G-01 & 10MHz Output Cable Impedance
 

I contacted Esoteric with questions concerning the way I have my P-02/D-02/G-01 components set up. During the subsequent email exchanges, it was STRONGLY recommended to use the G-01 10MHz output connections. Of course, I've always used the A1/A2 Clock Outputs and was never the wiser.

There's only one potential problem stopping me from trying this suggestion. I use Nordost Valhalla 2 (V2) 75 Ohm BNC and 110 Ohm AES/EBU digital cabling between my Esoteric components. A close read of the Esoteric G-01 manual says you have to use 50 Ohm BNC digital cables when connecting to the 10MHz outputs.

So is there any potential problem using a 75 Ohm BNC digital cable when a 50 Ohm BNC digital cable is clearly specified by Esoteric? Inquiring minds want to know ...

Ken

Ken... there is no problem at all using a 75 ohm BNC digital on the 10MHz setting.

Very helpful
 

As it is really difficult to find BNC cables with 50 ohms impedance! I have been using the 10MHz Freq from output A1! As usual, this site has just a wealth of information! Thank you!

Update:

I contacted Esoteric support and was told that while Esoteric does recommend using 50 Ohm cables at the G-01 10MHz OUT connections, "with lengths this short ... impedance is not a problem." If you take a look at the G-01 rear panel, you'll see there is a clear difference in CLOCK OUT BNC connector (75 Ohm) and the 10MHz OUT BNC connector (50 Ohm).

In 2014, I briefly toyed with the idea of getting an external 10MHz reference signal generator to feed the G-01 (shown as connection B in the G-01 Owners Manual on page 8). I contacted Stanford Research Systems (SRS) and asked about their PERF10 Rubidium Audio Clock which has eight 10MHz outputs each with a 75 Ohm BNC connector. I asked SRS if there was going to be an issue using a 75 Ohm BNC cable (PERF10 Output) into the G-01 EXT IN, which has a 50 Ohm BNC connector. SRS responded as follows: "At these frequencies, the 50 Ohm vs. 75 Ohm will not matter. An impedance mismatch can cause reflections, but not at 10MHz to be relevant." I didn't pursue the PERF10 any further.

The recent discussion about using the G-01 10MHz OUT connection to feed the K-01 got me to once again read the G-01 Owners Manual where I found it is possible to use the 10MHz OUT connectors to feed the P-02/D-02 units. Another case of RTFM!!

I will now use my Valhalla V2 75 Ohm BNC cables because although technically there is an impedance mismatch, at the end of the day both Esoteric and SRS say it shouldn't be an issue.

Ken

Ken,

Just a question, when they say "the lengths this short...impedance is not a problem", what is consider as short? My 75 Ohm BNC cable is about 0.75M in length. Do you think is will be a problem?

Ian... you are fine with that length; I'm using a 1.0M.

Update 2

My first Esoteric Clock was the G-03X which came with several BNC cables made by Cable Up (the packages were marked 'warrantied by Teac America'). These 'temporary' cables were 2m long. When I bought my G-03X, I also bought a Mexcel 7N-DA6000 BNC Word Clock Cable which was 1m long. The G-03X was used with my Esoteric X-03SE. The G-03X, X-03SE & 7N-DA6000 were all traded in for newer units. My current Valhalla V2 BNC 75 Ohm cables, used with my G-01, are 1.25m long.

So my various Esoteric units have used Word Clock BNC Cables varying in length from 1m to 1.25m to 2m without any problems.

I don't know if there's an optimal Word Clock Cable length. It may vary depending on the manufacturer.

Ken

Ken and Ivan,

Made the necessary changes and the SQ improvement is not insignificant! Thank you again!

Ian

I have been trying the A1 at 172Kz the last week or so, and with the little bit of listening I've had time to do, have just decided to switch back to the 10Mz out connection ( using my Wireworld Platinum 75 ohm cable ). It sounds better, in fact the best results I've gotten yet with my clock. Ted.

Update 3
 

After an email discussion with Esoteric, I decided to try using the G-01 10MHz OUT connections into my P-02 & D-02 10 MHz IN connections. Yes, I know the 10MHz BNC connectors are 50 Ohm impedance and I have quality Valhalla v2 75 Ohm cables and I know the experts (Esoteric, SRS) both say it doesn't make a hill of beans difference which impedance cable I use at 10MHz.

Still, I found two inexpensive ($5 ea.) 50 Ohm BNC cables made with RG-58U coaxial cable, in a local electronics supply store. After fumbling around with button pushing coupled with several choice swear words (especially RTFM), the P-02 & D-02 finally sync'd up and I sat back to listen. I used two special ECM light jazz CDs that I find are very well recorded with a mixture of vocals and instrumentals.

I sat back and listened and had a holy ---- moment! I kid you not!! There was more 'life' in these two CDs than I'd heard before. Transients were more distinct, the background seemed to get darker and the whole listening experience was somewhat overwhelming.

If you own a G-01 Clock and you have equipment with 50 Ohm BNC connectors, do yourself a favor and try 10MHz OUT even if it means using inexpensive 50 Ohm cables. I'm willing to venture you won't want to go back to your original settings!!

Ken