Jimin GA said: "Speaking only for myself that is why I roll my eyes when I hear all the M7, XVX talk and know that without a shadow of a doubt they are wasting money. Not because they aren't great speakers but because the owners will hear maybe 75% of what they are capable of and never even know it."
JiminGa, please understand that I simply disagree with your comment, and I said so. My investment in my XVX has been the best investment and given me more fun and pleasure than any investment I have made in my life. I tremendously respect everybody's opinions and suspect that I am the least knowledgeable but perhaps the happiest and most satisfied of all the folks on WBF with their systems with some exceptions like Mike Laverne.
After reading about the incredible number of cords and wires (28) needed to support a Varese or Vivaldi (20), this just reinforces my belief that these DAC's are overly complex and over engineered. Every box has greatly duplicated circuits, like individual power supplies and multiple power supplies inside one box, etc. The possibility of a glitch or failure will be worrisome and sending these boxes up north to a service center or overseas is real, if unlikely.
I believe in simplicity. A DAC like the Varese would demand from me if I owned one wires that would cost as much as the unit itself. The AQ Dragon source power cords alone would be about 50K retail. I hate to say this because I am rooting for the Varese and dCS. I am certain the engineers and sales folks are top notch, but it is completely impractical even if I had the money.
I have achieved a wonderful analog sound with incredible clarity and beauty with topline AQ solid silver connections, cords, and tubes with Niagara 5000 and 7000 power conditioners. These DAC's are only as good as their wires so be prepared to spend another 250K for the Varese.
Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest
Gear on Order: Hi Fi Rose 130RS Network Transport; Samsung internal SSD; Audioquest Wel Signature digital balanced 1-meter IC; Audioquest Diamond 1.5 meter USB cable; Audioquest Dragon 2-meter source power cord; HDMI cable 24’ for music videos
Amps: McIntosh: MC3500MKII (2); MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW An
Preamp: C-12000 An
Sources: MCD12000 An; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; Lenovo Yoga laptop
Speakers: Wilson Chronosonic XVX
Sub-Woofer: Wilson Thor’s Hammer; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables Main System AQ: WEL Signature speaker cables; 24’ balanced IC; balanced 1-meter Dragon IC ; WEL Signature digital, Coffee digital coaxial cables; Diamond optical (2); Diamond USB; Dragon (5 HC, 3 source cords); Thunder & Monsoon power cords
Cables Subwoofer System AQ: Redwood speaker cable; Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC to ActivXO; Hurricane HC; Firebird HC; Firebird Source; Dragon HC, power cords
Power Conditioners: AQ Niagara 7000; Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines.
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD)
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes