This is Audio Bacon, so we’re going to talk audiophile cables. If someone tells you to focus on cables last when building a HiFi system, they’re probably not that experienced with cables. The right cabling could be the difference between loving and hating your system. As it turns out, the USB cable has a substantial audible impact on the sound from the Phoenix.
Although you don’t need an aftermarket USB cable to get great sound from the Phoenix (it does most of the heavy lifting), you could improve a few aspects of the sound with one. The main problem with the stock USB cable is tone. It sounds more porcelain, gray, and overly smoothed. There’s no grit, grooves, or golden hues to the sound. It handles dynamics and transients with more broad force. And throws some of the lower level cues out the window. The sound is also smaller and congested. You can’t hear the layering, tonal variances, or complexities provided by some aftermarket cables.
We’ll need a USB cable from the server to the Phoenix. And another one from the Phoenix to the DAC. The two I’ll be using will be the Danacable TruStream and Final Touch Audio Callisto USB cables.
From my listening tests, the stereo takes the character of the cable between the server and Phoenix much more. You could still hear the differences in cables from the Phoenix to the DAC but it’s more subtle.
My favorite combination was to have the FTA Callisto between the reclocker and server. And the Danacable TruStream from reclocker to DAC. This arrangement just strikes a nice balance of tone, grip, coherence, and presence. It complements the Danacable by giving it more fill and mold. However, swapping USB cable positions and the Danacable seems to color the sound in a more natural way. The drawback is that it sounds a little thinner and rougher. Essentially, the FTA makes it sounds like they’re physically present and the Danacable makes for more faithful tonality. If the tone is your #1 priority, then you would put the Danacable between the Phoenix and server.
After swapping other cables around, I realize the cable between Phoenix and server almost overrides the Phoenix to DAC cable. In short, use the better cable between server and reclocker. The cable from reclocker to DAC doesn’t matter as much. From my years of experience, a good USB cable could make or break the sound of your system. I would not consider it a trivial component.
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I purchased the Phoenix a few months ago. I'd say it improved the performance by several hundred [maybe 500] percent.
In terms of servers/renderers, I progressed from the Antipodes DX2 with Squeezebox to the DX3 with Roon, to the CX/EX w/Roon.
On the CX/EX I'd say there was a 50% improvement over the DX3 and prior upgrades were in the 20-25% scale.
The Phoenix finally made my high-end system enjoyable to just listen to. Great review Jay.
Through the review, I learned that that better USB cable should front-end the Phoenix. I had it the other way around with a WireWorld Platinum Starlight 8 USB to the input and a newly acquired Tellurium TQ Silver Diamond USB out of the Phoenix.
Putting the Tellurium before the Phoenix, the system really calmed down and became much more refined.
Glad that worked out!
I found that out too. I had it the other way around and when I changed them out, marked improvement. And it was already fantastic! So glad I bought the Phoenix for my Zenith Mk lll.
I have an Uptone EtherRegen between the Antipodes CX server and EX renderer with the Antipodes -supplied reference Ethernet cable out of the EtherRegen and a Supra Ethernet cable preceding it.
Inspired by my experience placing the better USB cable [Tellurium TQ Silver Diamond] BEFORE the Phoenix USB Regen, I did the cable swap on the EtherRegen and it sounds better. I found very positive comments on the JCAT Ethernet Signature Gold cable over the supplied Antipodes Ethernet cable between CX & EX so I bought a pair. Also ordered a second Tellurium TQ Diamond USB cable to replace the WireWorld Platinum Starlight 7 USB which [in my setup] has unrefined treble. Thank you again for the value-add in your comprehensive reviews Jay.
Yeah, I was taken aback at how much the improvement actually was. As with you, the system is just substantially more enjoyable with the Phoenix. Definitely wasn't planning on spending more money. Oh well. :)
Great review Jay!
Just a question, I use Chord Hugo M-Scaler+Hugo TT2 ( With Paul Hynes SR7 Turbo PS) both Hugo reclock the input signal, so I wonder if the addition of the Phoenix is worth in this case.
Thanks!
I used the TT2 + HMS for this review. And yes, it's worth it. Still night & day. If the HMS gets fed a bad USB signal, it won't fix that.
Great review. I have a Phoenix on the way. I wonder if the same comment could apply to using the Phoenix with the Dave. I recall one of your articles where it was asked whether the Dave was immune to source.
To my ears, Dave is improved with the Phoenix as well.
Great review, as always. My thoughts on this are that it shows that USB is seriously flawed if you need such an expensive device to "fix" it. Is it an argument for avoiding USB and going with "tried and trusted" SPDIF, for instance? And then put the money saved into other gear? However, if USB is the future of digital audio, then at least devices like this means it will sound good.
Some higher-end consumer motherboards now have "USB DAC UP" ports" that are supposedly separately powered and have lower noise. I've yet to try it. Comparing an optical from a laptop vs. the usb + phoenix...the usb + phoenix still sounded significantly better. Haven't tried coax.
Hi Jay,
Enjoyed your review, probably the most informative so far. If possible, would love to hear how the Phoenix compares to the Antipodes S20 and Playback Designs Stream IF.
Mike
Do give the Sablon 2020 USB cable a try when you can.
Hi Jay, thanks for your insightful review. Having Zenith Mk3 and Hugo TT2 myself, I wonder where I would have more sound-bang for the incremental-upgrading buck: adding the Phoenix or the MScaler, as soundstage / timbre / micro-dynamics benefits appear comparable? Thanks for replying.
Hi Jay, great review. Having Zenith Mk3 and Hugo TT2 myself, which upgrade would you prioritize: Phoenix or HMS, given by the sound of it comparable improvements in sound stage, timbre, and micro dynamics? Thanks, and keep up the good work :)
hmmmmm, the TT2 sounds MUCH better with the HMS. And the fact you could hook up your PC and other devices to it...
If you're not playing super hi-res stuff, I would get the HMS and hook up an optical cable. If you are...then the Phoenix makes a huge difference for a USB DAC.
Sounds like a great product. I use an Isoregen with an LPS that outputs to a WEISS 204 also with LPS that then feeds the dac via BNC. A massive difference over the Metrum Adagio USB input. Two questions come to mind - first is whether a top high end dac will benefit and second whether anyone has had experience with the Ideon Master of Time. A few reviews suggest that this is even better as a reclocker.
Hi jay,
Any chance to do a comparison between the SOtM tX-USBultra, Innuos Phoenix and the new Ideon Audio - 3R Master Time ?
I have the SOtM tX-USBultra and I was wondering if the Ideon Audio - 3R Master Time will be great upgrade.
Thank You
Hm, I'll have to get the 3R Master Time in for review.
Definitely !
3R Master Time Vs Innuos Phoenix USB Vs tx-USBultra .
Steven Plaskin from audiostream.com said the exact opposite opinion about which is the more critical USB Cable.
"I tried a number of different USB cables but settled on the AudioQuest Diamond and Wireworld Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 USB 2.0 cables. My evaluations found that the critical USB cable was the one used from the tx-USBultra Regenerator to my Ayre DAC. The USB cable between the sMS-200 and the tx-USBultra was found to be less critical to the overall sound."
Interesting...
I think this was the case for the tX...but not the Phoenix.
It was the SOtM tX-USBultra indeed. So it doesn't apply to the SOtM tX-USBultra ?
Would the SOTM tx-Ultra SE plus iso region equal a more similar result to the phoenix?
The iso regaon is tonally fuller and more relaxed than the SOTM...