Importance of clocking


There is a lot of talk that external clocks because of the distance to the processor don‘t work. This is the opposite of my experience. While I had used an external Antelope rubidium clock,on my Etherregen and Zodiac Platinum Dac, I have now added a Lhy Audio UIP clocked by the same Antelope Clock to reclock the USB stream emanating from the InnuOS Zenith MkIII. The resultant increase in soundstage depth, attack an decay and overall transparency isn‘t subtle. While there seems to be lots of focus on cables, accurate clocking throughout the chain seems still deemed unnecessary. I don‘t understand InnuOS‘ selling separate reclockers for USB and Ethernet without synchronising Ethernet input, DAC conversion and USB output.

antigrunge2

@antigrunge2

I apologize for taking over your thread.  It seems that I am causing few disputes that  I didn't mean to.

@lalitk 

Although I rarely post over here I have read quite a few of your views and I respect your views and experience. Having said that you are saying my views are based on 'documentation' (whatever that means) and no direct experience. Ok if that's what you think. You have your opinion, I have mine and in this instance we disagree. Btw I don't dispute what you are hearing. It's all good.

I am out of this thread.

@greg_f 

 

no harm done, I just wonder why people advocate S/PDif or AES EBU connections which depend on the server‘s clock which is often the weakest link when all the new chip set development has gone into asynchronous USB which slaves the server‘s clock thus obviating the problem….

@antigrunge2 

I said I am out of this thread but I will answer you.

In my case I have an older DAC that is still excellent and I am reluctant to change it but it doesn't have USB i/f. therefore I am looking for AES or SPDIF i/fs. You say USB is the better i/f and you could be right but I think it really depends on how the DAC has implement the i/fs. With some DACs I still prefer AES over USB. Also some DACs are agnostic of the interface (please see kijanki's explanation further up this thread.

@greg_f

I am merely sharing my views based on responses here and other threads. It was not my intention to offend or isolate anyone. @antigrunge2 and my experience with an external clock are nothing but exemplary. I must admit, implementation and choice of components (including clock cables) are the key when pursuing such ultra high resolution endeavors. For most folks, internal DAC clock would be sufficient and provide plenty of thrills. Also, whether one can hear the differences with a master clock synchronizing multiple components such as DAC, Streamer and Switches would largely depends on the downstream components.

You don’t need to take my word for it, just study the systems that are using high quality external master clock. Peace!