It blocks the noise coming out of your computer by isolating the both the data and power. (or whatever USB device needs “decrapification”) It provides galvanic isolation to the USB bus, repacketizes and provides clean power to your USB device. The isolator is connected to your PC via a standard USB A-to-B cable and sits between your computer and your DAC.
The Intona high-speed Isolator is nifty USB powered circuit board stuffed into an oversized butt ugly plastic box. I was reminded of that famous quote, “ The proof of the pudding is in the eating”.Ī USB gadget that really makes an audible difference! The veil that covered some recordings felt lifted. I was impressed with the improvements in soundstage and clarity. It made a significant difference in my system. Thanks to Tim Kitsune HiFi, I had a chance to evaluate an Intona. (Thank you Schiit Audio for creating a lasting moniker for an entire range of products) I have a DAC that just didn’t seem to live up to its potential using a “straight USB” connection. The Intona USB isolator changed my perception about USB “decrapifiers”. It was the job of the DAC to deal with whatever crappy signal it was fed and convert the stream of ones and zeros into analog sweetness. I firmly believed that “bits are bits” and that it did not matter how the bits and bytes got where they needed to go. I have been a USB “denier” for a long time. It’s full of electrical noise and (for many) only has 1 output option. As my acoustic preferences have evolved with a few years in this hobby, I have come to realize that your average PC makes for a pretty lousy source component.