Time clock sync devices

@thanasakis Hi, A master clock is one of the most important contributions to hi-end digital sound quality. However, clocks are very sensitive and they need (expensive) quality clock cables, power cables and power supplies to reveal their full potential.

A good clock will sound like a major component upgrade.

@lordmelton Thank you very much!

It might help to know what you're planning to use it with.  In my case, it was a complete waste of money as the device I used it with already had an excellent internal clock.

Master clocks are most often used to synchronize multiple devices in a studio environment. 

Read up on them a little.  Here's a short high-level overview 

@big_greg thank you for your answer. I recently bought a CEC transport (TL 2N) and I am planning to sync it to my dac (CH PRECISION C1), which can accept a clock sync board. I must admit that it sounds wonderfully as it is! I don’t know if it is worth buying the sync board plus a digital cable!

Hopefully someone that has owned that combination can chime in. 

Yep, clocks are critical to digital. And as  big_greg referenced one can overdue it, the internal clocks may be sufficient, adding external or more clocks and/ or mismatched clocks may disturb sound quality.  Somewhat recently I experienced what I presume was effect of this when after adding a switch to network I suddenly noticed excessively precise imaging. Other than that one episode, better clocks have always resulted in better sound quality for me. 

You'll likely get more value passing your streaming digital through a clock than the output of a high quality transport like the CEC.  That's why many standalone clocks are network cable in & USB out

Your Transport also has their proprietary SUPERLINK connection, which allows a compatible (CEC) DAC to share its clock.

I have the Innuos Phoenix reclocker.  Yep definitely works well and Im keeping it.  You hardly ever see them up for sale used so that says something too

Clocking will have a very significant impact. The infinitesimal amount of jitter is the thing holding elite systems back.  The stepped up clock in my server was game changing and makes very DAC I have had here sound better.  

@verdantaudio - Have you noticed a similar impact with using a quality cd transport as well? The Op isn't using a server or streamer

I haven’t used a transport since 2019.  Haven’t tested it but theoretically it should have the same sort impact. 

Provided a clock of appropriate quality along with good quality impedance matched cables is used, it will definitely improve the sound of the CEC transport and CH Precision DAC.

+ 1 Lordmelton. I had the Word Clock when I had my dCS Vivaldi stack and turning it on and off within the system enhanced the room ambiance significantly, making my system sound more lifelike. Recently I added a 10Mhz Afterdark clock to my Etherregen, then upgraded the AD clock and the Regen with two separate Farad LPSs. I upgraded the LPS cables (both the AC and DC) then finally upgraded the clock cable with ADs top clock cable. All this switch associated equipment was about 4 K in cost, but it has removed the digital grunge and allowed a sweet stress free digital stream. I am delighted with the sound of this equipment feeding my Grimm MU1 and Lampizator Pacific DAC. I do feel silly in a way having spent so much money on the switch, but it has been worth it  in my system. I expect a company (I hope it's Uptone! Come on Alex!!!) will package these components together at a lower total price and maybe even better quality without needing so many cables. 

To the question of clocks and transports, ran my Esoteric K-01 with the dCS word clock and it made an improvement in SQ, but the 10Mhz AD clock on the Etherregen and associated cables and power supplies made a much bigger positive impact. When I put these clocks in my system it's not like I was struggling trying to pick one cable over another, it's not subtle and you will not want to listen without it ever again. 

Above white paper is critical for understanding the necessity for optimal matching of network equipment. Get it correct and you'll have wonderful imaging soundstaging and more natural analog like sound quality, wrong, and you'll get overly precise imaging I experienced, other anomalies may also exist I've not yet heard. I greatly respect John Swenson, really ahead of the crowd on digital and streaming.

@wokeuptobose Hi, Yes a 10 Mhz clock is a completely different animal from a Word Clock. It acts like a metronome providing a constant beat for any other clocks and oscillators in your system.

Now this is what I'm currently discovering and working on, which you have got a taste of, is power cables. I'm not quite there yet but it seems as if there is a relationship between the clock power cable and the clocked devices in the system power cables.

It may even extend to most or all cables in your system benefit by being the same as the clock power cable. Mad I know but there's seems to be something there.

Clock power cable even through a quality linear power supply is a major factor in SQ.

I am currently using a Viard Audio Silver HD20 power cable and a Viard Audio Platinum 75 Ohm clock cable with great results. Don't know why but many used for sale in HK

http://hifizero.com/index.php?q=viard

Google translate

@sns Received my Ediscreation Extreme Fiber box today an all in one unit which will finally take me into the wonderful world of streaming. Optical isolation, the full works. Will report back with great results I’m sure once I’m Qobuz registered.

@lordmelton  Believe you mentioned this product previously, relatively low priced for what it offers. I do like the integrated nature of this, reduces clutter and cabling. Would be nice to see direct comparison to Sonore products although not exactly same iterations of capabilities.

It is both interesting and a good thing to see more optical devices coming to market as I'm convinced optical is optimal network solution at this point.

I would think that is why there are more expensive streamers out there.

Well, streamer is last piece of equipment prior to dac, points to having large impact in final sound quality. I'll continue to say until I'm blue in face using motherboard usb out of servers directly to dacs is what gives streaming a bad name.

@lordmelton 

most superior clocks in my experience run on DC, so you need a separate power and DC cable. Actually the quality of the DC cable matters as well, preferally lowest possible impedance. I cannot find any good reason to buy power and digital cables from the same manufacturer, though since there seems to be no overlap between the leading manufacturers of BNC (Habst, Shunyata, Sablon et al) and power chords (a long list including Nordost, Kubala Sosna, Acoustic Revive, Audioquest, Furutech et al)

@antigrunge2 Totally agree a quality DC power supply is essential for a clock. I use Plixir with their upgraded DC cable.

I have found the AC power cable for the clock power supply is critical, no one would believe so because the clock is using the tiniest amount of electricity. But try it for yourself.

I can't say with absolute conviction that using the same manufacturer's BNC clock and AC power cable will give you the best results but it's working for me.

I don't have enough BNC cables to further experiment but if you do you can give it a try.

Shunyata do make a 75 Ohm and 50 Ohm BNC clock cables and of course power cables.

However most quality BNC cables are $2-3k.

The Viard cables are high quality cables made in France.