WHAT ABOUT CLOCKS?

Using a 20k clock on a 3.5k player should help it a bit I would imagine;)

Regards,

I think the separate external clock/DAC/transport is an old way of solving the problem for hifi. A clock is fine in some complex recording studio situations where multiple digital systems needed to be in sync.

But I would suggest you save your money and spend it another way. The advantages like better dynamics, clearer soundstage and focus can be had for cheaper.

Just buy a computer based set up with a new top of the line firewire DAC. You will be shocked at the sound quality. All those old problems of sync will be solved in 2 purchases and for a great deal less than a brilliant but redundant external clock.

If all you are doing is playing CDs move into the 21st century. Play from cache with nice software. The sound is sublime. Playing redbook in real time will not compete. That old 1990s way of solving the problem is over and is too expensive. Been there and done it with DCS. You will never look back. You do not need to be that computer friendly. A mac of some sort will be easiest computer to set up and make sound good. Once it is set up it is done.

If you have a large selection of SACDs it is a bit of a pain, but you could still transfer SACDs to HD. Besides once you get into 24/192 downloads you will probably forget about SACDs.

I tired the cheap clock with the power supply in a few CDPs and they made a nice subtle improvement IMO as already stated above. I have not compared the more expensise replacement clocks (ultra clock) to the cheaper ones yet. I found that adding transformers in a CDP made a more significant difference in clarity, soundstage and more importantly tone. They are around $200 for a pair and if you have a local tech who knows what they are doing you can get this modification cheap.

Chadeffect; I see you have the dcs scarlatti setup. I have a silent music server with the dcs debussy usb. I was going to try the paganini master clock. Are you saying not to, waist of money? Do you not see an advantage to your clock in your system? Insight apprieciated. p.kogan

Koegz,

I never tried the Paganini. I went straight from the Elgar plus to the Scarlatti. I am not saying not to try the DCS clock. They make some of the finest kit in the world and their systems work beautifully. What I am saying is I got tired of having to spend so much on all these bits.

I just have not updated my page, but I have moved on system wise. The DCS with the clock/DAC/transport was amazing. I never used the Scarlatti transport though, but the old Encore. It was the finest digital playback I had heard at the time.

The problem with DACs is that they are mainly just a computer. As we all know this technology moves so quickly. So I changed my set up to a simple but complete computer based system.

With attention to each of the links in the chain I have managed to get sound at least as good if not better and put the savings in my bank. I moved to a Mac (amarra) firewire/ Weiss DAC with volume control/amp set up. It may not look as good, but hey!