Third time through: I took advantage of a visit to a good friend to listen to the REF10 SE120 in his system as well. Here, too, a MUTEC MC3+USB is interconnected, this time between an Auralic Aries network player and PS Audio DirectStream DAC. Also, in this constellation the just described sound impression of the REF10 SE120 can be heard effortlessly.

Fourth run: Back at home I exchange the two MUTEC MC3+USB in the USB line against the USB Hub tX-USBultra with external clock input from SOtM. Furthermore, the SOtM switch sNH-10G gets its clock from the REF10 SE120. I would like to know now, if the REF10 SE120 can show its potential with third party devices. Because there is no doubt that MUTEC devices form a perfect symbiosis. The special thing about this constellation is that the clock signals now have no reference to the audio sample rate frequencies and are not directly involved in the signal conversion. Already the SOtM devices at that time, the positive influence of an external clock could nevertheless be heard without great difficulties. The "normal" REF10 does not quite come up to the SOtM clock in this constellation. I attribute this to somewhat less fine resolution and spatiality in "España". Dirk Sommer had already noticed something similar. I am not sure if this is due to the fact that the SOtM clock reference signal is a sine wave and not a square wave as the REF10 supplies, and that the SOtM devices are simply better tuned to each other. But you can hang the REF10 SE120 in the chain.... and to my surprise, this comparison is now clearly in favor of the REF10 SE120!

Fifth round: I call Oliver Göbel from Göbel Audio GmbH and tell him about the REF10 SE120. Oliver Göbel in his listening room operates a true reference system with the complete electronics of CH Precision consisting of the D1 SACD & CD player, C1 digital-to-analog converter, L1 mono preamplifier and two M1 2-channel power amplifiers, in order to be able to present his loudspeaker creations at best. The special feature of the C1 DAC is that it is not only equipped with the optional slot for Ethernet streaming, but also with a slot for the connection of an external 10 Megahertz reference clock. This is exactly the reason why Dirk Sommer and I had already tried out the REF10 at Oliver Göbel's studio. Our visit at that time had not remained without consequences. Since then, a REF10 has also been in service at his listening room. At first, Oliver Göbel was just as skeptical as I was, but a listening appointment was quickly arranged, and Dirk Sommer is happy to join.

We place the REF10 SE120 next to the REF10 on the shelf. It is important to Oliver Göbel that it is possible to switch between the two clocks as quickly as possible. The brand-new Divin Marquis loudspeakers, which are "small" by Göbel's standards, are used as speakers. The "Violin Concerto in G Major, KV 216" by W.A. Mozart with Marianne Thorsen and the Trondheim Solistene is played (Mozart: Violin Concertos - Marianne Thorsen & Trondheim Solistene - 2L original 2006 edition). This sonically quite excellent recording of the Violin Concertos 3,4 and 5 is one of my personal favorites, which I always like to listen to and know very well. I am sitting in the best seat in the listening room and Oliver Göbel switches from the REF10 to the REF10 SE120. Already after the first few bars I can't suppress a little grin. There it is again, this almost magical realism in the reproduction that fascinates me so much about the REF10 SE120. Even with a completely different system, unknown to me, it is immediately audible. My eyes go to Oliver Göbel, who of course knows his chain and his listening room perfectly. I can tell from his facial expression that he, too, has noticed the changes immediately.