Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
That would be good.
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Douk Audio U2Pro Digital Interface Upgrade is Being Planned and Waiting for Your Advice!
- Thread starter Douk Audio
- Start date
Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Well, I didn’t expect a 15% volume drop. I don’t know why this is the case but that’s not a deal breaker, I still have plenty of power on tap.
I expected better accuracy I suppose, especially in the higher frequencies where the stock SMD is a little ‘smeary’….but it is better than the stock clock, there is certainly less smear/smoothing around the vocals (female especially) and treble resulting in more accurate definition.
This is the immediate impressions when first plugging in so these may change as the clock settles in and stabilises and my opinion may change as well as my recommendation for the clock itself. I have a hunch it may do just that, I may just change my tune later.
Looking at Mouser/RS Componants/Farnell etc here in the UK it looks like TXCO 24mhz is quite a hard find too especially starting at 1.8v! Standard clocks are a plenty.
Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Hello again,
Ok, I think I am starting to eat my own words a little now. The new clock has been in, up and running for a few hours now and things are cleaning up and I have to say quite nicely too. The sound is actually quite alot cleaner then the stock SMD and easily better balanced overall. The original impression of loss of bass slam is panning out to be a matter of better frequency equilibrium.
The slight drop in volume is not a big problem as I originally anticipated either. Overall with this clock the details are more individual, they are more precise so after my initial disappointment with the 'upgrade' I am now finding this to be a decent choice. So I will go back on my initial opinion and happily count it nil and void, I was aware I was judging early and saying that I could not recommend this clock was a little hasty, my apologies. Now after a few hours of critical listening I can quite easily recommend this clock as an upgrade for the Douk Audio U2.
In regards to the measurements of the clock I am afraid I cannot provide any proof of the sellers claims which others here may doubt over but the sound quality is most certainly better than the SMD stock clock if that's anything to go by, others have said the same thing using this particular clock in the U2.
So if you are thinking of upgrading the SMD clock then I CAN recommend this clock and quite easily too. It is a more balanced, refined sound over the stock and may seem a little flat at first but give it a few hours and you will appreciate the more professional approach this clock entails.
There is some doubt over whether this clock has an -1-1 ppm rating but it is possible so I would not rule that out personally. If you look at the SMD in the link it has similar value as to what this clock is and would also work in the U2.
So in conclusion later impressions of this clock is alot better than what I initially experienced and thought. I am also glad I gave myself some room to breath in regard to my own opinion with the understanding that this may need a little time to settle in to the U2. There are no issues so far with the voltage in use either with my system which is PC based. I am running the U2 from a USB connection to the PC via an powered iFi Defender plus then to a 5v powered dac, no pops, static or drops in volume etc, everything is running quietly and consistently without hiccup.
Ok, I think I am starting to eat my own words a little now. The new clock has been in, up and running for a few hours now and things are cleaning up and I have to say quite nicely too. The sound is actually quite alot cleaner then the stock SMD and easily better balanced overall. The original impression of loss of bass slam is panning out to be a matter of better frequency equilibrium.
The slight drop in volume is not a big problem as I originally anticipated either. Overall with this clock the details are more individual, they are more precise so after my initial disappointment with the 'upgrade' I am now finding this to be a decent choice. So I will go back on my initial opinion and happily count it nil and void, I was aware I was judging early and saying that I could not recommend this clock was a little hasty, my apologies. Now after a few hours of critical listening I can quite easily recommend this clock as an upgrade for the Douk Audio U2.
In regards to the measurements of the clock I am afraid I cannot provide any proof of the sellers claims which others here may doubt over but the sound quality is most certainly better than the SMD stock clock if that's anything to go by, others have said the same thing using this particular clock in the U2.
So if you are thinking of upgrading the SMD clock then I CAN recommend this clock and quite easily too. It is a more balanced, refined sound over the stock and may seem a little flat at first but give it a few hours and you will appreciate the more professional approach this clock entails.
There is some doubt over whether this clock has an -1-1 ppm rating but it is possible so I would not rule that out personally. If you look at the SMD in the link it has similar value as to what this clock is and would also work in the U2.
So in conclusion later impressions of this clock is alot better than what I initially experienced and thought. I am also glad I gave myself some room to breath in regard to my own opinion with the understanding that this may need a little time to settle in to the U2. There are no issues so far with the voltage in use either with my system which is PC based. I am running the U2 from a USB connection to the PC via an powered iFi Defender plus then to a 5v powered dac, no pops, static or drops in volume etc, everything is running quietly and consistently without hiccup.
Last edited:
Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
A few more hours (8 +) now with the new clock, better! Coaxial out is excellent which I prefer to the optical option, better dynamics! Certainly give this one a little time. The bass has now arrived with good weight and definition, the centre image has gained more depth and clarity across the mids and highs. Vocals sound more grounded, focused with solid position and more width to the soundstage. So yeah, good! It is a little more revealing than the SMD stock clock, its not smoothing things over at the cost of vocal texture, upper frequency detail and exposing poor recording.
No issues with stability and an consistent sound quality and volume for 8+ hours continuous.
No issues with stability and an consistent sound quality and volume for 8+ hours continuous.
Last edited:
somebodyelse
Master Contributor
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2018
- Messages
- 6,497
- Likes
- 6,376
It's a pity you couldn't take any measurements at the audio output, or do a suitably blinded ABX. The most likely explanation at this point is that any difference is in your head, not in what's reaching your ears.
very nice. still waiting for fermento .. i did purchase simliar to the one u have as well.
Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Theoretically the Femto should wipe the floor with this one.
dear Schlippwhip68
Thank you so much for sharing the good information. It's the same clock I ordered from Ali. I'm going to try it this week because it's working well. I'm worried about my poor soldering, but I'll try it and upload it again.
Thank you for the good writing and information!!
Thank you so much for sharing the good information. It's the same clock I ordered from Ali. I'm going to try it this week because it's working well. I'm worried about my poor soldering, but I'll try it and upload it again.
Thank you for the good writing and information!!
Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Hi
It is only my opinion at the end of the day. I also still find the bass, though better now, has less weight and slam with this clock compared to the original SMD. This new one comes across as being a little less coloured or also described as 'balanced' but I still find it a little disappointing for my tastes so while I can recommend doing this for the experience, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this clock as the best option to do it with if you like weighty bass.
Last edited:
Hi.
There were some problems with soldering, but I still connected it and installed it safely. Looking at the first feeling, the sound is clearer overall. It feels like the separation between the instruments is better. I don't know if the bass is greatly reduced, maybe because it's my DAC Burr-Brown PCM1795 chip, but I can hear a clearer sense of hitting such as drums. First of all, as long as there's no problem with stability, I think I can use it well. Soldering is so hard ㅜ.ㅜ
Roland68
Major Contributor
Do you have a link for me to the Femto Clock?
just done. Turn it on. immediate all-around improvement. Details, focus, and smoothness improved. i will report back after let it play for sometime. I don't notice a volume drop.
Coaxial seems somewhat better for my Audialytic DR70 DAC. ifi purifier didn't help with the USB signal path, which is a positive sign.
Roland, it should be easy search , do the image search in AliExpress.
Coaxial seems somewhat better for my Audialytic DR70 DAC. ifi purifier didn't help with the USB signal path, which is a positive sign.
Roland, it should be easy search , do the image search in AliExpress.
somebodyelse
Master Contributor
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2018
- Messages
- 6,497
- Likes
- 6,376
Got any measurements, or blind ABX results? Without them the most likely explanation for the difference remains the well-known issue of your brain creating a difference, not any difference in the sound reaching your ears.
If I'd just doubled the cost of mine, I think I'd be feeling some sort of emotion too
solderdude
Grand Contributor
But ... doesn't the Gustard reclock to its own internal femtoclock anyway ?
I was very enthusiastic to this DYI DDC with U2 Pro since I have good experience with previous Douk DDCs but now, after the weekend, I have a big stop. I got the U2 Pro on Friday last week and you may imagine I set it in the chain immediately, after giving it 3 hours to accommodate to temp. My use case is Eversolo dmp-A6 - USB out -> U2 Pro - I2S out -> Luxsin X8. And - an issue! I get popping sounds like tsak-tsak and puk-puk any time resolution is 192khz or higher and recording dynamics is intense. I did all kind of tests with different input USB cables and different output I2S cables, I tested 2 DACs - Luxsin X8 and Cyan2, settings for correct I2S mode.... but the popping sounds are quite noticeable in any case.
I think that not providing a stable and solid separate power supply was a design mistake for the U2 Pro since it is a clear patter to me that this popping increases when dynamics increases. Going to return, if Douk accepts, let see this will be also a good test.
I think that not providing a stable and solid separate power supply was a design mistake for the U2 Pro since it is a clear patter to me that this popping increases when dynamics increases. Going to return, if Douk accepts, let see this will be also a good test.
Did you try changing the UAC1.0/UAC2.0 switch on the bottom? I think you need UAC2.0 for 192kHz.
Similar threads
