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  3. 1344779438

Clock synchronization issue?

After a lot of experimentation lately I've come to the conclusion that there is a lower mid-range/upper bass frequency dip when using my Simaudio 650D with my Sooloos MC200. This dip doesn't occur with the other DACs I tried with the Sooloos nor does it occur on cd play through the 650D. My Sooloos dealer thinks it may be a clock synchro nation issue between the two units and is thinking that inserting some sort of re-clocking device between the two units may resolve the issue. Any thoughts or similar experiences you could share to help me out?

FYI, the Sooloos up samples the digital signal to 88.2 kHz and applies an apodising filter before outputting the digital signal. I'm not sure if the 650D also uses some sort of up sampling as well.
camb
camb OP
164 posts
 
Thanks Steve. Your advice is much appreciated!

Cam
camb OP
164 posts
 
I compared the S/PDIF output of a Sooloos Ensemble with the MC200 into my Simaudio 650D dac yesterday. I got the best results with the Ensemble, which was basically on par with, if not a little better than, CD play through the 650D. Wondering why that might be - you would think that since Meridian took over the company and started to integrate their digital technology the sound would improve. Maybe the Meridian gear is designed to work best with other Meridian gear to the detriment of the sound through non-Meridian gear?
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Contrary to what a lot of consumers believe, there is no "synergy" between digital components. Components are either well-designed or not. Cables are either well-designed or not.

Once you have a good digital source, all DACs will sound better with it. If it is a REALLY GOOD digital source, then most DACs will sound virtually identical. The input circuit on a particular DAC may have issues however, that holds it back. Resampling circuits are one of the things that usually breaks the SQ. Another thing that sets one DAC apart from another is the internal power systems. These are usually smaller effects compared to the digital source, unless you are taking about really cheap DACs.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
camb OP
164 posts
 
Well, I guess the S/PDIF digital output of the Sooloos MC200 and MS600 is not optimal and that Meridian has designed their DACs to compensate. Funny, though, that we found the Arcam D33 seemed to deal with the MS600 digital output better than the more expensive Simaudo 650D though...maybe better DACs are more revealing of poor digital sources?

I honestly think that Meridian's apodizing filter colours the sound as well but if you turn it off, the quality of the digital output signal without the Meridian upsampling/apodising is poor quality.
camb OP
164 posts
 
The other thing I noticed in reading the Stereophile review of the Sooloos Source One (2008) was that the original unit they got to test had a grounding issue with the analogue outputs which resulted in an issue in the 85 Hz range. I wonder if that issue persists in the digital output of MC200 and MS600?
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