Mytek - Opinions on Superlock

[Huntley Miller]

Originally Posted by huejahfink

Hey

I'm wondering what other people think about superlock.

I've been preferring to run my Mytek96DAC (for monitors) in standard mode.
I'm not sure I really see the point in superlock in a mastering context. I know the manual talks about avoiding jitter by upsampling, but I'm not sure why SRC on the fly would be any improvement to the sound as a whole. Isn't it complicating the signal further with unnecessary maths?

I have a completely non scientific, non tested feeling that the audio on superlock mode feels slightly less precise (although I have flicked rapidly between them blind and then opened my eyes to check).

So - I'm just throwing this out there to ask what other people's opinions are about superlock, especially about what the benefits and drawbacks might be between the modes.

Thanks

Superlock on the Mytek gives the converters best performance. This is explained in the manual. It's similar to crystal-lock on the Lavry Blues.

[huejahfink]

Thanks for your reply Huntley, but yeah I have read the manual.

I'm asking more for personal opinions about it than a regurgitation of the documentation:

whether people are using superlock or not
what differences people hear sonically
does it really perform as advertised etc

I'm not entirely convinced by it, even though I recognise that the unit sounds good in either mode - transients (especially higher frequency) seem ever so slightly compromised and softened in superlock to me.
I wondered how other people felt about it.

[Huntley Miller]

Originally Posted by huejahfink

Thanks for your reply Huntley, but yeah I have read the manual.

I'm asking more for personal opinions about it than a regurgitation of the documentation:

whether people are using superlock or not
what differences people hear sonically
does it really perform as advertised etc

I'm not entirely convinced by it, even though I recognise that the unit sounds good in either mode - transients (especially higher frequency) seem ever so slightly compromised and softened in superlock to me.
I wondered how other people felt about it.

The designer of the unit says that it performs best in that mode, my ears told me it sounded the best in that mode, both for monitoring and playback. But I don't use those converters any longer.

[huejahfink]

OK fair enough, so you preferred it in superlock mode. Thanks for taking the time, Huntley.
If you have an inclination to explain how you thought it sounded better, would be interested to hear it?
I mean, I thought it sounded slightly 'smoother' perhaps in this mode, but a little harder/sharper when not upsampled which seemed a bit less forgiving but maybe that's down to my sonic misunderstandings.

[WBM]

yeah call superman Delivery ASAP

[12th & Vine]

FWIW, I have always run the super lock. Mainly because it was the designer's .. for whom I have a lot respect ... recommendation.

Would running it without super lock cost a client a place on the charts? Probably not.

Like everything, it's up to the individual user to decide what their preferences are in the context of their own monitoring environment.

[huejahfink]

Originally Posted by 12th & Vine

Like everything, it's up to the individual user to decide what their preferences are in the context of their own monitoring environment.

Well I have listened and formed an opinion about it. I was hoping others might have some insights that could be educational and shed a new light on the subject.

[Andrew Kinsey]

The Superclock mode will help if your feeding interface doesnt have the best quality clock. Reclcoking is also used in very high end DA's like the Lavry DA924 and generally will improve the quality of the clock source on most interfaces.

There are exceptions of course for example if you were using a really high end external clock as master to your feeding interface, this in some cases will perform better if the DA does not reclock the signal.

Upsampling is different to reclocking however.

[huejahfink]

Thanks very much Andrew.

[Vex One]

I know this thread is kinda old but it's relevant to me right now.

Just bought the Mytek 96 DAC. Tested it in both input mode (fed from my RME FF 400) and SuperLock mode.

The difference is very noticeable!

The low end is clearer in SuperLock and everything seems smoother and punchy with slightly better imaging. However, the mids seem a lot less forward than with the RME's clock and I have to listen more for the really high end detail.

The big one for me so far is that listening for long periods of time in SuperLock can be quite fatiguing, but not so with the RME clock.


I should probably note I am using Adam A7's with the Sub 10 in a treated room.


Anyone else got any other comments about SuperLock?

[huejahfink]

It may be old but I'm still interested in hearing opinions about the sound and function of both modes... so thanks Vex One!!
I think you may be the first person to truly understand and answer my question.

It is interesting what you said about smoothness / low punch. I find I often get this feeling from upsampling in general.
I think what you were saying about the mid/tops I also agree with. In fact it is this that draws me most to input mode. It's like a slightly flatter, but more detailed picture this way. It makes me wonder whether or not from your findings that the bass is actually 'clearer' in this mode or whether it's just masked slightly less by the upper regions, therefore feeling slightly more pronounced and bold.
I've not had the same feeling on the bass myself, but I have had that feeling from using upsampling modes in plugins. Perhaps I will give it another blast later today and listen to the bass specifically with your comments in mind.

[Vex One]

Hey huejahfink good to see you're still interested.

After listening to the Mytek in different modes for a second day I've formed some more opinions in addition to my other ones.

Firstly, when I said using SuperLock was fatiguing I think that was because I was straining my ears trying to pick out extra detail that the upsampling was adding. It also comes down to the upper mid range as I was having a harder time hearing the vocals and they should be the easiest to pick out!

Since the mytek is using the RME clock I guess it's less of a change in sound than using the Mytek's converter AND reclocking, maybe It's familiarity in input mode that I like I don't know.

I want to like the SuperLock sound better since Mytek say that "it will be better or as good as any clock" but I just feel the mids sound too compressed and that smooth sound I was on about before is maybe a bit too "hi-fi" for my liking.

I've now tested everything from piano solos to R&B to punk rock and I still can't decide which I actually like better.


Ok so after that essay lol I'd like to know how you have your Mytek set up and what equipment you're using with it? Also how did the Stereo 96 compare to other converters you've heard, big step up or more of a subtle thing?

And one last thing.....are you using the volume pot or bypassing it? I am using mine at the minute until I build a stepped attenuator.

[huejahfink]

I'd rather keep talk to just the Mytek if you don't mind.

I think that we seem to be of a similar opinion, that the superlock mode is more 'comfortable'/smooth but perhaps not quite as revealing. In that sense, your idea that superlock is more fatiguing is not because the sound is more immediately fatiguing to the ear for general listening - but that it is more fatiguing in a mastering/work context because you are finding it slightly more effort to pick out details in comparison.

I'm still using regular input mode for what it's worth.

I do use the volume pot yes. Although I find it a shame in some ways that the headphone out does not have it's own dedicated pot because most of my use of the main pot comes from switching the speakers off and needing to turn the main output up to do my QC checks in the headphones.

[Vex One]

I know what you mean about a seperate volume control for the headphone, that would be useful. I just use the headphone from my interface, it's easier that way

I'm gonna try a couple of mixes with and without Superlock and see which ends up translating better, that's the only way I can determine which one to use.

Can't believe this hasn't been more of a talking point on GS but oh well.

[dualflip]

Im using a Mytek DA with Genelec S30D, and Im not sure which one I like either, I love the S30Ds which are extremely revealing in my opinion, and im not sure if they (me) like having the superclock mode on... It sounds like TOO MUCH resolution, im mixing a song right now, and with the superclock off everything sounds less detailed and perhaps easier to mix, with the superclock i can hear more highs and lows, and less low mid mud than without the superclock, but that mud I hear without the superclock sometimes it makes it easier to mix, go figure...

The thing that I find for example is that when eq'in vocals and such, the high mids are less forgiving with the superclock on

I didnt give too much thought about the superclock button before, but now the real surprise is that the difference with and without the the superclock is very big, im not sure which one I like now... In my case, the vocals with the superclock sound a bit thinner but clearer, however when i turn the superclock off the vocals go to the front of the mix, with the superclock in, the intstruments kinda mask the vocal a bit. Im sure that could be that the extra resolution makes the instruments stand out more, but im not sure if thats a good thing... I should try different converters..