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Using an external word clock with Esoteric cd/sacd players

Considering the use of an external word clock with my Esoteric cd/sacd player, it has a word clock BNC input. Wanted to ask two questions;
1.) Are you relegated to using only an Esoteric word clock device? or
2.) Can you use another manufacturer like some of the pro audio word clocks, eg. Antelope OCXHD, Black Lion, Tascam, etc.?
Thanks for your input.
audibleguy
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
I can endorse the Mutec, which handily comes with both 50 and 75 ohm outputs. It does really benefit from a good power cord, footers and of course a superb BNC!

But if you’re feeling speedy there’s always this 😁
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2018/01/abendrot-audio-44k-stute-master-clock.html

And for @mzkmxcv a good external clock will transform even the best DAC, my Vivaldi benefitted enormously from a 10 MHz Reference clock, even though I already have the Vivaldi clock as well. And those I know with the astute would never go back ...

dgarretson
2,608 posts
 
Yikes, for $44K I'd like to see more than two outputs on that.  I'm using five outputs on my Perf 10: K01X, two SOtM endpoints, one SOtM ethernet hub, and an Antelope frequency divider into a Tascam DSD recorder.  
erik_squires
16,416 posts
 
So, the answer is, this depends.

Generally, you want an internal clock on the Esoteric because, being closest to the spinning disc, and DAC, an internal clock has the shortest trace route, and will have the best chance at having a great signal.

The main reason to use an external clock is when using an external DAC. Some external DAC’s even provide their own clock out.

Second main reason to use an external clock is if a device has a poor one to start with. Clocks and their circuitry over the past 10 years are VERY VERY good though.


Best,
E
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@folkfreak

Any difference heard by using external clocks is placebo unless it’s like a $10 DAC. Even a Topping D10 (~$75) has a Jitter Test result of better than -125dB, better than dithered 16Bit. Vivaldi has a result of better than -130dB. To put this into perspective, you likely listen with peaks at 100dB, your room’s noise floor is likely not lower than 40dB, so that’s only 60dB of dynamic range, that’s not even 10Bit, and a psec clock offset of >22,000, whereas the offset out of any source is likely not above 1,000 (again, that’s before there DAC reduces it). 

Jitter has not been an issue in over a decade.
dgarretson
2,608 posts
 
That is not my experience with the K-01X and an external clock.
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