Why do you believe in this nonsense? Clocks are only useful in recording studios where a variety of disparate digital devices are in use. Home audio DAC's are asynchronous - they re-clock incoming digital signals and are immune to timing errors (jitter). For you re-clocking is a cure in search of a disease! Save your money for something that has a real effect - like better speakers.
How to ■ break-in ■ Clock Cable ■
I have been wondering how to break-in clock cables. Do I need to play music, OR just power on the Clock?
I have (a) Master Clock, connecting to (b) CD Transport, and (c) DAC
- Do I need to power-on ALL 3 machines? Do I need to even play a CD?
- OR, what I need is to just power-on Master Clock?
Someone said, as clock sampling signals are being sent out from Master Clock to slaves via "clock cables", regardless what the slaves are doing, so there are no need to play music. (So, no need to play CDs)
He further said, when interconnect cables, say from Transport to DAC, are being broken-in, there is no need to power-on the DAC, because signals are being sent from Transport via "interconnect cables", regardless DAC is power-on or not. In this case, the same logic is applied to clock cables break-in.
If the above makes sense, I can break-in Clock cables by just power-on Master Clock and let the sampling signals out?
Thanks.
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Not all home DACs have a built-in clock. Audio Note and Border Patrol are R2R ladder Dacs without filtering or oversampling. This design has less circuitry in the signal path. They rely on the source to be asynchronous. To be honest, my Audio Note sounds better using a reclocker between source and DAC. Recently, owners of high-end systems are now using a master clock in their digital setups. |
@lowrider57 : why would you want to use an R2R DAC (Audio Note) without a proper filter (to remove out-of-band artifacts) and upsampling? These were both used to improve the noise/distortion (linearity) of R2R DACs. |
Just leave your clock powered 24/7 because if you switch it off it could take a day or two to settle down again. It's very important that the clock cables are short, 1m is good but not longer if you can help it. All clock cables should be same manufacturer and same length. Good quality too, at least $1k per cable. A very good and compatible power cable for the clock is essential. Try several they make a big difference. |
@jasonbourne52 , when I purchased my AN DAC they were using digital filters and some models were oversampling. More recently, the designer and the chief engineer at AN removed them after listening tests proved better SQ with a direct signal to the DAC chips. I’m the first one to admit it’s a mistake for a DAC not to contain an internal clock. It’s not going to add noise or distortion if well implemented. AN builds components to be used in their complete systems, that’s their philosophy. This includes asynchronous sources and digital cables optimised to be used within their systems. One of their dealers built a master clock mod and also sells external clocks to be used with AN Dacs. He told me that Peter, the owner of the company is scheduled to visit this dealer’s listening room. I have a preamp and a DAC and they present wonderfully realistic tonal qualities.
I forgot... Audio Note DACs accept up to 24/96kHz digital. |
@lowrider57 did you burn in your clock cables? If you did, how? Or it was not necessary? Thanks |
I have a Esoteric UX3 which uses a r to r ladder dac, the PCM1704 dac. It is the best sounding and most analog sounding dac (to me) that I have ever heard. I was told by 3 different people in the industry that they felt it is a lifetime keeper. I concur as I have owned it for 10 years and have no desire to ever change. |