For the subject of this post the clock does make a dramatic difference. I have the Debussy for my headphone rig with a Verona clock and the Paganini full stack for my big rig and on either the clock makes a huge difference. I also have a 10mgz reference atomic clock for the big rig to the Paganini clock and that takes it even further into reality land. I also have an Audio Research DAC8 and it can't hold a candle to either of the DCS rigs, I love Audio Research but honestly the DAC8 is playing checkers and the DCS gear is playing chess with real army's, It's on an entirely different level. It really is jaw dropping the difference in experience between great dacs and the DCS equipment, it's unfair to compare them with anything except maybe the MSB in my humble experience.
If you have a budget like a majority of us do then take the DCS gear one step at a time and trust me you wont regret the experience but do yourself a favor and don't listen to more than you can afford. When I listened to the Debusy the first time I was floored and could not imagine how it could get better but keep crawling up the DCS chain and yes it does just keep getting better and more musical but I'm still completely in love with my Debussy and if I'm lucky enough to own the Vivaldi there is no doubt I will still love the Debussy with the clock of course.
If you have a budget like a majority of us do then take the DCS gear one step at a time and trust me you wont regret the experience but do yourself a favor and don't listen to more than you can afford. When I listened to the Debusy the first time I was floored and could not imagine how it could get better but keep crawling up the DCS chain and yes it does just keep getting better and more musical but I'm still completely in love with my Debussy and if I'm lucky enough to own the Vivaldi there is no doubt I will still love the Debussy with the clock of course.