Many (most?) DACs use asynchronous USB which means the DAC requests the data(usb packet) from the host (streamer), stores an amount of data in a buffer and reclocks the data based on its own internal clock.I need educating. If the USB of the receiving dac is re-clocking any incoming USB signal, does the Phoenix improve things because the receiving dac has a better clocked USB signal to work with?
In fact, if replacing the USB cable can change the sound, then USB clock reassembly is also meaningful. Of course, all of this needs to be tested in your own system. Even if it is effective in someone else's system, it is meaningless for you. The system itself uses different power environments, and even with the same system configuration, there will be a significant difference in soundMany (most?) DACs use asynchronous USB which means the DAC requests the data(usb packet) from the host (streamer), stores an amount of data in a buffer and reclocks the data based on its own internal clock.
There is no change to the data.
As long as the incoming data isn’t all over the place, which would be outside of the specifications for data exchange the increasingly small improvements in timing of incoming data are unlikely to improve the performance of the DAC interpolator (if the output of the streamer has already provided a well clocked data stream).
There may be improvements to the function of the DAC with less noise on the incoming data stream because of the Phoenix’s improved electrical isolation, grounding, filtering etc.
DACs that reconstruct the data stream entirely are even less likely to be affected by upstream reclocking but maybe continue to get the other benefits.
Be aware that reclocking is contentious within the audio community - some believe in it , others do not.
Perhaps read another discussion such as : Clocking
Me, I own a PhoenixUSB and a PhoenixNet.
Try one in your own system, borrow/loan one. Get a friend to help you undertake blind testing in and out of your system, repeat several times and if you consistently pick the status (in/out) you have your answer.
The official Innos Phoenix USB will definitely come forward to point out the problem. If the official remains silent, I feel it is a bad sign that such a high priced device is not worth a penny by players![]()
Innuos Phoenix USB Reclocker Review
This is a review, detailed measurements, and listening tests of Innuos PhoenixUSB Reclocker. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $4,349 (not a typo). The front panel is quite attractive and gives the impression of a high-end product. Alas, I would have expected to see an indicator...www.audiosciencereview.com
The official Innos Phoenix USB will definitely come forward to point out the problem. If the official remains silent, I feel it is a bad sign that such a high priced device is not worth a penny by players
I would be interested how they cope with USB 2.0 specification (section 11.7.1)The official Innos Phoenix USB will definitely come forward to point out the problem. If the official remains silent, I feel it is a bad sign that such a high priced device is not worth a penny by players
Same here.Certainly, it would be helpful if there is a meaningful response from Innuos to this testing.
Look at USB 2.0 specs chapter 11 section 7 subsection 1. It’s not just a review on a website. It goes against the worldwide standards for USB 2.0, irrespective of audio companies.Same here.
I have both Phoenix USB and Phoenix NET in my setup. And I can clearly hear the impact of Phoenix USB (in my setup even more audible compared to Phoenix NET). And not only would I like to know exactly what’s behind it (beyond expectation bias), but I’d also like to have some reasonable technical arguments ready against the “measurement worshippers” who occasionally accuse me personally of falling for the marketing and buying something that “does nothing”, specifically the Phoenix USB reclocker.
In my opinion, at the very least, Innuos has a moral obligation to provide us, its customers, with some reasonable counterarguments to “does nothing” claim backed up by some measurements. Simply saying, “it just sounds better” probably won’t hold up against such sophisticated accusations as those in the ASR review.