AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Audio & Video > CD Players, Digital Music & Servers

CD Players, Digital Music & Servers Aurender, dCs, Esoteric, Lumin.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-14-2019, 02:15 PM
Puma Cat's Avatar
Puma Cat Puma Cat is offline
Cool, calm scientist

 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: East Bay, CA
Posts: 10,915
Default Uptone Audio's EtherREGEN released

Last week, Uptone Audio released their newest product, the EtherREGEN, a ground-up designed audiophile-grade Ethernet switch that has been in development for over 18 months.

When sales went live October 8th, the first 155 domestically avaiable units were sold in...3 minutes. The second run of ~200 sold out in less in another 45 minutes or so. Those that were able to get into the first group will receive their EtherREGENS around 10 November or so.



From Uptone:

Other “audiophile” Ethernet switches are mostly either just clock and power supply modifications of cheap off-the-shelf switches, or passive magnetics augmented with passive filter parts and a single fancy clock board.

EtherREGEN is an all-new, from the ground-up design, built on a costly 6-layer circuit board, and its components and topology are unmatched by any other Ethernet switch.

The heart of what makes our switch so unusual is the use of ACTIVE, HIGH-SPEED, LOW-JITTER DIFFERENTIAL DIGITAL ISOLATOR chips combined with ULTRA-LOW JITTER DIFFERENTIAL RE-CLOCKING FLIP-FLOPS. No other Ethernet switch on the market attempts this (doing this, and doing it correctly is neither easy nor cheap!). On the circuit board photos you can see the isolators set across the wide “moat.”




More information:
On the ‘A’-side, there are 4 Gigabit copper Ethernet ports, plus an SFP cage for a Gigabit LC optical module. A typical user will attach a cable from their main network router or switch, and if desired any NAS (network attached storage) or other devices.

Across the “moat” at the other end of the EtherREGEN is a lone 100Mbps copper Ethernet port. This is referred to as the ‘B’-side port. It is to this port that the user will attach whatever is their one computer/streamer/bridge/renderer endpoint—the component that is directly connected to the DAC (this includes the increasing number of DACs which themselves have an Ethernet input).

So why does this arrangement matter? From Uptone:

There are two types of sound-degrading influences the EtherREGEN is designed to radically decrease: Leakage—both high-impedance and low-impedance—and clock phase-noise. The clock phase-noise travels on the Ethernet signal itself and travels on power and ground planes. [Every edge coming out of any digital device caries the jitter/phase-noise of the clock used to "clock out" that edge, this shows up on the ground-plane and affects the threshold of chips’ clock inputs. This is an oversimplification of a complex subject; we intend to publish a short white paper and measurements to demonstrate this.]

The circuitry across the moat is designed to eliminate the signal-borne phase-noise from one side to the other. EtherREGEN is mostly symmetrical—there is no “dirty side” or “clean side.” While it works identically in both directions, it is best to have the DAC-attached Ethernet endpoint device (computer/streamer/etc.) alone on one side—typically the ‘B’ side.

The circuitry between ports on the ‘A’ side decreases some phase-noise effects to some degree, but not nearly as much as crossing the ‘A’>’B’ moat.

The COMBINATION of the differential isolators and the differential flip-flops is what delivers the unrivaled performance of the EtherREGEN. The differential isolators prevent the data-borne clock signature from getting onto the PCB ground-plane, while the differential flip-flops prevent the signature from getting into the flip-flop’s own internal ground network. It takes both to accomplish the great feats of the EtherREGEN.


Some key technical features from Uptone's web page:
  • EtherREGEN has two entirely isolated data/power/clock domains. And on each side of the isolators we re-clock with 10GHz-capable ultra-low-jitter (less than 0.8 picoseconds) differential flip-flops.
  • Importantly, all clocking lines (for the switch chip, the special Ethernet format conversion chips, and the high-speed flip-flops) are carefully run as differential lines—converted to single-ended clocks with special buffers just millimeters from those chips which require SE clocks.
  • The clocking system runs from a special programmable, jitter-attenuating four-output clock synthesizer, referenced to an ultra-low-jitter/phase-noise Crystek CCHD-575 XO.
  • Even the magnetics of the 4 Gigabit ‘A’-side ports are special.
  • We chose a module which utilizes 12 transformer cores in each port (most Ethernet ports have 2-6 cores), and ground their center-taps through capacitors in a way that blocks port-to-port AC leakage.


  • To support its performance, the power networks of the EtherREGEN are as sophisticated and costly as the rest of the design. We use 12 of the world’s lowest-noise, lowest impedance integrated voltage regulators—the famous Linear Technology LT3045 and LT3042. Supporting both the voltage regulators and the data chips are 195 pieces of low-inductance, X7R and X5R capacitors sized and selected by their derating curves.



I ordered mine at 9:03 AM on Oct. 8, so I got into the 2nd group and will receive my EtherREGEN some time around Dec. 10th. Price is only $640, which is considerably less expensive than the AQVOX and SOtM Ethernet audiophile-grade Ethernet switches.

If you use an Ethernet switch in your digital front-end, and are interested in getting an EtherREGEN, I recommend you place an order immediately. If you're lucky, you may get into the January 2020 production shipment.

My expectation is EtherREGEN will be the best-sounding Ethernet switch on the market given its BOM and the technical & domain expertise that went into its design by John Swenson.
__________________
Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-14-2019, 02:16 PM
Puma Cat's Avatar
Puma Cat Puma Cat is offline
Cool, calm scientist

 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: East Bay, CA
Posts: 10,915
Default

Additional engineering information from Uptone:

A note about our inclusion of an SFP cage:

Use of optical into—or out of—EtherREGEN is not required to obtain best performance. The whole point of all the isolation and re-clocking techniques we are using (in dual domains) is to make most all of the upstream stuff not matter. Other than the complete galvanic isolation that optical offers going into the EtherREGEN (which we duplicate going across the moat), there is no advantage to running optical into it.

If you happen to have a router with an optical port and have already run many feet of optical cable to your music system rack, then sure, use the optical port of the EtherREGEN. But don't go out of your way to run optical if you do not already have it. And of course for the few people who have an endpoint with optical input (the excellent Sonore opticalRendu comes to mind), one can “turn around” the EtherREGEN and feed that DAC-connected endpoint from the optical cage.

Only Gigabit LC interface modules are compatible with the SFP cage of the EtherREGEN. They can be SX Multimode or LX Singlemode, as long as they match what is used at the other end of the optical cable.

Extreme usage with an External Reference Clock:

The Crystek CCHD-575 XO used in the EtherREGEN is about the lowest phase-noise production XO available. [Sorry, but the $50~$100 OCXOs we see tossed into stock switches do not outperform the Crystek at low-offsets where it counts; Manufacturers have to spend $500 and up to obtain OCXO clocks with significantly lower phase-noise than the Crystek we use.]

Yet some audiophiles have discovered benefits using expensive ultra-low-jitter/low-phase-noise 10MHz reference clocks with their DACs or USB streamers and conditioners. A clock synthesizer (to generate the various frequencies) is always required for a device to accept an external reference clock. Since we already utilize a very advanced one to produce the 4 clock lines in the EtherREGEN, it was easy for us to include provision for connection of an external 10MHz clock. The BNC jack and termination resistor of the EtherREGEN are for a 75ohm clock line.
__________________
Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-14-2019, 04:12 PM
JoeN's Avatar
JoeN JoeN is online now
TechDAS AF 1 & Vitus MP
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 879
Default

Puma Cat ,

Thanks again for making this original post and then updating it. I'm placing one of these in my new system. Thanks again.
__________________
Jazz Junkie

Magico M3s; Vitus Masterpiece Components; TechDAS Air Force One; 2 x SME 3012-R; Airtight Opus 1 and MSL Platinum Signature; Taiko Audio Extreme + Switch; Albedo Metamorphosis Signature cables.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-14-2019, 04:14 PM
Still-One Still-One is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Milford, MI
Posts: 32,466
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Puma Cat View Post
Additional engineering information from Uptone:

A note about our inclusion of an SFP cage:

Use of optical into—or out of—EtherREGEN is not required to obtain best performance. The whole point of all the isolation and re-clocking techniques we are using (in dual domains) is to make most all of the upstream stuff not matter. Other than the complete galvanic isolation that optical offers going into the EtherREGEN (which we duplicate going across the moat), there is no advantage to running optical into it.

\.
I sure wouldn't connect without using the optical connection.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-14-2019, 04:28 PM
crwilli's Avatar
crwilli crwilli is online now
Racing Hoopties

 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bluffton SC
Posts: 9,768
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Still-One View Post
I sure wouldn't connect without using the optical connection.


Why the optical Jim?

Stephen,

I too am interested in this switch and look forward to the reviews from yourself and a bunch of guys in Hong Kong who are all over this technology.
__________________
Main Equipment: Kharma Elegance dB11-S, JL Audio F113v2 X 2, Block Audio Line & Mono SE Amplification, Bricasti M21 DAC, Antipodes Kala K-50 Server
Power: Shunyata Everest 8000, Sigma XC v2, Sigma NR v2, Block Audio PCs, Defender, ADDPowr Wizard
Grounding: Shunyata Altaira CGS - 4 X Alpha CGS cables,
Network : Supra Cat 8+, Twin (Nenon) Modified Buffalo GS2016 Switches, Keces P3 LPSU,
Cables: Wireworld Platinum 8 USB, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 8 Speaker cables, 6M & 1M Tubulus Concentus ICs,
Other: Multiple GIK products, Stillpoint Apertures, Stillpoint Minis and Ultra SS, Three 20 Amp lines, Furutech GTX - Gold outlets, Adona Rack
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-14-2019, 04:38 PM
Still-One Still-One is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Milford, MI
Posts: 32,466
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by crwilli View Post
Why the optical Jim?

Stephen,

I too am interested in this switch and look forward to the reviews from yourself and a bunch of guys in Hong Kong who are all over this technology.
The optical connection can only pass data and not noise as is possible with ethernet.

I have no doubt that the etherRegen will function as designed and sound great but would feel better by using the SFP connection.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-14-2019, 05:07 PM
crwilli's Avatar
crwilli crwilli is online now
Racing Hoopties

 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bluffton SC
Posts: 9,768
Default Uptone Audio's EtherREGEN released

I have read about various options that in laymen’s speak, converts the copper Ethernet to SFP and back to a short high quality copper cable all to reduce the noise.
__________________
Main Equipment: Kharma Elegance dB11-S, JL Audio F113v2 X 2, Block Audio Line & Mono SE Amplification, Bricasti M21 DAC, Antipodes Kala K-50 Server
Power: Shunyata Everest 8000, Sigma XC v2, Sigma NR v2, Block Audio PCs, Defender, ADDPowr Wizard
Grounding: Shunyata Altaira CGS - 4 X Alpha CGS cables,
Network : Supra Cat 8+, Twin (Nenon) Modified Buffalo GS2016 Switches, Keces P3 LPSU,
Cables: Wireworld Platinum 8 USB, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 8 Speaker cables, 6M & 1M Tubulus Concentus ICs,
Other: Multiple GIK products, Stillpoint Apertures, Stillpoint Minis and Ultra SS, Three 20 Amp lines, Furutech GTX - Gold outlets, Adona Rack
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-14-2019, 05:58 PM
Puma Cat's Avatar
Puma Cat Puma Cat is offline
Cool, calm scientist

 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: East Bay, CA
Posts: 10,915
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Still-One View Post
The optical connection can only pass data and not noise as is possible with ethernet.

I have no doubt that the etherRegen will function as designed and sound great but would feel better by using the SFP connection.
and

Quote:
Originally Posted by crwilli View Post
I have read about various options that in laymen’s speak, converts the copper Ethernet to SFP and back to a short high quality copper cable all to reduce the noise.
Optical will provide galvanic isolation, and also attenuate the impact of RF and it will not pass low- or high-impedance leakage currents, but fiber itself will not remove, reduce or eliminate clock phase noise from the upstream clocks connecting components, e.g. routers, switches, etc.

Also, my hypothesis is that Crystek CCHD-575 XO clock in the EtherREGEN will be a (notably) better clock than the clock in the Sonore OpticalModule (OM) with respect to clock phase noise, and I'm absolutely certain the isolation transfomers on the RJ45 jacks of the EtherREGEN will be superior to the RJ45 jack on the OM.

My plan is to move my OM from the Main Rack into the study where the Mac Mini is, connect to the OM via copper Shunyata Sigma Ethernet to it from either my Pace router or a switch, then run fiber out of the OM directly to the optical transceiver in the SFP cage on the A-side of EtherREGEN, and then Shunyata Sigma Ethernet from the B-side (on the other side of the "moat") to the SOtM UltraNeo network bridge.
__________________
Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.

Last edited by Puma Cat; 10-14-2019 at 06:12 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-14-2019, 06:14 PM
Puma Cat's Avatar
Puma Cat Puma Cat is offline
Cool, calm scientist

 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: East Bay, CA
Posts: 10,915
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by crwilli View Post
I have read about various options that in laymen’s speak, converts the copper Ethernet to SFP and back to a short high quality copper cable all to reduce the noise.
The Ethernet cable should be at least 1.5 meters in length. This is to minimize "reflections" within the cable of the analog square voltages that comprise the digital "signal".
__________________
Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-14-2019, 07:03 PM
Still-One Still-One is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Milford, MI
Posts: 32,466
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Puma Cat View Post
The Ethernet cable should be at least 1.5 meters in length. This is to minimize "reflections" within the cable of the analog square voltages that comprise the digital "signal".
There is no agreement by manufacturers as to a minimum length. The shortest possible after isolating with optical is often quoted.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:44 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video