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Adventures with Clock Cables

My Aurender N20 has a Word Clock BNC input and my MSB Discrete DAC has a Word Clock BNC output. Vince at MSB recommended that I connect these devices with a 75 ohm clock cable. This allows the MSB Clock to be the master and the Aurender Clock the slave. There is a selection within the Aurender Conductor app that allows you to select this synchrony.

Last year I tried this connection using a $35 75 ohm BNC cable from Blue Jeans and the result was easily heard. Smoother presentation and better soundstage. Two months ago I thought I would see what additional improvements I could get by upgrading the clock cable. I called The Cable Company, where I borrow all my cables, and spoke to Ethan who is quite knowledgeable. I was going to demo the Shunyata Theta cable but it was on loan. Ethen suggested I try the Alpha which was a lot more than the Theta but I figured at least let me see what this does. I was skeptical that any significant improvement would be worth the cost.

A day or two later the cable arrived and after swapping out the Blue Jeans I was shocked to hear a significant improvement specifically in soundstage transparency and overall refinement. Now I was curious at least to see what the Sigma and Omega versions would do.. These were a lot more than I wanted to spend but I decided to try them. After evaluating all three over a week I can say I preferred the Alpha. The Sigma and Omega I felt at least for my system had too much noise reduction that slightly damped the highs. So I ordered the Alpha. Once hearing it I could not go back to the Blue Jeans.

About two weeks later I received the new cable from Shunyata. The cable that I borrowed and still in my system was the previous version before the new X Series was introduced. So the new cable I got was a Alpha-X. To my delight this cable sounded even better than the one I borrowed. All of the characteristics of the original Alpha were subtly but noticeably enhanced. In other words it was even better.

Amazing to me this improved my system to this degree as the clock cable does not transmit any sound or audio information. Just timing. But apparently there is noise that rides along and adds jitter to the clock signal causing artifacts that are audible.

Anyway if you have an external clock call The Cable Company and borrow a few Shunyata clock cables and see for yourself what improvement you can net.

jfrmusic
jfrmusic OP
360 posts
 

@justubes2 

 

I use the AES/XLR to connect the Aurender to the MSB. Originally had a Blue Jeans cable. I upgraded to a DH Labs. Tried a Shunyata Alpha but preferred the sound of the DH Labs. Also tried the DH Labs Silver Reference but found it too bright. 

madtrader
7 posts
 

While I have NOT done a ton of experimentation with clock cables, I’ll share an anecdote from my experience. I used to run a dCS Rossini and Rossini clock. The pair came with some clock cables. At one point I wondered if I could even hear a difference if I tried something different and I ordered some Geistnote cables. My memory is a little fuzzy, so I may have this reversed, but IIRC I ordered some 0.5m cables. I tried them and I convinced myself that maybe I heard a difference and maybe I preferred the Geistnote to the stock cables it came with. But then I found some discussion suggesting that clock cables should be no shorter than 1.5m. These are really inexpensive cables, on the order of $40 at the time, so I said “why not” and ordered 2m cables of the same model. They were a revelation. There was no “maybe I hear a difference.” It was a dramatic step change. The specific improvement was a sharpening of the focus around the environment. That is, while already, in the right recordings, I was transported to the venue and you could hear the room, those details were more resolved and specific. Anyway, that’s my anecdote about just a change in clock cable length.

justubes2
207 posts
 

@jfrmusic,

Thanks, also did the Alpha v2 Aes/ebu connecting Aurender and MSB feel likewaise too much filtering for you like as with the clock cable.

 

I am still contemplating what the Alpha-x clock will be a good choice. Co. Pared with the loaner Alpha v2, did the improvements that of the X seem like it was due to the filtering and again, less forgiving if i am looking for fullness and maybe a touch of natural warmth to the sound. Would you recommend a V2 instead of the X.

 

I would be thinking the copper conductor in the X would actually have sounded fuller and richer than the V2 which silver is used. 

 

jfrmusic OP
360 posts
 

@justubes2 

Compared to the DH Labs XLR AES cable the Shunyata Alpha did not sound as airy and open and yes slightly warmer. 
 

Definitely the Alpha X was superior to the previous version. Less noise and better imaging and detail while adding some refinement. It is not warmer or darker in any way

justubes2
207 posts
 

@jfrmusic, a big thanks to your valued opinion.

 

I have been always wondering how practically everybody praised the v2 cables so highly.

It was better in some aspects, but i always felt there was a caveat to the areas that improved came with an ooverall subduded presentation and could never listen long to it. The ranges have a rather large difference in presenation for me based on Sigma v1 and v2 which i have.

 

The v1 has been wonderful for me, i was glad when the little plastic cylindrical tube on my Sigma v1 came apart by itself after the adhesive sticker lost its stickiness after these years and relieved that was empty instead of finding some crystals or power falling out.

 

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