Tgrisham - jitter is noise (in time domain). It creates (in frequency domain) sidebands that are not harmonically related (like THD is) and therefore audible in spite of very low levels. With multiple root frequencies (music) it appears as noise. It is strange kind of noise because it is present only when signal is present so it can be detected only as a lack of clarity. Bryoncunningham mentioned greater perceived resolution with suppression of the jitter - that exactly what is improved. My first experience with Benchmark DAC1 made me at first searching for missing instruments on recordings - sounded too clean (some call it sterile or analytical). Addition of noise or small distortion always makes sound more "lively"
How low can we go with JITTER now?
I must say at the onset, I sincerely enjoy what I have now by way of Audio Quality…. BUT I feel I can move further on… I’m pretty sure.
Sooooo….. What is the least amount of JITTER which is audibly discernable? In other words, about where do we get to before we’re beating a dead horse on the JITTER issue? …and how do we know just how darn much JITTER we’re dealing with anyhow?
Would adding a word re-clocking device between a PC sound card and my DAC such as a Black Lion or some other, be the best path for improving upon my audio quality, or should some other aspect be addressed instead?
Say a Re-clocker is added, then there’s got to be another cable, more connections, more loss… greater chance of adding that stuff about HF interference… etc.
I’m bemused and confused as to which item (s) need the foremost attention though.
Sound card?
Re-clocking device?
Getting off the grid with a DC based upgrade for my BC DAC 3 TO THE NEW vb line?
Or all of the above?
Seeing a need for the ability to handle formats upwards of 24/192 I see two items of significant controversy in that appraisal.
1 Lessening JITTER… natch’
2 Providing for greater word lengths and bit rates into my DAC from my PC as only via it’s SPDIF; BNC; AES, inputs can I convert formats above 16/48.. ie., Sound card
Any thoughts on how you’ve moved along these avenues or any experience with stepping up the sound card ladder, or using RE-CLOCKING devices would be appreciated!
I can ill afford much more hair pulling! Thanks immensely.