Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: LC Aduio LClock 2 CD Player/Recorder by tim

I started out skeptical about the results. I also
skeptical about my own de-soldering skill. But when
the LClock arrived, I couldn't resist to jump into the
installation right away.

LClock is supposedly a better quality clock for
'most' CD players. The theory is to reduce jitter.
The crystal is mounted on a small PC board withits own power
regulator.

LC Audio, the maker, provides specific instructions for many
common cd players model.

The actual soldering part is quick and easy. Even newbie
like me with a few practice run on unwanted PC boards takes
only 2 minutes to complete. Yet the whole process takes an
hour. Mostly on figuring out how to reach for the old clock
and desolder it without over heating the components. It wasn't
too bad for my Rotel 971.

After the putting it back together, I fire it up and the
most surprising first impression is the player still works!
Didn't blow anything seemingly, whew!

The change in high and low is the most obvious.
The bass is more well define now, on certain recordings
it is more prominant and weighty. Not sure if it has
augmented the extension though.
The high is finally what I have been looking for - open
and airy; effortless. Especially noticeable with cymbals
and flute.
Midrange also seems richer harmonically; more energy; more
presence.

Soundstage goes quite a bit deeper, and more layering
There is also an increase in transparency.

Here comes the best part - pace/cresendo/decresendo improves
alot even when the original 971 is not bad. It has now
surpassed the overall musicality of the Rega without no
sacrifices in the detail department.

One more note on the high, violin performance has move from
pleasant to very very pleasant.

What really impresses me is its resolving power.
A Vila Lobos orchestral piece by Reference Recording that
sounds so muddy even with many dealer' $4-5000 systems
has finally make sense in my system.

I also ordered a pair of DIL AD825 modules from LCAudio
to replace the present op-amp. Plan to insall them next
week. Wonder how much further I can get.

REVIEW: LC Aduio LClock 2 CD Player/Recorder Review by tim at Audio Asylum