Auralic transporter + internal storage + CD - guess that could be a very nice front end for a dCS:
1 Like
The design is beautiful.
Except there is no wordclock input. So not an ideal choice to pair with a dCS DAC.
1 Like
Right, they are using their LEO clock:
Integrated LEO Clock
Clocking precision is critical to achieving high-performance digital-to-analog conversion, and AURALiC has consistently led the way in master clock technology. The original LEO Master Clock, introduced in 2017, set a new benchmark by directly driving the DAC rather than relying on a 10MHz external clock for PLL-based frequency reconstruction. This direct approach significantly reduced jitter and enhanced timing accuracy, delivering industry-leading performance.
The LEO clock is so precise that existing benchmarks aren’t detailed enough to accurately represent what it can do. Instead, we use Allan deviation to describe the resolution, which is like looking at phase noise closely enough to detect shifts of +/-1Hz or even +/-0.1Hz. The LEO Clock achieves the same exceptional performance as the original, boasting an Allan deviation of 2E-12 (at 1 second), which is equal to a 10MHz rubidium atomic clock with phase noise of +/-1Hz at -110dBc/Hz, or an amazing 500 times less jitter than an 82fs Femto clock oscillator.
For the AQUILA X3, AURALiC took on the ambitious challenge of integrating the LEO clock—previously housed in a standalone unit—directly into the DAC module. This required overcoming significant engineering hurdles to maintain the clock’s renowned precision and performance within the compact confines of the module, while also enhancing reliability and durability. Remarkably, the integrated LEO Clock retains the same exceptional performance as its standalone predecessor. Furthermore, by eliminating external clock cables and connectors—common sources of jitter and signal degradation—the new design delivers a cleaner, more stable transmission path, making it both more robust and reliable for long-term use.
Thanks but that is not relevant in these circumstances. It is essential that the source and DAC are synchronised i.e use the same reference signal. This should not be confused with timing accuracy .
The whole reason for word clock is to ensure this condition in multi-box systems.
So the Auralic unit may provide accurately timed signals using their proprietary clock but the advantage is lost because the dCS unit cannot be synchronised to it which can result in drop outs or audible glitches.
1 Like