Wadia Digital 381I Theory of Operation, Using ClockLink with an External Processor

381/381i CD Player

Theory of Operation

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

The Wadia 381/381i CD Player with its 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

TransportDAC

Conventional CD Player with an External Digital Processor

Using ClockLink with an external processor, the Wadia 381/381i CD Player 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
Digital	Processor			Digital
Output				Input
Transport			DAC
		Clock to Transport

CD Player with ClockLink with an External Digital Processor

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