dCS new flagship

While my Continuum Caliburn is stellar, when I upgraded the Rossini to Apex level, the digital got a lot closer to the turntable.
With your system, I believe that.
 
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I think the real honest answer here is:

It depends on your taste, but not about performance..
(we all prefer different sound signatures)

80's chip were actually really really good, but that time digital was not yet at the stage where full potential could be extracted out from them. Advances in even last 10 years have been significant in diyaudio to push further and further these old chips,
Supercapacitor power supply, recloking with SC cut double OCXO, 4 x 1541 boards to have divided mono signal, simultaneous mode not asynchronous anymore, DEM clock 50 mhz and uncountable others.

This is what my friend Supersurfer writes about his fully modern 4 chip tda1541A dac against DCS Vivaldi with master clock:

"

I m using a quad TDA1541A in fact. Based on the very nice design of @ryanj 3D pcb design.
And it is the best dac I have ever built and heard. I have had some quite expensive high-end dacs next to it, with the most expensive being a dCS Vivaldi with master clock unit. The performance of the dCS was quite shameful next to my old Philips dac chips. It was no comparison, the owner of the Vivaldi said within 20sec after start playing that the difference is ridiculously big and I agreed. The focus, naturalness and lifelike experience was much bigger with my diy dac."
The r-2r TDA1541 is very special DAC, It also has hidden codes.

I think the sound quality of DACs depeneds on many parameters like PSU, analog Outputstage, time domain response … just the dac chip does not tell us all the story.

comparing dCS Vivaldi vs DIY 1541 tube dac needs a high performance reference system, I think tube nos dacs have quite different presentation to dsp dacs like dCS.
 
As an old world vinylista, after I siphon off the grousing about price, this is an entertaining thread. Look at the evolution of digital audio technology over the past 50 years. It is hard to keep up.

Wadax, dCS, Taiko, MSB ... others?

DACs, Servers, Clocks, Power Supplies, Switches, Routers, Transports ...

I had little idea about the rise of expensive proprietary cabling systems coming on scene for the various multi-box digital 'empires' of recent times. Thus far much of the high-end has been 'democratic' in the sense that you can mix different components to create a system. (PC computing vs Apple) Will the trend toward manufacturer specialized cables and interfaces change that going forward?
 
The r-2r TDA1541 is very special DAC, It also has hidden codes.

I think the sound quality of DACs depeneds on many parameters like PSU, analog Outputstage, time domain response … just the dac chip does not tell us all the story.

comparing dCS Vivaldi vs DIY 1541 tube dac needs a high performance reference system, I think tube nos dacs have quite different presentation to dsp dacs like dCS.

Hi, the I/V stage was transformer based not tube, but im not really disagreeing what you are saying, as it is a matter of taste anyway in the end..
 
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This statement seems misguided at best. dCS has from the start set out to make a true reference digital source. Isn’t the Varese a continuation of that mission?
I will answer as briefly as I can.
No !!!
DCS's mission is to survive the financial crisis of 2022.
They were losing money to the point of kicking John Quick out of the company and leaving US distributors without support.
I know dCS very well from the times where they reigned together with Esoteric. Curiously, Esoteric has also stopped occupying the space he had due to a series of consecutive errors that have also made him lose his way. In any business field, it costs a lot to create a prestigious brand but very little to lose it completely.
The world has completely changed. Rich are getting richer and poor are getting poorer. This means that demand of top systems grows regardless of price.
Brands are reacting logically to that demand. But the way of reacting is what reinforces the prestige of some and the opportunism of others. Look at this image of Munich 2024.
IMG_1493.jpeg
Nothing new, Wilson, d'Agostino and Dcs. The usual trio. But there are differences:
- Wilson is reinforcing its presence with new uber speakers ( Chronosonic ) based on a solid product line.
- Dan d'Agostino with Relentless line.
An example of creating a prestigious brand. He broke the market launching Momentum line and moving his offer on both sides. Progression at the bottom and Relentless at the top.
- Now look at the position of DCS in the system. The most than well-known and amortized Vivaldi Ring Dac? With the hasty renovation (Apex) to save the 2022 furniture?
Seriously speaking. I wouldn't even value the acquisition of the new Varèse for half the price.
They arrive late, desperate and with sad opportunism.
 
Are you joking? 80s CD technology sucked and was much farther away from analog than current DAC technology.

While my Continuum Caliburn is stellar, when I upgraded the Rossini to Apex level, the digital got a lot closer to the turntable.

LOL, No I am not joking.

Yes, 80's cd players sucked, but the multibit DAC chips have huge potential. The early Philips swing arm laser optics were, in my opinion, unmatched for reading CDs.

It is quite amazing just how musical these early implementations can be made to sound.
 
Is there any information about dCS transport?

I think transport quality is as important as DAC
 
Saw them at the Hong Kong Hiend & AV Show today afternoon.
However, silent display only.
:rolleyes:

IMG_20240809_185829.jpg
 
LOL, No I am not joking.

Yes, 80's cd players sucked, but the multibit DAC chips have huge potential. The early Philips swing arm laser optics were, in my opinion, unmatched for reading CDs.

It is quite amazing just how musical these early implementations can be made to sound.
+1
The best drive cdm 1 with rodenstock glass lence only cleanup runs forrever..so good.
My tip Cambridge cd3 with 4x TDA1541 S1 put behind a lundahl outputtransformer (I/V conversation) and you get music machine what today hard to beat trust me.

P.S looks like ugly duck, but its sounds like the beautifulst swan.6299501065_0_g.jpg
 
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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.
As somebody whose work has been covered by M&S on both their FB page and their main page, I am telling you, you are incorrect. I have NEVER paid M&S for any coverage - Matej has reached out to me numerous times because he wants to show as much content that is hifi-related through his website.
I would say that their main page has numerous affiliate links on it (clearly obvious), but they are predominately a news site.
But that's alright, its Ok to disbelieve or disagree with me - you are clearly part of the new wave of social media "folk" who know you get noticed by stirring the pot and dealing in hifi conspiracy theories (Hi-Fi Mafia??....please :rolleyes: )
Alas, well played sir.
 
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As somebody whose work has been covered by M&S on both their FB page and their main page, I am telling you, you are incorrect. I have NEVER paid M&S for any coverage - Matej has reached out to me numerous times because he wants to show as much content that is hifi-related through his website.
I would say that their main page has numerous affiliate links on it (clearly obvious), but they are predominately a news site.
But that's alright, its Ok to disbelieve or disagree with me - you are clearly part of the new wave of social media "folk" who know you get noticed by stirring the pot and dealing in hifi conspiracy theories (Hi-Fi Mafia??....please :rolleyes: )
Alas, well played sir.
I respect your opinion even though you feel the need to cast aspersion and personal attacks.

Thankfully unlike other people (such as M&S - I've seen their rate sheet; or other YouTube or print media reviewers who demand free product to review gear - yes we all know who they are) I don't monetize what I do so my hands and conscious are clean. Something VERY few people in any media can say.

As to feeling the need to be noticed, there are a lot easier ways to do that then simply making fun videos and being subjected to small people on forums that love making personal attacks because it makes them feel better about themselves.

If recent history over the last few years has shown us - when people want to shut down a topic they are quick to call it a conspiracy theory with their sarcastic and derogatory tone. Unfortunately for them it seems everything they've labeled a conspiracy theory has ended up being found out to be true. In the end the ones calling it a conspiracy theory were the ones hiding the truth.

I hope you have a great day and find a way to find more happiness in your life. And as always I do respect your opinion even if I disagree with what ever points you make. It's easy to be a jerk, and harder to keep dignity.
 
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Thankfully unlike other people (such as M&S - I've seen their rate sheet; or other YouTube or print media reviewers who demand free product to review gear - yes we all know who they are) I don't monetize what I do so my hands and conscious are clean. Something VERY few people in any media can say.
In your manifesto video you say you are making assumptions about monetization and cash for comments by M&S and are prepared to be corrected if this is untrue, now you reference a "rate sheet". I have called you out on this as my experience with M&S has never even remotely, involved a conversation about money, sponsorship, exchange, nada. If you truly believe the hi-fi fraternity are conspiring and you are the saviour or one of the few to guide us through the mire of audio lies, please, share your hard evidence. Do your fans a huge favour, expose the lies!!!!

You seem to get deleted and banned from various communities and groups (based on your comments by the way) - ever consider that the problem is a little closer to home and it could be you and not "them"? The more I hear about somebody wanting to be truthful and honest and transparent, the more the opposite is true.

Because simply put, if you arent part of the solution, you're certainly part of the problem.
Have a joyous day sir, I couldn't be more happier if I tried.
 
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See, the thing I do not understand is why some would put down the latest & top end product from a well estblished manufacturer without even having a listen. Social media misadventures and industry politics aside, end of the day, I would expect it's whether the performance in terms of sound quality whether this will tickle our fetish (let's just admit this is more than just normal fanatism at this stage).

So, let's move this thread along to discuss & dissect in every detail these new devices until we get a chance to listen to it and then talk about listening impressions after.

CD transport is incoming later but is no longer Esoteric based.

Raveen told me the improvement in SQ is bigger than when the mappings were introduced. To me, the introduction of mapping was a huge game changer. This apparently is a bigger leap than that.
 
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See, the thing I do not understand is why some would put down the latest & top end product from a well estblished manufacturer without even having a listen. Social media misadventures and industry politics aside, end of the day, I would expect it's whether the performance in terms of sound quality whether this will tickle our fetish (let's just admit this is more than just normal fanatism at this stage).
This is a good point.

Anything that helps make digital better is a step forward.

Competition among brands is key to improving sound playback.
 
See, the thing I do not understand is why some would put down the latest & top end product from a well estblished manufacturer without even having a listen. Social media misadventures and industry politics aside, end of the day, I would expect it's whether the performance in terms of sound quality whether this will tickle our fetish (let's just admit this is more than just normal fanatism at this stage).
100% Joe,
I just don't get it. I'll never ever afford this new system but at no point am I sad or taking umbrage to the cost. If they (dCS) have unlocked huge performance potential and this is the cost of doing it, more power to them.
I'll never sit here and sulk and be petty minded about the things I cant afford, or towards the people who can afford them.

Oh wait, did dCS just pay me to say that?....;)
 
If recent history over the last few years has shown us - when people want to shut down a topic they are quick to call it a conspiracy theory with their sarcastic and derogatory tone. Unfortunately for them it seems everything they've labeled a conspiracy theory has ended up being found out to be true. In the end the ones calling it a conspiracy theory were the ones hiding the truth.
Oh my. You win my award for the most (insert descriptor) generalization I have ever heard. Color me speechless.
 
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LOL, No I am not joking.

Yes, 80's cd players sucked, but the multibit DAC chips have huge potential. The early Philips swing arm laser optics were, in my opinion, unmatched for reading CDs.

It is quite amazing just how musical these early implementations can be made to sound.

Love ya man, but we have to agree to disagree here. Digital technology has progressed greatly since the 1980s.
 
Here are the spec's of the Varese (DSD/512 has arrived & BTW it's only 222.50 pounds for the 5 boxes).

Best to all,

Bob
 

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