Mutec USB Interfaces: MC-1.2 & MC-3+ Smart Clock USB

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Luckbad, Apr 1, 2016.

  1. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    I will probably buy one when it is available. I can't speak to how well it affects other DACs as clocking is implementation specific however the MC3+ is the real deal when combined with Yggdrasil or other Schiit DACs.

    Edit: I just noticed this video is nearly 2 years old! My German is poor but the guy said that they were expecting the Ref10 clock to reach market in March/April of 2015 so they have pushed it back over a year. It seems they really take their product development seriously.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2016
  2. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    There's plenty of digital word clocks out in the market now. From Antelope, Grimm Audio, Black Lion Audio, Cybershaft, Stansford to Mutec and many others. Some of them are very expensive on relation to the cost of the DDC and DAC.

    Although there seems to be conflicting views amongst the audio mastering engineers on the usefulness of digital clocks:

    http://pinknoisemag.com/pink-papers/pink-paper-002

    vs

    http://tapeop.com/interviews/111/future-of-audio-clocks/

    Maybe we should start a new thread on the digital word clocks as it's a different kind of equipment to the mutec mc3.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2016
  3. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Anyone know if the 1.2 reclocks spdif signals?
     
  4. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    According to the manual, no. "When receiving a digital audio signal at one of the appropriate inputs, it will be converted into an USB audio stream only. A format conversion to the digital audio outputs is not carried out."

    I wondered the same thing a couple of months ago.
     
  5. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    Quick question - I have been using the mc1.2 for about 4 months now and really like it. I was checking for the new drivers and they appear to be for the mc3+usb only right?

    My actual question is about the "USB streaming" mode selected in the "MUTEC USB Audio Control Panel". Default looked to be set to "safe". Is there a preferred setting here?
     
  6. LauSing2

    LauSing2 Facebook Friend

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    Where can you get the v1.03 file (mac)? Only the latest version is available in Mutec's site.
     
  7. RAZRr1275

    RAZRr1275 Facebook Friend

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    1.03 is included in the new version. Upgrade to 1.10 and then downgrade to 1.03 using the included file.
     
  8. LauSing2

    LauSing2 Facebook Friend

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  9. Miracle1980

    Miracle1980 Acquaintance

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    I'm considering to purchase a Mutec mc-3+USB. Do you guys know if it's using a linear psu?
    It's better to invest in the Mutec or purchase an used Auralic Aries with Femto and lpsu?
    My source with Mutec would be a mini PC powered by Linear Psu.

    Thanks
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Get the Aries or any type appliance with direct SPDIF or AES3 out (with no USB in the middle). Don't waste your money on USB to SPDIF/AES2 solutions unless you really need to USB and/or do not care about ultimate performance. If you like USB for convenience, best to take those funds and get a better DAC, unless you've already topped out your DAC.

    It also depends upon what you are using for a DAC. Your results will vary. Also the firmware revision of the Mutec will change the sound, quite drastically. I generally would not recommend the Mutec mc3 because it's kind of expensive for something that makes the sound different rather than necessary better. Because so many factors are involved, it's hard to predict how the Mutec will make things sound.

    Finally, audio is not an investment. It's burning money for pleasure. Absolutely nothing wrong with doing that, we all do that here, so no need to disguise it as an investment.
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2017
  11. jelt2359

    jelt2359 Friend

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    The Mutec REF10 is now out and being demoed at the Munich High End show.
     
  12. Bill R

    Bill R New

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    There are 8 pages before this with users of the Mutec 3+USB who liked the improvement in sound quality. None of them said "it just sounds different". The unit is for computer users who are after better sound, in that price range. Sure, buying a better DAC or Music Server (or both) will up the sound quality. A good music server will cost $800 to $8000 dollars, DACs about the same, considering average budgets. Then there are cables, time to set it up, unseen difficulties, etc. Then there will be something else to upgrade or add. I think the Mutec is a great way to go for $1100. I currently own a Weiss INT 202 which sounds quite good in the smaller system, and am about to purchase the Mutec 3+USB for the large system. I will get back with results in a couple of weeks.
     
  13. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    Lol, way to go on your first post Bill R. You don't seem to have spent a lot of time around here yet, do you ?
     
  14. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    It does just sound different. I've had one for 9 months and wouldn't use Mutec at all if I didn't need AES to SPDIF interface conversion. It is useful for that purpose, but probably does little more otherwise than exchange the incoming jitter profile for its own jitter profile. Maybe that ends up sounding better to you, worse to some, but not definitively much more than "different" in the grand scheme. YMMV as they say, and the subjective outcome might depend on your source.

    PS - Unforeseen difficulties? WTF.
     
  15. Bill R

    Bill R New

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    Lots of time ? Can't really answer that one. Good luck with your audio adventures!
     
  16. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    Wish you the best too Bill, I'm afraid your stay is going to be short though. Hope you enjoy yourself anyway.
     
  17. Bill R

    Bill R New

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    Thanks for your experience. I started looking for music servers a couple of months ago. Kind of like cars. The one I take a liking to is about twice what I am planning to spend. I've spent some already. Don't want to say how much, but the music server costs as much as my complete headphone rig. Just feel like playing with the cheaper stuff for now.
     
  18. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    for something like this, which connection is best Toslink/optical? And Would it affect the Mutec if a Schiit Wyrd was in front of it? (Sorry I read this thread and I am trying to learn about this as much as I can)

    So for example:

    Jriver->Schit Wyrd->Mutec connected by Toslink/Optical->DAC->Amp?

    I guess I am just trying to learn what the best way to connect the Mutec to your setup.
     
  19. landroni

    landroni Friend

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    I think @Torq provides some interesting pointers here:
     
  20. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    What we discovered as a community a while back is that if you can avoid USB completely, do so. There are some USB -> S/PDIF solutions that sound better than some internal cards, some CD transports, etc., but to get ideal uncolored sound you should go for something like the Lynx E22 or AES16e if you want to stay with digital files on your PC's hard drive.

    I was personally tricked into believing the Mutec was the best solution because it made the biggest difference in sound and did seem to sound best in A/B testing.

    After using one for weeks, I realized that Rednet and Lynx were better solutions.

    All of them are pointlessly expensive if you haven't found your ideal headphones, amp, and DAC.

    The Lynx E22 is perfect for my uses. Yeah, I have one for sale right now, but I'll get another when I can (I was out of hifi for several months for financial reasons and dove back in too aggressively).
     

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