Jitterbug

[Ali Tait]

This looks interesting, anyone tried one?

http://www.audiostream.com/content/audioquest-jitterbug

[occamsrazor]

If you're looking for that sort of thing, on a similar note, this has been getting good user reviews over on the CA forum:

http://uptoneaudio.com/products/usb-regen

[Spectral Morn]

Looks interesting but I can't find anyone selling one yet.



Regards Neil

[Ali Tait]

Just saw it in the latest issue of Tone Audio, thought it might be of interest. Low price too by the looks.

[Spectral Morn]

Just saw it in the latest issue of Tone Audio, thought it might be of interest. Low price too by the looks.

Looks like the publicity is all way before the product can actually be bought, but regardless it does look interesting.


Regards Neil

[Audio Advent]

Shouldn't a good dac with USB input have a good line conditioning built in? Looks little more than some smd coils and resistors. I'd expect it only to have an effect on certain usb dacs like those as small as USB pendrives like their dragonfly dac.

[Ali Tait]

Yes, but the stated aim is to improve the performance of the cheaper usb dacs.

[NRG]

The formfactor is all wrong though, it should have a short USB flying lead to attach to the PC/Laptop, these longish dongle USB devices take up to much space and put strain on the connection point.

[Audio Advent]

I always think that too... I guess it comes down to the cost of a machine plonking the connector on the board compared with what's needed for a flying lead.

[struth]

Ihad a few of those stick dacs and always used a male/female cable to connect it. its not good practice to have one of those sticking out the side of a pc ; far too easy to cause damage.

[Ammonite Audio]

There was an endlessly circular thread over at PFM recently, stoked by people obsessed with proving that things like the Jitterbug cannot possibly work. Spurred on by such righteous negativity, I invested £39 of my own money to buy a Jitterbug, to go between laptop (running JRiver) and Naim DAC-V1. Surprise! Surprise! it does exactly what Audioquest claim for it, rendering the sound smoother, more organic and just more enjoyable. So, a good result for as little cash as it's generally possible to deploy in this hobby. Audioquest claim that placing a second Jitterbug in a neighbouring USB (unused) port further cleans up the sound, so I thought it was worth a pop, for another £39 of my own money. I am pleased to report that the scale of improvement from adding a second Jitterbug is very considerable, lending even more substance and tonal colour to the music. Quite a result for only £78 all in!

Of course, the label "Jitterbug" is slightly misleading since it only filters the USB data and power lines, and does not re-clock or anything like that, but the logic seems to be that reducing such USB noise helps the DAC to do its job better, maybe with fewer jitter effects. Whatever, these things work a treat and I recommend them highly. This is a subjectivist forum, so my advice is to ignore all techno-babble and just trust your ears.

[orbscure]

After reading an interesting and positive review in HiFi News, I note these are now available for £39 from Amazon with free next day Prime delivery:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00Y0J255A/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1447311510

So it'd be rude not to try one! :popcorn:

[Ammonite Audio]

That's the normal retail price, but Amazon seem to be able to get stock when local shops cannot, so guess where I bought mine!

[orbscure]

How did you find it worked once fitted Hugo?

[Ammonite Audio]

How did you find it worked once fitted Hugo?

See Post#11 above. In short - a very considerable increase in musical satisfaction. Results will of course vary depending on how noisy the USB source is, but my little Lenovo sub-notebook has always turned in a decent performance over USB - now it's much better. They do improve after a day or so of use, so don't leap to nay rash conclusions after a few minutes.

Anyway, for £39 it's an audio bargain (IMO).

[orbscure]

Thanks Hugo... I should have gone to Specsavers (other optical outlets are available) :)

[wee tee cee]

Bought a Jitterbug last night on amazon after reading Hugos thread. Plumbed it in but there seems to be a driver problem. I am computer phobic and was hoping just to plug and play-fat chance.

Any members able to help?

[Ammonite Audio]

The Jitterbug is a simple passive device filtering the power and signal lines, so it does not require any drivers. If there is a problem, it is probably due to a host-powered USB device requiring more current than the Jitterbug can provide. I might have read somewhere that the power line filtering causes a small drop in voltage, so that could be a possibility too. Definitely not a driver issue, though.

[wee tee cee]

Thanks Hugo....did a bit of reading-apparently adding a powered usb hub should resolve the problem. Audioquest recommend the schitt wyrd, not sure I want to throw more money at a problem I didnt know I had.

I suppose if I dont try I will just get what Ive always had and be forever wondering!!

[Eisener Bart]

AudioQuest JitterBug (http://www.audioquest.com/jitterbug/jitterbug)

USB Data & Power Noise Filter.

When one my fellow (dealer from Kiev) offered me to test this small device I've already red review of John Atkinson (http://www.stereophile.com/content/audioquest-jitterbug-usb-noise-filter#hUTWt7LgkTlllEOL.97). No ground not beleiving to such Monster-Audio Obserber, but if I can get my own experience with product of one of the famost american brand - so why not? Especially if take into account that I have on hands similar device (iFi iPurifier - review is here (http://eisenerbart.blogspot.com/2016/05/my-reviews-on-english-language.html)).

I spent 2-3 weeks to burn-out all 3 received pieces. Normal procedure for me, 'cos from some level of Audio System you may hear any part which is not properly unburned. Even newly installed power plug in power cable which was already used 1 year.

System which I used for this test was not my Home System. This Setup I am calling "Marine". I use it at sea during my CoE.

- Genelec 8020B (active studio monitors) - great small pieces that never lie.
- tweaked RME Babyface (http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/babyface.php) (used as DAP only)
- USB cable: top model of Sound-YP (ukrainian brand)
- my new laptop PC: Acer Predator 15 G9-591, very powerfull machine.

Software Player: Bug Head Emperor (http://oryaaaaa.world.coocan.jp/bughead/), version 7.22.

http://f20.ifotki.info/org/6a5aef2cf57850144de51f96c7903c5e2eafa3248317352.jp g (http://i-fotki.info/)

I tried to use all 3 JitterBugs in my Home System (with AMR DP-777) on various versions of Bug Head Emperor. I have to confess - I didn't find difference between 3 pcs plugged-in into 3 USB slots (4th was used for connection to AMR DP-777 using top USB Audio cable of WireWorld) and plugged-off.

http://f20.ifotki.info/org/edced9e5c5e0daddbadfddc62821dd172eafa3248317380.jp g (http://i-fotki.info/)

I also tried to use JitterBug between external HDD and laptop. I prefer to listen music without JitterBug.

http://f20.ifotki.info/org/fc5f8bde95940ce0a2631d939121ac382eafa3248318653.jp g (http://i-fotki.info/)

I couldn't resist and tried to connect 2 JitterBugs in sequence - 1 by 1. Revenge was imminent - dynamic was decreased drastically. :D

http://f20.ifotki.info/org/56b3cebffcea243f7d8380abe047d0af2eafa3248318788.jp g (http://i-fotki.info/)

Then I decided to complete crazy experiments and concentrated on subject. Just simple connection between Babyface and laptop. Bingo!

http://f20.ifotki.info/org/9e780e094831da29df2a85583b7f57032eafa3248317334.jp g (http://i-fotki.info/)

Improvement of Sound in many points:

1) Vocal started to sound more natural & realistic
2) Bass .... No! Baaaaaaaassssszzzz! Articulated and punchy. Quality and quantity raised up significantly. Yeah, take a look on size (http://www.genelec.com/support-technology/previous-models/8020b-studio-monitor)of my Speakers. :D
3) Soundstage, all sound space was refreshed, enriched, rebuilded and sent back in my brains. :eek:
4) resolution was higher, similar to replacement of signal source.

Did I tell you that I finished with crazy things? Sorry, I lied.

My last movement was to use iFi iPurifier (connected between Babyface and USB Cable) and JitterBug (between USB Cable and laptop). Oops! It was just overkill. Sound became sterile and much less involved.

http://f20.ifotki.info/org/d5f3067e7bf81879a6c1f2e2355479dc2eafa3248319039.jp g (http://i-fotki.info/)

Few words as conclusion:

I have to recommend to use this device with entry level DAPs. It's really killer on the market by ratio "price - sound improvement". Why? Because. Only 49 USD.

[maxrob200]

Using one jitterbug on a unused USB port of my server yielded noticeable improvement in sound quality. Cleaner midrange and better space and clarity. A second jitterbug gave poor results. Sound became thin and edgy, bass and richness was diminished. I am now using just one jitterbug