28-Feb-2022, 14:23
With S/PDIF, the clock is with the source signal and needs to be "extracted" by the receiving device. So for S/PDIF alone, there is very good reason why a source with an accurate clock might be beneficial.
With USB or Ethernet, the Devialet is fully in control of the audio clock and the audio data needs to pass through a FIFO type buffer. So in these cases it is very difficult to explain why an OCXO type clock in the "sending device" should make any difference whatsoever over any other reasonably accurate low jitter "to spec" clock.
So considering all of the above, the logical conclusion would be to not worry to much about the source (except in terms of functionality), use USB or Ethernet and enjoy the music.
Moving to the subjective, I personally much prefer the sound from my Devialet using a OCXO clocked device feeding the Devialet via S/PDIF. (AES/EBU) So maybe the method that the Devialet uses for S/PDIF clock extraction does afford some benefit for a low jitter S/PDIF source? That said, I do not think anyone outside of Devialet has any specific details of how the Devialet S/PDIF clock recovery works or if a "clocked source" can provide an objective improvement over USB or Ethernet.
If anyone does have some details re exactly how the Devialet S/PDIF clock recovery works - please let us all know!
With USB or Ethernet, the Devialet is fully in control of the audio clock and the audio data needs to pass through a FIFO type buffer. So in these cases it is very difficult to explain why an OCXO type clock in the "sending device" should make any difference whatsoever over any other reasonably accurate low jitter "to spec" clock.
So considering all of the above, the logical conclusion would be to not worry to much about the source (except in terms of functionality), use USB or Ethernet and enjoy the music.
Moving to the subjective, I personally much prefer the sound from my Devialet using a OCXO clocked device feeding the Devialet via S/PDIF. (AES/EBU) So maybe the method that the Devialet uses for S/PDIF clock extraction does afford some benefit for a low jitter S/PDIF source? That said, I do not think anyone outside of Devialet has any specific details of how the Devialet S/PDIF clock recovery works or if a "clocked source" can provide an objective improvement over USB or Ethernet.
If anyone does have some details re exactly how the Devialet S/PDIF clock recovery works - please let us all know!
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