BRAND: MASTER FIDELITY

SERIES: NADAC C Master Clock
TYPE: Source

An upgraded ultra-low-noise Master Clock designed to deliver perfect timing accuracy with the lowest possible jitter and wander for the most demanding audiophiles.

Since the introduction of CDs in the 1980s, digital audio technology has continuously evolved, bringing increasingly sophisticated playback devices and higher-resolution formats into audiophiles’ homes. Yet one fundamental challenge has remained: clock jitter. Variations in timing accuracy—whether from individual components or accumulated across multiple digital devices—can degrade sound quality, resulting in blurred imaging, weakened low-frequency authority, and reduced transparency and depth in the high frequencies. As digital systems grow more complex, precise clock synchronization becomes ever more critical.

To address this, high-end manufacturers have developed independent master clocks that provide a stable reference for the entire system. By centralizing synchronization, a master clock minimizes timing errors across connected devices, reducing jitter at its source and ensuring greater coherence, focus, and realism in music reproduction. Today, a dedicated master clock has become a cornerstone of truly reference-level digital playback systems.

At the heart of NADAC C lies a highly stable SC-cut crystal oscillator that undergoes up to 120 days of pre-aging and screening, followed by extended secondary aging to guarantee long-term stability. The 10 MHz reference signal is supported by an ultra-low-noise, constant-temperature power architecture and high-performance distribution circuitry to ensure exceptional signal purity and strong cable-driving capability. A multi-stage phase-locked structure converts the 10 MHz reference into an ultra-precise word clock using a femtosecond-level VCXO for audio-frequency synthesis, while a dedicated 625 kHz output ensures compatibility with legacy devices. Every stage is engineered to minimize transmission-induced jitter and preserve absolute timing integrity.

With its uncompromising design and meticulous engineering, NADAC C delivers not only outstanding technical specifications but also audible improvements in focus, depth, dynamics, and tonal purity—bringing a new level of precision and emotional engagement to high-end digital music systems.

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The selection process for pt.AUDIO’s 2025 Product of the Year nominees was challenging due to the industry’s competitive nature and impressive tech advancements. The ultimate winner is the Master Fidelity NADAC C and D, acclaimed for bridging the gap between digital and analog sound quality, showcasing remarkable technological breakthroughs in high-end audio.

In Time We Trust

Part Two of our Two-Part Feature: The C, the Clock, and the Shape of Digital Music. By Joachim Pfeiffer

And because USB on the NADAC D isn’t “just another input” but the gateway to a second system, a second player steps onto the stage: the NADAC C, Master Fidelity’s master clock.

Chodak switches back and forth, no drama: AES, USB, AES again, back to USB. Then he just stands there, quiet, a smile somewhere between amazement and disbelief: “That’s no longer a difference—that’s another world.” No voodoo, no wishful thinking. Here, time decides.

>>>Read Part 1 here Part One of Our Two‑Part Feature. By Joachim Pfeiffer

 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Power & Consumption:
AC 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz
Max Power Consumption: < 25 W (Typical 6 W)
IEC 60320 C14 connector

Core Crystal:
High-stability pre-aged SC-cut crystal
Crystal pre-aged ≥ 120 days
Frequency Accuracy (Factory Calibration): < 10 ppb

10 MHz Clock Output:
Output Frequency: 10 MHz
Waveform: Square wave (AC-coupled)
Output Jitter (Typical): 66 fs (10 Hz – 100 kHz BW)
Phase Noise (Typical):
-122 dBc @ 1 Hz
-140 dBc @ 10 Hz
-150 dBc @ 100 Hz
-155 dBc @ 1 kHz
-160 dBc @ 10 kHz – 1 MHz
Output Power: +13 dBm @ 50Ω
Connectors: 6 × BNC
Nominal Impedance: 50Ω (75Ω supported)

Word Clock Output: 
Frequencies: 44.1 kHz – 1536 kHz
Output Jitter (Typical): 250 fs
Waveform: CMOS
Connectors: 2 × BNC
Nominal Impedance: 75Ω

625 kHz Output: 
Output Frequency: 625 kHz
Output Jitter (Typical): 100 fs
Connector: BNC
Nominal Impedance: 75Ω

Dimensions: 
435 mm (W) x 95 mm (H) x 390 mm (D)

Weight:
9.2 kg

OTHER PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS / SOURCES