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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
 
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?
lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
Audioengr,

Your company has continued to advance with some great new products...congrats! I remember reading you wrote that NOS DACs can sometimes have poor jitter rejection...if i have an older NOS DAC (Zanden 5000 Signature)...is there anyway still to take one of these servers...such as the Sooloos...and: 1) relock 2) add an i2s output to be configured to go into the Zanden i2s input which i have heard is by far the best way to use this DAC?

I believe your company used to do this. Thanks for any advice!
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Lloyd - To my knowledge, there is nothing off the shelf that will interface to Zanden I2S, however a S/PDIF reclocker like the Synchro-Mesh will reclock the Sooloos or other servers nicely.

S/PDIF done well is only slightly worse than I2S. My own I2S is only slightly better than my S/PDIF. In most systems with preamps, you would probably not hear a difference between S/PDIF and I2S.

It is however critically important that you use a GOOD 1.5m S/PDIF cable, such as the Ridge Street Audio Poiema. Differences in digital cables in the $50-$300 range are minimal IME. You must spend at least $500 to get a significant boost in performance.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
Steve N.

thank you! Good to know...I have a 2nd hand Valhalla digital BNC cable...does this work for you?

Meanwhile, i may contact you about Synchro-Mesh (presume this is one of your products). Any chance for a reasonable sum, you could have it customized for i2s output to my Zanden?

Thank you!
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