A novel way to massively improve the SQ of computer audio streaming

[BigGuy]

3 minutes ago, sandyk said:

 Cornan

 I wasn't suggesting that the bridged fuse be left there permanently, just used for comparison purposes.

Fuses don't have magical properties, but depending on the types  of metals used, and the rating of the fuse, they do have resistance which will vary according to the type of fuse and it's rating. Some amplifiers are unduly sensitive to any series resistance in their PSU supply leads, which does of course include the fuse holder itself, and the type of metal used there too.

If you are going to use premium fuses then perhaps you should also use gold plated fuse holders for lower contact resistance ?

 

Alex

Interestingly I was told yesterday that plating can actually be a potential issue due to a diode effect at the interface.  Not sure how valid the concern but, if supported, almost every connection in our system is somewhat problematic!

[sandyk]

3 minutes ago, BigGuy said:

Interestingly I was told yesterday that plating can actually be a potential issue due to a diode effect at the interface.  Not sure how valid the concern but, if supported, almost every connection in our system is somewhat problematic!

 

The cheap metals used in many fuse holders can oxidise, and the business ends of the fuses themselves go dull looking over a period of time. This could result in a small diode effect. Many high quality plugs and sockets are gold plated and appear to be more reliable . Banana plugs used for speaker connection are normally gold plated too.

 

Attached is a note from Silicon Chip magazine during the testing of their 15W Class A Amplifier design.

[Cornan]

1 hour ago, sandyk said:

 Cornan

 I wasn't suggesting that the bridged fuse be left there permanently, just used for comparison purposes.

Fuses don't have magical properties, but depending on the types  of metals used, and the rating of the fuse, they do have resistance which will vary according to the type of fuse and it's rating. Some amplifiers are unduly sensitive to any series resistance in their PSU supply leads, which does of course include the fuse holder itself, and the type of metal used there too.

If you are going to use premium fuses then perhaps you should also use gold plated fuse holders for lower contact resistance ?

Sometimes, just removing the fuse, and cleaning it's contact area with the fuse holder , as well as cleaning the fuse holder contact area with Isopropyl alcohol, and making sure the fuse holder has good tension may also make an improvement in SQ.

Alex

 

Fair enough Alex! I use AHP gold fuses on several spots with brand new devices and they have improved everywhere that I have tried them. However, the best spot I have ever experienced a fuse replacement was with my "vintage" AVM Evolution A1 integrated amp. The sonic improvement there just blew me away. I'll guess the fuse holder as old as well, but I always use DeoxIt on all my fuses and fuse holder contact surfaces.

It reminds me of my tube days though. Replacing the valve sockets to new ceramic and golplated ones was a surpricing improvement with my Siemens E88CC gold-pin NOS tubes (with Duende Criatura tube rings) on my Musical Fidelity X-Can V2 with Rock-Grotto mod. Everything matters! ?

[sandyk]

6 minutes ago, Cornan said:

Replacing the valve sockets to new ceramic and golplated ones was a surpricing improvement with my Siemens E88CC gold-pin NOS tubes (with Duende Criatura tube rings) on my Musical Fidelity X-Can V2 with Rock-Grotto mod. Everything matters! ?

 Rock Grotto  mod ?

 Yes, Mike Grierson knew his Musical Fidelity X-can stuff. Perhaps you even saw a gain modification there too that I posted ?

 I was an Admin there for several years until I could no longer work with Mike because of his rapid descent into alcoholism.

[Cornan]

10 minutes ago, sandyk said:

 Rock Grotto  mod ?

 Yes, Mike Grierson knew his Musical Fidelity X-can stuff. Perhaps you even saw a gain modification there too that I posted ?

 I was an Admin there for several years until I could no longer work with Mike because of his rapid descent into alcoholism.

 

Yes, I did his mod on my X-10D tube buffer as well. I was'nt active online back then, so I am sorry that I missed your post at the Rock Grotto forum. I did'nt know he had such problems. Sorry to hear, since his mods (and Trends Audio TA-10.1 & 10.2) was one of the main reasons I got hooked to this hobby! ? 

 

[jean-michel6]

22 hours ago, Johnseye said:

 

Two identical servers where one was the core and the other the endpoint?  If that's what you're asking, no.  I wouldn't invest in duplicate hardware to test that.  I did test a server (without modifications, tX-USBexp, sCLK-EX, tX-USBultra) and endpoint (microRendu & sMS-200) against the same exact one (with modifications, tX-USBexp, sCLK-EX, tX-USBultra) but without endpoint and it was without a doubt, no question a significant improvement in SQ.  I still have the sMS-200 and adding it instead of the USB output, but still gaining the sCLK-EX utilization on the motherboard system and NIC clocks does not sound as good as with the tX-USBexp and tX-USBultra.

 

With so many variables and possible combinations it tough to test them all.

Which modifications is it ? 

The server clocks driven by the sCLK ex ?

[jean-michel6]

21 hours ago, Dev said:

Anybody getting the Supermicro (one used in the Zenith) mobo modded from Sotm yet ?

I should have that in a few weeks !

[Johnseye]

25 minutes ago, jean-michel6 said:

Which modifications is it ? 

The server clocks driven by the sCLK ex ?

 

Yes.  System and LAN clocks driven by the sCLK-EX.  Also, tX-USBexp clock driven by the sCLK-EX.

[Dev]

1 minute ago, Johnseye said:

 

Yes.  System and LAN clocks driven by the sCLK-EX.  Also, tX-USBexp clock driven by the sCLK-EX.

 

are you using the network during playback, like streaming or using NAS ? if not, how does the LAN clock mod help ?

[Johnseye]

1 hour ago, Dev said:

 

are you using the network during playback, like streaming or using NAS ? if not, how does the LAN clock mod help ?

 

The music sources come from both my NAS and Tidal, through the NICs.  It's SOtM's opinion that all the clocks have an influence.  I don't know the logic behind this.  I didn't bother with the USB clocks because I'm not using them.  Since the music passes through the NICs I thought that worth while.  To do it for the motherboard USB clocks I'd need to buy another sCLK-EX and I don't think that's worth it, not to mention I'd need a place to house another one.

[lateboomer]

2 hours ago, jean-michel6 said:

Which modifications is it ? 

The server clocks driven by the sCLK ex ?

Hi Johnseye,

Could you clarify further as my English is not that good? You said you tested server with endpoint and without one, then which setup you think improved significantly? From your no doubt statement I can't figure out which one you are referring to. 

[Johnseye]

3 minutes ago, lateboomer said:

Hi Johnseye,

Could you clarify further as my English is not that good? You said you tested server with endpoint and without one, then which setup you think improved significantly? From your no doubt statement I can't figure out which one you are referring to. 

 

Without endpoint.  Using the sCLK-EX taps for my motherboard, tX-USBexp and tx-USBultra for a direct USB connection was better.

[hurka]

3 minutes ago, Johnseye said:

 

Without endpoint.  Using the sCLK-EX taps for my motherboard, tX-USBexp and tx-USBultra for a direct USB connection was better.

what do you think about iso R and singxer F1  clock with sclk ex board? I cant clock my sparky sbc  this time. 

[Johnseye]

1 hour ago, hurka said:

what do you think about iso R and singxer F1  clock with sclk ex board? I cant clock my sparky sbc  this time. 

 

I don't know as I've never tried them with the sCLK-EX.  I did have an iso Regen but it didn't play well with my other equipment.  For the times I got it to work I liked what I heard, but that was before the sCLK.

[hurka]

3 minutes ago, Johnseye said:

 

I don't know as I've never tried them with the sCLK-EX.  I did have an iso Regen but it didn't play well with my other equipment.  For the times I got it to work I liked what I heard, but that was before the sCLK.

Thanks!

my theory , if clocked IR can leave usb ultra usb port(not sure),reduce spaghetti.

I can clocked my atx mobo soon,upgrade kit (adapter cables for flashing,plugs)delayed because Chinese new year.

I hope you are right,clocked mobo direct to singxer would be much simple solution.

[ingemar]

Hi all.

Been following this discussion with great pleasure as i'm thinking going down this route as well,with the sclk-ex,did anybody of you modify the clocks on a supermicro x10slh-fo mbl?Just wondering about the frequencies i need for the system clock and the ethernet clock so i can go ahead and order the sclk.

Kindly/Ingemar

[seeteeyou]

There are at least 2 revisions for Supermicro X10SLH-F so far.

 

For Rev. 1.00 - I could count 6 clocks

 

 

For Rev. 1.02 - I could count 7 clocks

 

 

If you could take 6 / 7 closeup pictures of each and every clock, sometimes we could figure out what the frequency is.

 

Otherwise, just contact SOtM directly and ask them how to get the numbers they're looking for. Each sCLK-EX could only provide up to 4 taps and therefore you've gotta tell them what clock(s) you don't really need to replace.

 

Some clocks (e.g. Ethernet) should have identical frequency AND voltage, that's why both of them could be connected to the same tap simultaneously.

[LTG2010]

Have you guys seen this- SOTM have released their new Master clock. It will be available for shipping from 19th February just after Lunar holiday and pre order 12th February.

There's a promotional price of  $3500 with sPS500 (a free sPS500) and $500 for the cable ($200 discount), for the first 100 units.

Press Release_SOtM_sCLK-OCX10.pdf

[rickca]

2 minutes ago, LTG2010 said:

Have you guys seen this- SOTM have released their new Master clock. It will be available for shipping from 19th February just after Lunar holiday and pre order 12th February.

There's a promotional price of  $3500 with sPS500 and $500 for the cable, for the first 100 units.

Press Release_SOtM_sCLK-OCX10.pdf

I started a thread with a question for May.

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38464-sotm-sclk-ocx10/?tab=comments#comment-777256

 

[LTG2010]

3 minutes ago, rickca said:

I started a thread with a question for May.

Thanks for the link.

[ingemar]

2 hours ago, seeteeyou said:

There are at least 2 revisions for Supermicro X10SLH-F so far.

 

For Rev. 1.00 - I could count 6 clocks

 

 

For Rev. 1.02 - I could count 7 clocks

 

 

If you could take 6 / 7 closeup pictures of each and every clock, sometimes we could figure out what the frequency is.

 

Otherwise, just contact SOtM directly and ask them how to get the numbers they're looking for. Each sCLK-EX could only provide up to 4 taps and therefore you've gotta tell them what clock(s) you don't really need to replace.

 

Some clocks (e.g. Ethernet) should have identical frequency AND voltage, that's why both of them could be connected to the same tap simultaneously.

Ok,thank you!!

[seeteeyou]

They're picking that 5.5 / 2.1mm DC jack for such a premium product, granted the space seemed to be a constraint but most likely they could still go for the same Hirose connector that's found on their sPS-500

 

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/30376-a-novel-way-to-massively-improve-the-sq-of-computer-audio-streaming/?page=97&tab=comments#comment-675776

On 6/17/2017 at 5:01 AM, romaz said:

The problem is with the 2.1mm or 2.5mm DC plugs.  These are not low impedance plugs.  It would be ideal if you could apply the XL connector to your music server and your endpoints and I have thought about this but the XL connector is also very large and heavy.  There's no way, for example, to use this connector with something small like the microRendu.

 

They used to have three configurations listed on their Korean / American sites

 

http://www.sotm-audio.com/sotmwp/english/portfolio-item/sclk-ocx10/

https://sotm-usa.com/products/sclk-ocx10

 

However, we could find the following paragraph on Aussie ones right now

 

https://cruxaudio.com.au/products/sclk-ocx10-reference-master-clock

http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/SOtM-sCLK%2dOCX10-Reference-Master-Clock.html

Quote

You can choose Standard, Advanced or Reference for the 10MHz clock, and the output signal can be set as 50ohm or 75ohm sine wave.

 

In other words, only the best "Reference" (i.e. the most expensive one) option is available, oh well.

[Speedskater]

17 hours ago, sandyk said:

Some amplifiers are unduly sensitive to any series resistance in their PSU supply leads

That seems highly unlikely. It also seems unlikely that fuses from different brands that have the same characteristics will have a significant difference in resistance.

[marce]

I'm still getting my head around fuses with beeswax in them, this hobby reaches a new low... Putting something flammable in a safety device that generates heat!!! They should be banned... Audiophile fuses in general are just a step to far but the Audio Magic fuses just take it to a new low.

[mansr]

46 minutes ago, Speedskater said:

That seems highly unlikely. It also seems unlikely that fuses from different brands that have the same characteristics will have a significant difference in resistance.

I checked a few 13 A fuses I happened to have lying around. All were around 5 mΩ, though it's hard to get an accurate reading due to contact resistance. A 3 A fuse I checked was about 45 mΩ. A power cord is probably around 100 mΩ. I don't see how the fuse could possibly make a difference.