DIGITAL NOISE

[♔Chello]

What a pity to read that the isolator did not remove the noise completely. An isolator seems not to be the ultimate solution. Thanks for testing Chello!

✪mb_pa5x


I was prepared for a half-hearted result using a USB isolator, even though many claim that the noise has disappeared completely - the one I tested has also received positive reviews from users.

The ultimate isolator on the market is one from Topping - U90 USB bridge, which costs about 500-600 dollars..!
This is supposed to remove ALL digital noise - guaranteed, but I don't believe in fairy tales, because if you have poorly shielded components in the chain, these will affect it anyway, and you can end up with Topping having to work so hard that it itself produces noise.

Relying 100% on an isolator removing all noise is like trusting that a crossover in a speaker can fix all the problems that the units have.

One of the most notorious examples is the Infinity Kappa 9 with its complex units and complex crossover, which has extreme dropouts in the impedance curve resulting in resistances down to 0.5 Ohm..!
These have probably killed more amplifiers than any other speakers, even though the sound can be very good.

The design of the Kappa 9 is backwards, because the right thing to do is to minimize the number of components in the crossover, and rather choose units that are the best possible.

I have restored the Kappa 9, and know very well how they are constructed.


I have the following recipe for avoiding digital noise:
1: Make sure your equipment is connected to a separate grounded circuit in the house (I don't have this yet).
2: Only use (thick) signal cables that have good shielding; XLR if possible.
3: Never use standard USB cables, but a type that is better shielded.
4: Choose a high quality DAC - I have had cheaper versions of AUNE and others, which have given significant noise - the AUNE S6 is one of the best, as good as the best that cost about 3000 dollars.
5: Choose an amplifier with good shielding - avoid tube amplifiers (which act like an antenna to digital noise). My FM Acoustics is excellently shielded, as is my XTZ, which also has digital connections - these two are the best I've had in terms of noise.
6: Choose a PC with an Intel processor and not one with an AMD processor, and use a solid metal case that provides effective shielding, which a plastic one does not. My main PC uses (unfortunately) an AMD processor, and has a plastic case. 3000 dollars straight out the window...
I have an old Intel that is almost completely noise-free, but this one has too few connections for my use.
7: Place the PC as far away from other equipment as possible - this will often eliminate the problem of digital noise.


The best option for eliminating digital noise is therefore to follow these 7 recommendations.
A USB isolator cannot magically eliminate noise, if the sources are numerous and serious.

Never spend a fortune on expensive cables, because they will not solve the problem.

If you follow recommendations 1, 6 and 7 in particular, all noise will probably stop.