My Positive Feedback Review of the dCS Varese

[Ted Denney III]

Avoiding the truth is the essence of enjoying this hobby. And truth is not compatible with marketing in an essentially subjective hobby.

What is “truth”?

*define truth

 

[PeterA]

Thanks.



You have a point, but I do not consider a like/dislike opinion in unknow conditions as an high-end comment - and WBF is an high-end forum. In order to consider something as "commenting something" I thing some more substance is needed.

In other words, you will tell us that you do not like the Wadax, but you will not tell us why you do not like the Wadax. I appreciate the qualification.

 

[microstrip]

What is “truth”?

*define truth

The truth is that the high-end is a very complex hobby, relying mostly on educating listener preference to appreciate some particular fine aspects of stereo sound reproduction. The truth is that stereo is a poorly defined standard where diversity can grow and each of us can have a different "stereo truth." The truth is that people in WBF have very different views on the purpose of sound reproduction. And many others ...

 

[microstrip]

In other words, you will tell us that you do not like the Wadax, but you will not tell us why you do not like the Wadax. I appreciate the qualification.

Surely. The same way I will not comment on why I sold the Lamm's.

 

[PeterA]

Surely. The same way I will not comment on why I sold the Lamm's.

Someone told me they were not your cup of tea. I would be more interested in why you bought the Lamms in the first place.

 

[microstrip]

Someone told me they were not your cup of tea.

Probably I wrote it. My usual way to not say anything.

I would be more interested in why you bought the Lamms in the first place.

It was the easiest way to listen to them.

 

[PeterA]

Probably I wrote it. My usual way to not say anything.

Yes. I find the expression meaningless.

It was the easiest way to listen to them.

That makes sense at least if one has to hear them in his own system and there is no other way to do it.

 

[tima]

Even placing pieces of wood under the last 2.5 meters of a 25-meter dedicated AC line alters the sound.

Which is the first 2,5 meters the component sees.

 

[Jack Pot]

It has nothing to do with vibration elimination. Did you measure before and after, with and without pods or spikes under it?

Not just digital hi-fi components or your dCS DAC exhibit a change in sound when a tweak is placed under them. Even placing pieces of wood under the last 2.5 meters of a 25-meter dedicated AC line alters the sound. Every component behaves this way, but not due to a reduction in vibration. When you place something under a cable or component, you’re simply changing its resonance frequency. That’s not always beneficial—sometimes it can degrade the sound by increasing resonance and shifting it into the audible range.

Almost all tweaks have nothing to do with vibration elimination; they’re simply resonators that alter the resonance frequency of the component they’re placed under. They are adding distortion while removing some from other places of frequency range just like an equalizer. Tweak manufacturers keep telling lies about vibration cause they cannot sell their products if they tell the truth.

Just relaying MY PERSONAL experience with audio gear over the last 30 years. The late Max Townsend opened my ears all these years ago. The supports matter tremendously. Good supports improve the sonic presentation dramatically, especially in digital: lower irritating "glassiness", better timing, better flow, expanded 3D experience etc... with zero drawbacks. Preaching about altering resonance frequencies misses the point. Supports are not tweaks. Good supports are an indispensable part of any hifi system, enhancing the enjoyment tremendously. Good supports probably represent the best hifi investment. I cannot comment on comparisons between support systems. I have not done so. Life is too short. However, I was able to compare Townsend platforms to Acapella platforms: yes, the presentation differs, it is a matter of taste. However, both tremendously improved the hifi experience. That is what WBF is about.
For the record: I totally disagree. Vibration and resonance are different phenomena. Vibration is carried through the floor into the system, resonance is created inside the equipment. In my case, my NEO rack + Acapella platforms deal with vibration, the Nordost Sort Kones and Qpoints deal with resonance. Even my speakers stand on ACapella platforms. There is a huge literature about these matters and brilliant engineers have investigated them. Ignore vibration and resonance and you miss out on 50% of the hifi experience.

 

[mtemur]

Vibration is carried through the floor into the system, resonance is created inside the equipment.

• Doesn’t a component produce vibrations itself?

• Does vibration always have to be transmitted through the floor? What about airborne vibration?

• How is resonance created inside a component? Couldn’t there be an external influence?

. I asked before and I’ll ask again, how do you know the pods, feet etc you use reduce vibrations, did you measure before and after?

Obviously, you’ve mixed things up badly. I recommend that you review the terms vibration, resonance, and isolation—because when discussing “supports” for audio components, isolation is what you’re really looking for.

Preaching about altering resonance frequencies misses the point. Supports are not tweaks. Good supports are an indispensable part of any hifi system, enhancing the enjoyment tremendously. Good supports probably represent the best hifi investment.

I didn’t say equipment racks are tweaks and I didn’t say don’t use them. I said that tweaks like pods, spikes, and feet don’t always work for vibration elimination. It’s not about using them or not—it’s about understanding that they don’t eliminate vibration but instead act as EQ, since everyone uses tweaks.

In my case, my NEO rack + Acapella platforms deal with vibration, the Nordost Sort Kones and Qpoints deal with resonance. Even my speakers stand on ACapella platforms. There is a huge literature about these matters and brilliant engineers have investigated them.

With devoted customers like you around, it’s no wonder we see a new rack or feet brand being born every day.

 

[Lee]

Just relaying MY PERSONAL experience with audio gear over the last 30 years. The late Max Townsend opened my ears all these years ago. The supports matter tremendously. Good supports improve the sonic presentation dramatically, especially in digital: lower irritating "glassiness", better timing, better flow, expanded 3D experience etc... with zero drawbacks. Preaching about altering resonance frequencies misses the point. Supports are not tweaks. Good supports are an indispensable part of any hifi system, enhancing the enjoyment tremendously. Good supports probably represent the best hifi investment. I cannot comment on comparisons between support systems. I have not done so. Life is too short. However, I was able to compare Townsend platforms to Acapella platforms: yes, the presentation differs, it is a matter of taste. However, both tremendously improved the hifi experience. That is what WBF is about.
For the record: I totally disagree. Vibration and resonance are different phenomena. Vibration is carried through the floor into the system, resonance is created inside the equipment. In my case, my NEO rack + Acapella platforms deal with vibration, the Nordost Sort Kones and Qpoints deal with resonance. Even my speakers stand on ACapella platforms. There is a huge literature about these matters and brilliant engineers have investigated them. Ignore vibration and resonance and you miss out on 50% of the hifi experience.

I have heard positive impact from better footers and equipment racks as well.

 

[Al M.]

I have heard positive impact from better footers and equipment racks as well.

+1

 

[antigrunge]

There is a large TV between the speakers contravening any law of acoustics I am aware of. Hardly a reference setting, that. And the asking price for a system where digital components need to wired up with long cables attracting interference speak more to bling than sound. would love a comparison with say a Grimm all-in-one unit. when it comes to clocking and signal transfer cables aren’t necessarily the best choice.

 

[Lee]

There is a large TV between the speakers contravening any law of acoustics I am aware of. Hardly a reference setting, that. And the asking price for a system where digital components need to wired up with long cables attracting interference speak more to bling than sound. would love a comparison with say a Grimm all-in-one unit. when it comes to clocking and signal transfer cables aren’t necessarily the best choice.

It’s just a big film screen and it can be removed. It doesn’t really impact the sound in any event. It is very much a reference setting. It’s a spectacular sounding system and Scott put in many hours on the setup. The wall is not brick by the way. It’s a wall covering and the album art are special acoustic panels with the albums printed on top.

 

[Lee]

One more thing, the ACTUS cables are included. Read the website. They are highly functional as they carry the timecode the mono DACs remain in sync. This is a different level of playback from Grimm.

 

[Lee]

Will be doing a MSB Cascade and Varese shootout on Friday.