Innuos Zenith ripper/streamer

[Confused]

Sorry to take this a bit off-topic, I read somewhere that someone sent his NUC to SOtM for modding a word clock connector on the NUC along with his sms-200ultra that too was modded for a word clock connector. He then compiled his setup as per the diagram for a "no holds barred" SQ. 

Is such a thing possible ?


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It is arguably on-topic, if only to demonstrate just how complicated some folk will make things rather than buy something simple like an Innuos streamer.

Is such a thing possible?  Yes, there a number of people that have come up with many variations on this theme over on Computer Audiophile and they typically report good results.  What are the variations?  Things like using an Ethernet connected PC via a clock tap modified network switch, multiple clock fed devices, such as the switch, then sMS-200Ultra, then tX-USBUltra, or clock taps to computer motherboards.  One point to note re the diagram above, these are not 'Word Clock' connections, but 10MHz reference signals.  This is all based around SOtM's sCLK-EX board, which has a decent clock itself and can distribute four reference clocks, and can itself be fed by something like Mutec's REF10.  The sCLK-EX board is in all SOtM's 'Ultra' products, and is what makes them 'Ultra'.

Looking at the specifications, it currently looks like the Mutec REF10 is just about the best thing out there in terms of a high performace audio clock.  Add it to the Mutec MC3+USB, and good things happen.  Also add it to the sMS-200Ultra and tX-USBUltra, then even better things happen.  This is all a little controversial, because some folk that know much about audio clocks claim that the clocks need to be directly connected right next to whatever it is they are clocking, and that the clock signal gets 'messed up' a little or will pick up interference over even very short cable runs.  Thus use of clock chains and Mutec REF10's is technically a bad idea.  I think just about every subjective report I have read regarding the use of the REF10 with the MC3+USB and other devices have been very positive.  Based on user feedback, it does appear to work well.  The truth is out there.....

Currently CA's John Swenson (Uptone Audio designer) claims that he has come up with a lab test rig to test some of these 'clock chain' theories.  No results have been published to date.

Back in the (almost) real world of Devialet users, Swissbear has just about the nearest to the above set up, although he is not using a 'clocked NUC'.

https://devialetchat.com/showthread.php?...1#pid65561

All good fun, but it does make the Innous look like a very simple solution does it not? Although for the record, I really want to try the Mutec REF10 myself, it currently ranks number 2 on my things to try list.