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Post by MartinT on Sept 4, 2020 10:12:55 GMT
The Belden is newer and arguably could use some more time.
I'll leave it in place to get more hours on (the clock is running all the time, which helps).
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Post by MartinT on Oct 30, 2020 17:33:53 GMT
It's been a while since I've posted here, simply because the system has remained static while I've been diving into all sorts of musical discovery. Upon returning this morning from a week away, I fired up the system from stone cold, something that happens maybe once a year. After leaving it on for two hours to warm up, and playing a couple of tunes, I spotted the Belden 4694R cable laying to the side and decided to put it back into the system to feed the Mutec's clock. I don't know why I had found little difference between it and the Canare LV-77S on previous occasions, but today it was easy to hear the upgrade in performance.  It's hard sometimes to explain subjective findings. I can only suggest that a 'reset' from not having heard the system for a week helped. It sure sounded wonderful and this cable is now staying. I've ordered another one from Amazon for the EtherREGEN clock cable. At £16.40 for a 30cm length made up with Neutrik antraloy finish BNCs, it's great value for money. |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 4, 2020 19:53:57 GMT
I've received the second Belden 4694R cable, 30cm of high quality, beautifully made cable with superbly tight Neutrik BNC connectors.
The effect is cumulative and having both in, supplying the master clock signal to the EtherREGEN and Mutec, is a more obvious upgrade. Characteristics are brilliant transparency (a pun as the cable is called Brilliance by Belden), tight, dynamic sound and very noticeably developed note decay and room/space acoustic. A satisfying upgrade that cost peanuts.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 5, 2020 21:01:13 GMT
It's interesting going back to the Canare cables tonight. It's not really worse - just different. The Belden is brightly lit, the Canare ever so slightly darker.
What blows my mind is that these cables aren't carrying the signal at all, just the 10MHz clock signal!
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Post by MartinT on Nov 7, 2020 17:55:42 GMT
A modification for my OXCO master clock. This was suggested in the Audiophile Style thread on master clocks that I created a while ago, which has proven to be very popular. The idea is to bond a cube of tungsten directly to the top of the Chinese oven-controlled clock module inside the BG7TBL. I ordered a 20mm cube of tungsten on eBay and it arrived this morning. I used 2-part epoxy to tightly bond it to the top of the DAPU OCXO can. It didn't take long to harden as the clock runs at about 70°C. It should provide two benefits: 1) vibration damping of the sensitive OCXO by dint of its heaviness; 2) temperature stability once the cube comes up to temperature, helping to prevent temperature variance distortions.  I've just had a listen to two tracks and my immediate impression is that dynamic transients have even more snap to them. Donald Fagen's Nightfly and Kamakiriad are outstanding recordings and sounded pretty damned good, even cleaner than I remember and with outstanding starting and stopping of transients. I'm leaving things to fully stabilise and will have another listen later this evening. |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 8, 2020 21:11:40 GMT
This one's a good mod. Tonight I heard an extra dose of clarity on every track I played. Really pleasing how this inexpensive Chinese clock has taken my system to another level.
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 9, 2020 0:10:09 GMT
What does Tungsten give you that other materials don't Martin?
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Post by MartinT on Nov 9, 2020 6:22:53 GMT
It's a safe weight (don't want to use lead and gold is, err, a little pricy). Its hardness helps with being resistant to resonances and it is extremely thermally stable. Other than that, it seemed a like a good idea!
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Post by MartinT on Nov 9, 2020 9:54:20 GMT
I meant to add: there is a bigger message here.
It's been known for a long time that crystal oscillators (clocks) are very sensitive to vibrations. This is why you should place your CD player and/or DAC on decoupled feet. You may want to think about doing something similar to the above if you want the very best performance from them.
Only, of course, if they are already performing at a high level, otherwise other issues are likely to mask any improvement.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 12, 2020 20:35:13 GMT
The Canare LV-77S clock cables with the Tungsten 'anti-clock resonator' seems to be a winning combination. I am hearing more in every recording I'm playing.
There is better flow while detail is up, note decay and background effects are more discernible but harshness is down. I'm well pleased with a couple of stupidly inexpensive mods.
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Morph
Rank: Duo
Posts: 62
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Post by Morph on Nov 14, 2020 16:52:11 GMT
Well I decided to try the Tungsten cube mod and it'll arrive whenever it arrives.
When you fitted it Martin, did you turn the clock off?
Thanks
Dave
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Post by MartinT on Nov 14, 2020 20:02:44 GMT
Nice one, Dave. Yes, I turned it off for the few minutes it took to press the cube into place. The OCXO was still warm and I turned it back on to cure the epoxy.
I have no concerns about the permanent bond and, anyway, you can get the OCXO modules from AliExpress.
What I can say - again - is that this seems to be a very good mod for little cost and effort. I'm listening right now and I have more musical insight than ever.
Do report your findings, please, when you've done yours.
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Morph
Rank: Duo
Posts: 62
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Post by Morph on Nov 15, 2020 13:20:15 GMT
Hi Martin
Thanks, just wanted to check as didn't fancy frazzling myself! Will report back once it's settled in. I take it we're fine to use good old Araldite?
Dave
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Post by MartinT on Nov 15, 2020 14:19:01 GMT
Thanks, just wanted to check as didn't fancy frazzling myself! Will report back once it's settled in. I take it we're fine to use good old Araldite? That's what I used. Just remember, it ain't coming off! |
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Morph
Rank: Duo
Posts: 62
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Post by Morph on Nov 15, 2020 16:15:34 GMT
Thanks Martin. Around a week until arrival it would seem.
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Morph
Rank: Duo
Posts: 62
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Post by Morph on Nov 21, 2020 18:08:43 GMT
Well the Tungsten cube arrived unexpectedly this afternoon and I got straight to it. Having a listen just now and am very happy. However, as well as the Tungsten mod's implementation, I also installed a Denafrips Iris DDC and Tubulus Argentus i2S HDMI cable this morning. So theres of a lot of new factors at play in my system today. I bought the Denafrips Pontus a few weeks back as a replacement for the Topping D90 MQA which I decided wasn't for me after a few months.
I'm impressed with the Pontus on its own but today's additions have taken its performance up by several notches. The Iris has been here for a couple of weeks and according to Alvin of Vinshine, just needed to be left on to settle down. I would have had the Argentus HDMI burnt in by now but suffered a disaster with it when I managed to break it pretty much as soon as I had it installed a couple of weeks ago ( don't ask, it's a very delicate cable it would seem ). It had to be sent back for repair which delayed their addition.
Be it the Tungsten or the Iris/Tubulus, but most likely all three, the system is absolutely singing as I write and I'm both delighted and really impressed. Far greater clarity overall yet firmer in bass and snappier upper and mids at the same time. Music is flowing with greater ease and sound stage wider and more focused.
Really I should have waited to add the Tungsten so as to be able to assess its impact properly but that chance has gone with the rush to implement everything after the cable disaster!
Dave
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Post by MartinT on Nov 21, 2020 18:14:44 GMT
That's good to hear about, Dave. I understand the temptation to make more than one change and get on with listening, after all, it's what we are all about! Nevertheless, it's the final sound that counts and you seem to have fallen in a happy place, so good for you.
I've been wondering if I should take the tungsten idea further and do it to the other clocks in my digital chain. I'll explore the possibilities, especially in my DAC which has a Coherent upgraded clock. I'll have a think about it and won't be rushing.
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Morph
Rank: Duo
Posts: 62
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Post by Morph on Nov 21, 2020 18:36:43 GMT
I am regretting rushing in but it's done now. DAPU in mine btw. Didn't know until today as had never looked inside.
Thanks for the Tungsten idea, I'm sure it's added to the sweetness!
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 21, 2020 18:48:58 GMT
I've got 8 or 9 upgrades / tweaks to try out in the system - I'm determined to do them one by one!
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Post by MartinT on Nov 21, 2020 19:52:40 GMT
I am regretting rushing in but it's done now. DAPU in mine btw. Didn't know until today as had never looked inside. The DAPU is definitely a good one. |
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