dCS Varese short review

[microstrip]

(...) Yet, for those who aren’t as set on their tastes and preferences, the comparison of sonic differences between the two units would be very helpful so they can select what’s best them.

IMO they must listen and do the proper research, understanding the preferences of people who write decent reports on the units. This surely means discarding immediately the subjective views of anyone who sells who manufactures the referred equipment, surely keeping the objective verifiable data.

A forum post describing a shootout is nice entertainment, but useless and most times misleading. Evaluation needs time, peace and solitude ...

 

[PeterA]

What is the "sufficient personality and individual characteristics" of each?

This is a good question and gets to the heart of the issue, IMO.

 

[Lee]

One reason I would be interested in hearing @Audiocrack full reference system is the sound Elliot got at the Florida show which was a favorite room of mine even though we argue here a bit. The room had a beautiful soundstage and loads of resolution but very musical.

No doubt the Studio is a deal at $40k but what would $370k do in an optimized system?

At this level, it may be a Rolls versus Bentley preference.

 

[rangda]

Is there even a dealer in the US that carries both Wadex and dCS?

Goodwin's High End in MA carries both. However Alan Goodwin cherry picks lines so he may not have a Varese.

 

[Audiocrack]

I agree that Wadax has achieved something special. I am just curious what the comparison would yield.

How fortunate you are to be able to hear music at the Concertgebouw!

Indeed: the ‘Concertgebouw’ in Amsterdam is - together with inter alia the Musikverein in Vienna - one of the most gorgeous sounding music ‘temples’ on our planet.

 

[Ron Resnick]

no don't. also don't mention it either.

Why not? (Unless it's subject to a confidentiality promise, of course.)

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Why not? (Unless it's subject to a confidentiality promise, of course.)

just honor whatever understanding Jacob and Lee had, and check with Jacob if that's not clear. not all scuttlebutt is intended for an open forum. just because a point is not made for confidentiality, does not mean go ahead and post it.

at least not how i see it. but we all see things thru our own prism. discretion is certainly variable. i respect that name dropping is fun. we are all guilty a little bit about wanting to be on the inside of things. and letting go inside info leads to more questions and sometimes a spot one wishes they were not put into. why we measure twice and cut once.

 

[Ron Resnick]

just honor whatever understanding Jacob and Lee had, and check with Jacob if that's not clear. not all scuttlebutt is intended for an open forum. just because a point is not made for confidentiality, does not mean go ahead and post it.

at least not how i see it. but we all see things thru our own prism. discretion is certainly variable. i respect that name dropping is fun. we are all guilty a little bit about wanting to be on the inside of things. and letting go inside info leads to more questions and sometimes a spot one wishes they were not put into. why we measure twice and cut once.

I agree on all points. Actually, when somebody tells me something potentially sensitive I assume it's confidential unless explicitly discussed otherwise.

 

[Lee]

just honor whatever understanding Jacob and Lee had, and check with Jacob if that's not clear. not all scuttlebutt is intended for an open forum. just because a point is not made for confidentiality, does not mean go ahead and post it.

at least not how i see it. but we all see things thru our own prism. discretion is certainly variable. i respect that name dropping is fun. we are all guilty a little bit about wanting to be on the inside of things. and letting go inside info leads to more questions and sometimes a spot one wishes they were not put into. why we measure twice and cut once.

It wasn't name dropping. Someone asked about flagship comparisons and I gave two good examples. I intentionally didn't share the results from Jacob as I want to get permission for that first.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

It wasn't name dropping. Someone asked about flagship comparisons and I gave two good examples. I intentionally didn't share the results from Jacob as I want to get permission for that first.

and i never said you did....or inferred it. i was responding to Ron's question and talking generally. only that we all like to have the inside scoop and know the insiders. all of us. it's normal.

 

[Lee]

and i never said you did....or inferred it. i was responding to Ron's question and talking generally. only that we all like to have the inside scoop and know the insiders. all of us. it's normal.

Okay cool. It sure read that way.

 

[mtemur]

I listened to 5 stack dCS Varese. I played the tracks I’ve chosen without being interrupted or interfered by anybody else. It sounded good, detailed and relaxed to my ears but we didn’t do any comparisons with other DACs or turntables. I don’t know if it’s 300K good but very good.

 

[microstrip]

Jacob Heilbrunn TAS review (the famous "quantum leap" ) is available at
https://dcsaudio.com/assets/tas359cover.pdf

 

[pk_LA]

Jacob Heilbrunn TAS review (the famous "quantum leap" ) is available at
https://dcsaudio.com/assets/tas359cover.pdf

For many people inexpensive wine tastes just as wonderful as very expensive wine...

Maybe my ears are just not as sophisticated (and certainly not as pretentious!) for I did not find the Varese to be any kind of 'Quantum Leap'. I felt that it brought dCS back to the forefront in competing with the generally accepted top dacs.

 

[HughP3]

For many people inexpensive wine tastes just as wonderful as very expensive wine...

Maybe my ears are just not as sophisticated (and certainly not as pretentious!) for I did not find the Varese to be any kind of 'Quantum Leap'. I felt that it brought dCS back to the forefront in competing with the generally accepted top dacs.

in my system, of which the room plays a huge part, it is very very large leap. i have also heard it in another system (xvx based) where that room could not fully convey the incredible depth, astonishing vocals - where everything is more lifelike, more 3d like than anything i have experienced yet. i can only conclude that the room plays a pivotal role in unearthing the dac’s full ability.

 

[caesar]

...

Maybe my ears are just not as sophisticated (and certainly not as pretentious!) for I did not find the Varese to be any kind of 'Quantum Leap'. I felt that it brought dCS back to the forefront in competing with the generally accepted top dacs.

Dear Sir.
This has nothing to do with your ears. High end audio is a subjective experience. You just have different tastes and preferences, so the dcs doesn't resonate with you.

For me, all wilsons sound the same - regardless of the constant stream of new products every year or 2. For others, all horns are flawed...

It's all good. You are on a great journey. Enjoy what you enjoy.

 

[Lee]

in my system, of which the room plays a huge part, it is very very large leap. i have also heard it in another system (xvx based) where that room could not fully convey the incredible depth, astonishing vocals - where everything is more lifelike, more 3d like than anything i have experienced yet. i can only conclude that the room plays a pivotal role in unearthing the dac’s full ability.

I also heard the same in Hugh’s room and at the local dealer Evolution where they did a direct comparison with their Vivaldi Apex. It wasn’t close.

The area you can most easily hear the significant sonic improvements are on vocals where there is a surprisingly lifelike experience.

 

[microstrip]

(...) This has nothing to do with your ears. High end audio is a subjective experience. You just have different tastes and preferences, so the dcs doesn't resonate with you. (...)

Well, any one will agree with this!

For me, all wilsons sound the same - regardless of the constant stream of new products every year or 2. For others, all horns are flawed...

Just to point that the XLF was only discontinued after 8 years, although it still went in production for two more years. I suggest you buy a calculator - any one can see you are making an intentional mistake in your calculus.

https://www.wilsonaudio.com/products/legacy

Just because we are in a dCS thread, I can add I have been enjoying my dCS Vivaldi stack for almost a decade, it surely resonates with me (and many others, BTW) ...

It's all good. You are on a great journey. Enjoy what you enjoy.

I hope to enjoy the dCS Varese soon at my distributor!

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Dear Sir.
This has nothing to do with your ears. High end audio is a subjective experience. You just have different tastes and preferences, so the dcs doesn't resonate with you.

i think PK has done the work and has owned dCS Vivaldi Apex and compared that to other dac's to have a comprehensive viewpoint on that product and where it sits in the dac hierarchy. as much as anyone can. so he is also in a solid spot to view the Varese relatively. but this is a subjective arena for sure so it's just one man's opinion and he has his own tastes.....but that is true for everyone. no way to assign particular anti-dCS bias to PK and discount his views. no evidence for that.

 

[PeterA]

I’m not into Digital, but as someone who pays attention to aesthetics, it’s very interesting to me how different the dCS approach is to the Wadax approach. It seems both the look and user interface are very different beyond the obvious similarity to employ many boxes.

Could those of you who have compared the two and used them comment on functionality and aesthetics?