Any need for a Big Ben

Johnkenn · 6th August 2006, 10:44 AM

if I already have a Rosetta 200? I hear differing opinions on whether or not there will be an audible difference...Just wondering if I should go to the trouble of borrowing one to find out.

garymusic · 6th August 2006, 05:57 PM

That depends on what else you have running with your Rosetta 200. My take is if you only have two digital devices in your chain and the Rosetta 200 is your clock master I would not spend the extra bucks for a Big Ben. Go buy a mic or mic pre. If you have more than two digital devices then I would look to have a Big Ben because you really don't want to chain the word clock.

-Gary

mahasandi · 6th August 2006, 06:32 PM

Dan Lavry who makes some of the very best convertors in the world and publishes
papers on the science of digital audio has said that external clocking is not an improvement if your convertors were well designed to begin with ,and in fact it can be a step worse.
a pair of new convertors of higher quality might be a better investment
if your unhappy with your convertor sound now, as a clock does nothing for the analog stage and the conversion style/design.

That said listen for yourself. If you want to spend a couple of $$$ for a slightly
different sound thats understandable if that difference is worth it to you.

but i think outboard gear , mics, pre's will yield more bang for the buck.

p.s. yeah the only reason for external clocking is when you have very complex multiple digital devices that need the common clock.

elambo · 6th August 2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garymusic

If you have more than two digital devices then I would look to have a Big Ben because you really don't want to chain the word clock.

-Gary

Is that true? Doesn't it depend on how the device that's receiving and resending the clock, how it handles the signal? In some consumer-grade products I'd be very cautious about chaining, but I assumed high-end products could handle it well.

gwailoh · 6th August 2006, 06:44 PM

I have two Rosetta 200s and a Big Ben. To my ear there's an improvement in the stereo image with the Big Ben as the master, although I understand that this could be imaginary. It's very hard not to fool yourself with subtle differences.

The advantage though is that with the BB you can varispeed your PT rig. For the same reasons that it was good to be able to varispeed your old analog recorder.

elambo · 6th August 2006, 06:47 PM

I reread your question and might need to be more specific - I have both the Rosetta and a BigBen and don't feel that one if better than the other, speaking strictly of the clock itself. The advantage of having multiple clock outputs, as the Ben does, is another story.

But the Rosetta has it's own A/D and D/A, and they're very good. If you're thinking about adding a Big Ben to go WITH your Rosetta, I'd say don't do it. Seems that you could get a 2nd device to distribute the clock from your Rosetta at a much cheaper price than the Big Ben.

To get a better answer you should probably mention the rest of your gear...

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6th August 2006, 10:44 AM	#1
Johnkenn Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,822	Any need for a Big Ben if I already have a Rosetta 200? I hear differing opinions on whether or not there will be an audible difference...Just wondering if I should go to the trouble of borrowing one to find out.

6th August 2006, 06:44 PM	#5
gwailoh Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 295	I have two Rosetta 200s and a Big Ben. To my ear there's an improvement in the stereo image with the Big Ben as the master, although I understand that this could be imaginary. It's very hard not to fool yourself with subtle differences. The advantage though is that with the BB you can varispeed your PT rig. For the same reasons that it was good to be able to varispeed your old analog recorder. __________________ Mark Phillips I'm not old, I'm "vintage". http://www.markphillips.com http://www.smartmonsters.com

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6th August 2006, 05:57 PM	#2
garymusic Gear maniac Join Date: May 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 209	That depends on what else you have running with your Rosetta 200. My take is if you only have two digital devices in your chain and the Rosetta 200 is your clock master I would not spend the extra bucks for a Big Ben. Go buy a mic or mic pre. If you have more than two digital devices then I would look to have a Big Ben because you really don't want to chain the word clock. -Gary

6th August 2006, 06:32 PM	#3
mahasandi Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 681	Dan Lavry who makes some of the very best convertors in the world and publishes papers on the science of digital audio has said that external clocking is not an improvement if your convertors were well designed to begin with ,and in fact it can be a step worse. a pair of new convertors of higher quality might be a better investment if your unhappy with your convertor sound now, as a clock does nothing for the analog stage and the conversion style/design. That said listen for yourself. If you want to spend a couple of $$$ for a slightly different sound thats understandable if that difference is worth it to you. but i think outboard gear , mics, pre's will yield more bang for the buck. p.s. yeah the only reason for external clocking is when you have very complex multiple digital devices that need the common clock.

6th August 2006, 06:47 PM	#6
elambo Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 3rd Coast Posts: 2,009	I reread your question and might need to be more specific - I have both the Rosetta and a BigBen and don't feel that one if better than the other, speaking strictly of the clock itself. The advantage of having multiple clock outputs, as the Ben does, is another story. But the Rosetta has it's own A/D and D/A, and they're very good. If you're thinking about adding a Big Ben to go WITH your Rosetta, I'd say don't do it. Seems that you could get a 2nd device to distribute the clock from your Rosetta at a much cheaper price than the Big Ben. To get a better answer you should probably mention the rest of your gear...