DCS threatening Goldensound..What an industry this is

Based on the information at hand, it looks like DCS is in BullyBoy Attorney mode.

It seems that to DCS , a reviewers exclusive purpose is to be a one of a chorus of praise. And, someone there got bent out of shape and decided to get their attack lawyer on it.
 
Seems like they are splitting hairs.

He claims there was no overt threat of legal action.

Let's be honest - when you have an attorney send a demand letter demanding an action and attach a deadline to when that must occur by - it is implied / precursor to legal action.

They CLEARLY have been using the direct or implied threat of legal action. Just be honest dCS. You don't use lawyers to have a "constructive conversation".
 
I just watched the Bartok review. Cameron says many times variously the DAC sounds smooth and soft and overly smooth.

Cameron is giving his subjective sonic impression of the DAC. I don't know what dCS is exercised about.

(I am surprised anybody would accuse a dCS product of being overly smooth.)
After my home audition of the Bartok, I came to the same conclusion. In my system the Bartok sounds too smooth, closed-in, and lacks detail.
 
I just got off the telephone with Cameron. He's completely delightful, as everybody suggested.

dCS just posted a message on its manufacturer forum, and Cameron is no longer concerned about being sued.

 
Last edited:
Cameron appears to be a very respected, and even beloved, guy. I casually counted eight audio and social media websites largely expressing support for his position against dCS.
 
After my home audition of the Bartok, I came to the same conclusion. In my system the Bartok sounds too smooth, closed-in, and lacks detail.
Is the Bartok considered to be a departure from the "house sound" of dCS, which I perceive subjectively to be extremely resolving and detail-oriented?
 
Is this the same John Giolas who worked at Wilson Audio? Hard to imagine there’s two guys by that name working in marketing in high end audio.
it is. He left Wilson (when Daryl Wilson became CEO) and assumed the same position at dCS as he had at Wilson
 
I've no axe to grind, dCS Vivaldi showed me what digital can do when I heard it in 2013 and I bought my DAC based on GoldenSound's (Cameron) review. I also donated to his site.

I've been doing dispute resolution in the UK for over 30 years. I've worked with thousands of lawyers in the UK, and have done some IP work in the USA (against Apple). I even acted in a dispute against my own hifi dealer (the business failed and was sold). No UK lawyer would ever write an email or letter like that. More to the point, here we don't instantly jump to lawyers and make disputes contentious. I would have expected someone at dCS to have called Cameron on the phone or emailed him and invited him to have a chat about his review.

It turns out that John H Rees is an American IP lawyer who has hardly set foot outside of Utah. He seems to have jumped around a lot and is recently (the last few months) operating his own firm. Maybe he's trying to make a name for himself. He certainly has, but not as he might have planned.

More to the point, he's not a member of the Law Society, so doesn't practise law in the UK and is clearly completely ignorant of the Pre-Action Protocol. Demanding a reply in 5 days - the law allows a minimum of 14 days and up to 3 months to reply.

If I was Cameron, I'd ignore the email from John H Rees, call David Steven at dCS, arrange to have a technical meeting to resolve any issues and politely ask that he speak to whoever runs dCS Americas and tell them to put their lawyer back in his cage for the time being.
 
Audiophile: "Why are there no negative hifi reviews of products in the industry?"

This is why. Glad he is standing up to it though and others are rallying behind him.

Such a shame as this world is so small that one shot is definitely heard round the world instantly. Music Direct should have been a clear example of allowing for full transparency in this industry.
 
Is the Bartok considered to be a departure from the "house sound" of dCS, which I perceive subjectively to be extremely resolving and detail-oriented?
Yes, in my experience. After listening to the Bartok, I had a home audition of the DCS Rossini APEX. The Rossini APEX was definitely on the extremely resolving and detail-oriented side of the audio spectrum.
 
Yes, in my experience. After listening to the Bartok, I had a home audition of the DCS Rossini APEX. The Rossini APEX was definitely on the extremely resolving and detail-oriented side of the audio spectrum.
Thank you.
 
Goldensound has responded to DCS

 
Last edited:


Well if this is all accurate (had to put in the disclaimer), dCS just found a way to make it WORSE for themselves.

Gotta wonder if Ronald McDonald is running this show because you have to try REALLY HARD to be this bad at PR.
 

Thanks for posting this.

I'm glad that I never went the dCS route even though at one time I was seriously considering it.

In 2016 I heard things from their DACs that I had not heard digital being capable of before. Yet more experience later on suggested that you can get equal or better performance at a much lower price.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Synaxis and DJJEZ
Thanks for posting this.

I'm glad that I never went the dCS route even though at one time I was seriously considering it. In 2016 I heard things from their DACs that I had not heard digital being capable of before. Yet more experience later on suggested that you can get equal or better performance at a much lower price.
Yes exactly. I owned a vivaldi apex last year and sold it very quick. Absolute rip off in sound quality and yes agree you can get better for alot less.
 
  • Like
Reactions: joeling
Ess
Goldensound has responded to DCS

Reading this,

Essentially dCS now chose the gaslight route and made it much worse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Synaxis and DJJEZ
As is always the case there are two sides here. Having watched the videos and read the DCS response several factors present themselves. 1) Goldensound made verbal and written statements about the Bartok which DCS claims are factually incorrect. These statements implied that DCS intended to deceive their customers which, of course, if your DCS would be highly triggering. 2) DCS says they provided Goldensound with a specific list of inaccuracies for him to retract. 3)DCS formally asked for the statements to be retracted and offered a meeting to discuss the situation. 4)Despite the offer no meeting took place at that time. 4)Representatives of DCS sent inappropriate threatening communications to Goldensound after they were unable to meet and iron things out with them. 5) In November of 2023 DCS apologized for the inappropriate communications. 6) An aggressive lawyer got involved which made everything much worse. 7) DCS is still willing to meet. This is not about censorship. This case is a microcosm of what we all go through now. Instead of talking with each other right up front and discussing the details of the disagreement they end up years later threatening a holy war and demonizing each other. How easy it would been to take the list of 'inaccuracies" to a meeting with DCS and go over it with them? No one here (me included) knows all the facts and yet we have people wanting to cancel DCS. My guess is that the responsibility for this mess lies on the shoulders of everyone involved in it and that there is no good/bad guy. There are just a bunch of people ,apparently with very average communication skills and little training in conflict resolution, banging into each other and causing chaos. Sound familiar?
 
I just got off the telephone with Cameron. He's completely delightful, as everybody suggested.

dCS just posted a message on its manufacturer forum, and Cameron is no longer concerned about being sued.

And I thought I was having a bad day.
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu