Neutron HiFi™ Isolator V1
ultra-low noise galvanic USB isolator
Neutron HiFi™ Isolator V1 (aka Virtuoso 1) is a portable, ultra-low-noise galvanic USB isolator from the Virtuoso series of ultra-portable devices. It features the lowest parasitic/coupling capacitance on the market at just 22 pF — eliminating analog noise introduced via power (VBUS) and data (D+/D−) lines by galvanically isolating the connected USB device's ground from the host's ground. The V1 re-clocks USB data using a high-precision, ultra-stable crystal oscillator and provides full protection against electrical hazards including EMI and ESD.
- Full galvanic isolation of data (D+/D−) and power (VBUS) lines
- USB 2.0 High-Speed (up to 480 Mbps), USB-C ports
- Delivers up to 400 mA of isolated DC power — no external supply required
- Lowest parasitic/coupling capacitance on the market at just 22 pF
- USB Micro-B port for optional external 5V input (for devices exceeding 400 mA)
- Universal compatibility: audio, measurement, and industrial equipment
- IP67-rated enclosure for use in demanding environments
- Premium build: aluminum body with Gorilla Glass 3 panels
- Available as Embedded Module for industrial designs
Reliable outside
and inside
Noise barrier
Engineered to fully isolate USB power and data signals, eliminating ground-loop interference. Its ultra-low-noise design meets the most demanding audiophile standards — no ticks, pops, clicks, or hum in your audio output.
Reliable Protection
Reliably protects connected USB devices from electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage and isolates them from abnormally high voltage on power and data lines for up to 60 seconds. Acts as a hard barrier against all common electrostatic hazards — including those from malfunctioning public USB ports.
Plug & Play design
Simply plug Isolator V1 between your USB host and any USB device — your device will immediately receive fully isolated USB signals and up to 400 mA of clean power. If your USB device requires more power, the built-in USB Micro-B port accepts an optional external power supply.
Robust exterior
Digital and Analog
noise barrier
Digital and Analog domains
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 full isolation up to USB 2.0 High-Speed (480 Mbps). USB data is accurately reproduced and delivered to the connected device, completely free of analog noise from the host.
Analog
Isolator V1's analog power design draws up to 0.4 A at 5 V from the USB host, with optional external power input available for connected devices that require more than can be sourced from the host alone.
Unified
digital signal
USB signal conditioning
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 data is re-clocked using a high-precision crystal oscillator with excellent frequency tolerance and stability across a wide operating temperature range of −40 °C to +125 °C.
Error correction
Isolator V1 does not propagate USB signal errors from the host, ensuring the connected device is always protected from unexpected behavior caused by a corrupted or unstable signal.
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
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
Beyond isolation, Isolator V1 actively suppresses input power noise from the USB host. The connected device receives clean, stable power at any supported load, and any residual noise on data paths is blocked galvanically.
Low-power design
Isolator V1 draws only up to 120 mA for its own internal operation, making it suitable for use with battery-powered hosts where noise is leaking into 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 DAC/DAP, Isolator V1 prevents analog noise — including ground-loop hum — from entering the audio signal, resulting in a cleaner, more accurate audio spectrum.
Low noise floor
When grounds are shared, noise generated by the host — whether a PC, streamer, or TV — can propagate into the audio device's circuitry and degrade sound quality. Isolator V1's ground isolation shields sensitive audio components from this interference, delivering 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
Power noise entering the sensor or ADC circuitry of a device can corrupt precise measurements — whether capturing audio where background noise is unacceptable, or recording cardiovascular data where accuracy is critical. Even low levels of interference can invalidate results.
Isolator V1 isolates the USB device from ground loops, protects against power transients, and suppresses power-line noise — all contributing to clean, reliable measurement outcomes.
Noiseless, battery-like power source
The power delivered by Isolator V1 is comparable in cleanliness to that of a battery — widely regarded as the quietest power source available. Your measurements benefit from an unpolluted frequency range, free from power-noise interference. This allows a high-powered desktop PC to serve as a measurement host without the risk of power noise compromising your results.
Versatile
power sources
Dual power design
Isolator V1 supports two power sources: the host USB port, or an external supply via the USB Micro-B jack. External power is recommended when the connected device requires more than Isolator V1 can draw from the host, or when the USB cable run between host and device exceeds 2 m.
Both power states are indicated by built-in status icons.
USB Power - Red LED
This indicator confirms that Isolator V1 is connected to the host USB port and receiving sufficient power. It also reflects USB data link status — bright red when a data connection is active, pale red when supplying power only.
Ext Power - Blue LED
This indicator confirms that external power is being supplied via the USB Micro-B jack to the connected USB device.
Isolator V1
Embedded Module
Elevate Your Industrial Design with Isolator V1
Looking to integrate a galvanically isolated USB port into your hardware design? The Isolator V1 Embedded Module is a compact, high-performance solution that brings the full capabilities of Isolator V1 to your own platform.
Rapid Integration
Add a fully isolated USB port to your existing design with minimal engineering effort and no component-sourcing complexity. See Details for the module's complete feature list.
Enhanced Reliability
Protect sensitive equipment from electrical noise and power surges through galvanic isolation. The USB jack is IP67-certified and rated for harsh operating environments.
Compact Footprint, Easy Integration
The module's compact footprint makes integration straightforward. It connects to your hardware via a short USB-C cable; custom cables with alternative connectors are available on request.
Regulatory Compliance
FCC, CE, and RoHS certified for global use.
Applications
- Industrial Automation: Protect control systems from electrical noise and power surges.
- Medical Devices: Ensure the safety and reliability of patient-connected equipment.
- Audio/Video Equipment: Eliminate ground loops and noise for cleaner audio and video output.
- Test & Measurement: Improve the accuracy and repeatability of measurement instruments.
Digital isolation
Analog isolation
Output power
USB
Indication
Enclosure
Your advanced solution
for noise removal
FAQ
- AC-powered PC → AC-powered USB DAC: A ground loop forms through the shared AC outlet and USB cable.
- TV box or streaming mini-PC → USB DAC as preamplifier → amplifier: Insert Isolator V1 between the streamer and DAC to break the shared ground path between streamer and amplifier.
- External speakers connected to both PC and USB audio device (DAC/DAP): This creates a ground loop between the speaker amplifier, PC, and audio device.
- Musical instrument (guitar processor, synthesizer, keyboard) → PC via USB and line-in (for recording): This setup creates a ground loop between PC and musical instrument.
- Oscilloscope → PC, oscilloscope → measured device connected to PC (power or any wired interface): This setup creates a ground loop.
- Noise-sensitive, high-precision device → PC: Ground isolation improves the noise performance of the connected device.