SMSL G1 Review (Clock Generator)

[Ein]

Question, does it change listening?

NO

 

[Ein]

The question is: Can you hear it?
I think not.

Not

 

[Ein]

Besides, apart from the ritual of unboxing a CD, sticking into the transport, looking at the spinning disc, etc. which some find exciting, why not extract a FLAC copy from that CD onto a USB flash drive, plug it into a router which makes it visible on the network via DLNA, and play it directly via the DAC?

That is nostalgic poem when albums were everything, and the music store was a temple. When you use files automatically no longer have it. Disappears. You have - in times of streaming it is probably obvious - "everything" and you lose it above. Of course, this is a new reality and we take full advantage of it, and young people do not know anything else at all and will not know another one. Discography on a small flash drive vs… for me, two different flavors, but.

 

[Jimi Floyd]

People spend $50,000 on RCA cables.

Martin

 

[Laniciffo]

Most likely the glitches is buffer over-/under-run.
The closer the clock frequency of the player matches that of the DAC the longer it takes to overrun the memory.[...]


When the speed of the source clock is too high or too low buffer over-/under-run can happen.

Buffer over-/under-run will happen, because DACs do not have large buffers.
If the drive's pitch error is 100ppm vs the reference clock, that's one sample every 10000, 4-5 glitches per second.

In the search for absolute fidelity (which I do not care for), I thought that missing or repeating samples would be considered much worse than an unperceptible shift of the pitch.

By the way, do you know that in Europe, at a time when many tvs still used crts and could not adapt to 24 or 60 Hz scanning, many dvds would simply play the movies at 25 fps instead of 24 ? It really made the action a little faster and the film slightly shorter.
That was a 4% difference, 40000 ppm, and nobody cared !

All this is not to criticize the work of NTTY which I always read with much interest and admiration, but rather the concept of converting the audio samples at a rate not strictly equal to that of the source.
It is just wrong.
The only proper way to do it is to make sure that the buffers will never over-/under- run, which from a practical point of view would be best implemented by storing the whole track in memory and then playing it at the desired rate. This would incur unacceptable delays from the user interface point of view, as well as additional costs in the dac (memory).

 

[Martin]

Which isn't very smart. Because, as everyone should know, the power cable is the most critical component in the audio chain. Beginners

Well those are $71,000.

Martin

 

[VientoB]

Well those are $71,000.

Martin

Jesus of Nazareth.

 

[Rja4000]

Atomic accuracy clocks are everywhere - received via GPS. I use this little unit for less than 140 bucks to calibrate, check and sync my whole lab: [...]

Quote: Frequency stability of its output is defined by the accuracy of GPS satellite onboard Caesium references and approaches 1x10-12 or 0.000001 ppm. [...]

Stuff like this made laboratory units obsolete that had cost as much as two cars.

Could we use that to more accurately measure phase shift and jitter on the cheap as well ?

At least, for frequency accuracy, we'd have a better chance clocking the ADC from this ?

(I speak about measurement accuracy here, not about real life audio audible difference).

 

[BeeKay]

Well those are $71,000.

Martin

Finally some common sense in this discussion. Pricing seems reasonable.

 

[Jimi Floyd]

Well those are $71,000.

Martin

OK, I have CD player, DAC, streamer, phono amp, preamp, power amp, headphone amp, a spare one.... I'll have 8, please!

 

[Herbert Shooler]

Great work and thanks,proved that it does zilch for SQ,you have outwitted the snake oil charmer,well done!

 

[Salt]

I'm not sure I understand your question.
Audinate Dante, as an example, distributes accurate clock signal. So even in a multiple devices setup there is no need for such a device.

That was one answer to my question.
Thanks.

 

[NTTY]

With less than 500 bucks the target customers wouldn't accept it as serious. Basically even 500 is already too low.

As @AnalogSteph mentioned atomic clocks: if you (with special hint to @NTTY and upcoming measurements ) really want to have a perfect as possible reference you don't need to spend kilobucks of money. Atomic accuracy clocks are everywhere - received via GPS. I use this little unit for less than 140 bucks to calibrate, check and sync my whole lab:

Mini Precision GPS Reference Clock : Leo Bodnar Electronics

Leo Bodnar Electronics Mini Precision GPS Reference Clock - Low jitter GPS-locked precision frequency reference 400 Hz to 810 MHz output mini version We recommend a newer version of this product: LBE-1420 GPS locked clock source This device outputs low jitter reference clock frequency-locked to...

www.leobodnar.com

Quote: Frequency stability of its output is defined by the accuracy of GPS satellite onboard Caesium references and approaches 1x10-12 or 0.000001 ppm.

Prices have changed a bit and they now sell a newer version, see link. Via Windows (and Mac) software one can set its output to any desired frequency, but still stable as a rock.

Stuff like this made laboratory units obsolete that had cost as much as two cars.

Coooool, thank you!
And ordered

 

[Salt]

Coooool, thank you!
And ordered

You will not do any test about that ... no .. ?

 

[GWolfman]

I was wondering how you’d be able to measure something like this, while you technically didn’t measure it directly, you were able to find a measurable benefit. Thanks @NTTY!

 

[Kremmen]

Another excellent review from NTTY. Thanks!

For those who are interested, I have attached a couple of interior photos that I found over on headfi.org. This clock generator appears to be very well made indeed.

 

[NTTY]

You will not do any test about that ... no .. ?

Naaah

 

[Mikig]

A truly interesting thread, thank you so much. You've managed to explain well, with the help of the G1, some of the peculiarities of the Clock, its functioning, and its mission.
Truly well done, understandable, and interesting!

 

[VientoB]

Another excellent review from NTTY. Thanks!

For those who are interested, I have attached a couple of interior photos that I found over on headfi.org. This clock generator appears to be very well made indeed.

Certainly looks well made.

 

[AdrianusG]

I have the personal objective to learn at least one new thing per day, so you made my day

And you know what, I did not question myself on this one, no doubts

But look at what I ask to the AI, as I planned to introduce this review:

Me : Can I say "I'm sailing unknown waters" to talk about something new to me, or is there a better way to say it?

The AI : Yes, you can say "I'm sailing unknown waters" to describe entering a new or unfamiliar situation — it's a poetic and evocative metaphor. It suggests exploration, uncertainty, and a sense of adventure, which can be quite powerful depending on the context.
However, if you're looking for alternatives that might be more common or fit different tones, here are a few:

• "I'm venturing into uncharted territory." – Slightly more formal, often used in professional or academic contexts.
• "I'm stepping outside my comfort zone." – Emphasizes personal growth or challenge.
• "I'm diving into the deep end." – Suggests taking a bold leap into something unfamiliar.
• "I'm exploring new ground." – Neutral and clear, good for general use.

And you know the one I chose

Great review as always

only thing missing is the price. (not that i have a use for it)