Power Supply and Clocks - In, Out or Does it Really Matter?

UltraFast69

UltraFast69

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Power Supply and Clocks - In, Out or Does it Really Matter?

Is preference over design the reason why some manufacturers create power supplies and clocks as a separate component, and others build these within the component?

If reducing noise and isolation is paramount, does it not make sense to have power and clocks outside the component?

How much does this really outweigh the all-in-one unit that includes a specially designed chassis that shields and isolates higher quality transformers, filters, clocks and such?

Maybe I am indirectly answering my own question, dunno. Please help I am just a poor lonely little ‘ole fish guy. :S
 
Power supply is the foundation to any system - having it separately can reduce a lot of rfi/emi going into the critical components and hence has an advantage if kept far away. However, IMO, the clocks are exactly opposite - you want the clocks to be as close to the system as possible, not far away from it.
 
UltraFast69 said:
Power Supply and Clocks - In, Out or Does it Really Matter?

Is preference over design the reason why some manufacturers create power supplies and clocks as a separate component, and others build these within the component?

If reducing noise and isolation is paramount, does it not make sense to have power and clocks outside the component?

How much does this really outweigh the all-in-one unit that includes a specially designed chassis that shields and isolates higher quality transformers, filters, clocks and such?

Maybe I am indirectly answering my own question, dunno. Please help I am just a poor lonely little ‘ole fish guy. :S
Click to expand...

If you are clocking multiple units (transport, 1-2 DACs, server/streamer, etc....) an external clock is mandatory and best IMHO.

An external clock in general is a better idea in general if you are able to locate a clock with lower phase noise and better Allan variance
behavior (and therefore lower jitter overall) than the onboard clocks or circuits used to generate internal baseline clocking references...
 
Devg said:
Power supply is the foundation to any system - having it separately can reduce a lot of rfi/emi going into the critical components and hence has an advantage if kept far away. However, IMO, the clocks are exactly opposite - you want the clocks to be as close to the system as possible, not far away from it.
Click to expand...
In a Dac, the separate psu can have a downside too...in terms of drive and dynamics via the umbilical cord.
 
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