Uptone Audio's EtherREGEN released

[crwilli]

I use a .65meter cable after my Gigafoil. Best my system has ever sounded since my ethernet upgrades. This new switch has a hill to climb.

That’s why I am waiting for the reviews.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Still-One

There is no agreement by manufacturers as to a minimum length. The shortest possible after isolating with optical is often quoted.

This is true.

It was also quoted "industry-wide" (and rigorously taught) that only proteins could catalyze biochemical reactions. This belief was so entrenched it was taught in University as "the Central Dogma"

That was before Thomas Cech won the Nobel Prize for the discovery of catalytic...RNAs.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by crwilli

I use a .65meter cable after my Gigafoil. Best my system has ever sounded since my ethernet upgrades. This new switch has a hill to climb.

That’s why I am waiting for the reviews.

Bear in mind that the GigaFoil is a fiber media convertor. It doesn't provide the range of functionality that EtherREGEN does. Apples and oranges, IMHO.

[For The Love of Music]

I procrastinated and ordered out of curiosity thinking their approach is solid. Stephen and I have wrote different threads on the importance of putting low cost effort into maximizing sound quality.

Guys that hope their reference systems can bring the best of streaming and not address their digital front end are leaving some serious sound quality on the table!

My delivery is slated sometime January, and in the interim I’m extremely happy with my sound believing it’s tough to beat not because of the system but rather the effort and I finally should be spinning vinyl in a couple of weeks [emoji354]

[crwilli]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Bear in mind that the GigaFoil is a fiber media convertor. It doesn't provide the range of functionality that EtherREGEN does. Apples and oranges, IMHO.

No doubt the Gigafoil is not a switch with the audiophile/electronic buzz words of or the functionality of the Uptone product but it does convert the copper signal to optical and back in the goal to remove noise. It does exactly that well in my system.

My interest in the switch is in its potential improved noise reduction and its ability to take an external master clock signal. I read about what they use but am confident my Cybershaft can better its internal clocking.

[For The Love of Music]

Originally Posted by crwilli

No doubt the Gigafoil is not a switch with the audiophile/electronic buzz words of or the functionality of the Uptone product but it does convert the copper signal to optical and back in the goal to remove noise. It does exactly that well in my system.

My interest in the switch is in its potential improved noise reduction and its ability to take an external master clock signal. I read about what they use but am confident my Cybershaft can better its internal clocking.

It's purposed built for audio.

Alex at Uptone indicated you do not need the GigaFoil using an ethernet connection.

My bet your Cybershaft will contribute a forward benefit.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by crwilli

No doubt the Gigafoil is not a switch with the audiophile/electronic buzz words of or the functionality of the Uptone product but it does convert the copper signal to optical and back in the goal to remove noise. It does exactly that well in my system.

Yup, I know. My Sonore OpticalModule does exactly the same thing for $300 less.

Just to reiterate: conversion of copper Ethernet to fiber optical will do virtually nothing to reduce clock phase noise.

Originally Posted by crwilli

My interest in the switch is in its potential improved noise reduction and its ability to take an external master clock signal. I read about what they use but am confident my Cybershaft can better its internal clocking.

Of course your Cybershaft clock will be better. Depending on the model, its a master clock that minimally costs twice as much as the entire BOM for EtherREGEN, which is $320.

[JJinID]

I am in the first round of the EtherRegen orders so I'm looking forward to receiving mine in November. I will be running it along with my Sonore UltraRendu which feeds into my Yggdrasil DAC. I'm looking forward to hearing the difference it makes in my system compared to my current TP-Link switch.

I do have everything well connected with new Shunyata Sigma cables - two Sigma Ethernet (one from wall to switch and one from switch to UltraRendu) and a Sigma USB going from UltraRendu to Yggy. Those have made a very positive difference as well!

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by JJinID

I am in the first round of the EtherRegen orders so I'm looking forward to receiving mine in November. I will be running it along with my Sonore UltraRendu which feeds into my Yggdrasil DAC. I'm looking forward to hearing the difference it makes in my system compared to my current TP-Link switch.

Congrats! You were fast, I was 3 minutes too late...LOL.

Originally Posted by JJinID

I do have everything well connected with new Shunyata Sigma cables - two Sigma Ethernet (one from wall to switch and one from switch to UltraRendu) and a Sigma USB going from UltraRendu to Yggy. Those have made a very positive difference as well!

You're in good shape, then...

[Puma Cat]

Alex Crespi at Uptone just showed part of his BOM for EtherREGEN today.

The bare, high-quality 6-layer boards are...$33/each for an approx. 4 x 4" board (!).

Alex Crespi provides more info:
"The 10GHz-capable flip-flops, the isolators, and all the voltage regs are really killers..."

and...

"Of course the above does not include the special-ordered Crystek CCHD-575 XO, the case, the 3 heatsinks, the custom-mixed thermal interface silicone, the included SMPS, $1 stainless steel grounding thumb-screw, flash/test/assembly labor, (engineer) John (Swenson's) per unit royalty, and the average $25 per PayPal/credit card fees we absorb and don't charge our customers. Not counting the labor portion, all that other stuff brings total cost up to about $380 per EtherREGEN."

At a list price of $640 for EtherREGEN, that is only 1.7 X price multiplier.

Typical high-end audio industry with distribution through B&M retailers typically have price multipliers of about 6X.