sPS-550 & sCLK-OXC10ultra

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, 40GB RAM, Tahoe 26), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Studio, Qobuz Sublime, Gustard U26 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 & SW-6 switch, Sonnet Pasithea; Preamp: Hattor Audio ARP-S; Active filter: spl Audio Crossover MkII; Power amplifiers: Vinshine/Kinki Dazzle & Audiophonics NCx500 on subwoofer; Loudspeakers: Qualio IQ [on loan]; Subwoofer: sound|kaos D15; Cables: Exact Express Flame, Furutech; Power delivery: 2 x Kinki/Vinshine Tai Hang on amps and source stack, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, AudioQuest FogLifters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat; Room treatment: 2 x PSI Audio AVAA C214 active bass traps
1st upstairs speaker system: Source: Shanling EM7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Preamp/filter: Lifesaver Audio iCon 4SE & Gradient Box 2; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos; Loudspeakers: sound|kaos Vox3awf; Subwoofer: sound|kaos D12 on twin Nord Acoustic NC500 monos; Cable loom: Exact Express Earth; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra, Akiko Audio Corelli Corundum & Castello Solo; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Furutech cable lifts, Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
1st upstairs headfi system: DAC: Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Headphones: Raal 1995 Magna, HifiMan Susvara
Desktop system: Source: HP Z2 workstation Win11/64; USB isolator: LHY UIP; LAN distributors: LHY AS6 Pro & SW6-SFP; Ethernet reclocker: Stack SmoothLAN; DACs: Gustard R26II & U26; Preamp: Topping A900; Speaker amps: Topping B200 monos; Loudspeakers: Virtual Hifi Viper; Headphones: Final D-8000, aune SR7000, FiiO FT7, HifiMan Susvara Unveiled
2nd upstairs headfi system: Shanling EM5; Headphones: Meze 109 Pro, HifiMan HE1000 Unveiled
2nd upstairs speaker system: Source: smsl PL200T CD transport; DAC: Shanling EM5 w. 1TB microSD; Crossover: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box II; Amplifiers: LAIV Crescendo Chorus; Loudspeakers: MonAcoustic SuperMon Mini with Dynaudio S18 subwoofer
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: ModalAkustik MusikBoxx; Subwoofer: 2 x Zu Method; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: $7'000 clock, $1'400 PSU, $350 clock cable

By late October, my newsroom had this: "Soul Of the Music from South Korea bow their sMS-500, sPS-550 and sCLK-OCX10ultra in the brand's usual cap-sensitive nomenclature. Respectively those are a 'next-gen network music player, high-performance power supply and master clock generator. More than an upgrade to the sMS-200 series, the sMS-500 features entirely new hardware architecture redesigned from the motherboard upward. Our Eunhasu OS has been optimized for stable operation and flexible support for Roon Ready, UPnP/DLNA, MPD, Diretta Host and Target, Qobuz Connect, HQPlayer Embedded and HQPlayer NAA with a dedicated audio-grade USB output. The sPS-550 offers eight selectable DC output voltages and maximum power of 80 watts with built-in protection against over-current, overtemperature and output short circuits. The new 10MHz reference clock with 10 isolated BNC outputs improves upon its predecessors with ~5dB less phase noise at ~10Hz and temperature stability.'" In the wake of this post, I was asked whether I'd review any of these newcomers. I signed up for the power supply and clock and was approved once I had detailed my hardware contexts.

10 x 50Ω sinewave outputs standard; 75Ω by request.

Unlike colleagues at other publications, my own attempts at 'upgrading' a single digital component's internal clock with an external 10MHz oscillator via cabled 50Ω connection have been mostly a bust. As I see it, external reclocking in the home becomes more promising whilst syncing multiple components to one shared clock. My desktop has four 50Ω BNC which suddenly cast lustful glances: two fibre-connected Ethernet switches from LHY, the U26 USB bridge and R26II DAC by Gustard. Meanwhile SOtM's clock runs off 12V/3A DC which its companion PSU could supply. Then I had a 5V Stack Audio LAN regenerator; a 12V DAC and 15V pre/headamp from Audalytic; and a 7V active crossover from Lifesaver Audio—all with DC inputs. That hardware promised enough trysts and twists for an interesting review. It's not every day that I come across a high-performance PSU of eight selectable voltages. Other than ferrum's even more flexible Hypsos, just then I was aware of no other. And I do enjoy discovering problem solvers. This clearly met the mark.

SOtM's clock would replace this LHY OCK-2S.

Granted, one could feel a mark of a sorrier sort if a costly clock's sonic impact was less than that of an ESS digital filter; particularly when in my case, its ask more than doubles the combined tally of my four suspects to be reclocked. If SOtM's clock could still shine up my kit, what could it do for gear in its own fiscal 'hood? Whilst that aspect would remain for other reviewers to gauge, I could at least chime in on my own more agrarian level. Country bumpkin reporting for duty—Sir! A geek detail of the sCLK-OXC10ultra is outputting its 10'000'000Hz clock beat as a sine not square wave. Also, we don't turn its individual ports on/off because all are live simultaneously. And, the power toggle sits on the rear to suggest that this clock is meant to remain permanently 'on'—standard MO for oven-controlled oscillators. With a 30x23cm WxD footprint and just 5cm of height, my desktop would have no issue hosting it. I asked my factory contact in Cheonan-si to include a quartet of matched clock cables should my own mix not suit the upscale occasion. SOtM's clock link goes by cBL-BNCm50 and four of them sell for $1'400. She also wanted to add Ethernet cables and power cords. Already having premium examples, I demurred. For one gig I already had enough ingredients. Too many cooks in the kitchen confuse me.

Haiku Audio are amongst those who say that unlike post-streamer clocks, the quality of pre-streamer oscillators like in network switches can't make any sonic difference.

In fairness, the same could be felt about a clock with ten identical ports which don't mix 50/75Ω or sine/square waves. Is it possible even to assemble a home hifi's digital front of such complexity as to exploit so many clock feeds? SOtM's non-ultra model already had four. At time of writing it still listed for ~€3'700 ex VAT with Dutch Magna Hifi. Like its name, the sCLK-OXC10ultra could seem overkill.

… to be continued…