Mutec MC-3+ Smart Clock USB

[cazzesman]

Anyone tried one or has one?  Thoughts?   My research shows plenty of rave reviews.  Just looking for some local input. 

 

I know people will suggest the Singxer SU-1 instead.  I know it is cheaper and close to being just as good, but I like the better versatility of the Mutec via the multiple device inputs and outputs.  

 

Regards Cazzesman

[wikeeboy]

I have one, it's awesome. I feed a Devialet 1000 with it and love the versatility. The best input on the Dev is the AES/EBU input, the Mutec allows me to feed several different sources in (coax/optical) and then pick the best output for the component i'm using.. in my case the balanced AES/EBU digital input.

 

It does a great job of reclocking the signal, the sound is more relaxed and less edgy. If you want to get even more silly they have just released their Ref10 external clock which you can use with the MC-3+.

[cazzesman]

My Panasonic Plasma TV has Optical out that I run direct into my Oppo 105D.  Have you tried any connections along those lines and if so what was the result?

 

I was thinking the Mutec could double up in that regard.  TV- (optical) -Mutec- (optical or coaxial) into the Oppo.

 

Regards Cazzeman

[wikeeboy]

Feeding the foxtel box or TV via optical into the Mutec works a treat. It makes a signifcant difference. There is one issue though, the mutec doesn't auto-switch depending on the incoming signal, so you will need to choose the input on the mutec depending on what you use.

[cazzesman]

I take there is no remote associated with the Mutec.   All manual changing of setup?

 

Regards Cazzesman

[cazzesman]

Thanks to wikeeboy I have been trialling his Mutec MC 3+ USB.  

 

I now have my head around the setup.   It has a wide variety of internal selections and I have finally worked out what sequence of button pushing I need to implement, to get some great quality sound.

 

1st off the Mutec certainly cleans up the sound from the PC Lagoon via USB into the Oppo's USB.   It bring's everything into greater focus - that's the simplest way I can describe it.   

 

Because the unit has a variety of inputs I can toggle directly between the Units Coaxial and Optical outputs into the Oppo.   After an hour or so of listening yesterday I think the Optical has it.   The Optical Cable is the  Lifatec Sitflex Glass version.  The Optical just bested the Coaxial (Gary Cawsey 75ohm Silver core cable with Screw tight RCA connectors) in the area of clarity and refinement.  It was smoother and yet still dynamic.   Vocals are liquid.

 

I now have the Plasma TV running into the Mutec with a 2nd Lifatec Glass Siltec Optical.   Getting sound (TV or Music) via the Mutec to the Oppo is just a matter of selecting the USB or SPdif output, both into the Lifatec output.

 

Still more listening to go this coming week but I am liking what I am hearing.

 

http://www.lifatec.com/toslink2.html

 

Regards Cazzesman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2017 by cazzesman

[jkn]

I have previous version MC1.2 combine with MC6 and it is sounding really good.

[cazzesman]

I'm really enjoying the clarity the mutec is giving to dialog from various video sources into the plasma.     Be that Kodi,  tv, cd/DVD or streaming from the oppo.

 

Perhaps it is the reclocked 48 Hz output I have set.

 

Plenty of the tv shows I watch these days are filled with verbal sparring.  House of Cards, GOT etc.     Often dialog seems muffled due external sounds used to enhance the experience.  5.1 stuff down to stereo seems to bury some whispered conversations.   The mutec has made the dialog front and centre.   No need for hearing aides just yet. 

 

 

Regards Cazzesman

[mitchlim]

MC3+USB and Ref 10 finally arrived.

 

Have a run for 5 hours .....

 

I have a Goldmund Reference EDIOS CD and LIO Dac version 2, and I believed that they were excellent and did not need an extra external reclock (Both of them do not have wclck in/out), since, my friend strongly recommend this combo for the CAS (MacBook Pro to LIO via USB), also I got a discount from the australia agent before the Christmas (many countries are curretnly out of stock), why not have a try.

 

My English is not good, so bear with me ....

 

First I tried from Mac to Mutec combo then LIO via SPDIF, the improvement is really night and day, bass, treble, soundstage have significant improvement, very airy and also very focus .. overall almost 60-70% improvement 

 

How about without Ref 10? the improvement is not significant ... may be less than 25% ..  much less clarity from the combo,  however, i must say still worth to have MC3 with this price.

 

Secondly, my Goldmund supposed to be very good, but when I connected to the Mutec Combo, i was totally shocked with the improvement, do not ask me the reason as i am not a techical person nor having a good hearing of audiophile, I can say it is really a night and day of differnece.

[PorkBun69s]

Who is the australian  distributor for the mutec? Can you pls pm me the details? Thanks 

[wikeeboy]

Hi @mitchlim

 

I'm not sure how many hours you have on the Ref10 but definitely give it time to settle, it will improve for sure! Clocks need time to bed in before they run optimally. 

[mitchlim]

3 hours ago, katattack74 said:

Who is the australian  distributor for the mutec? Can you pls pm me the details? Thanks 

I bought from Crux Audio Australia

[mitchlim]

2 hours ago, wikeeboy said:

Hi @mitchlim

 

I'm not sure how many hours you have on the Ref10 but definitely give it time to settle, it will improve for sure! Clocks need time to bed in before they run optimally. 

I will try it .. thank you

[Sunnybridge]

I just bought the mc3+USB and ref 10. Sounds amazing to work with Devialet 800. They are the must buy items. 

[cazzesman]

As the starter of this thread I thought I might add some more thoughts on the Mutec.

 

I recently purchased a 2nd hand Lampizator Level 5 DAC/Pre setup with a separate power supply.    I had been using the Mutec USB 3+ to reclock the USB signal coming from my Mini PC.   From the Mutec the digital signal went into an Oppo 105D dac.   The Oppo was later replaced by a Chord Hugo TT dac.   Both DAC's were connected from the Mutec output to the inputs via a quality glass optical toslink.

 

The new Lampi has a USB input and the following comes from the Lampi website.

 

USB

In all our DACs we offer USB input option. Our module is of a highest level, with 32 bit engine, capable of 384 kHz speed, compatible with all operating systems of all computers. It is asynchronous and uses two internal clocks for re-clocking. It also is self powered from internal power supply which we build into our DACs. No power is taken from the computer and the noisy computer line is PHYSICALLY interrupted and insulated. 

Our USB is not converting to SPDIF - it is much better than that - it converts to i2s and it is connected DIRECTLY to the DAC chip, bypassing all input and receiver stages. There is no better USB solution than this. Our USB is also supplying the DSD signal to the DAC which means you have only ONE computer program and one USB cable and one USB port for both PCM and DSD technology.

 

I had a Lampi guru around recently for a listen to my system and he recommended I take the Mutec out of the system and run the USB straight from my Mini PC into the Lampi USB.     The Lampi has both 75ohm RCA coaxial and Toslink inputs.   The Mutec has both 75ohm BNC and RCA coaxial out.    I didn't have a 75ohm coaxial cable of any note other than a 75ohm RG59 video cable with BNC at both ends.  I had a BNC to RCA adapter that I used.   

 

I did some testing with the RG59 from Mutec to Lampi vs Curious Cable USB from Mini PC direct to the Lampi.   I felt the USB was the better of the two.

 

I lashed out the grand total of $55 (includes exchange rate and delivery) and purchased a Blue Jeans 75ohm Belden 1694A cable with matching Canare connectors (BNC one end and RCA the other).

 

Today I compared the BJC 75ohm coaxial from the Mutec into the Lampi vs the Curious Cable USB direct to the Lampi.   

 

Chalk and cheese the BJC from the Mutec killed it.   Clarity and separation plus a bigger sound stage.   Vocals forward and concise.

 

So my current chain can be seen in my signature below and I am very happy.................today   

 

The Mutec USB 3+  RRP is $1490 in Australia.  

 

Regards Cazzesman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2018 by cazzesman

[PorkBun69s]

On 06/10/2018 at 3:39 PM, cazzesman said:

As the starter of this thread I thought I might add some more thoughts on the Mutec.

 

I recently purchased a 2nd hand Lampizator Level 5 DAC/Pre setup with a separate power supply.    I had been using the Mutec USB 3+ to reclock the USB signal coming from my Mini PC.   From the Mutec the digital signal went into an Oppo 105D dac.   The Oppo was later replaced by a Chord Hugo TT dac.   Both DAC's were connected from the Mutec output to the inputs via a quality glass optical toslink.

 

I lashed out the grand total of $55 (includes exchange rate and delivery) and purchased a Blue Jeans 75ohm Belden 1694A cable with matching Canare connectors (BNC one end and RCA the other).

 

Chalk and cheese the BJC from the Mutec killed it.   Clarity and separation plus a bigger sound stage.   Vocals forward and concise.

 

So my current chain can be seen in my signature below and I am very happy.................today   

 

Regards Cazzesman

 

Cazz,

Interesting find.  When you have time later this year, can you come over with your new toy + Mutec?  Would been keen to hear this combo over mine.

[Parissay Oudomvilay]

On 18/12/2017 at 10:33 AM, mitchlim said:

MC3+USB and Ref 10 finally arrived.

 

Have a run for 5 hours .....

 

I have a Goldmund Reference EDIOS CD and LIO Dac version 2, and I believed that they were excellent and did not need an extra external reclock (Both of them do not have wclck in/out), since, my friend strongly recommend this combo for the CAS (MacBook Pro to LIO via USB), also I got a discount from the australia agent before the Christmas (many countries are curretnly out of stock), why not have a try.

 

My English is not good, so bear with me ....

 

First I tried from Mac to Mutec combo then LIO via SPDIF, the improvement is really night and day, bass, treble, soundstage have significant improvement, very airy and also very focus .. overall almost 60-70% improvement 

 

How about without Ref 10? the improvement is not significant ... may be less than 25% ..  much less clarity from the combo,  however, i must say still worth to have MC3 with this price.

 

Secondly, my Goldmund supposed to be very good, but when I connected to the Mutec Combo, i was totally shocked with the improvement, do not ask me the reason as i am not a techical person nor having a good hearing of audiophile, I can say it is really a night and day of differnece.

 

Hello Mitchlim

I recently bought the MC 3 + USB to work with the Denafrips Terminator DAC, it is a game changer already and I am looking at the REF 10 now. 

Is it possible to have a session listening to your system with the REF 10, I'd like to listen to the REF 10 before deciding, I live in Moorebank NSW and you are welcome to come for a session.

 

my equipment

EMS drivers speakers

Amplifiers: SPEC W 7 mono blocks

Denafrips Terminator DAC with upgrade DSD board

SOtM SMS 200  Ultra + Ethernet Switch + SPS 500 power supply 

Roon + Tidal

MC-3 + Smart Clock  USB

Jay Audio CDT2 MkII

 

Thanks in advance

Paris

0439457930

[mitchlim]

Hello Paris,

 

I just saw your post, however, recently I am not in a good mood, due to the thing happens in Hong Kong .... I will give you an update when I am back in a mood.

[narla]

I listened to the Denafrips Terminator DAC with new DSD board recently.  Fantastic DAC.  Hard to fault - and this in comparison to DACs many times the price.  The inner detail and dynamics were a highlight. 

[One and a half]

I had two MC3-USB as tandem. It drove me nuts with USB, could not clean it up no matter. Also has SMPS for power and strict linear voltages which I couldn't gurantee from going overvolts and cooking the unit.

Sold them both in the end. Some good results with AES3 and S/PDIF, try that.

[RussB]

Singxer SU-6 is a more refined version of SU-1 and would give the Mutec a better run for its money. Some reports on Headfi of people preferring the SU-6 over Mutec in their systems. I have heard both in my system at different times and both resulted in significant improvement. Don’t know which was better though.