Mutec Ref 10 se 120 - Master clock

The following are observations texted to two members of the Charlotte Audio group as time progressed during the break in period of the Mutec….it's easier for me to just copy/paste than it is to re-type everything.




It is about 6 times bigger than the Afterdark clock. Didn't realize it was that big.

If this is supposedly "bad sound"? Then I may be in for a treat. Right out of the box and only powered up for 20 minutes? Not bad.

Very clear. The micro detail is very noticeable. Definitely much more definition with each image. Kind of spooky.

Very 3D, right off the bat....also very smooth in its presentation.

Thank the man above that I don't have to put up with what we both did with the Muon. Heck, I'd honestly be satisfied with what I am hearing now.

If this improves over the next month? I am really in for a treat. Tommy like.

A lot.


Already, I feel comfortable enough saying that this is akin to adding the Muon Pro to the system...already burned in and settled.

I am hearing much, much more musical information come through.

The impact that hits you on voices and instruments that never really had any visceral impact before....well, they definitely have it now!


This one is gonna be some fun! I haven't left the sweet spot since I started listening.

The rig started cold and things just keep getting better and better, even though the temps keep dropping and the demand gets even greater on the grid.

I know full well that $$$ have different meaning to different people but I would be completely happy with what I am experiencing today, based upon what I am hearing versus what I spent.

With every song? It just keeps getting better and better. I can understand why recording studios use this sucker....


It has been 9 hours so far. There are fluctuations (which, based upon experience is a good thing) but said fluctuations are not as big as the difference.

This is another animal that I am not used to experiencing .

Final sign off for tonight, gentlemen....y'all just need to experience this......words simply cannot describe.

There are a plethora of changes that are subtle. Some that are obvious.....and then there are some that are undeniable....along with the new sounds you never heard before. Totally cool. 👍



One other major development that I have observed with the new toy.

Many times over the years on various tracks, I have always been left wanting when it comes to the lead singer.

Sometimes on certain recordings, the image is "out of focus". I could never quite figure out how to solve this issue.

Well, it turns out that when this has happened? It isn't just one singer. It's actually two that are placed very one to one another in the mix or up on stage.

I never would have figured this out if it weren't for what I am now hearing. The two voices are now crystal clear and distinguishable from each other and the image is no longer "out of focus"

*Part of discussion omitted*


Naw man, it's definitely a different gender singer. You will clearly hear it when you come over. Instead of one "out of focus" image, there are now two distinct and very clear images of two people singing.

That's what I referred to last night as "spooky"


It has definitely opened up since yesterday. The imaging and spatial locationality separation is.....well, it's unreal.

I have never heard any stereo do what I am currently hearing. I know you both may think that I am exaggerating but when you hear it? You will know.

I just got through with Eagles "Hotel California" live and let me tell you. It was like I experienced a completely different recording.....even though it's the same damned recording I have listened to 100's of times. It's wonderfully crazy!

And it is only hour 38 or something like that. Yesterday was wonderful. Today is a flat out experience. I have no clue how things could even improve at this point.


Y'all have GOT to hear this.....man. Same thing as last night. I sat down to play a favorite of mine. "Miss Riddle" by Boz Scaggs.

I must have noticed a hundred different things about this song that was different and with a plethora of sounds I never knew was there before. Unreal.....simply unreal. 😲😲😲


Just an interesting note. I have noticed a quieter background and more dynamic passages and got to wondering....could you actually "see" the results.

So, I have been paying more attention to the dynamic sways on the Db meter. You can see that the dynamic range is better. Yes, all songs have a dynamic range but this is the Eagles. Song called "Waiting in the weeds". I don't recall ever seeing a swing in dynamics quite like this. No change in volume.



BTW, the clock is still improving every day. It's amazing some of the things I am experiencing. The bass has so much texture now that I do not honestly believe it could be improved on. It's so detailed and textured with authority like no other I have heard. So very controlled, it's unreal. The impact is awesome. If there is any distortion? I sure can't pick up on any. Room overload has significantly decreased, allowing me to crank up the volume quite a bit.....still, with no room overload.

Awesome stuff man.

Dude....just look at those swings in dynamics! It's crazy. A 40Db swing with zero change in volume.



Tuesday of this week versus today.....see any change? LOL

Before this? Maybe a 10dB to 18dB difference on average. I'd have to go look back on some of my screenshots to show you what it used to look like....on impressive (at the time) dynamic swings.

Tuesday, I noticed a big swing in dynamics, so I looked. I looked again today and it's apparently getting better. The sounds are still changing. Today is a little thin with a tad bit of sizzle on the top end that I haven't heard in quite some time (since long before I hooked it up). The stereo separation between the channels seems to be getting even more defined. It is so weird to be able to listen to the changes as it "does it's thang".

Thank the man above that the swings are not as bad as the Muon was. That was painful. At least I can listen and immensely enjoy the sound as it does its thing. If the Muon taught me something, it's this. The more dramatic the swing? The better the recovery and subsequent attribute it brought to an even greater extent. I can dig it.


Here is an older screenshot of previously "impressive" dynamics…Higher noise floor, looks like a swing between 64Db and maybe 82. An 18dB swing.



Tom

Oooops, I forgot to post my current one Week observations on this unit.

One week -

Even more music behind the music has been revealed on tracks. Not on all songs but on songs like "California Love" by 2Pac, there are a plethora of additional sounds throughout the entire song that was hidden behind the music. Singers, sounds, instruments, LP scratching. you name it. Once not even noticed are now equal with the song and are easily heard.

Vocals have seemed to have stabilized into palpability that is spooky real. Almost too spooky at times
The texture of the horsehair sliding across the strings on Gregory Alan Isakov's, "Dandelion Wine" is something that really puts the Cello reproductive effort into new heights and into the room.👌

The dynamic range has increased considerably since the unit was first powered up. Wild swings in dynamics are now not only possible but common. A 40dB swing at an average listening level of 70dB is what is now considered normal at this point. For reference, at 70dB in my listening room - it's pretty loud and you feel the music, as well as hear it.

The differences between a poor, average, great and stellar recording have become more of a distance between each other. Great has become reference and stellar recordings simply blow you away at what a stereo can actually do. It becomes an "experience" that no amount of words I could type could actually describe.

I can still detect changes/flux from one day to another but the changes have become less and not as drastic in fluxuation(s).

The sheer enjoyment I get out of listening to new tracks, older tracks that were ho-hum and especially the stellar recordings is a wonderful experience.

Basically, at this point, I can comfortably report that this unit catapulted the system into another stratosphere of fidelity. So easy on the ears and fluid.

The visceral impact from a plucked guitar string (yes, even that!) to an electric guitar bass note to a drum kick is something that is startling at times. Even at lower volumes.

Summary after one week of listening - The biggest changes, I would say, are that there is much more music behind the music, incredibly palpable images, cleanliness and dramatic swings within the dynamic range.

Tom

Hi, Dr_Wu. My apologies for not comprehending your question. What is a Nano?

Did you happen to mean the Mutec? If so, no. The Mutec has an internal LPS. IIRC, two of them.

https://www.mutec-net.com/product_ref10_se120.php

Tom

Ah, I see. Yeah, this one is the one they use in studios. I see hear why now.

Thanks man! I am rather pleased with the performance of this unit. Time will tell, of course, but so far? I am really, really digging what I am hearing.

Tom

Week 3 observations -

Considerable change in layering, height, depth and imaging. I wouldn't characterize it as "bloom", as that is sometimes referred to as a deficiency. It just offers more separation between the images and they are more spread out, layered, defined and localized, if that makes sense.
There is an even further sense of realism (accuracy of the reproductive effort) on many instruments and singers.
Even more background information is starting to come through, extremely layered at this point.
The 3D landscape is.....well, you just have to experience it. OUTSTANDING. Like a new reproduction of selections that you are used too.
It sounds like more of a full-fledged Hollywood production with no holds barred than just a song you listen too now. The "presentation" is...something else. The depth is incredible. Not just a couple of feet or 20 feet back...the layering is...beyond impressive, even on compressed recordings.
Q sound recordings have sounds in places that are unfathomable and well beyond "stereo".
Final thought...strangely? The distance between a poor, okay, decent, stellar and exceptional recording have lost the distance between one another. While this used to be a considerable deficiency, it has turned the tables.

Tom

Right now, I am only in need of one output. That is for the EtherREGEN 10MHz input. Two or three of the outputs I will probably never use, as they are 50Ω outputs that are usually used with overseas products. So, 7 of the outputs are turned off at the moment. I personally will not use more than one additional output but they are there, if they are ever needed. FWIW, the amount of outputs weren't really a factor in my decision to purchase this.

Within the chain, it's really simple. You just plug the clock in, hook up the BNC clock cable to the B side of the ER (making sure the direction is correct), flip the switch to external clock on the ER and then power up the clock, then ER. That's it. You are done.

I forgot to mention that this is the only change I have made to my rig since it was installed and for 4 weeks prior to that. So, I guess the comparison would be between this and the After Dark Emperor Signature ClayX Giesemann OCXO 10MHz Reference Master Clock.

Tom

Okay, so this will wrap up my review of the Mutec REF 10 SE 120 Master Clock...

There hasn't been much discernible change to the Clock since last week. Since its introduction to the rig, I have enjoyed music on a whole other level of reproduction. I believe I have relayed just about everything in the posts above that this clock can do (compared to a After Dark Emperor Signature ClayX Giesemann OCXO 10MHz Reference Clock). During this review, I did not change or adjust anything in the rig.

Earlier on, I tried and failed miserably to list the components associated with this review. I spent some time to learn Power Point and this will explain the configuration of the components used much better than trying to type it all out like I did before. It is pretty complex to simply type out (as you will see below)

The following is the current configuration of the streaming portion of the rig used for evaluating the Mutec SE 120 -





Tom