N-05XD plus clock

[kzhtoo]

Originally Posted by crwilli

If I spent $20,000 on an Esoteric SACD player and found out a $1700 clock made it better, I would be pissed. Maybe that’s just me. Moving on.

And BTW, you will need to spend another $1,000 + on a cable…

You should be more pissed at manufacturers that don’t even put a master clock input on their $20,000 products.

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by kzhtoo

You should be more pissed at manufacturers that don’t even put a master clock input on their $20,000 products.

I echo this comment,...for any DAC, player or transport, the internal clock no matter how good, is part of a design feature/function and price point compromise.

[tdx44]

Dont mean to hijack this thread but i have a similar question. I'm getting an N-05XD next week and I've been trying to research master clocks since I've never bought one before.

In the price range that fits within my budget, I could either get a Cybershaft (something like an OP19, not the latest/most expensive ones), a Mutec REF10 or a second hand Esoteric GD02.

Out of these choices, which one do you think would bring the biggest sound quality improvement with the N-05XD?

Thanks

[Masterlu]

tdx44… Welcome to AA!

[tdx44]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

tdx44… Welcome to AA!

Thank you very much! Glad to be here

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by SCAudiophile

I echo this comment,...for any DAC, player or transport, the internal clock no matter how good, is part of a design feature/function and price point compromise.

and further, when you look at the PLL clock circuits, and if you are lucky, VCXO clock circuits that are on many different devices and the phase noise (and therefore jitter) they inject into the audio pathway, I welcome any manufacturer tackling better clocking using external devices.

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by tdx44

Dont mean to hijack this thread but i have a similar question. I'm getting an N-05XD next week and I've been trying to research master clocks since I've never bought one before.

In the price range that fits within my budget, I could either get a Cybershaft (something like an OP19, not the latest/most expensive ones), a Mutec REF10 or a second hand Esoteric GD02.

Out of these choices, which one do you think would bring the biggest sound quality improvement with the N-05XD?

Thanks

You've listed 3 great products from which to choose. Which is better is quite possibly impossible to know as it will come down to what you listen for, the match of cables to clock and the 05XD, etc... I frankly think with the G-02X, REF10 or OP19, 20 or 21 Cybershaft, you cannot lose.

For Esoteric, I think you are referring to the Esoteric G-02, or did you also include the G-02X in your potential budget? Both give you the flexibility of outputting 10 mHz master clock (required by the N-05XD which is good news) or for the future, 1x, 2x, 4x, etc...multiples of 44.1 word clocking frequencies. I think the G-02X has a slight edge due to its inclusion of Esoteric's Adaptive Zero Ground circuity and as importantly as opposed to the G-02 that has one bank of outputs that can output any of the frequency variants, the G-02X splits the output circuits into 2 zones, one for 4 outputs that are solely 10 mHz and the other 'zone' for output of word clocking (multiples of 44.1) frequencies. These are subtle differences. However, for my money, I'd try to find a G-02X if you could.

I've owned Esoteric G-0s, G-0Rb, G-03X, and also G-01X before that. A close friend with a full Grandioso P1X/D1X stack also had a Grandioso G1 that I heard in his system and later, I heard it again once he upgraded to G1X. The G1X is by far the best they've put out.

That 5 remember the results of the G-03X in my system many years ago, and having heard the G-02X effect in a system, I would call it highly recommended as well.

The Mutec REF10 is a highly regarded and excellent product! I have not had hands on one to be clear however everyone I know, and everyone else I've read about who uses them and a couple people who have done some detailed measurement and testing "on the bench" sing their praises.

The current Cybershaft single-output or multi-output OP19, OP20, or OP21 products (with separate power supply units) are all top tier as well. For many reasons and over 15 years of owning and trying many clocks, my current OP21 Type2 and in the future a 2-box Cybershaft OP21 Type3 will remain my choice for best musical results in my system. This is a matter of personal taste and budget...

Clock cables: I've bought, owned MANY of the best 75-ohm and 50-ohm cables out there, and have demoed/tested many more over almost 20 years of leveraging external clocking devices in my system. Regardless what clock you wind up with, I would highly recommend Shunyata's SIGMA V2 and better yet OMEGA CLOCK-50 (ohm) or CLOCK-75 (ohm) cables to anyone who needs other rating of cable.

In my experience as well as others who have mentioned this, the choice of clock cable(s) can make or break the overall purchase regardless of what clock you buy.

[GSOphile]

+1 SCAudiophile

[piolaxo]

Originally Posted by SCAudiophile

You've chosen 3 great products from which to choose. Which is better is quite possible impossible to know as it will come down to what you listen for, the match of cable to clock and the 05XD, etc... I frankly think with the G-02X, REF10 and OP19, 20 or 21 Cybershaft you cannot lose.

For Esoteric, I think you are referring to the Esoteric G-02, or did you also include the G-02X in your potential budget? Both give you the flexibility of outputting 10 mHz master clock (required by the N-05XD which is good news) or for the future, 1x, 2x, 4x, etc...multiples of 44.1 word clocking frequencies. I think the G-02X has a slight edge due to its inclusion of Esoteric's Adaptive Zero Ground circuity and as importantly as opposed to the G-02 that has one bank of outputs that can output any of the frequency variants, the G-02X splits the output circuits into 2 zones, one for 4 outputs that are solely 10 mHz and the other 'zone' for output of word clocking (multiples of 44.1) frequencies. These are subtle differences however for my money I'd try to find a G-02X if you could.

I've owned Esoteric G-0s, G-0Rb, G-03X and also G-01X before that. A close friend with a full Grandioso P1X/D1X stack also had a Grandioso G1 that I heard in his system and later I heard it again once he upgraded to G1X. The G1X is by far the best they've put out.

That stated I remember the results of the G-03X in my system many years ago and having heard the G-02X effect in a system, I would call it highly recommended as well.

The Mutec REF10 is a highly regarded and excellent product! I have not had hands on one to be clear however everyone I know, and everyone else I've read about who uses them and a couple people who have done some detailed measurement and testing "on the bench" sing their praises.

The current Cybershaft single-output or multi-output OP19, OP20 or OP21 products (with separate power supply unit) are all top tier as well. For many reasons and over 15 years of owning and trying many clocks, my current OP21 Type2 and in the future a 2-box Cybershaft OP21 Type3 will remain my choice for best musical results in my system. This is a matter of personal taste and budget...

Clock cables: I've bought, owned MANY of the best 75-ohm and 50-ohm cables out there and have demoed/tested many more over almost 20 years of leveraging external clocking devices in my system. Regardless what clock you wind up with, I would highly recommend Shunyata's SIGMA V2 and better yet OMEGA CLOCK-50 (ohm) or CLOCK-75 (ohm) cables to anyone who needs other rating of cable.

In my experience as well as others who have mentioned this, the choice of clock cable(s) can make or break the overall purchase regardless of what clock you buy.

Great post!

[tdx44]

Originally Posted by SCAudiophile

You've chosen 3 great products from which to choose. Which is better is quite possible impossible to know as it will come down to what you listen for, the match of cable to clock and the 05XD, etc... I frankly think with the G-02X, REF10 and OP19, 20 or 21 Cybershaft you cannot lose.

Thanks so much for this very helpful info. I'll try to audition all three and decide which one works best.