Product Summary
Superclock II represents a significant advance in dramatically improving the sound and picture quality of CD, SACD, DVD & DVD-A players and uses new technology designed exclusively for Audiocom.
The new technology is the result of painstaking research and collaboration between Audiocom engineers and specialists in the field of low noise and high frequency circuitry.
No expense has been spared in the development of Superclock II and with no set deadlines to compromise quality, Superclock II truly sets a new international standard in the arena of purest audio and visual reproduction.
New and optimised technical features from Superclock V1.XX
- Improved oscillator circuit for better short-term and long term stability.
- New Wider bandwidth low noise RF buffer & amplifier stage.
- Newly developed sine-square wave circuitry.
- Lower data related and power supply jitter.
- 40% shorter signal path.
New and optimised sound quality features from Superclock V1.XX
- Faster, more accurate bass with extraordinary definition and timing. Increased texture and substance to vocals and instruments.
- A more Seamless, transparent and coherent sound.
- Startling dynamics. Detail and expressive music making.
- A closer emotional bond between listener and music.
- Improved focus, definition and life-likeness of sound stage.
Design Considerations
The basic platform of Superclock II is its printed circuit board. This is formed as an extremely low impedance ground plane over which the components are placed. Very low impedance ground planes contribute to signal quality and are essential when handling radio frequency signals which are of exceptionally low distortion and phase jitter. The ground plane shields the radio circuits from the invisible capacitor formed when the board is mounted close to metalwork.
Only the highest quality components are used in Superclock II, having been selected to give a standard of sonic quality hitherto unavailable. All of the electrolytic capacitors for example are of the Black Gate and Os-Con type, with capacitor types such tantalums and other electrolytic's having been totally rejected during the research and development process. Sonic tests proved conclusively that these cheaper capacitors significantly degraded sonic quality.
Component quality has been the underlying strategy in the extensive Superclock II development process. At each stage of the quality of signals, such as frequency, voltage or wave form were brought to the required standard in the laboratory. Listening tests were then used as the sole arbiter in deciding whether the technology was producing the demanded sonic quality. This slow, painstaking and very expensive process has resulted in a new standard of clock, namely Superclock II.
The highly demanding specification for Superclock II meant that the radio frequency circuits, which actually generate the precision clock, were grossly over specified to yield a purity and clarity of sound which other clocks cannot achieve. The radio frequency circuits in a CD or DVD clock operate in the high frequency part of the radio spectrum, typically between 8 MHz and 45 MHz. Superclock II radio circuits naturally also operate in this range of frequencies but have been designed as if they were operating at considerably higher frequencies of up to 1000 MHz. The sonic benefits of this design approach are, however, only realised when the physical layout of components on the printed circuit board are also designed for higher frequencies. The result is a strip line layout, with extremely short component trace interconnects. The combination of strip line layout and ultra high frequency design was proven, by listening tests, to produce excellent audio quality.
The heart of Superclock II is its low phase noise oscillator. This original design, proprietary to Audiocom, uses two Ultra High transistors in a unique arrangement to produce a very clean signal at the clocks fundamental frequency, having minimal wave form and phase distortion. The circuitry is capable at running at many times the required fundamental frequency and is proven to give a significant sonic improvement over earlier clock oscillator circuitry. With the oscillator and its components arranged on a Superclock 2 board as a stripline UHF circuit, the sonic advantages can clearly be heard in any CD ,SACD, DVD & DVD-A players.
The power supply of Superclock II also represents a significant departure from the more traditional three terminal regulators as used in many other clocks. From the outset the power supply was identified as a crucial element in reducing phase noise and jitter in the radio frequency circuits.
Superclock II's power supply filters the incoming supply from the CD/DVD to remove low and high frequency noise from the power supply, together with reflected noise from the digital circuits inside the CD. This cleaned up supply is then used to generate a precise, stable and exceptionally quiet reference voltage which drives a JFET input operational amplifier being the heart of the Superclock II power supply. The op amp is configured to provide far more current drive ability than is actually required by Superclock II, which results in a very stable power source for the radio frequency circuits. Further the op amps configurations serves to further reject any noise.
The result is a clean stable power source for the radio frequency circuits, which is essential in the design of low distortion and low phase noise circuitry.
- Input Voltages: +9v to +18v
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 2 1/4” x 1 3/8” x 5/8”
Reviews
David Robinson of Positive Feedback
![[ Audiocom's Superclock 2 - SCLK2 - audio mods audiocom audio com black gate black gate blackgate potentiometer jensen capacitor jensen capacitors eichmann bullet audio consulting mantra sound dulcet naturelle bybee filters bybee filter ennemoser caddock ]](/images/ramlogo.jpg)
The all too common effect of jitter has seemingly prevented us from extracting musical satisfaction from digital playback for over two decades. Its characteristics {hardness, lack of dimensionality, weak undefined bass, grit, etc....} epitomize the term "amusical" We at RAM fiercely recommend you install the solution to jitter-The Superclock! This modification has provided us to re-think the possibilities of just how good digital can sound. Engineered and produced by Audiocom-UK, using all Black Gate capacitors, the Superclock is based on a unique circuit to minimize the effect of jitter. Your music will profoundly step into the room with greater clarity, much improved imaging, higher "palp" factor, and most of all greater musicality. To our amazement, the improvements do not seem bounded to lower priced units. Steve Huntley of Great Northern Sound now uses the Superclock as part of his statement mod for the reference Wadia gear!!!! These pieces both cost $8000.00!! A must for any audiophile with CD's. Immediate shipping available!