For Gustard R26...which bang for the buck: DDC or LHY OCK clock?


I've been enjoying this dac for several months now. I have tried USB and COAX and now I2S.

There is a noticeable improvement in each of these inputs. I have read many of the discussions here regarding both DDC and external clocks. I am wondering which of these would give more bang for the buck. The Gustard goes very well with my tube amps.

I am considering the LHY OCK 1 or 2 for clocks and undecided for the DDC.

peareye

@pindac Cheers for the link, gee that guy went deep into the weeds on controlling temperature variation. Interesting.

FYI I have a 1”/2.54cm cube tungsten block as the base of the stack on the OCXO. With tungsten’s high density - same as gold - it weighs 316 grams so has a lot of thermal mass for its size (at least 10x a largely air filled OCXO is my guess) so once the assembly is up to target temperature (which it will delay proportionate to the initial mass) must help with smoothing micro-variations of the oven temperature, presumably also smoothing the required activity of the oven’s heater and hence its current demands on the OCXO circuit. But there’s clearly vibration damping effects too - for which tungsten is known - adding what is % wise negligible mass of fo.q polymer sheets and much smaller cubes on top has quite an additional effect on the sound. Longer decays, better transient attack etc.

 

@kereru Apologies for bringing this analogy as a description, it has been something I have been very interested in for quite some time.

I have used Vinyl LP's as the Source for all of my time being interested in Audio Equipment and replaying recorded music, this has led me to learning how to get the best function I can attain from the set up of the TT>TA>Cart' Source. This interest has brought the need to find a method to substantially reduce the impact that mechanical and ambient energies can have on the Cartridge when being freely transferred to it. The Goal being to discover methods that are perceived as having improved the performance of the Cart' and leaving the impression the Cart's function has moved more towards what can be referred to as optimised.   .

I now have a focus on the Crystal as if it is needing a type of consideration that can be shown for a Cartridge.

There is a detriment impacting on the Crystal, due to instability of the ambient temperature. The Temp' changes effect on the Crystal are measurable and if not kept stable, the Crystal is not able to function at the optimisation for the design.

Investigation has also shown there are two common crystal types selected, being the types SC and AT. There is measured evidence to prove that the AT Crystal Cut, will change it designed in frequency twice as many times as the SC Crystal Cut, if both are subjected to the same temp' fluctuations. This certainly makes the idea of constant Temp' when the OCXO is in use a very important consideration.

I have seen the Manufacturer Gustard on their C16 Model makes it known a SC Cut Crystal is used. Not many are showing if the SC or AT is the Cut for the Crystal used on a OCXO Clock Component?

The Link will show what is possibly a very recent development in the SC Cut Crystal OCXO. file:///C:/Users/karen/Downloads/ScPureDatasheet%20(1).pdf 

The undeniable fact frequency changes are measurable for the consistency of the frequency, and it is also measurable to show how ambient heat changes show changes to the frequency produced, is a good fundamental to encourage actions to ensure the Temp' is kept consistent.

To use DIY as the approach to create a condition for the OXCO that is offering a very similar environment to a OXCO housed in a Double Oven, makes sense, as the use of Double Oven OXCO's are not typically found on Devices containing  OXCO's. There are references to DOXCO's being used on the earlier referred to forum. 

Temp' Fluctuations is one cause / influence to inconsistencies being discovered that are impacting on the optimised designed for frequency to be produced by the OCXO. The OCXO as a component and this attained info being presented is all new to me. It is becoming a stimulus that is in keeping with where I found myself stimulated by learning methods for the attaining a operating environment for a Cartridge, that was without doubt, improving the Cart's function. I have a understanding of what encouraged @kereru to make the inroads on investigations and end design that has been produced. Pretty Aesthetics not being present is a collateral damage, when going through the R&D stage, tidying things up can be a later effort.    

The additional approach towards the OXCO, where there is the intention to create an isolation to reduce ambient energies being transferred to the Crystal, and other components is an area I am with a better understanding. I have experience already mentioned with Cartridges, but also have experiences of reducing the effects of Microphonics and tidying up the end sound produced by Audio Devices in general using different approaches to a components mounting and the devices mounting. 

I can see that there will be a point where I am keen to invest into a Device using a OCXO Clock, probably a used model for cost effectiveness, maybe even Two. One as the kept spec' of the Production Model and one to be a Donor model to receive differing treatments.

The idea of original Spec' vs Donor Model undergone Modification within my Local Hifi Group and broader community of friends is not strange. Cartridges were the first, then Headshells, followed by Tonearm Wand Wire,  RCA Cable Connections, RCA Chassis Connections, Internal Components and Wire Types on Amplification Devices. As a Group there is also substantial amounts of A/B Comparisons of Audio Devices.

It looks my not too long ago entry into have a Digital Source in the Home System, and at present the only Source able to be used, has an attachment, that when entertained will be quite similar as a approach to the one used for the packed away in storage Analogue Source.    

I just received the OCK-2 and the build quality is high.  Ill be using it with a Mutec MC3 +USB and Teac 701t.   Waiting for cables , but using a generic bnc to the mutec for a few days.   Build quality is high,  I have been skeptical of most Chinese brands,  often for good reason.   There are products that have questionable build quality but not this.  

I bought it after seeing some videos of Jay's CDTs and gave it a shot.  It feels like a luxury product, hopefully it's reliable... 

@oddiofyl I'm really happy with my OCK-2.  My son and I both feel that my system sounds as good as it ever has.  His hearing is excellent, so I often get his opinion.

What did you order for cables?  I'm using RG400 cables that I found on eBay.  Made in USA. I did a little reading on 50 ohm cables and the RG400 seems to be a good conductor.  I haven't done any comparisons, but these are well made and sound good. 

I used a company called pasternack.com in California.  They make a lot of different specialty cables.   

For the 50 Ohm cable I chose a cable with 50 Ohm BNC connections and a 50 Ohm cable rated to 4gHz bandwidth.   I did the same with the 75 Ohm cable.   I probably could spent half but I wanted the best quality for the $$$    if you want to go all out the have similar cables that are true mil spec.    Those were a lot more and I think my choice was probably  more than adequate. 

You can chose crimp, solder, in some cases low flux solder.  My 75 Ohm was $50 and change and the 50 Ohm was about $80