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| Review - Clock 3 |
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Trichord Clock 3 - Review
The latest CD upgrade from Malvern, Clive Meakins - Hi Fi News June 1998 |
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Back in January 1996 I reviewed Trichord's CD upgrades, including its modified Pioneer transport, now called the 'Digital Turntable'. Since then, reader R.Z. Quan (views, July '97) has recommended powering Trichord's Clock 2 from batteries. This really does work well, but it is difficult to implement cost-effectively and make bullet-proof.
Instead, Graham Fowler at Trichord (01684 311600) set about designing a super regulator to power his clocks. He's also sprinkled Sanyo's OS-CON electrolytics around. Graham upgraded my transport by adding Clock 3 as daughter board to the digital output board . I would suggest the only DIY upgrade is to remove the Clock 2 and substitute Clock 3, this costs £95; other upgrades are best left to Trichord. A quick listen in Trichord's design area showed superior clarity and imaging compared with a Clock 2 transport. Listening conditions were about as far from ideal as you could get. I couldn't wait to try it at home!
For me, Clock 3 is a significant step forward for CD. I can't say whether it would improve the very best of the high-end but what it does is dramatically improve the quality of CD replay that mere mortals with mortgages can afford.
With a pure crystal clear treble, the upper-mid and top, vocals are projected with uncanny clarity. Piano, surely a tough test, was very natural, indeed more pleasant to listen to than live piano can sometimes be. Bass is tighter and cleaner with no overhang. Extra detail could now be heard in bass notes, along with deeper bass as this wasn't being masked any more. Timing is now in a different league too, and it's irresistibly foot-tapping. Dynamically, Clock 3 is amazing. I now listen with the volume lower, but my system sounds louder and more subtle at the same time. Overall I would describe the sound as dynamic, rich, smooth and superbly detailed, music recorded with ambience is portrayed very well. Soundstaging and focus are much improved. Music simply leaps free of the speakers. On poor studio recordings you can almost hear the studio. Clock 2 was great. Clock 3 is stunning.
Is there a down side to Clock 3? Initially I had a strong suspicion that if you had something unpleasant lurking in your system, Clock 3 would expose it. Any harshness in particular is likely to be exacerbated; and whilst Clock 3 is no doubt a great leap forward for a modest outlay, it cannot cure all known ills. But my worries disappeared after four weeks, the clock had now run-in, the OS-CON's being the most likely culprits.
Confirmed Anna Loggers will have their beliefs severely tested. Clock 3 doesn't make CD sound like vinyl, the two media still sound different but, price for price CD can really deliver the goods in quite a dramatic manner. For me, Clock 3 is a turning point, delivering highly affordable cultured sound.
For anyone who has tried batteries with Clock 2, I saved the best for last. Clock 3 is better than a battery powered 2. Mind you, would a Clock 3 sound even better on batteries?
Clive Meakins
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Web design : Trichord Research
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