Jitter is a key problem of loss in digital playback systems. The losses are manifest in a number of areas; loss of resolution, dynamics and sound-stage, and also unwanted digital artefacts such as compression, congestion, tonal hardness, unnatural decay of instruments, glare and edginess.

Compact Disc since its invention has required a ‘master clock’ to reference all processing functions from the initial RF optical disc read stage right through to the Digital-to-Analogue conversion process. The master clocks in early CD players were overlooked, jitter was prevalent and early CD players gained a reputation for poor sound.

Modern day CD players, even high-end products still use simple solutions to avoid the complex problem of jitter. A typical OEM clock will use a 74HCU04 inverter ([Pierce oscillator), or the internal logic gate of a servo chip, DAC or digital filter with an external quartz crystal. Alternatively, a TCXO is used (Temperature Compensated Oscillator) which offers improve accuracy against temperature. The TXCO uses the same principle technology as the 74HC04 inverter in the form of an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) with a ‘naked’ quartz crystal and temperature compensation capacitors.

Such clock arrangements cannot produce low jitter due to the limitations of the Pierce oscillator and the noisy power supplies that power the circuits, typically 7805 generic regulators. This is the main reason that even high-end CD & SACD players continue to disappoint compared to analogue playback systems.

An Advanced Solution.

Ultraclock is at the pinnacle of low jitter clock technology and uses unique architecture to advance the state-of-the-art. To achieve this exacting standards have been met in every conceivable area of the clock design to eliminate phase noise and power supply noise from the clock system.

Achieving ultra-low power supply noise.

The clocks on-board discrete power supplies dispense with the use of commercially available voltage references which provide the ‘reference’ voltage for the DC power supplies. Instead a bespoke reference module is used with more than 30 precision components on a Gold plated, 4-layer PCB. The reference module is then dual screened to eliminate unwanted RFI/EMI noise. The result is a wideband noise performance of < 18nV per root Hz, the world’s lowest noise reference. The stable, DC reference is then divided and amplified by an ultra-low noise gain stage to provide two independent analogue and digital regulated power supplies.

Achieving ultra-low phase noise.

The Ultraclock’s true ultra-low phase noise oscillator uses a discrete high-performance oscillator topology which places the high Q quartz crystal at the lowest impedance and lowest noise point of the circuit. The unique circuit uses a pair of ultra-low noise, wideband transistors to produce a pure sine-wave with lowest phase. The pure sine is translated to a square wave while maintaining lowest jitter across a wide bandwidth. The RF stages are then dual screened to eliminate unwanted RFI/EMI noise.

Attention to Detail

The highest grade components are used to produce Ultraclock, 140 micron Gold plated PCB, finest Silver solder, Black Gate NX capacitors, Thin Film resistors, NPO film capacitors are used throughout. The finished product is then Deep Cryogenically Treated (DCT), a process which reduces skin effect, lowers resistance, lowers inductance, reduces capacitance and improves electron flow.

Raising the Bar

With the Ultraclock system you are no longer at the mercy of CD’s truncated version of musical reality. The sound is so much more ‘analogue’ that you are detached from the fact that you are actually playing compact disc. Every inner detail and nuance is presented, shift in tempo felt, emotive clues, the music has a charismatic quality considered absent with CD. Higher resolution formats such as SACD benefit equally and the quality of digital playback available from DSD is fully realised and appreciated.

Ultraclock has been installed into several players with exceptional results, these include;

Audio Note CDT-Two
Denon DVD-3930
Denon DVD-A1XVA
Electrocompaniet EMC-1
Marantz CD7
Marantz SA-1
Marantz SA-7S1
Marantz SA-11S1
Musical Fidelity KW DM25
Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD
Teac Esoteric X01
Teac Esoteric DV-50S
Sony SCD-1
Sony SCD-777ES

The above list is a guide to players that have been upgraded with the Ultraclock system.

Ultraclock  Ordering and Installation

The Ultraclock is available in a wide range clock frequencies for CD, DVD & SACD players. If you are ordering to make a DIY installation of the clock you will need to know the clock frequency of your machine before your order. The available frequencies are:-

• 8.46720MHz                         
• 11.2896MHz                       
• 12.0000MHz                              
• 16.9344MHz                       
• 18.4320MHz   
• 22.5792MHz                  
• 24.5760MHz
• 27.0000MHz                             
• 33.8688MHz                       
• 45.1584MHz                       
• 67.7376MHz                      

Alternatively, the Ultraclock  can be installed in to any type of CD, SACD or DVD player, and Audiocom can provide the installation for £40.00 + VAT. We can also advise on other potential upgrades to your CD/DVD player.

Simply purchase Ultraclock and send your player to us for the installation. You may want to contact us to check our work schedule before buying. We will arrange a date to complete the installation work and have the player returned to you within 3-4 working days.

We can also collect your machine from your home or workplace by courier service for next day delivery to Audiocom. The cost of this service is typically £20.00 + VAT each way.