dCS new flagship

[CKKeung]

Wadax gets the prize of being the TOP in digital. The others are just trying to catch up.

Sorry, I can't agree with you soundwise, though their prices are definitely at the very top.

 

[Stereophonic]

Definitely, Dcs has lost its north….

 

[Juiced]

dCS CFO - "boxes, we need more boxes!"

 

[nirodha]

Definitely, Dcs has lost its north….

When I was told years ago that they couldn’t fix my transport because they had no back-up lasers this company lost all its charm for me. When I got a Nagra cd player after this, I also realized I had been listening to sterile digital for years. Lessons learned: no more dDS for me ever again.

 

[nirodha]

Sorry, I can't agree with you soundwise, though their prices are definitely at the very top.

Doesn’t matter. You can’t be right every time. No sweat

 

[jfrech]

US Pricing and the ACTUS cables are included. The VARÈSE CD/SACD player will be available early 2025 which will need the I/O module. (I/O Module supports Rossini & Vivaldi Transport owners as well).

Best to all,

Bob

VARÈSE Retail Price List August, 2024
Prices and details are subject to change without prior notice Effective from: August, 2024
Excluding Sales Tax
MSRP USD
Varèse Core System, comprising $111,000
• Varèse Core
• Varèse User Interface
• Varèse Remote Control
• Varèse ACTUS Cable
Varèse Mono DAC Pair - incl. 2 ACTUS Cables $105,000
Varèse Master Clock - incl. 1 ACTUS Cable $38,000
Varèse CD/SACD Transport - incl. 1 ACTUS Cable $37,500
Varèse I/O Module -$13,500

I wonder what really is the core? Is it a music server type if thing? So can you use the core standalone with a I/0 module with a Vivaldi DAC? And is there sound benefits? Is the upsampling technology in the core now? It's core is a big box so something is in there....

 

[AndrewChen]

When I was told years ago that they couldn’t fix my transport because they had no back-up lasers this company lost all its charm for me.

Thats what happens when you try to get service for a 20 year old Transport that has long been discontinued. Can you name any other company that will support a 20 year old transport with new spare parts? Get real.

 

[Hydrology]

So it appears Mono and Stereo now deletes anyone from their FB group who mentions the debacle by dCS.

I must wonder what if any Mono and Stereo's financial gain would be in doing this?

Did dCS pay them to write the post? If so that would make sense.

Just more bad behavior around dCS.

M&S don't have any financial gain in deleting anyone from their Facebook group - any group can delete who they want for whatever reason, that's how the internet works.

 

[Amir]

the Wadax dac chassis is complete dual mono with the digital control unit in between. needs 8 footers. then they have dual 45 pound outboard power supplies. the Wadax Ref server has a 90 pound outboard power supply.

until you A/B how power supplies and Akasa DC cables transform Wadax it's hard to imagine how it can boost performance. Wadax seemed quiet as tomb. but there is more to power supplies than just the perceived absence of noise. micro-dynamics, weight and ease all come from better power supplies.

and digital performance clearly gets transformed a great deal by advances in this area.

look at how much work Emile has done on the Taiko Olympus battery power supplies.

As you know Wadax also uses optical isolation so there is no ground loop between transport and dac.
It seems their digital transfer protocol is more advance than others.

I had some experience with different digital transfer protocols (4link CEC vs SPDIF) and also different digital cables, I think this is important for sound quality

 

[nirodha]

Thats what happens when you try to get service for a 20 year old Transport that has long been discontinued. Can you name any other company that will support a 20 year old transport with new spare parts? Get real.

Nagra. Cd player was 20 years old and had a new laser 2 years ago. Real enough for you ?

 

[Synaxis]

M&S don't have any financial gain in deleting anyone from their Facebook group - any group can delete who they want for whatever reason, that's how the internet works.

I'm very familiar with the M&S model and how companies pay them for things to be posted and want to control what is said.

I will respectfully disagree with you based on what companies have told me about how they pay M&S.

 

[audioguy3107]

$370 something thousand dollars.........Probably could also add this header to the title of this thread like the other........"What an industry this is"

 

[Kingrex]

Got an add from one of the larger Seattle stores to come hear the new unit. I guess they feel they can sell it.

 

[Kingrex]

add the Ref Transport plus another power supply and another Akasa DC cable to Level 4 Wadax, and.......you are........closer to.......$600k.

do they get a prize?

Wow.

 

[Kingrex]

Its funny how digital has become so expensive. Yet its difficult to understand what your getting for your money. And if it sounds better or worse than any other DAC.

 

[Dierkx1]

Got an add from one of the larger Seattle stores to come hear the new unit. I guess they feel they can sell it.

Or that you can afford to buy it.

 

[AndrewChen]

Nagra. Cd player was 20 years old and had a new laser 2 years ago. Real enough for you ?

So, it's not an equivalent CD/SACD transport then.

 

[Elliot G.]

it does not need to surpass the Wadax to be successful as a product, although it very well could. as an exclusively brick and mortar product it only needs to be enough better than the Vivaldi Apex that those Vivaldi owners aspire to own it. a product like the Wadax is a bit different. sure; forums will focus on which is best, but that is not the whole picture, or even the most important part, for dCS. are their dealers able to turn it? i'm sure there will be a reasonable trade up program and a certified Vivaldi Apex program to promote the upgrade. like MSB is doing somewhat.

dCS has bet that it's worth the effort, but they are staying in their cultural/marketing envelope.

Agreed. All they really have to do is get their dealers to make the change. If they do that then it will be succesful.The dealers are their customers not the end users directly.

 

[marty]

In past discussions with dCS, they told me the goal is not to just surpass the Vivaldi sonics but to be the industry benchmark for digital sources.

They've been saying that for years. IMHO they have yet to accomplish that goal. They have a sound (as many company products do), but it's one that has never been my cup of tea no matter what version or product of theirs I have heard. However, I wish them well as it's good for the industry. A rising tide lifts all boats.

 

[Kingrex]

@Elliot G.
Any idea how many you think they have to sell? Maybe a better way to put it is.What do you think their target is.

How do you think this new flagship will impact the lower dollar products.