Esoteric’s First Wholly Original Clock Module
Developed entirely in-house, Esoteric’s new Master Sound Discrete Clock is totally dedicated to the ultimate in music playback. Fitted with Esoteric’s new SC1 crystal oscillator, this high-precision clock module’s advanced temperature control circuitry and its programming achieve the highest accuracy in sound. Paying close attention to the smallest details, Esoteric has managed to achieve the richest possible musical playback capability ever experienced in an audio system.
New Esoteric SC1 Crystal
From its high-accuracy oscillator circuitry to the core crystal oscillator itself, the new Master Sound Discrete Clock is a completely custom-made component produced exclusively by Esoteric. The material forming its crystal provides a more natural tone quality, extremely low phase noise, and exceptional stability when used in combination with the G1X’s advanced temperature control system. Since quartz crystals generate their clock signals through vibration, or resonance, there is a profound correlation between the physical characteristics of the base material and ultimate sound quality. Larger crystals tend to produce a higher drive level that is less easily affected by high resistance within the circuit. They also produce a more stable oscillation. Therefore, every detail in the manufacturing process, from cut shape to size, was carefully examined in pursuit of creating an oscillator that offers the best electrophysical characteristics for ultimate sound quality. Based on a highly reliable variety of quartz crystal developed for the aerospace industry, Esoteric was able to complete the development of its exclusive musical reproduction-dedicated SC1 crystal. The crystal material itself is grown slowly over an extremely long period of time, and then SC (Stress Compensated) cut into its final shape. To ensure optimal control of its resonant vibration, Esoteric proudly introduces the largest sized mass-produced crystal in its class, carefully selecting and utilizing only those pieces whose center frequency fluctuations are within Esoteric’s strict standards.
Original Master Sound TC* Temperature Control Program
Since the frequency accuracy of a crystal can change drastically due to the influence of ambient air temperatures, temperature control is the most important factor in maintaining a clock’s highest possible accuracy. Esoteric’s exclusive Master Sound TC is a total temperature control system designed to maximize the performance of the crystal oscillator. Not only the physical hardware, but also its control software is designed and manufactured in-house, ensuring that the G1X Master Sound Discrete Clock achieves the ultimate in audio performance.
In most conventional OCXO circuits, the crystal is kept in a compact oven at an appropriate temperature of approximately 85°C. However, since the temperature at which a crystal exhibits its best performance can vary widely from one crystal to the next, it has been common until now to correct for any clock frequency error using a supplementary correction circuit. In the Master Sound TC system, a customized program micro-controls the oven in order to maintain the optimum temperature for each individual crystal to achieve its most accurate operating performance. This design keeps any circuit signal correction to an absolute minimum, thus providing the purest and most natural clock output, and by extension the cleanest and most accurate sound.
Four Independent Power Supplies for the Ultimate in Musicality
Normally, OCXO modules are equipped with a single power supply to drive all circuits. However, in order to ensure that all of the Master Sound Discrete Clock’s circuits are kept totally separate and discrete, the G1X is equipped with four independent power supplies to drive its oscillation circuitry, its heater, its control circuitry, and its buffer amplifier. An optimal voltage is directly supplied to each circuit block from each of these independent power supplies, with the result being significant improvements to sound quality.
Five 10MHz Sine Wave Clock Outputs Compatible with ‘Adaptive Zero Ground’ Mode
Depending on the listener’s preference, the clock output can either be individually switched to ‘Normal’ mode or ‘Adaptive Zero Ground’ mode, which drives the reference potential ground to 0V.
Chassis Construction
The G1X’s bottom chassis features sturdy dual-layer construction that mounts its power transformers and other components on separate layers in order to minimize interference between electrical parts, while high-precision slits were cut into its panels by laser. Any vibration generated by the power transformers is grounded to the exterior via the shortest possible distance from the unit’s pinpoint feet (patent No. 4075477, No. 3778108). Finally, the semi-floating top panel also helps accentuate the system’s relaxed and open sound.
Spec description
| Clock Output |
|
| Output Frequency |
10MHz |
| Frequency Accuracy |
Within ±0.01ppm (as shipped) |
| Clock Stabilization Time |
Approx. 10 min. |
| BNC Terminals |
5 |
| Output Level |
Sine wave; 0.5 ±0.1Vrms / 50Ω |
| General |
|
| Power supply |
|
| US/Canada |
AC 120V, 60Hz |
| Europe |
AC 220-240V, 50/60Hz |
| Hong Kong |
AC 230V, 50Hz |
| Power consumption |
17W (when stable) |
External dimensions
(W×H×D, including protrusions)
|
445 × 132 × 448mm
17-⅝" × 5-¼" × 17-¾" |
| Weight |
23kg / 50-¾ lb |
