SMSL G1 Review (Clock Generator)

[AdrianusG]

Jesus of Nazareth.

But, But,

it's

"Ansuz - not just another audio cable!"​

so totally justified i guess

 

[VientoB]

But, But,

it's

"Ansuz - not just another audio cable!"​

so totally justified i guess

"Ansuz" can refer to the a-rune of the Elder Futhark alphabet, a Proto-Germanic word for a deity in the Germanic pantheon, or a brand of high-fidelity audio equipment. In rune lore, it represents communication, inspiration, wisdom, and messages, and is associated with the god Odin.

ok I'm sold.

 

[pablolie]

Hello Everyone,

This is a review and measurements of the SMSL G1 Clock Generator.
It was kindly sent to me by Aoshidaaudio.com

View attachment 488627

With this presentation, I'm stepping outside of my comfort zone. So, thank you in advance for your patience and understanding, and please feed me with your comments and requests for more info / data. I guess this initial post will evolve with your feedback.


...

I hope you enjoyed this review and I wish you a nice weekend!

Great thorough review, but personally I have never had the need for clock regenerators or similar products desgined to reduce "the nefarious impact of jitter" on my listening experience. I know clock locking is mandatory in many applications, but if an audio system isn't tolerant of slight clock drift there days, there must be a component in there along the signal path that needs to be trashed right away. Even 384kHz is utterly pedestrian stuff these days.

 

[Bob101]

The fact that it supports MQA makes it all ok.

 

[MC_RME]

The fact that it supports MQA makes it all ok.

It doesn't.

 

[TNT]

I dont get the pitch measurements on the cd players with external dacs: if the the CD player is not suplied an external clock its digital output is the master clock, always...
So the pitch should not change at all.
Except if you use a fifo with reclocker, then you can push your new clock on the output of the CD player.

There should be audible sync glitches after some time...

I suppose non of the used CD players in that list has a sync inlet.

//

 

[whydan]

Thanks NTTY for your report, I have a question on last measurement.
Have you tried to measure the frequency which feed from Revox B 226-S to SMSL D200 without G1 CLK.
From my point of view, those frequency difference may came from SPDIF receiver
And SPDIF receivers are different between Topping D50 III and SMSL D200.

 

[NTTY]

Yes, here

 

[DonDish]

Thanx for the nice review.! For the interested ive found this CD player, it has extensive clocking functions with WC I/O and 10mhz input: S.M.S.L VMV T2 MQA CD Player.

 

[Gary_G]

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.

Going all in on an audio grade GPS receiver.

 

[NTTY]

Thanx for the nice review.! For the interested ive found this CD player, it has extensive clocking functions with WC I/O and 10mhz input: S.M.S.L VMV T2 MQA CD Player.

The PL200T offers the same to the exception of "relay" modes (1 and 2) which I suspect are related to the CD player expecting to be the master or the slave of the clock with the external digital device. Or the clock output frequency maybe? This is something I could test if I had it

 

[DonDish]

The PL200T offers the same to the exception of "relay" modes (1 and 2) which I suspect are related to the CD player expecting to be the master or the slave of the clock with the external digital device. Or the clock output frequency maybe? This is something I could test if I had it

The "relay" modes you are refering to are the clock alignement settings? The manual states this:

"Perform deep reclocking of audio signals using local or input clocks to further
reduce jitter.
For different audio signals, the listening experience of MODE 1 and MODE 2 will be
different, and you can choose according to your personal preference."

I have an interface with WC so I want to try this out to use the interface clock instead of the players internal clock.

 

[G|force]

For 20 years or more, empirical testing and conventional wisdom in pro audio circles has stated that external clocking cannot and will not decrease jitter, and may in fact increase jitter.
(Sound on Sound, Gearspace)

Thankfully the difference is very unlikely to be heard under DBT.

The only scenario where an external clock is preferred to the local clock is when multiple devices need to be synced, and this is best done in a 'star' fashion with one device set to master, such as the DUT here, and the others set to slave.

 

[Jinjuku]

I spent 7 years in the Broadcast and Live Production industry.

There is ample evidence that thick walletted audiophiles don't understand what 'House Sync' is. Master Clock, House Sync, TBC, Blackburst Generator, External clock, what ever.

 

[DonDish]

I spent 7 years in the Broadcast and Live Production industry.

There is ample evidence that thick walletted audiophiles don't understand what 'House Sync' is. Master Clock, House Sync, TBC, Blackburst Generator, External clock, what ever.

What is TBC?

 

[VientoB]

What is TBC?

That's to be confirmed.

 

[DonDish]

That's to be confirmed.

Its not tuberculosis?

 

[Gary_G]

Time Behind Center

 

[Jinjuku]

Time Base Corrector.

 

[Roland68]

I spent 7 years in the Broadcast and Live Production industry.

There is ample evidence that thick walletted audiophiles don't understand what 'House Sync' is. Master Clock, House Sync, TBC, Blackburst Generator, External clock, what ever.

The central clock that synchronizes all digital devices should be the easiest concept for such people to understand.

What is TBC?

TBC = Time base correction, which is likely only familiar to older generations from video editing.