Digital Reclocker experiences?

[uplander]

Does anyone have first-hand experience with the Empirical Audio Synchro-Mesh re-clockers, or other re-clockers in general?

http://www.empiricalaudio.com/products/synchro-mesh

The reason I'm curious is I'm streaming to the DAC in an Anthem receiver, and running the pre-outs to outboard amplification. Anthem DAC's are reputed to be good quality for a receiver, but I think there's room to improve. The design of the Anthem precludes bypassing the DAC, so it seems an outboard DAC would be pointless. But if Empirical's marketing is true, this gadget may offer most of the benefits of a stand alone DAC.

If you've heard one, or have other input, please share!

 

[RichPA]

I recently acquired a Synro-Mesh, and used between a Sonos Connect and DSpeaker Anti-Mode 2.0, it makes a very substantial improvement. I think the stock Sonos is a high-jitter device, and the Anti-Mode more sensitive than some components, though bypassing the Anti-Mode and going directly into my Bel Canto DAC also shows some improvement, though not as much. I have not yet had a chance to try any other sources.

In the past, I have used several other re-clockers (e.g., Audio Alchemy, Perpetual Technologies). While they were useful in their time, digital gear has advanced enough that those units will often hurt rather than help with current DACs.

Hope that helps!

 

[uplander]

I recently acquired a Synro-Mesh, and used between a Sonos Connect and DSpeaker Anti-Mode 2.0, it makes a very substantial improvement. I think the stock Sonos is a high-jitter device, and the Anti-Mode more sensitive than some components, though bypassing the Anti-Mode and going directly into my Bel Canto DAC also shows some improvement, though not as much. I have not yet had a chance to try any other sources.

In the past, I have used several other re-clockers (e.g., Audio Alchemy, Perpetual Technologies). While they were useful in their time, digital gear has advanced enough that those units will often hurt rather than help with current DACs.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the response. I'm not familiar at all with the DSpeaker Anti-Mode 2.0. So were you using that as the DAC, and reclocking the signal prior to it's conversion in the Anti-Mode 2.0?

Bel Canto DACs are pretty highly thought of, and I'd guess of better quality than you'd find in any receiver. If the reclocker improved the sound over that, it seems reasonable to expect that I'd see substantial improvement over the DACs in my Anthem receiver.

So you're saying that with the tech progress in DACs that there is less and less room for improvement? That would lead me to wonder where the DACs in my receiver stack up. I'm fairly certain they're better than the DACs in any big-name, box store type receiver, but compared to a stand-alone, that would be impossible for me to compare in my system.

It's kind of an expensive trial to find out if it'd be worthwhile, so I'm hungry for any and all feedback. Yours does indeed help.

 

[RichPA]

Thanks for the response. I'm not familiar at all with the DSpeaker Anti-Mode 2.0. So were you using that as the DAC, and reclocking the signal prior to it's conversion in the Anti-Mode 2.0?

I am using the Anti-Mode as a room EQ between the Sonos and the DAC (see http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=526490).

So you're saying that with the tech progress in DACs that there is less and less room for improvement? That would lead me to wonder where the DACs in my receiver stack up. I'm fairly certain they're better than the DACs in any big-name, box store type receiver, but compared to a stand-alone, that would be impossible for me to compare in my system.

Current DACs are much better at rejecting jitter than older ones, which is the main thing with respect to the value of re-clocking.

It's kind of an expensive trial to find out if it'd be worthwhile, so I'm hungry for any and all feedback. Yours does indeed help.

Yes, it is. My guess - and it is just a guess - is that you would hear some benefit, but it's hard to know whether that's the biggest bang for your buck in terms of your next upgrade. I do think that if you got a Synchro-Mesh and decided it wasn't worthwhile, you get much of your money back selling it used.

 

[uplander]

Yes, it is. My guess - and it is just a guess - is that you would hear some benefit, but it's hard to know whether that's the biggest bang for your buck in terms of your next upgrade. I do think that if you got a Synchro-Mesh and decided it wasn't worthwhile, you get much of your money back selling it used.

Thanks for your input. Outside of room correction, I think to make notable improvements in my system will require notable cash flow. Room correction is probable where the most bang-for-the-buck lies, but with a pending out-of-state move, I'm not ready to start down that road. One reason I'm hopeful that the Synchro Mesh will make an impact is that it seems like something that will continue to make an impact as my system evolves.