Aurender MC10 Reference Master Clock

The Aurender MC10 is a rubidium-based 10MHz reference master clock designed for Aurender digital sources and compatible high-end DACs and word clocks. It provides four simultaneous 10MHz outputs—two 75Ω and two 50Ω— allowing multiple compatible digital components to reference the same ultra-stable clock. Aurender Music

The MC10 retains the rubidium 10MHz clock architecture, power-supply structure and vibration-control approach of the MC20 while eliminating the MC20's specialized OCXO word-clock modules. The result is a focused 10MHz master-clock solution for systems that do not require those additional word-clock functions. Aurender Music

Rubidium 10MHz Master Clock

At the core of the MC10 is a rubidium clock module engineered for extremely low phase noise and exceptional short-term frequency stability.

Aurender specifies:

• Phase noise: < -130 dBc/Hz at 10Hz
• Phase noise: < -140 dBc/Hz at 100Hz
• Short-term stability at 1 second: < 2 × 10⁻¹¹
• Short-term stability at 10 seconds: < 1 × 10⁻¹¹
• Short-term stability at 100 seconds: < 2 × 10⁻¹² Aurender Music

For a reference digital system, the MC10 provides a centralized high-precision timing reference for compatible transports, servers, DACs and word-clock devices.

Four 10MHz Clock Outputs

The MC10 provides four dedicated 10MHz master-clock outputs:

2 × 75Ω BNC outputs
2 × 50Ω BNC outputs

Output level is specified at 0.7Vrms ±10%. Aurender Music

Providing both impedances is important because digital components do not universally use the same 10MHz clock-input impedance. The MC10 can therefore integrate with a wider range of compatible reference digital equipment without requiring a single output standard.

Aurender Compatibility

The MC10 is designed for Aurender digital components equipped with a CLOCK INPUT, including:

• Aurender N20
• Aurender N30SA
• Aurender W20
• Aurender W20SE
• Aurender AP20

A single MC10 output can clock the Aurender source. Additional outputs can simultaneously feed compatible DACs or word-clock components accepting a 10MHz reference. Aurender Music

This makes the MC10 particularly relevant to systems where the music server/transport and DAC can share the same external 10MHz reference clock.

MC10 vs. MC20

The primary distinction is straightforward.

The MC10 retains the rubidium-based 10MHz master-clock generator used by the MC20 but eliminates the MC20's dual OCXO word-clock modules and associated interface technology. Aurender notes that those word-clock functions are applicable to a limited group of DACs, particularly dCS systems. Aurender Music

For systems that require a high-performance 10MHz reference clock but don't require the MC20's additional word-clock capabilities, the MC10 is the more focused solution.

Aurender MC10 Technical Specifications

These are Aurender's current published MC10 specifications. Aurender Music

Build a Reference Aurender Digital Front End

The MC10 can serve as the clocking foundation for an advanced digital system built around an Aurender N20, N30SA or AP20, while its four outputs allow compatible DACs or word-clock components to share the same 10MHz reference.

The Grid HiFi can configure the MC10 with the appropriate Aurender music server, reference DAC, 50Ω or 75Ω clock cabling, network architecture and digital connections, ensuring the impedance and clocking configuration are correct for each component.

Order the Aurender MC10 from The Grid HiFi or call (713) 218-8120 for help designing a reference digital source and master-clock system.