Intona User Forum

I would like to buy an Intona isolator but I don't know which of the models can be more suitable for my use.

I need to isolate the USB port for my DAC (RME ADI-2 FS) because connecting it directly to the PC the sound is flat and congested.

I had the confirmation that the ADI-2 can sound better when I tried to connect it to a cleaner source like my smartphone, I started the renderer mode of UAPP and through Audirvana I transmitted the audio via UPnP, here the sound of the ADI-2 becomes more open, the image is deeper and the sound is not tiring.

I deduced that when I connect the ADI-2 directly to the PC being a dirtier source than the phone which is powered by a battery, the sound worsens and is not satisfying to listen to.

I think I could solve it with the use of an isolator but I don't know which of the three models is more suitable.

I have no noise problems on my speakers nor any noise on the headphones, there is no ground loop noise, the only problem is the sound is not satisfactory when I connect it directly to the PC, It's probably high frequency noise that causes aliasing and jitter.

the PC has only USB 3.0 ports while the ADI-2 is USB 2.0 in this case is the 7055-B version more suitable? or the 7055-C version? since it will be connected to USB 3.0 ports on the PC? I think I will exclude the 7055-D version since I do not have a USB 3.0 DAC.

I read that the 7055-B version is advertised as having an isolation capacity of 5kV on USB 2.0 while the 7055-C version 1kV on USB 3.0 but on USB 2.0 is it 5kV or 1kV?

reading the datasheet of the 3 models from the image it seems that the 7055-C version has an advantage in terms of reduction compared to the 7055-B version and even the 7055-D version I don't understand why, also 7055-B and 7055-D refers to AC isolation while 7055-C refers to DC isolation... I'm a bit confused.

I plan to use it with my ADI-2 and with my Mojo2 and Hugo 2 battery DACs as they also don't sound very good if connected directly to the PC while they are fantastic via streamer Poly and 2Go.

Thanks

Isolation rating really isn't important for audio unless you have a high votlage DAC
I recommend 7055-C as it is tuned for audio purposes.

Daniel (Intona) wrote: ↑November 25th, 2024, 12:35 pm Isolation rating really isn't important for audio unless you have a high votlage DAC
I recommend 7055-C as it is tuned for audio purposes.

Hi Daniel, thanks for your reply, but I don't quite understand your statement:

"Isolation rating really isn't important for audio unless you have a high votlage DAC"

What do you mean exactly?

That was meant a bit ironically, because there is a potential difference of perhaps a few millivolts between an audio device like a DAC and the computer. It really doesn't matter whether the maximum permissible isolation voltage is 5 kV AC or 1 kV DC. This is more relevant if, for example, a PC is to be isolated from a power turbine or if a patient is connected to the computer via sensors and there are safety laws for this.