Maybe... but I KNOW Alex's NWO-M 4.0 does this, as I hear it everyday. :-) |
FWIW - I have the 2nd generation 32-bit AKM DACs in my APL - NWO-ME Super-DAC prototype that I use along with my upgraded Esoteric UX-1, which I believe has the Burr-Browns in it. While I realize there are way more DACs in the APL prototype, so that any comparison is 4 apples to 20, I can't help but be impressed by the AKM DACs. Pretty much more of everything and the ability to get much further into the music - like a veil or 2 are lifted.
It will be very interesting to see how the K-01 sounds, especially after break-in. The only concern I would have is accuracy vs. musicality - not sure how Esoteric will handle that. The APL uses a double tube output stage, but I didn't see any tubes in the Esoteric. |
I have asked this same question a while back, owning an Esoteric Rubidium clock and also Apl-modded gear. Once I understood the different functions of a "clock", I see why the external clock, while nice to have, is nowhere near as critical as the internal clock.
I'm not an engineer, but Alex and others have explained to me that the external clock controls the Speed or precision of the clock frequency. The precision of the clock frequency has nothing to do with the jitter introduced to the DACs but with speed ONLY. In other words, if your external clock is at a lower frequency than that specified, the music will play at lower speed and vice versa. So the stability of the external clock has nothing to do with jitter. Alex said his clocking approach reduces jitter to a level that is unobtainable even with an atomic clock, unless it clocks the DAC chips directly which is impossible. Having the internal clock in close proximity to the DACs (a few inches) results in greatly reduced jitter, which is audible as a purer signal output. Consequently, as I discovered, trying to apply external clock measurements to an internal clock totally misses the point, because they are controlling different things. That is also why most good CD mods will always contain an upgraded internal clock.
Hopefully, I didn't just confuse you; an engineer or Alex could probably explain this more clearly, or not :-). The point is, with the NWO-M, my G-Os Rubidium clock becomes totally extraneous for this system. |
While it does not reduce jitter, a good external clock can have some benefit, depending upon how resolving your system is and what the internal clock is doing. I have heard my system sound better with the external clock in it using my UX-1, but that's before the player has the benefit of Alex's clocking. I don't think I'll ever know whether an external clock would improve Alex's internal clocking because I doubt that he'll ever build a piece that would take an external clock.
I'm pretty much out of my league technically to explain this any further - I don't know WHY the external clock made things sound better, it just did. It was most noticed when I turned the external clock off - some of the airiness seemed to be missing. I'm sure Mr. Harley can explain this much better than I. |
If you were a design engineer/manufacturer, Bill, you would probably not be so smug nor disrespectful. The fact that Alex even participates in some of your baiting is remarkable to me - I certainly wouldn't.
It is always beneficial when a manufacturer is able to answer questions directly, as a number do from time to time on these forums. I find their input valuable as do many others. Your blatantly obvious "ax-to-grind" attitude towards Alex helps no one. |
Thank you for the compliment. I'm pretty happy. If I didn't have the NWO, I would probably get the K-01. Although I have yet to hear it, various friends whose opinions I trust implicitly have raved about it. |
Joe-
I believe you might be trying to compare apples and oranges, as they say. I would either call Esoteric or your Esoteric dealer if you have one. There is also another thread here talking about the K-03 with some feedback from several dealers that you might want to check out. Their comments pretty much echo what I was told by my contacts at Esoteric, FWIW. Good luck and let us know if you get the K-03! |
Here's a link to that thread:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1301679798&&&/EMM-Labs-XDS1-vs-Esoteric-K-01 |
Guido - it was my pleasure to finally meet you as well!
I also spent a fair amount of time listening to the K-01 at RMAF and came away very impressed, as I had a hunch I might. The ability to nuance the sound with the different filters as well as the ability to play SACD in native DSD were 2 areas that my current NWO-M does not possess. The ability to be able to select these as needed or desired is a good selling point, IMHO. I am now more curious how the K-01 will sound in my system, although not to the point of trying it yet. Going from a single box solution back to 2 boxes doesn't feel like "simplifying" to me, even though I still have my Esoteric rubidium clock and digital cabling. :-) |
My Esoteric based APL NWO-M has a bunch of the latest AKM DAC chips in it. Although the machine sounded very good new, after about 359 hours, each format sounded significantly better to me.
In addition, there was no difference using my Esoteric G-os rubidium clock with the NWO-M, however when I used the clock with the UX-1 Ltd as transport only with another DAC, the clock DID make things sound noticeably better. I was not in the Esoteric room when the clock was A-B'd with the K-01 at RMAF. I now wish I had been Based upon my limited rubidium clock experience, I would agree with Matjet as to the clock's best use.
If indeed the clock made the K-01 sound better than just the K-01 by itself, as my friend Guido witnessed at RMAF, it totally calls into question the quality of the K-01's internal clock(s), I would think. Not sure how you can really AVOID such a conclusion. Again, I would want to hear the A-B myself, in my own system, before I can draw any conclusions about the K-01. |
According to Esoteric at RMAF, P02/D02 is supposed to be a quantum improvement from the P03/D03. 35 bit DACs are also mentioned, or something like that. I would presume, just from release timing and relative costs, that the P02/D02 will smoke the K-01.
I do know that I prefer my newly-improved NWO-M to what I've heard of the K-01 at this point as well, although I'd obviously need to have the K-01 in my system to be absolutely sure of the differences I am hearing. At this point, I don't feel the players are close enough to warrant such a test.
P02/D02 vs APL NWO-M would probably be a more interesting comparison, IMHO. |
Guys- I knew I'd heard "35 bits", but had forgotten the content. G- That was the head of Esoteric Tech Support who was running the show (Tim Crable), NOT the marketing guy (Mark Gurvey), FWIW. |
WOW Guido - as always, you got your finger on the hot pulse of all things audio. I stand corrected - had no idea of that change. |
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G-
OK, but I'm not "Frank", although I AM candid and forthright. I'll drop you a line this weekend.
HARVE |
