Master Clocking in MUTEC Quality starts right here

The REF10 NANO is the perfect device for all sound enthusiasts who want to get the advantages of an original MUTEC reference master clock at the lowest possible price – without making a significant trade off!

This smallest 10 MHz reference master clock in the MUTEC range offers almost every of the important quality features of its big brother REF10.

For the REF10 NANO – developed by MUTEC in the expected reputable quality – the formula reads: half the size, half the price, but almost as good as the REF10!

This certainly makes the REF10 NANO the best 10 MHz reference master clock currently available in its price class.

 

Advantage OCXO

Highly important for the performance of a reference master clock is the frequency stability of the oscillator used.

This parameter is dependent, among other things, on its ambient temperature, which must remain within a precisely defined range. If this very narrowly defined frame is deviated from by a variation in the ambient temperature, the frequency stability of the oscillator is affected.

This has a significant impact on the precision of the digital signal processing for connected audio devices.

The German-made OCXO (Oven Controlled Quartz Oscillator) used in the REF10 NANO is permanently kept at the same ideal temperature in its dedicated heated enclosure.

This sophisticated method is the best way to achieve excellent results, as it provides exceptional frequency stability. Traditional temperature-compensating quartz oscillators (TCXO) constantly readjust the deviations of the changing temperature conditions on the basis of continuos measurements.

But they fall far short of the quality level of an oven-based solution. Conventional low-cost crystal oscillators without any temperature control used to ensure the timely processing of the digital data flow in common DA converters, switches, streamers and re-clockers.

These lack even more of the frequency stability, which is extremely relevant for uncompromising high-quality audio reproduction.

Therefore, the use of an excellent OCXO is largely responsible for the outstanding quality of MUTEC’s REF10 NANO.

 

OCXO versus Atomic Clock (Rubidium/Cesium)

As an alternative to an OCXO, so-called atomic clocks are also used in advanced reference clock generators, mostly based on rubidium or cesium references. We do not think this is the way to go.

Our researches have shown that the high clock stability of atomic clocks occurs in a time range that is inappropriate, therefore of no relevance for digital audio applications.

Their long-term stability refers to the amount by which the absolute clock frequency drifts over a longer period of time, from a few days to several years.

Although long-term stability is important for telecommunication applications, for example, it has no impact to reproduction of digital audio material.

The crucial factor for sound quality is the accuracy of the time interval from one sample to the next sample, i.e. a very short time range, usually measured in time intervals between 0.01 sec. and a few seconds.

Alterations of this so-called short-term stability are measured as jitter or phase noise. At this crucial point for audiophile music reproduction the OCXO-based REF10 NANO delivers the significant advantage over rubidium or cesium-based clock references.

 

The Power Issue

The power supply plays a significant role for the overall quality of signal processing. Due to that, the MUTEC developers have put increased effort into this area as well.

Here, the oven-controlled oscillator in particular gets its ultra-low noise supply voltage completely isolated from the rest of the circuitry.

In addition, sub-Hz optimized, lowest noise voltage sources supply each single part of the circuitry individually in order to avoid any mutual interferences.

The extremely low noise clock distribution and amplification circuitries ensure that the OCXO’s reference clock signal reaches the four outputs of the REF10 NANO with virtually no loss.

For performance tuning the internal power supply can be bypassed with an externally applied 16 volt power supply. The dedicated DC input on the back of the compact 10 MHz reference master clock provides a convenient and safe way to optimize in this regard.

Phase noise of the REF10 NANO as a function of frequency

Based on our knowledge of the importance of a clock signal’s rise time (steepness of the edge) for the audio performance, we chose a very high slew-rate, lowest ripple square wave signal for the REF10 NANO.

In contrast to the low slew-rate sine wave signals used by competing brands, this leads to superior lock precision and therefor minimized jitter at the receiving end. As a result, all devices connected to the REF10 NANO will sound even better.

The exceptionally high slew-rate, lowest ripple square wave signal of the REF10 NANO

 

Targeted Design

In order to remove jitter and phase noise from clock signals to the maximum extent possible, further manifold steps were taken.

The REF10 NANO has an enclosure made of steel to protect the electronics from high frequency interferences.

Compared to commonly used aluminum cases, the insulation against external interferences is considerably better. To avoid hum caused by ground loops, all output stages of the REF10 NANO are galvanically isolated.

Each of the four clock outputs can be switched on and off individually so that only the required outputs are active.

This helps to minimize mutual interferences in the high frequency range as best as possible.

There are two pairs of outputs, each with a different termination of 50 ohms and 75 ohms. This ensures successful interaction of the REF10 NANO with a wide range of devices of other manufacturers.

Operation couldn’t be simpler: all you have to do is select the desired output and the NANO immediately works it`s magic.

 

Clear Sound Improvement

Using a reference master clock such as the affordable REF10 NANO can significantly improve the sound of a digital audio setup.

This applies to the audiophile listener at home as well as to the mastering/recording engineer in a professional A/V studio environment. In every use case, there is a clear increase in audio quality.

Including the REF10 NANO in your system results in higher transparency, more clearly defined bass, darker background, better instrument staging and extended imaging.

The MUTEC REF10 NANO certainly takes the audio quality of compatible D/A converters, network switches, servers, streamers, CD players, clock generators and re-clockers to a new level.

It is likewise the perfect upgrade for owners of an MC3+/MC3+ USB interface. In every context, the REF10 NANO 10 MHz reference master clock makes a significant contribution to fulfilling the central MUTEC promise: Perfecting Digital Audio.

 

10 MHz Compatible Products Currently in Production:

Manufacturer	Product	Impedance (Ω)	Type
MUTEC	MC‑3+ Smart Clock	75	Audio Re-Clocker, Clock Generator
	MC‑3+ Smart Clock USB	75	Audio Re-Clocker, Clock Generator, USB Interface
	iClock, iClock dp	75	Audio/Video Clock Generator
Abendrot Audio	Colt	50	DAC
	Everest 901	50	ADC
	Hengst	50	DAC
Antelope Audio	Zodiac Platinum 384 kHz	75	DAC
	Rubicon	75	DAC
	LiveClock	75	Audio Clock Generator
	Isochrone OCX, OCX HD, OCX‑V, Trinity	75	Audio/Video Clock Generator
	Pure 2	75	ADC/DAC
	Goliath	75	Audio Interface
	Goliath HD	75	Audio Interface
	Orion 32	75	Audio Interface
	Orion 32+ | GEN 3	75	Audio Interface
	Orion 32HD | GEN 3	75	Audio Interface
	Amári	75	Audio Interface
Audio Design	SyncroGenius HD‑Pro	75	Audio/Video Clock Generator
Audio-gd	DI-20, DI-20HE	50	USB Interface, DDC
	R-7, R-7HE (both as 2020 versions)	50	DAC
Aune	S9c Pro	50	DAC
	S10N, S10 Pro	50	Network Player
Aurender	N30SA	75	Music Server
	W20SE	75	Music Server
	W20 (discontinued)	75	Music Server
	N200	75	Music Server
Brainstorm	DCD‑12 (discontinued)	75	Audio/Video Clock Generator
	DCD‑24	75	Audio/Video Clock Generator
	DXD‑8	75	Audio/Video Clock Generator
	DXD‑16	75	Audio/Video Clock Generator
CH Precision	C1 (with SNYC_IO board)	75	DAC
	D1 (with SNYC_IO board)	75	SACD Transport, DAC
	I1 (with SNYC_IO board)	75	Universal Amplifier
dCS	Vivaldi Master Clock	75	Audio Clock Generator
	Paganini Master Clock, Scarlatti Master Clock (discontinued)	75	Audio Clock Generator
Esoteric	Grandioso G1	50	Audio Clock Generator
	Grandioso K1	50	SACD Player
	Grandioso P1/D1	50	SACD Transport, DAC
	K‑01X, K‑03X, K‑05, K‑05X, K‑07X	75	SACD Player
	P‑02X, P‑05X	50	SACD Transport
	D‑02X, D‑05X	50	DAC
	N‑01, N‑01XD	50	Network Player
	N‑05	75	Network Player
	G‑01X, G‑02X	50	Audio Clock Generator
Evertz	5601MSC	N/A	Audio/Video Clock Generator
Gustard	DAC‑A26	50	DAC, Network Player
	DAC‑R26	50	DAC, Network Player
	DAC‑X26pro	50	DAC
	U-16	50	USB Interface, DDC
	U-18	50	USB Interface, DDC
HiFi Rose	RS 130	50/75	Network Player
iFi Audio	Pro iDSD	N/A	DAC
Jay`s Audio	CDT-MK3	75	CD-Transport
LHY Audio	SW 10	50	Network Switch
M2TECH	EVO DAC TWO PLUS	75	DAC
	HIFACE EVO TWO	N/A	DAC
Melco	N1	N/A	Music Server
Phasetech/Phasemation	HD‑7A	50	DAC
RATOC	RAL‑DSDHA2	50	DAC
Rostec	ASD16HD	75	Audio/Video Clock Generator
Sforzato	DSP‑00EX	50	Network Player
	DSP‑010EX, DSP‑030EX	50	Network Player, DAC
	DSP‑04EX	50	DAC
Silent Angel	Bonn N8 Pro	50	Network Switch
Singxer	SDA‑6	50/75	DAC
	SU‑2	50	DDC
S.M.S.L	VMV D3	N/A	DAC
	VMC D2	N/A	DAC
Soul Note	D‑2	50	DAC
Sound Warrior	SWD‑CL10	50/75	Audio Clock Generator
SOtM	sMS‑1000SQ (with sCLK‑EX Expansion)	50/75	Music Server
	sMS‑200ultra (with sCLK‑EX Expansion)	50/75	Network Player
	sNH‑10G (with sCLK‑EX Expansion)	50/75	Network Switch
	tX‑USBultra (with sCLK‑EX Expansion)	50/75	USB Regenerator
SPEC	RMP‑X1	50	Network Player
Studio Technologies	M5401 Dante© Master Clock (discontinued)	75	Network Master Clock
Tascam	CG‑1000, CG‑1800, CG‑2000	50/75	Audio/Video Clock Generator
TEAC	UD‑503, UD‑505	50	DAC
	NT‑503, NT‑505	50	Network Player, DAC
	VRDS‑701, VRDS‑701T	50	CD Player
TechDAS	D‑7, D7i	50	DAC
Triode	TRV‑CD6SE	50	CD Player
UpTone Audio	EtherREGEN	75	Network Switch

Disclaimer: Compatibility of the REF10 NANO with the above listed products is assumed based on the specifications published by the respective manufacturers and subject to change. MUTEC is not liable for compatibility issues with third-party products operating outside of industry standards.