Ethernet Clocking

While you are at it you might ask the same question to Chord, Mutec, Innuos and Antelope. Oh, I forgot: they are all out to scam us. Paranoia reigns supreme.

@lalitk,

you are right, however my system is somewhat idiosyncratic and the result of a continuous improvement process over many years.

It goes something like this:

Digital: Router on LPS->DXE Pro Ethernet filter->Ethernet Cat8->Uptone Etherregen driven by Antelope Audiophile 10m with Mini Circuits filter on Sommercable 75ohm BNC and ZeroZone 2020 LPS->Meicord Opal->Innuos Zenith Mk3 on Gingko Audio platform on Black Ravioli Pads on Nordost Brahma PC->custom 2-prong signal and 5v USB cable->Intona Isolator->Intona Reference USB->Antelope Zodiac Platinum on Black ravioli pads driven by Antelope Audiophile 10m clock on dual Sommercable 75 Ohm BNC (Platinum,5v USB and clock supplied by Sean Jacobs DC3/4 LPS on Nordost Valhalla

Analogue: Scheu Das Laufwerk2 Slate wall mounted with Dynavector DV507 Mk2 with Millenium Carbon Headshell and Cartridgeman Isolator and Teres Audio Verus Rim Drive on Nordost Brahma-> Zyx Universe Cu-Lo->Auditorium23 Phono->Bob’s Devices Altec Lansing TBB-663 SUT->Zyx Artisan Phono->Zodiac Platinum

Downstream: dual Auditorium23/ Sommercable Epilogue RCAs (Schroeder Method)-> Wavac EC300b (EAT300b, Svetlana Winged-C 6L6 GC, Mad Scientist, EAT and Duende Criatura Dampers) on Nordost Valhalla, Gingko Audio platform and Black Ravioli Big II footers->Auditorium23 speaker Cable->Bybee Golden Goddess Speaker Bullets->Stein Music Speaker Match->Audioprism Ground Control-> Duevel Bella Luna Speakers with Murata ES 103b on Symposium Svelte Shelf on Final Daruma MkII feet

Upstream: Separate spur with Akiko Gold Stick on Junction box->Russ Andrews fuseless socket->Isotek Vision GII->Acoustic Revive Reference II->2x Acoustic Revive RTP-4, WA QuantumTuning Chips on all power, USb and RCA connections.

Acoustic Revive Ethernet and USB filters, shorting plugs on all unused RCA and balanced connections,fuses by ACME, Furutech and Hifi Tuning

So, it’s all a bit complicated and often the devil is in the detail.

Hope this helps you understand my continued journey.

@sns,

cheap switches don’t have good clocks and I am afraid that’s what you heard. I am no friend of additional devices and connections unless it’s clear why they contribute

@lmcmalo @cakyol ,

the difference between pure digital transmission and audio lies in the analogue domain, where there is no buffering and noise from the digital domain creates havoc, The only way to detect that reliably is using your ears.

To those who believe that a $2 piece of wire and a $20 switch suffice: we all believe in something…

Her is John Quick of DCS as quotedby Austinpop on the merit of external clocks:

We began to employ external master clocks due to our experience in the pro arena, where there are generally numerous clocks running simultaneously, thereby making their use mandatory; though our engineers questioned their efficacy in relatively closed consumer systems, there is both objective/measured and subjective/listening evidence that they can have a profound effect on the sound. The theory why the dedicated, external reference makes a difference has to do with the fact crystal oscillators are electro-mechanical devices, so they are especially sensitive to their physical and electro-magnetic environment.  It may be the hammer method, and you can absolutely spoil the performance of an external reference with crummy cables or improper support, but the performance gains are there to be had!

@imcmalo,

you’ll forgive me when I believe what I hear rather than what you postulate. This is getting old fast and I distinctly feel that old @cakyol is hiding behind this new moniker. Read the full quote and you’ll see why it’s there

The quote from DCS refers to their Bartok streamer/dac and specifically addresses the superior integrity achievable through external clocks. Likewise John Swenson, designer of the Etherregen specifically refers to improvements achievable through superior clocking. More importantly the benefits as I described in my post are clearly audible. To negate all this by postulating principle based ‘knowledge’ as a network engineer don’t impress me much. Obviously @thyname is entitled to his own view.

Aliexpress: BG7TBL 10MHz OCXO FREQUENCY STANDARD ,

I bought this and it was a good step forward for less than $100. It convinced me to buy the expensive Antelope 10m clock which was again significantly better

@cindyment

you pretend to know it all yet refer to using DSP to adjust your system to whatever suits you. That alone in my mind disqualifies you as a serious audiophile. DSP requires substantial computing power and that creates serious issues with SQ. All your remarks about packet switching and buffering miss the point entirely. Clocking accuracy Through The Chain has major impact on the signal conversion into analogue and if you cańt hear it keep believing whatever. That major designers from DCM and Schiit make the same argument should at least make you think again; Insulting others as retrograde bumpkins to elevate oneself disqualifies you entirely. Over and out.

@djones51,

as usual barking up the wrong tree: just try Roon with and without DSP. If you can‘t hear the difference, I can‘t help you. And the clocking issues I am talking about definitely have nothing to do with synchronising different DACs. Tiresome…

@cindyment @djones51 

My full system is on this thread. I will not further engage in any discussion with both of you. Your church and mine on what sounds good are too far apart.