dCS Varese short review

[Elliot G.]

It’s already here. It’s called a dCS Varese.

And you know that how?
Who’s they?
You are just gaslighting and have no real world Wadax experience period

 

[Lee]

And you know that how?
Who’s they?
You are just gaslighting and have no real world Wadax experience period

I have heard Wadax a bunch at shows and you know that.

 

[Audiocrack]

That’s why I winked. They seem to not want a direct comparison so I can only assume they are nervous.

Who are “They”? And why this ‘nervous assumption’? There can be a lot of reasons if ‘they’ indeed would not be interested in a direct comparison such as too much time and effort involved, a lot of interest in the Wadax gear and as a consequence a full stack is not available, etc.

And btw, have you ever listened under controlled circumstances to a full Wadax set up, that is including the dedicated Wadax PSU for the Wadax server and four Akssa cables (three Akasa dc cables)? Show conditions I do not consider as ‘controlled circumstances’ btw.

 

[Elliot G.]

I have heard Wadax a bunch at shows and you know that.

Exactly never actually heard a full Wadax reference

 

[Lee]

Who are “They”? And why this ‘nervous assumption’? There can be a lot of reasons if ‘they’ indeed would not be interested in a direct comparison such as too much time and effort involved, a lot of interest in the Wadax gear and as a consequence a full stack is not available?

And btw, have you ever listened under controlled circumstances to a full Wadax set up, that is including the dedicated Wadax PSU for the Wadax server and four Akssa cables (three Akasa dc cables)?

I just feel there should be a direct comparison on a quality, properly setup system. Car magazines do track shootouts at the high end. Why not audio flagships? It may lead to better versions on the next offering.

There may not be a clear winner. Could be different flavors.

 

[Elliot G.]

I just feel there should be a direct comparison on a quality, properly setup system. Car magazines do track shootouts at the high end. Why not audio flagships? It may lead to better versions on the next offering.

There may not be a clear winner. Could be different flavors.

So who is they?
You mean you!
Gaslighting straight up.

 

[Lee]

Elliot,

What was missing from the Axpona systems you put together in the past?

 

[Audiocrack]

I just feel there should be a direct comparison on a quality, properly setup system. Car magazines do track shootouts at the high end. Why not audio flagships? It may lead to better versions on the next offering.

There may not be a clear winner. Could be different flavors.

Your answer implies that you have not yet listened to a full Wadax stack outside show conditions - or in my words under ‘controlled circumstances’ -. As a consequence you cannot know which of the two you would ultimately prefer.

 

[Lee]

So who is they?
You mean you!
Gaslighting straight up.

You are coming through Atlanta for Axpona. Let’s set up the Wadax system at Hugh’s and do a comparison. He has a great system.

 

[Elliot G.]

Elliot,

What was missing from the Axpona systems you put together in the past?

First the fact that you think what is at Axpona in that nightmare of a room represents what that system can do says so much

 

[Lee]

Your answer implies that you have not yet listened to a full Wadax stack outside show conditions - or in my words under ‘controlled circumstances’ -. As a consequence you cannot know which of the two you would ultimately prefer.

Maybe so. I have heard Elliot’s systems at Axpona. That is why I am suggesting that as he drives through Atlanta, we setup the Wadax system and do a comparison on a system I am very familiar with.

 

[Lee]

First the fact that you think what is at Axpona in that nightmare of a room represents what that system can do says so much

So I have offered an option here in Atlanta in a purpose built building.

We could also do it on Scott’s XVX system at Evolution.

Also, you were in that room multiple years. Why didn’t you change rooms?

 

[Audiocrack]

Maybe so. I have heard Elliot’s systems at Axpona. That is why I am suggesting that as he drives through Atlanta, we setup the Wadax system and do a comparison on a system I am very familiar with.

I do not understand “Maybe so”, Lee. How can you judge the real quality of a certain component or stack of components under show conditions, that is in an unfamiliar room with mostly poor acoustics and poor power conditions and mostly a set up with a lot of gear you are not (really) familiar with? Your fondness for the DCS Varese is of course completely fine but I question your various remarks regarding Wadax. And have you actually listened to a full Wadax reference stack with four Akasa cables under show conditions at all?

 

[Elliot G.]

So I have offered an option here in Atlanta in a purpose built building.

We could also do it on Scott’s XVX system at Evolution.

Also, you were in that room multiple years. Why didn’t you change rooms?

Call Mark Freed and get a big room, please do it!
You offered options lol
Other peoples stuff I love it
You need to understand something Lee no one in the audio business has anything it needs to prove to Lee Scoggins!

What’s in this for me? You are incredibly generous with other people’s time and money .

 

[Lee]

I do not understand “Maybe so”, Lee. How can you judge the real quality of a certain component or stack of components under show conditions, that is in an unfamiliar room with mostly poor acoustics and poor power conditions and mostly a set up with a lot of gear you are not (really) familiar with? Your fondness for the DCS Varese is of course completely fine but I question your various remarks regarding Wadax. And have you actually listened to a full Wadax reference stack with four Akasa cables under show conditions at all?

See my posts above. I have heard Wadax systems at shows. I am not sure what was missing from those shows versus what you call a “full reference Wadax.” I believe all the boxes were there. Not sure on how many Akasa cables. I would interested in hearing your system but not sure where you are.

We are in agreement that hearing both systems in the same system properly setup in a good room is the best comparison.

Unfortunately, it appears impossible to make that happen.

 

[Lee]

Call Mark Freed and get a big room, please do it!
You offered options lol
Other peoples stuff I love it
You need to understand something Lee no one in the audio business has anything it needs to prove to Lee Scoggins!

What’s in this for me? You are incredibly generous with other people’s time and money .

What’s in it for you is marketing if the Wadax does well. Your snarky reply to Hugh (you should have at least congratulated him) was along the lines that the Wadax would do everything the Varese could. If that’s the case then offer a comparison.

 

[Audiocrack]

See my posts above. I have heard Wadax systems at shows. I am not sure what was missing from those shows versus what you call a “full reference Wadax.” I believe all the boxes were there. Not sure on how many Akasa cables. I would interested in hearing your system but not sure where you are.

We are in agreement that hearing both systems in the same system properly setup in a good room is the best comparison.

Unfortunately, it appears impossible to make that happen.

I live in the Netherlands, Lee. I have a full Wadax reference set up available (including four Akasa cables) - see my Tidal La Assoluta thread on WBF - but not a DCS Varese stack. Btw, I listened to a full DCS Vivaldi stack (pre Apex update) in my own system in the past and although without any doubt - (sort of) technically speaking - a good digital system it did not appeal to me, musically speaking. I have not yet heard the DCS Varese though.

You are most welcome to visit me but I suppose we are living too far apart to actually make this happen.

 

[Lee]

Ron and I were talking about this thread. Here is something I said for context.

“I am an explorer in this hobby. I’m not trying to get people to agree with my preferences but rather to go on the journey and share observations.”

 

[Lee]

I live in the Netherlands, Lee. I have a full Wadax reference set up available (including four Akasa cables) - see my Tidal La Assoluta thread on WBF - but not a DCS Varese stack. Btw, I listened to a full DCS Vivaldi stack (pre Apex update) in my own system in the past and although without any doubt - (sort of) technically speaking - a good digital system it did not appeal to me, musically speaking. I have not yet heard the DCS Varese though.

You are most welcome to visit me but I suppose we are living too far apart to actually make this happen.

The Apex was a step change for both Vivaldi and Rossini. The Varese, at least to my ears, is a different planet. It’s not incremental over the Vivaldi Apex.

 

[Audiocrack]

Ron and I were talking about this thread. Here is something I said for context.

“I am an explorer in this hobby. I’m not trying to get people to agree with my preferences but rather to go on the journey and share observations.”

I understand. I am a music lover, go to classical concerts in ‘het Concertgebouw’ in Amsterdam on a regular basis and - as a consumer - I am only in this hobby to enjoy the music I love at home at the highest sonic level I can possibly achieve.

Although we all hear differently and have different sonic preferences I do not understand the ‘Wadax haters’ on WBF and their (sometimes) ultra negative comments, mostly only based on listening experiences under show conditions (and just to be sure: I am not suggesting that you are a ‘Wadax hater’, Lee). Even if one ultimately prefers another digital device, be it a tube dac or another solid state dac, in my view it cannot be denied that Wadax has achieved something very special with their reference gear (I have not yet heard the Wadax Studio). But if WBF members disagree with me on the latter, well that is fine as well, as long as such a view is not (solely) based on prejudice but on actual listening experiences under ‘controlled circumstances’.