Galvanic isolation explained

The new PS Audio AiorLens and MK2 DAC both feature full galvanic isolation. Why does that matter?

[@4G12]

It's sad that TOSLINK fiber optic audio connections never met their full potential. Built in optical isolation.

[@reestyfarts]

Multi-pin connectors are more profitable. At least one cable vendor says on their website how frail the HDMI format is. Notice TV's still use Toslink for over the air 5.1 or two channel signals.

[@ThinkingBetter]

For TVs you have a different concern called "lip sync" which is the latency between video and audio. If your audio plays too late you will see the lips moving before you hear the voice. The TV is clock master for the video frames showing and audio samples playing. TOSLINK is a low cost synchronous data transfer interface where the TV determines the sample clock one-way and with low latency for good lip sync performance. I've had several cases of HDMI connectors becoming unreliable while I have never seen such issue with TOSLINK.

[@user-pu8fg3vn5l]

Another great video, thank you for your talent to explain difficult things to non-professionals

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Something worth noting is that many commercial DACs have something similar built in. There's a discussion today on DIYAUDIO about some folks who invested big $ on upgrading clocks in their FIFO and found no change in the Terminator sound. That's because the Terminator has it's own 'air lens' function which cannot be bypassed. So its like buying a SOTA preamp and putting it in front of an integrated amp and being disappointed that there was no improvement. OTOH, if your DAC has no FIFO/reclock/isolation or it can be bypassed, then this device could work wonders. It ultimately comes down to the implementation and the phase noise of the clock employed.

[@kenbeckman4948]

I've experienced galvanic isolation in Uptone Audio via EtherREGEN and USB Regen and it makes a huge improvement Alot of streamer manufacturers are missing the importance of this. Glad to see PS Audio isn't one of them

[@theonl1128]

An amazing story Paul, thanks! 👍

[@ThinkingBetter]

Nowadays it's standard to run the DAC on a local precision clock as the master clock and enough samples asynchronously buffered on the DAC to not need PLL. Neither jitter or noise are concerning issues for digital audio today as much as it was not a concern in my first Denon CD player from the 1980s. In the early 2000s when PCs started to be considered as audio sources, lots of such issues existed. Horrible MP3 compression (from Napster etc.), digital noise from the PC switch mode power supply and motherboard and clock issues existed back then. Now we are in 2023, and my US$10 Apple iPhone DAC dongle sounds better than audiophile gear did just a few years ago. My AirPod Pro 2 have the DACs build into the earbuds and they are perhaps not as resolving as my Stax electrostatic headphones, but considering they include the entire DAC sitting in my ears, they are quite impressive. So as best of mainstream digital audio continues to improve, the difference to the top digital gear shrinks while our hearing capability isn't getting any better.

[@trentland]

Book 3! OUT WITH IT!

[@reestyfarts]

When I hear galvanic I think of very high sugar food and beverage reacting with my fillings. When I hear about signals crossing a gap I think of spark plugs, whose collapsing field creates a lot of noise. The superiority of hard wired fiber optic internet tells you what you need. I also think about those Technics amps which must be state of the art in digital signal transmission.

[@MushroomMagpie]

I think you need better dental work. The mercury might be messing with you...

[@BruceCross]

Ha, you're not crazy. One definition of "galvanic" is electric current in liquid, which can corrode metal. "Galvanic isolation" means electric current can't pass between two parts of a system, but the signal can pass.

[@Bassotronics]

Love it!

[@hugobloemers4425]

That sounds cool :)

[@MIsterB716]

That sounds like the plot of Alien versus Predator

[@mrronenza]

Great Video. Is also the Coax Output Airlan's a Galvanic isolated ?

[@Paulmcgowanpsaudio]

Yes sir, it is indeed!

[@mrronenza]

@@PaulmcgowanpsaudioThanks Paul, I will contact the Israeli PS Audio distributor for farther details. All the Best. 🌷

[@D1N02]

So basically it is also a reclocking device to deal with jitter.

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

@@sub-vibes Beg to differ. Every clock made has phase noise resulting in jitter. Just comes down to how much it impacts the sound for your particular listening pleasure. More jitter and the sound is harsh and digital. With less phase noise that goes away, imaging improves, everything sounds natural and micro details appear allowing subtle musical cues to appear... emotion, room ambiance etc. Now, lots of DACs have an Air Lens function built in. In that case putting another in front of it will make no difference. You'll still be listening to the stuff in the DAC.

[@davidfromamerica1871]

I am not going to be food for the scavenger’s.

[@tt-wx2xf]

So, Toslink Cable is not physical connection?

[@Pete.across.the.street]

Not for electrical connections

[@marcse7en]

As a seasoned Hi-Fi veteran of 44 years (that's listening; my age is greater), my advice is NOT to worry about "galvanic isolation," or any such nonsense, and simply to ENJOY the music! 🎶 ... Life's too short! EDIT: Despite the above, I first dabbled and used fibre optic to connect my CD player to an off-board DAC in 1990 (33 years ago). So, been there, done that, DECADES ago! ... These days, I'm a little more laid back in my attitude to Hi-Fi.

[@marcusbrsp]

Hearing doesn't improve with age. In a way it's good. It's bound to be cheaper to be a Hi-Fi enthusiast.

[@marcse7en]

@@marcusbrsp Well, at 61, my hearing is so good, I can hear the whine from a Switch Mode Power Supply "Wallwart" and they're virtually silent! I have extremely good hearing!

[@artyfhartie2269]

At the rate you are shrinking, I calculated that when you reach 102, the top of your head will be at the same level as the top woofer.

[@JonAnderhub]

Put on your boots ladies and gentlemen the "Audiophile" sh1t is going to get deep. Galvanic isolation is "Audiophile" speak for transformers, capacitors, or any device that or any other of a number of devices where no direct conduction path is permitted. Think that is exclusive to overpriced "Audiophile" equipment? Guess again. Oh yes and the "Audiophile" "noise on the digital stream. No digital device cares about noise on the "digital stream" Let me repeat that for you "Audiophiles" no digital device is influenced by noise on a digital circuit simply because all digital circuits look for is digital information and because error correction is built into digital circuits the digital information doesn't even have to be complete. Here's another juicy tidbit for all you "Audiophiles", your cell phone, your mp3 players, and even cheap audio devices all use buffers that (now get this) go "first in, first out) and reclock the digital information. So what's the difference in "Audiophile" equipment? Well because your wallet is thinner, you can now hear the difference.

[@andydelle4509]

First I am totally with you on the audiophile junk science. But inside a DAC there is a possibility of noise riding on the digital pulse train coupling into the analog section of the DAC chip via. RFI, ground buss, or the power supply. Note the word CAN! So the question is, does this happen on every low cost DAC, no. The next question is if this does happen, is the noise audible, probably not. I am just saying that shielding and attention to ground buss engineering is still a good thing in a DAC. And is doesn't cost thousands of dollars to achieve a quiet DAC either. As for noise on ethernet switches or routers affecting the recovered audio, that's complete hogwash. An "audio grade" ethernet switch is pure snake oil. And there are some photos of these audio grade ethernet switches online and they are nothing more than the circuit board out of a commodity $20 switch in a fancy case.

[@ryanschipp8513]

Paul, other reputable hifi manufacturers are doing the same stuff. Its not like you recreated the wheel. We arent stupid. Or maybe some of your fanboys are?

[@keithmoriyama5421]

When did he ever say "I invented that?"

[@ryanschipp8513]

@@keithmoriyama5421 in his words and in his tone. If you don't agree you're being ignorant. It's very obvious

[@keithmoriyama5421]

@ryanschipp8513 Such a bad attitude that everyone can see. The only one who pays the price is you. BTW what qualifications do you have in audio? You don't want to play that game with me...

[@JonAnderhub]

@@keithmoriyama5421 ryanschipped8513 isn't having a bad attitude. All he is doing is stating that what Paul considers to be special in PS Audio equipment is used in most pieces of audio equipment. What difference does his "qualifications" have to do with it? He is merely stating the obvious.

[@keithmoriyama5421]

@@JonAnderhub I disagree with so much of what Paul says, but I also learn a lot from him. You have to respect a person's accomplishments and track record. The easiest thing to do is take cheap shots when you really know nothing-- especially when you call people stupid and ignorant. Paul is a well mannered gentleman who often let's his bias and lack of knowledge show. He understands zero when it comes to the construction of a mix or more specifically why he hears what he hears. Of course he has a bias for his own products. As he says, "It's my job to promote the company"

[@tzahy4968]

israel in a bad war. please say something about it.

[@Valnoten]

Eh no. This channel has nothing to do with the war/political situation over there.

[@tzahy4968]

@@Valnoten every single person in this situation need to stand with israel even with one word.

[@BruceCross]

Yes, it's a bad war, but no, it doesn't belong on an audio channel. The world needs places that are free from politics, which have invaded almost everything.