TEST OF TOPPING HS02 USB ISOLATOR

[♔Chello]

TEST OF TOPPING HS02 USB ISOLATOR

   


PREFACE
Ever since the CD was introduced in 1983, I have been fascinated by the absolute silence and extreme dynamics that suddenly became apparent with CD.
Back then I had a very good music system, with good speakers, a very good turntable and a state of the art amplifier.
The noise was still there, because everything was analogue.
With CD, everything became quiet - completely quiet.

In 1994 I bought my first PC, which was Intel-based and without USB.
It was heavenly to be able to play all the music without any noise.
In 1998 I bought an AMD based PC with USB, which turned everything upside down:
The noise was back !

This was also a type of noise that I found much more bothersome than the analogue one, because the more the processor and the internet connection worked, the more noise there was.
I tried all possible solutions but nothing helped.

The strange thing is that the problem has gotten worse and worse over the years as my music system has improved.
Only very recently was I able to detect what is largely the cause of the problem:

I had always wanted a tube amplifier, and bought a relatively expensive one.
Then something strange happened:
The noise was louder than ever !
I knew that tube amps have almost no shielding against noise, but still...

I then tried hooking up my Tandberg amplifier set, but the noise was still unbearably loud (because the Tandberg set is also poorly shielded).
Finally, I connected my XTZ amplifier, which is very well shielded, and the noise became significantly lower, but still very audible.

If I moved the amplifier away from the PC, the noise decreased, but I have to have the equipment close together.
I tried making different ground loops, without this having any effect whatsoever.
If everything had been analog, this would have solved the problem effectively.

Next, I tried to connect everything to an older Intel-based PC WITH USB, and here there was also some noise, but less than with my new AMD-based PC.

Then it struck me that it is not the type of processor that makes the noise, but the USB connection(s) - if no devices are connected to the USB there is no noise at all.
Several well-informed pundits thought that switching to a very expensive super-shielded USB cable would solve the problem, but this had absolutely no effect.

There had to be a way to solve the problem then ?
Everyone I asked thought there must be something wrong with my setup, but I've had the problem since 1998, and have changed all equipment several times as well as changed residence.
So they are all wrong !

One day I met a friend I hadn't spoken to in years:
He had the same problem for years but had solved it !
He tipped me off to a "magic" box that removed all the noise, and that didn't cost a fortune (about €100).


This was an extensive preface, but here comes the test: 

The connection is very simple Plug & Play (for those who do not have constant Senior moments..!), and is done in seconds.

I connected the box's USB 2.0 cable to one of the PC's USB 2.0 connections, and my DAC to the box's USB 2.0 input. (and set both switches in the relevant position).

VOILA!

All became quiet; even at fairly high volume.
Only at very high volume could I hear a little noise, but this is absolutely beyond all expectations and completely satisfactory.

This box is a miracle box and is definitely worth £100 !

   

[♔Chello]

NEW ASSESSMENT

After some time of use, it turns out that the noise is still too loud, although it has been greatly reduced.
There is also no doubt that the noise comes from the motherboard's AMD processor, and not the graphics card.

My case is probably quite special, since I have placed the PC close to the amplifiers, and these are built on old models, even if they are new.
The PC's casing is also made of plastic; so there is no effective ground loop in this one.

I have an older Fractal PC case in steel that weighs 20 kg, and this should make an effective ground loop.
I'm going to fit everything into this and see if the noise subsides.