One Clock to Rule Them All
The Mutec REF 10 is an audiophile-grade reference master clock that generates 10MHz signals with vanishingly low jitter to considerably enhance digital playback systems with remarkable clarity and dynamics. The REF 10 unlocks the transparency and full dynamic range of your soundstage with incredible dimensionality and detail, free from digital blurring. Ideal for high-end studios, mastering suites, and home playback systems, the Mutec REF 10 delivers the clock precision and audio purity your digital playback chain has been waiting for.
Advancing the state of the art
At Sweetwater, we well know that a master clock can improve (or degrade) the sonic performance of digital audio equipment. Mutec’s belief that existing master clocks fall short of delivering the full potential of audio productions drove them to investigate how they could further improve the performance of digital audio systems. So they recruited one of Germany’s most renowned RF engineers to join their research and development team. Together they developed a master clock generator that delivers technical performance even beyond what they thought possible. To ensure that this high-end performance translated to best-in-class sound, this performance was verified with subjective listening tests by an elite group of experienced audiophiles. The result of Mutec’s uncompromising engineering is their first Empyreal Class product — the REF 10 — a superior 10MHz reference master clock that delivers extreme clocking precision.
Exploding the atomic myth
Mutec’s extensive research into the so-called "atomic clocks" has determined that the impressive clock stability of these rubidium and cesium oscillator-based clocks is limited to the long-term time domain — the amount the absolute clock frequency (10MHz, in this case) drifts over time. Mutec’s view is that, although this long-term stability may be useful in certain telecommunications applications, it is basically irrelevant for practical digital audio purposes. Ultimately, what needs to be as precise as possible for optimum sound quality is the timing from one sample to the next as a digital audio stream is transferred from one device to another. These fluctuations in short-term stability are measured as jitter (phase noise), and they are central to audiophile-level performance in any digital audio device. In contrast to most "atomic clocks," the REF 10 is engineered around Mutec’s handcrafted-in-Germany, oven-controlled oscillator (OCXO), which features the highest clock stability in the time domain that’s most relevant for reference-grade digital audio performance.
The cornerstone of high-performance audio design
A well-engineered main power supply is the cornerstone of high-performance audio design. To meet this requirement for the REF 10, Mutec specifically designed a dual-linear power supply based on a German-made toroidal transformer. This design provides a dedicated transformer winding for the OCXO that is completely isolated from the surrounding circuit. Networks of lowest-ESR (equivalent series resistance) Panasonic capacitors ensure the best interference suppression for the supply voltages. Thereafter, lowest-noise, sub-Hz optimized voltage sources arranged independently in multiple stages supply every part of the circuit to eliminate interference. For the heart of the REF 10, Mutec’s handcrafted OCXO, the company needed to go even further. They developed a dedicated power source of such incredibly low noise that even the engineers themselves were amazed by the noise figures and the resulting oscillator performance that was ultimately achieved. They then developed the REF 10’s unique ultra-low-noise clock distribution and amplification circuits that virtually, losslessly transfer the oscillator’s reference signal to the REF 10’s eight outputs.
Mutec REF 10 Reference Master Clock Features:
- Audiophile-grade 10MHz reference clock generator with industry-leading low jitter
- Improves and enhances compatible DACs, audio re-clockers, music servers, and master clocks
- Engineered around a handcrafted, ultra-low phase noise OCXO made in Germany
- Generates a very high slew-rate square wave signal for superior lock precision
- Provides simultaneous reference outputs with 50 and 75 ohm impedance for maximum compatibility
- 8 galvanically isolated, individually switchable BNC clock outputs
- Revolutionary, sub-Hz optimized, lowest-noise power supply for every circuit section
- Integrated, highest-quality international linear power supply
- Highly efficient power line filtering
- Intuitive user interface with noble aesthetics
- Rackmountable with optional mounting brackets for studio use (2U)
- 3-year extended warranty
- Quality crafted in Germany
