i feel the same things. i have an hiface EVO with a teddypardo and kharma cable, i use aqvox usb and jorma design coaxial, it sounds well. When i connect the clock (which is supplied by li-ion battery in my case) same feelings: more details and air but music become hard, less musical and liquid etc... so i don't use clock often... the new series of m2tech evo have a link to synchronize the frequiency of the clock, but apart the sonic relatively bad feeling i have, i hesitate to upgrade also because of esthtetics considerations, the displays are not necessary and they look poor and cheap...