Just a guess, but it does call itself an isolator, and does not say anything about ground lifting, which the iDefender makes pretty explicit. My guess is that this device is a true USB isolator (as it calls itself), and not just a ground lift. The slight delay in processing hints at that. If it is just a ground lift, then it's not a good product, and it should be avoided.
A product that interrupts passing the USB power line noise as an inexpensive solution is exactly what is needed.
Read this comment as to why a ground lift is like playing Russian roulette with your device, and is not a real solution.A "ground lift" product that interrupts passing the USB power line noise as an inexpensive solution is exactly what is needed.
If you're interested in playing Russian roulette with your USB input chip, you can go even cheaper than the Topping/iFi product.A product that interrupts passing the USB power line noise as an inexpensive solution is exactly what is needed.
There weren't any when I went searching for them a couple of years ago. @Veri also posted a data-only USB cable he found and uses with his D90.
I edited out "Ground Lift" from my post because it isn't that, I was using your terms for description and I shouldn't have:
Kapton tape over the 5v and ground pins, free solution, dude.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32912096636.html
As I mentioned, been down this road. I don't play Russian roulette with my USB devices and motherboard, so the only real solution is breaking the ground loop in a way that doesn't leave your devices open to potential voltage damage, so true galvanic isolation or real ground loop resolution.That is where the ifi iDefender+ and perhaps now the Topping HS01 can inject external USB power - from a clean noise-free source - like the ifi iPowerX or the Topping P50.
Or there are the far more expensive solutions from ifi, like the iGalvanic 3.0 + imicro USB 3.0 + iPurifier3 , or simply add the iSilencer+ to the iDefender+... or let ifi's Flagship DAC with all the mediations for noise built-in, for only $3249.
Instead, I recommend spending the small amount of $ and get a device that is designed to accomplish the interruption of the USB power-line noise safely.
Neither ifi nor Topping are "playing Russian Roulette" with their solutions, they both disconnect the power and power-ground, there is no "danger" in that solution. Adding 5V USB external power is also safe with their products.
You did not read the comment I linked:Neither ifi nor Topping are "playing Russian Roulette" with their solutions, they both disconnect the power and power-ground, there is no "danger" in that solution. Adding external power is also safe with their products.
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The ifi tool is just an expensive way of removing the ground and voltage lines, which leaves the data lines open to voltage tampering.
Not sure if this could occur but I've seen a few devices that I repaired with the ground lifted and the unit sourced ground from another source and vaporized the trace on the PCB where the ground was sourced from.You did not read the comment I linked:
Ground loop via USB broken but high pitch noise remains. *Please advise*
Audio: PC - USB - E30 - L30 Power: Dedicated 20A to office closet - cyber power Sinewave 1500 UPS - PC/Accessories + separate Isobar strip for stack/monitors/sub *No noise present via Headphones or IEMS Purchased Adam T5V powered monitors and their sub. Hiss is minimal even with the gain all...
Direct from RME, a manufacturer, who disagrees with you, and has direct experience with exactly this issue:
That's why it's always better to use galvanic isolation. It's the only real solution.
You did not read the comment I linked:
Ground loop via USB broken but high pitch noise remains. *Please advise*
Audio: PC - USB - E30 - L30 Power: Dedicated 20A to office closet - cyber power Sinewave 1500 UPS - PC/Accessories + separate Isobar strip for stack/monitors/sub *No noise present via Headphones or IEMS Purchased Adam T5V powered monitors and their sub. Hiss is minimal even with the gain all...
Direct from RME, a manufacturer, who disagrees with you, and has direct experience with exactly this issue:
The ifi tool is just an expensive way of removing the ground and voltage lines, which leaves the data lines open to voltage tampering.
@Doodski @MC_RME - have you worked with ifi on these problems where you suspect the iFi iDefender+ caused the damage to the DAC?
You might try some further reading to understand why it's still not safe, even by removing the 5v and ground lines: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...limination-and-pc-usb-noise.10612/post-947360@Doodski @MC_RME - have you worked with ifi on these problems where you suspect the iFi iDefender+ caused the damage to the DAC?
How is it possible that interrupting the USB Power-line connections would induce Ground Loop damage in a connected DAC?
AFAIK the 2 - data lines and 2 - 5V USB power lines aren't meant to interact or cross-pass voltage between them in any manner, and if both 5V USB power wires are interrupted how would that induce or pass a Ground Loop?
@iFi audio - Can you please work with @MC_RME and/or @Doodski to diagnose the suspected RME DAC damage he is seeing when an iDefender+ is used?
I'm pretty sure that other than someone connecting the wrong voltage to the external USB power port on the iDefender+, that the iDefrnder+ itself wouldn't pass Ground Loop voltage through to the DAC, since that is the whole reason to use the iDefender+ - to interrupt ground loops.
Thank you all for particpating on ASR to help us with our product questions
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@Doodski @MC_RME - have you worked with ifi on these problems where you suspect the iFi iDefender+ caused the damage to the DAC?
How is it possible that interrupting the USB Power-line connections would induce Ground Loop damage in a connected DAC?
AFAIK the 2 - data lines and 2 - 5V USB power lines aren't meant to interact or cross-pass voltage between them in any manner, and if both 5V USB power wires are interrupted how would that induce or pass a Ground Loop?
@iFi audio - Can you please work with @MC_RME and/or @Doodski to diagnose the suspected RME DAC damage he is seeing when an iDefender+ is used?
I'm pretty sure that other than someone connecting the wrong voltage to the external USB power port on the iDefender+, that the iDefrnder+ itself wouldn't pass Ground Loop voltage through to the DAC, since that is the whole reason to use the iDefender+ - to interrupt ground loops.
Thank you all for particpating on ASR to help us with our product questions
The iFi iDefender isn't simply interrupting the USB power/ground, here is iFi's explainer about their noise reduction devices, including the iDefender+:You might try some further reading to understand why it's still not safe, even by removing the 5v and ground lines: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...limination-and-pc-usb-noise.10612/post-947360
and
The USB Troll
As we know, USB connections sometimes suffer from computer noise coupling through the Vbus or ground wires and finding its way to the analogue outputs of a DAC. One way of eliminating such noise is to use an isolation device. These are, unfortunately, rather expensive. As a simpler alternative...
I experienced the issue with a bunch of DC powered devices other than the iFi iDefender+. It's a fairly common issue with DC powered devices that have poor grounding or when somebody was mucking with the connections.
What I was thinking myself, it could be a matter of guilt by association rather than direct causality - actually attributed to user error.
It literally says, in that document, that it breaks (aka "lifts") the ground if the computer and dac are earthed. If either one or the other aren't earthed, it simply puts in a resistor, which can reduce the noise, but does not get rid of it. Hence, it doesn't work for removing the loop, and is not a good solution.
If you read back in this thread to my first posts here about my noise problems ecountered using the D90/A90, all along I've simply been sharing my experience with tracking down noise problems with my D90 and A90, and posting solutions I found that have worked and which ones haven't worked.
You can keep talking about it, or actually do it yourself. If you feel you need to go to the expense of a Galvanic Isolation solution - I'm sure ifi or someone else will happily take your money
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