Theory of Operation

S7i IntegratedCD Player / Decoding Computer

Using ClockLink with an External Processor

ClockLink eliminates jitter added when the clock signal is recovered from the digital data stream. In a non-ClockLink system, jitter is added when the clock signal is embedded in the data stream and transmitted to the DAC. When the clock signal is recovered from the data stream (as shown below), and used to clock the DAC output, this jitter degrades the sonic performance.

Data and Clock to DAC

Transport		DAC

Jitter Added

Conventional CD Player

With ClockLink, the clock is not recovered from the data. Instead, the master clock is located at the DAC. This clock signal is transmitted to the transport to keep it synchronized with the DAC. Because the recovered clock is ignored, any jitter on that signal does not affect the sonic performance.

	Data to DAC
Transport	DAC

Clock to Transport

CD Player with ClockLink

Digital inputs and outputs can be used with a digital signal processor such as a digital equalizer. Digital processors allow the signal to be modified without adding analog noise and distortion. However, digital processors can add jitter, as shown below, causing noticeable sonic degradation.

Digital Output

Data and Clock to DAC

Digital

Processor

Jitter Added

Digital

Input

Transport		DAC

Conventional CD Player with an External Digital Processor

Using ClockLink with an external processor, the Wadia S7i Integrated CD Player / Decoding Computer ignores the incoming clock and uses the master oscillator at the DAC. As a result, jitter added by the external digital processor does not affect sonic performance.

	Digital	Data to DAC
		Data to DAC

Digital	Processor			Digital
Output				Input
Output				Input

Transport			DAC
Transport		Clock to Transport	DAC
		Clock to Transport

CD Player with ClockLink with an External Digital Processor