Streaming vs Physical Media

In another thread on cables, I linked an article by the Pink Floyd recording engineers but there's this one statement about digital recordings and making copies:

In my opinion there are a lot of misconceptions about digital audio. Disregarding the good points, some of the bad points are that it is almost impossible to do a digital to digital copy and retain the resolution; it is far more susceptible to the sound changing from many different reasons – RF, A/C mains, harmonic distortion and fluctuation, physical vibrations, etc., than most people realize. What we have tried to achieve is to get our HD system sounding as good as possible, given the parameters of what it is in the first place. We have spent many days listening and testing. Accordingly, every area of improvement has been implemented to the highest degree: all the A/C mains, audio cabling, digital cabling, anti jitter boxes, master clocks, physical support of the units, etc.

Granted, that was back in 2005, but it's still relevant today.

All the best,
Nonoise

Granted, that was back in 2005, but it's still relevant today.

All the best

Nonoise

Yep!

The fundamental and foundational findings are always relevant.

Charles

Man, I appreciate the deep dive of the analog vinyl aficionados. I'm lazy to this end and just love the Qobuz & Tidal feed to my Roon Rock Nuc>Optical Lan> PS audio Bridge>PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC MKII.  192Khz 24 bit is better than cd. The rabbit hole of digital is just as deep as analog but when it is right. It is oh so right. Peace

@stevewharton 

Why do you need upgraded clocks in a network stream when TCP/IP ensures reliable delivery to the streamer - I don't understand ?

@chopandchange 

Your question about clocking is a good one and it only takes about 2 seconds to get me out of my comfort zone

I'll share what little I think I understand

The issue of clocking is part of an age old problem of jitter in the digital waveform and not specific to streaming, we have the same issue with CD playback, thus the TCP algorithms and protocols may or may not always apply, depending on where the clocking occurs

My limited understanding is one of the mechanism of reducing jitter is improving the precision of the clocking and providing a more accurate digital waveform for conversion and thus improved SQ at analog playback

That seems to lead to various opinions on where the clocking should occur, what device gets to be the master clock, should it be re-clocked and circuitry discussions - ALL WAY OVER MY HEAD

Here's some marketing specs from an audio grade network switch highlighting the advantages of their clocking technology

Specs & Pricing

Circuitry: Fully differential clock circuitry, isolators, and flip-flops
Clock system: Ultra-low jitter/phase noise Crystek CCHD-575 oscillator

I've also seen various stand alone master clock hardware that sits between the transport and the DAC

I've read about one master clock that improves accuracy by maintaining frequency temperature characteristics

Since temperature has a huge effect on accuracy of the crystal oscillator, minimising temperature changes and maintaining it at an ideal level are extremely important in order to generate an accurate clock signal. The CG-10M employs an innovative oven-controlled crystal oscillator, the TEAC Reference OCXO to reduce oscillation frequency fluctuations caused by temperature changes.

What does a master clock do in audio?

The clock provides that timing information and allows the waveform to be reconstructed as an analogue signal correctly when required (assuming the sample rate is more than twice the highest frequency component of the audio signal being sampled).

I find the concepts both amusing and intriguing, does my system need a master clock?

Heck if I know but I'll know it when I hear it, and that will require me to evaluate a couple in my system over time

Hope that helps and there are many on this forum MUCH more qualified than I to tell us both in layman terms the conventional thinking in this space

Happy listening and enjoy the journey