Replacing xo in AUDIO-GD digital interface

[john dozier]

Audio-gd is offering a low jitter crystal for their digital interface. It is rated at 3.3. volts. I see other low jitter crystals. Some say 3.3 to 5 volts , other say 5 volts. Will all of these operate from 3.3. to 5 or just those that specify this? Thanks

 

[singa]

Audio-gd is offering a low jitter crystal for their digital interface. It is rated at 3.3. volts. I see other low jitter crystals. Some say 3.3 to 5 volts , other say 5 volts. Will all of these operate from 3.3. to 5 or just those that specify this? Thanks

Hi, These specs are "confusing" to non electronics people.It depends on
the design.There are XO that operate within a specified range and fixed
supply voltage.In general most of the equipment or rather cd players that
you have are older generation ones so the electronics usually have 5volt
supplies.So if I'm making a XO to sell it makes sense for a circuit to be
"flexible" but it has it's pro's and con's.Most important is that they work
then there's no technical support problem,see?

So it boils down to what circuit is value for money and in truth
some XO is just a normal XO and the specs are dubious at best with a dedicated "low noise" or normal supply.Then there are XO that boast
circuitry that cleans up the clock signal and it's the standard "reclocking"
digital ic like 7474 flipflops or other digital ic which in essense don't
really improve much,waveforms are no better than stock flipflop itself.
It takes a significant amount of digital circuitry to clean up a waveform
and not just one 7474 like ic.

Low jitter? Well some claim they can hear the improvement
but I doubt it ,the experimenter's expectation is more likely.To really make
something low jitter requires a very low noise supply and not a standard
3 pin regulator like 78XX or LM3XX just goolge Walter Jung's super
regulator and you understand the complexity.Furthermore if you have come across some high end cd player clocks costing much more,they use what is
known as an Atomic clock like cesium and rubidium and not only that the
clock is further "disciplined" or sychronised by a GPS derived clock signal.

Now that's the ulimate XO. Regards.

 

[john dozier]

Great Expectations

Having trained as a psychologist, I am well aware of the self-delusional aspects of audio. There is as much snake oil in "jitter reduction" as in cables. For thirty bucks, I think I will go with the golden vanguard on Ebay with even better specs. So it makes no improvement and I am out the cost of one high quality connector. Thanks for your comments.