Neutron HiFi Isolator V1 
ultra-low noise IP67 USB isolator

Neutron HiFi™ Isolator V1 is a portable, ultra-low noise IP67 galvanic USB isolator. Eliminates analog noise coming to the connected USB device via power (VBUS) and data (D+/D-) connections by isolating ground of connected USB device from the ground of the USB host device galvanically. Re-clocks USB data with a high-precision and very stable internal Crystal oscillator. Protects connected USB device from electric hazards (EMI, ESD). IP67-rated design allows to use it in a harsh environment.

  • Galvanic isolation of data (D+/D-) and power (VBUS)
  • USB 2.0, High-Speed (up to 400 Mbps), USB-C ports
  • Up to 400 mA of isolated power
  • Micro-B jack for additional external 5V power
  • Universal: audio, measurement, industrial equipment
  • IP67 (can be used in a harsh environment)
  • Premium exterior: Aluminum and Gorilla Glass 3
  • Available as Embedded Module for Industrial design
Neutron HiFi Isolator V1

Reliable outside
and inside

Noise barrier

Developed to provide full isolation of the power and USB data signals. Eliminates Ground loop problem. Its ultra-low noise design addresses demanding needs for audiophile music listening experience - no ticks, pops & clicks and humming  in the audio output!

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Reliable Protection

Reliably protects your valuable USB device from damage by electrostatic discharge (ESD) and isolates it from abnormally high voltage on Power and Data paths for up to 60 seconds. Acts as a brick wall for all common electrostatic hazards caused by malfunctioning USB ports (especially in public places).

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Plug & Play design

Just plug Isolator V1 between USB host and your another USB device and magic starts happening - your device will receive fully isolated USB signals and power up to 400 mA. If USB client device needs more power we provide USB Micro-B port for additional external power supply.

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Robust exterior

IP 67-rated, aluminum case is highly reliable and protects internal paths and components from external impact as well as from electromagnetic interference. Gorilla Glass 3 panels on both sides protect from scratching making device very durable. No plastic parts to provide unprecedented long life of our device.

Digital and Analog
noise barrier

Digital and Analog domains

Noise comes from both, digital and analog domains. Digital paths are affected by analog noise which is then spreading to other connected components. As a result such mixed-signal components such as DAC, ADC or Sensor may produce unexpected result. DAC may produce audio with added analog noise, ADC may capture audio with added noise, Sensor may show erroneous values.

Isolator V1 is designed to isolate source noise galvanically from the connected USB device allowing its logic to deliver the expected result to you.

Digital

Isolator V1 supports isolation of up to High Speed digital signal (USB 2.0, 480 Mbps). USB data is accurately reproduced and sent to the connected USB device without any USB host's analog noise.

Analog

Isolator V1's advanced analog design supports harvesting of USB power from USB host up to 0.4A 5V and an optional external power delivery to the connected USB device in case it requires more power than it can be harvested.

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Unified
digital signal

USB signal conditioning

USB signals become prone to corruption with increasing frequency of transmission that lowers overall transmission rates or causes noise in the digital audio case due to unchecked Isochronous USB transfers. There are many factors which may affect signal such as absence of shielding adds noise from radio waves (WiFi, Bluetooth, Cellular and etc.), incorrect signal routing of the Host controller, overly long USB cable, corrosion of USB connectors and so on.

 

Isolator V1 will redrive received USB signal by capturing it and reproducing with applied retiming. The result will be always unified signal no matter to what Host you connect it.

Unified signal

Standardizes output USB signal by receiving it from the Host and reproducing in always unified manner: signal amplitude, phase shift, jitter.

Expected signal jitter

USB signal is re-clocked with a help of the high-precision Crystal which has great frequency tolerance and stability in the wide temperature range from -40° to +125°.

Error correction

Isolator V1 does not propagate errors in USB signal from the Host side. Therefore your USB Client is always protected from any unexpected misbehavior caused by erroneous USB signal.

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Protection 
for your valuable device

Surge & electrostatic shock protection

Complete isolation of digital and analog paths makes your device fully protected from the surge and electrostatic shocks when it is connected to USB via Isolator V1.

Whether it is USB socket in the airport or airplane, bus, school - these power sources are not reliable as they are exposed to the external environment. Isolator V1 eliminates the danger of burning your device by the malfunctioning USB port acting as a shield.

Digital

±8kV IEC 61000-4-2 ESD protection across the isolation barrier

Analog

±3kV DC functional isolation for 60 seconds

XO 45.1585, 49.152 -> DAC

Boost precision 
of analog operations

Ultra-low noise & low-power design

Isolator V1 has ultra-low noise design which achieves lowest possible output power noise at any load when harvesting power from the Host's USB (VBUS). 

Galvanic isolation eliminates all noise caused by the ground loop and common/shared ground which is common if you connect USB device to the PC or AC-powered non-isolated equipment.

Input noise suppression

Besides isolation Isolator V1 suppresses input power noise coming from USB host. Your USB device will get clean and stable power generated by Isolator V1 at any supported load. Any noise leakage via data paths is also blocked galvanically.

Low-power design

Isolator V1 drains only up to 120 mA of additional power for operation of its internal components therefore you can use it even with your battery-powered device if it is catching a noise which then leaks to the connected USB device.

Clean
sound

Lower noise floor, better SNR

Isolator V1 helps to eliminate all kind of noises originating from the USB host, including ground-loop noise, and noise caused by the shared ground between two AC powered devices.

Ground loops are a common issue in audio and measurement setups. Using a USB audio device as a preamp can exacerbate this problem by creating a shared ground path between the streamer and amplifier, increasing the likelihood of shared ground or ground loop noise.

Inserting Isolator V1 in the middle of USB transmission disconnects grounds of USB audio device and USB host or audio receiver. It effectively eliminates noise making noise floor very low and helps to get clean audio output.

Clean audio spectrum

By isolating the ground between the PC and the DAP/DAC, Isolator V1 successfully prevented the intrusion of analog noise, such as ground loop hum, into the audio signal. This results in a cleaner, more accurate audio spectrum.

Low noise floor

When the grounds are interconnected, noise generated by the host's (PC, streamer, TV, etc.) components can propagate into the audio device's circuitry, degrading audio quality. By isolating the grounds, Isolator V1 effectively shields the sensitive audio components from unwanted noise, resulting in a significantly lower noise floor and a more pristine listening experience.

Battery-like Power Source

Isolator V1 effectively emulates the clean power characteristics of a battery-powered device. By isolating the ground plane between the USB host and the USB device, it prevents the transmission of noise and interference that can degrade audio quality. This isolation significantly reduces the noise floor, resulting in a cleaner, more detailed, and dynamic soundstage.

Required
for your measurements

Prevents noise interference in results

Precise measurements can be affected by the power noise if it inflows into the sensor and ADC areas of the device. It can be audio capturing where you really do not want to capture noise, or even cardiovascular measurement where you want to see precise values and graph. Noise can ruin results of the measurements easily.

Isolator V1 isolates USB Client from the Ground Loop, protects from Power shocks and suppresses Power noise. All these measure contribute to the true measurement results.

Noiseless, battery-like power source

Power provided by Isolator V1 can be compared to the power of the battery which is known to be noiseless. You get unpolluted frequency range for your precise and sensitive measurements which will no longer be affected by power noise factor. Isolator V1 allows to use stationary high-power PC as measurement host without a fear that measurements can be polluted by the power noise.

Versatile
power sources

Dual power design

Isolator V1 supports two power sources. It can source power from the host USB port, or it can use external power provided via USB Micro-B jack. External power can be required in case connected USB device requires more power for operation than Isolator V1 can harvest from the host USB port, or if USB connection between host and connected device is long (2m+).

We built-in convenient indication of both power states.

USB Power - Red LED

This icon indicates the condition when Isolator V1 is connected to the host USB port and is sourcing enough power for its operation. It also indicates USB data connection state - bright red if connected, pale red if just sourcing power.

Ext Power - Blue LED

This icon indicates that external power is provided via USB Micro-B jack to the connected USB client.

Isolator V1
Embedded Module

Elevate Your Industrial Design with Isolator V1

Are you looking to seamlessly integrate an isolated USB port into your industrial design? Look no further than the Isolator V1 Embedded Module. This compact and powerful solution offers a range of benefits to enhance your hardware:

Rapid Integration

Quickly add an isolated USB port to your existing design without the need for extensive engineering efforts and component sourcing headache. See Details for a complete list of module's capabilities.

Enhanced Reliability

Protect your sensitive equipment from electrical noise and surges with galvanic isolation. USB jack is IP67-certified and ready for a harsh environment.

Compact Footprint, Easy Integration

The module's small size allows for easy integration into your device. Module can be connected to your hardware with a short USB-C cable, custom cable with special connectors can be provided too.

Regulatory Compliance

FCC, CE, and RoHS certified for global use.

Applications

  • Industrial Automation: Protect control systems from electrical noise and surges.
  • Medical Devices: Ensure the safety and reliability of medical equipment.
  • Audio/Video Equipment: Improve audio and video quality by eliminating ground loops and noise.
  • Test and Measurement: Enhance the accuracy and precision of measurement instruments.
XO 45.1585, 49.152 -> DAC

Powerful and compact

Digital isolation

±5.7kV RMS
for 60 seconds

Analog isolation

±3kV DC
for 60 seconds

Output power

Internal: 2W (0.4A, 5V)
External: 15W (3A, 5V)

USB

USB 2.0 (1.5, 12, 480 Mbps), USB-C jack: Host & Client
USB Micro-B: External power

Indication

2 icons (Power/USB Connect, DC External Power)
LED

Enclosure

40.3 x 22.3 x 20 mm
Aluminum, Gorilla Glass 3

Aesthetic design
to please your eyes

The same in
Iron grey

Your advanced solution
for noise removal

FAQ

What configuration requires a USB isolator?
  1. AC-powered PC → AC-powered USB DAC: In this setup ground loop is formed via the AC outlet and USB cable connecting PC and USB DAC.
  2. TV box, streamer mini PC (Raspberry Pi or similar) → USB DAC as Preamp → Amplifier: In this setup connect USB DAC via Isolator V1 to break sharing of streamer and amplifier grounds.
  3. External speakers connected to PC and → USB audio device (DAC or DAP) → the same external speakers: This setup creates ground loop between amplifier of speakers, PC and USB audio device.
  4. Musical instrument (guitar processor, synthesizer, keyboard) → PC via USB and line-in (for recording): This setup creates ground loop between PC and musical instrument.
  5. Oscillograph → PC, Oscillograph → measured device which is connected to PC (power, any other wired interface): This setup creates ground loop.
  6. Noise sensitive high-precision device → PC: Isolation of grounds improves noise performance of connected device.

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