Is The USB Regen Suibable For Connecting The USB Output of the SonicTransporter i5 To A DAC

[bhobba]

Hi All

 

I am thinking of getting a SonicTransporter i5 and connecting it to my DAC. The manufacturers claim it will work, but you get much better sound with their Microrendu.

 

I suspect it is not necessary if, as I do, you have one of Clays Regens.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks 

Bill

 

[Guest]

What do you use as your streamer now? 

 

With the Reinigen in your chain, you can still get an improvement by upgrading the streamer, but the jump in SQ is  smaller.  

 

And rather than a Microrendu, get a Pi5 and load SnakeOil 1.4.  it does everything the Microrendu does and sounds far better at a fraction of the cost...

[bhobba]

Hi Snoopy

 

Sorry for the late response. There were various problems that there was no need to go into (MacBook went kaput - would not charge), and then it slipped my mind.

 

I directly connect right now - take my MacBook to a chair beside my computer.

 

I wanted the Sonic Transporter I5 to save me from moving it from near my bed to the chair.   

 

Since then, I have gone in a different direction of actually using my TV.   It works surprisingly well (48k max), and Craig is coming over to lend me his ears when he gets some time to see the sonic differences.

 

I never thought of the Pi5 - thanks for the suggestion.   It sounds better than the green computer stuff, which is interesting.

 

The cost of a Macbook is lower than that of a green computer I5 - cheaper than I thought since I purchased my last one.   A possibility is to get another Macbook - connect it through the regen, and leave it on the chair next to the DAC.   To me, Audivana sounds excellent. I do not know if it is better than the HQ player using the iconic Transporter. I have heard both, but not in direct comparison.

 

Right is now reasonably happy with just using my TV.   I haven't got my Chord TT2 and M-Scaler in my system yet (Craig has it right now, and like I said, he needs some time).   Directly connected to the speakers, the TT2 sounds the best, but while it works fine with my ML3s - I really want the high-sensitivity speakers Mike is working on.

 

I could ramble on.   The bottom line is that I am waiting for a few things to happen before my final setup.

 

And to everyone - Happy Australia Day

 

Thanks

Bill

Edited January 25 by bhobba

[Guest]

50 minutes ago, bhobba said:

I never thought of the Pi5 - thanks for the suggestion.   It sounds better than the green computer stuff, which is interesting.

Your shopping list for a Pi5 which will set you back $160

https://core-electronics.com.au/raspberry-pi-5-model-b-8gb.html

https://core-electronics.com.au/kksb-silent-pi-5-heatsink-case-raspberry-pi-passive-cooling.html

 

I assume you have a spare 32G or larger microSD card

 

Use Pi imager to install Ubuntu 24.04 Server

https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/

 

Download SnakeOil 1.4 and install it

https://www.snakeoil-os.net/forums/Thread-Snakeoil-1-4-0-High-End

 

You have many choices for music players in SnakeOil and it sounds much better than the popular Pi5 O/S.  And will beat MacBook and likely the Sonic Transporter (I used likely because I have not heard their latest).

[rand129678]

On 10/1/2025 at 4:25 AM, bhobba said:

Hi All

 

I am thinking of getting a SonicTransporter i5 and connecting it to my DAC. The manufacturers claim it will work, but you get much better sound with their Microrendu.

 

I suspect it is not necessary if, as I do, you have one of Clays Regens.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks 

Bill

 

 

I can recommend adding a Topping HS02 USB isolator to your sonicTransporter USB output. Quite cheap.

 

I'm not sure if Clays Regen isolates the power line (obviously USB data and ground are).

 

The Topping HS02 isolates power, ground and data. No RF/leakage/ground currents to get through to your DAC.

[bhobba]

On 26/01/2025 at 1:52 PM, rand129678 said:

I'm not sure if Clays Regen isolates the power line (obviously USB data and ground are).

 

When I purchased my regen, I chatted with Clay - and yes, it does that.

 

One reason it works its magic.

 

Thanks

Bill