sure what cables you use to connect

    from there. Would you mind elaborating and also are you using special ethernet cables or just

    standard high quality ones ?

    Thanks again

    Tony


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    Robin Carmack
    Oct 9, 2017

    Sure! My setup is ISO-DAC > Curious USB Cable short > LanRover and LanRover (the LR has a receiver and sender so 2 parts in the event you want to separate your equipment in another room) > Sonore USB adapter > uR. My ethernet cables are some I had a friend of mine make for me, He does networking installs for businesses and I asked him for some custom lengths. It is whatever he uses for businesses which I think is pretty basic

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    anthonymcevoy2
    Oct 9, 2017

    Thanks Robin , definitely interesting.

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    anthonymcevoy2
    Oct 9, 2017

    Hi Robin , Sorry if I'm misunderstanding , but I can only see ethernet in and usb out on the Lanrover receiver. If the ISO-DAC connects by Usb to the Lanrover receiver , how does the Microrendu connect to the Lanrover receiver ?

    Thanks

    Tony


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    Robin Carmack
    Oct 9, 2017

    By USB cable. Each LanRover piece has a USB connection

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    anthonymcevoy2
    Oct 9, 2017

    Apologies Robin , I'm still confused.

    Room1 : Audio PC - USB cable in to - Lanrover sender - ethernet cable to ethernet wall socket.

    Room 2 : Ethernet wall socket - Ethernet cable - Lanrover receiver - USB cable out to - ISO DAC .

    I have Roon as well so my setup mirrors yours but I can't figure out where the Microrendu fits in the chain. Maybe I need to go for a long walk

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    anthonymcevoy2
    Oct 9, 2017

    I picked up the Lanrover on ebay this morning hence the interest in figuring out the correct setup.

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    Robin Carmack
    Oct 9, 2017

    I do not have mine separated. I have it all one one shelf and have the LanRover receiver and sender connected via the short ethernet cable they sent with it in the event you don't want to separate them

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    Robin Carmack
    Oct 9, 2017

    Iso-Dac > LanRover unit > 2 LR unit > uR. The ethernet I have connects the 2 units together as I do not have them separated. My uR ethernet is connected to the isolated ethernet port on the SonicTransporter i7 server

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    Robin Carmack
    Oct 9, 2017

    I am trying to post a picture but it isn't posting for some reason

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    anthonymcevoy2
    Oct 9, 2017

    I think I understand , I thought the Lanrover sender had to be connected to the PC but you have the Microrendu connected to the PC and then the Lanrover sender connected to the Microrendu .

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    Robin Carmack
    Oct 9, 2017

    https://imgur.com/p2og128


    The LanRover is in back. As you can see, the Curious Cable short goes from the ISO-DAC into one LR unit and the second feeds into the uR

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    Robin Carmack
    Oct 9, 2017

    I do not have a pc. I only have the uR and the SonicTransporter i7 as my server

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