Aurender - MC20 - Master Clock (Special Order)

Aurender was founded in Seoul, South Korea in 2011 by a team of engineers who had grown frustrated with the compromises inherent in using a general-purpose computer as a music source. A laptop or desktop computer is designed to do many things simultaneously — manage network traffic, handle background processes, and respond to user input — all of which introduce electrical noise and timing inconsistencies that affect the quality of digital audio output. Aurender's founding insight was straightforward: build a device that does one thing, does it with complete precision, and does nothing else. The result was a range of music servers and streamers that redefined what high-quality digital audio playback could sound like.

ENGINEERING PHILOSOPHY

Aurender music servers load the audio file being played into a dedicated RAM buffer before playback begins, completely isolating the playback process from the mechanical and electrical noise of the storage drive. The custom Linux operating system runs only the processes required for audio playback — no background tasks, no operating system overhead, no network activity during the playback moment itself. The clock circuits used in Aurender's reference models achieve jitter levels measured in femtoseconds, an order of magnitude better than the clocks used in computer-based playback systems. The chassis are machined from solid aluminium and internally shielded to prevent the digital circuits from radiating noise into the audio signal path. Every design decision is made in service of a single goal: to deliver the digital audio signal to your DAC with the lowest possible noise floor and the most accurate timing achievable.

WHY THE AUDIO TAILOR CARRIES AURENDER

We recommend Aurender as the digital source in any serious system because the source is where the signal chain begins — and the limitations introduced at the source cannot be corrected downstream. If you are streaming music through a laptop or phone into an expensive DAC, you are not hearing what your DAC is capable of.

Aurender MC 20 Master Clock

Timing is everything.

Reference Grade Master Clock & Word Clock Generator with Rubidium Module 10 MHz Master Clock and Discrete OCXO Word Clock Outputs for Universal Connectivity

A New Standard of Accuracy and Stability

In any digital audio system, the rate at which digital data is transmitted and received is of the utmost importance. Specifically, all devices in the digital signal path must be synchronized in order to provide a coherent presentation. Therefore, for the ultimate experience in clarity, transparency, focused imaging, and natural realism, your system’s digital source, DAC, and any other upsamplers or converters should all receive the same synchronised clock signal from an ultra precise and stable source.

The Aurender MC20 is both a Master Clock and Word Clock generator that is inspired, developed, and designed to deliver an exceptionally high level of digital audio realism from a connected music server and/or D/A converter. Thanks to the MC20’s superior timekeeping, jitter is reduced to infinitesimal levels resulting in the ultimate timbral purity and rock-steady placement of instruments within your system’s soundstage.

At the heart of the MC20 is a rubidium module that generates a 10MHz master clock reference signal. A rubidium clock is employed for its superior accuracy and stability in both the long and short term for ultra-low jitter. Additionally, MC20 contains two discrete OCXO word clock modules for generating the frequencies 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. MC20 will independently and simultaneously supply the four 10MHz master clock outputs and four Word Clock outputs (2 at 44.1 kHz and 2 at 48 kHz) for unprecedented versatility with a wide variety of Aurender and third party equipment.

Rubidium 10 MHz Clock Module

The rubidium clock module employed in the MC20 is an exceptionally stable and accurate design that establishes a new low level of phase noise and jitter. Its flawless performance delivers a new level of vivid clarity with a three-dimensional width, depth, and height to the sound field it creates. The reduction of jitter and phase noise removes any trace of “digital glare,” and instead provides an analog-style warmth and naturalism to any digital audio source.

Discrete OCXO Clocks

Two separate channels of OCXO word clock generators with 75Ω and 50Ω ports on each channel. Many DACs and sources accept only Word Clock input as opposed to 10MHz Master Clock input. For connectivity with such equipment, 2 channels of discrete OCXO driven word clock outputs are included. Set one to 44.1 kHz, and the other to 48 kHz (and multiples thereof).

Synchronised Perfection

An innovative SPDIF sync channel enables automatic synchronisation of word clock output depending on the content being played.

Connectivity

Connect MC20 to an Aurender source + a DAC with clock input for the maximum benefit. However, even if your DAC does not have a clock input, synchronising your Aurender transport with MC20 is still a revelation.

Specifications

• SPDIF Sync Input: Coaxial BNC, 75Ω (BNC 75Ω)
• Clock output: Rubidium Master Clock: 10MHz 2ea. (75Ω), 2ea. (50Ω), 0.7Vrms (±10%) Word Clock: CH. A 2ea (75Ω), CH. B 2ea (75Ω)
• Connectivity: USB (Reserved for future use)
• LED Indicators / Button: LED Indicators: Clock LED, Sync LED, Multiplier LED 10ea (Ch) Select Button: Clock Select, Multiple Select, Power Button
• Phase Noise(Rubidium): < -130dBc / Hz (10 Hz), < -140dBc / Hz (100 Hz)
• Freq. Short-term Stability (Rubidium): <2×10⁻¹¹ (1 s), <1×10⁻¹¹ (10 s), <2×10⁻¹² (100 s)
• Phase Noise (OCXO): < -90dB/Hz (1Hz), < -115dB/Hz (10Hz), < -127dB/Hz (100Hz), < -143dB/Hz (1kHz)
• Freq. Stability(OCXO): <5 x 10⁻¹⁰
• Size: 430 x 106 x 370 mm (unit only), (127 mm height with foot) / 16.9 x 4.2 x 14.6 inch (unit only), (5.0 in height with foot)
• Weight: 20.3kg, 44.7lbs
• Input Voltage: 110V / 220V
• Power Consumption: Standby: 5.7W / Power On: Start Warm-up (160W), State Lock (58W)