Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Vanguard 24.576MHz TCXO Passive Components by Adriel

Model:	24.576MHz TCXO
Category:	Passive Components
Suggested Retail Price:	$30.00
Description:	ubiquitous 1PPM TCXO from ebay/chinese sellers
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available

Review by Adriel on November 11, 2009 at 11:09:55
IP Address: 70.179.2.11 Add Your Review
for the 24.576MHz TCXO

-specs-

supply: 5 vdc
output: ttl/cmos
package: dip-14

To take advantage of hi-res digital downloads and computer-based upsampling, I needed to have a digital pathway of at least 96khz. The limiting factor in the chain was a 44.1khz reclocker by Monarchy Audio, "DIP Classic". Fortunately it was equipped with a pair of 14-pin DIP sockets, one for 44.1khz and the other for 96khz and made comparison-swapping very easy.

I once stumbled upon the actual manufacturer's website, but have since lost it. This tcxo is widely rebranded and pimped all over the internet. The round sticker probably covers a hole that contains an adjustment screw of some type.

For comparison against this tcxo, was a vcxo sent by Monarchy Audio, made by AEC company.

Playback utilized music from 44.1khz to 96khz.

Over a period of four weeks, I performed various swaps between the tcxo and vcxo, and let the natural process settle matters.

The take-away was the following:

1. when fed 44.1-48khz sources at their native resolution, the AEC vcxo suffered in sound quality when performing upsampling

2. the tcxo had a better musical performance overall from 44.1khz to 96khz

3. non-oversampling DACs had the biggest changes (usually beneficial) when fed by upsampled data

4. oversampling DACs usually exhibited sonic degradation (loss of detail) when fed upsampled data, or minute changes laterally

The best configuration in the end was to up/downsample all music from 44.1khz to 192khz, to a 96khz format to feed the reclocker, and keep the tcxo in place to handle upsampling of movie audio.

Product Weakness:	sonically meaningless specification data: ppm, phase noise performance in the MHz range, suspect jitter charts
Product Strengths:	more musical than some other vcxo

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Sophia 300B monoblocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Primaluna Prologue Two
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Audio Note Dackit 2.0
Speakers: Omega Super 8 XRS
Cables/Interconnects: Audioquest, Pangea
Music Used (Genre/Selections): 1996-2009
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): PurePower APS
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Sophia 300B monoblocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Primaluna Prologue Two
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Audio Note Dackit 2.0
Speakers:	Omega Super 8 XRS
Cables/Interconnects:	Audioquest, Pangea
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	1996-2009
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PurePower APS
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner