DCS Vivaldi

Phelonious Ponk · Aug 11, 2012

Lee said:
Well since it's only $110K now I can get my checkbook.

Seriously though I applaud a firm pushing the envelope like this with statement pieces.

Now if dCS would make a DAC for $5K with 99% of the sound quality I would be really happy.

How does this piece (or, rather, the four of them) push the envelope?

Tim

opus111 · Aug 11, 2012

microstrip said:
Because DCS wanted to pay tribute to Vivaldi and "The Four Seasons"

Next generation then logically the Tchaikovski with 6 boxes?

mep · Aug 11, 2012

MylesBAstor said:
One correction: the US Sales Mgr for DCS asked me to correct the price. It is $110K, not 135K. Sorry for any misinformation there.

Whew! Glad it's not $135K. Now that it is only $110K, I'm in!

docvale · Aug 11, 2012

opus111 said:
Next generation then logically the Tchaikovski with 6 boxes?

Maybe Rossini, unless the wanted to break the tradition with the Italian composers

opus111 · Aug 11, 2012

Although I'm a big fan of Rossini, I can't think of a number to associate with him so the number of boxes becomes indeterminate....

Phelonious Ponk · Aug 11, 2012

Phelonious Ponk said:
How does this piece (or, rather, the four of them) push the envelope?

Tim

Anybody? Surely at this price there is some kind of breakthrough, some new technology the research for which has not yet been paid for?

Tim

FrantzM · Aug 11, 2012

Phelonious Ponk said:
Anybody? Surely at this price there is some kind of breakthrough, some new technology the research for which has not yet been paid for?

Tim

Has to be the most expensive piece of Digital stuff out there .. So it breaks the enveloppe and must sound good and redefines what is possible in digital and ...

I don't get DcS naming scheme ... I am not sure I would call Vivaldi the best Western Classical Music composer ...

If we are to follow Microstrip rationale , 4 boxes for Vivaldi's Four Seasons ..

So if there is a "Beethoven" Stack would it have 9 pieces?

Ok I am out.. Too much poking fun at the product ... It will be soon joined by another >$100K DAC followed by a $200K DAC.. I wonder where's the limit?

wizard · Aug 11, 2012

Vivaldi dac inside
View attachment 4770

View attachment 4771

Vivaldi is designed to play music from any source and processes all high resolution PCM music formats up to DXD (24 bit data at 352.8 and 384kS/s), plus DSD. The optimised DSP filters and clocking architecture ensure listeners can extract every last nuance of musical detail and feeling while tuning the system to suit their personal preference.

Vivaldi DAC utilises the next generation of the state-of-the-art dCS Ring DAC™ which combines exceptional linearity with very high speed operation, enabling it to deliver true 24 bit performance even at low signal levels. The new dCS Ring DAC™ used in Vivaldi represents the most significant reworking of the design in its 20+ year history, and it incorporates a number of important technical advances that have resulted in enhanced dynamic range, reduced jitter, improved channel separation, and greatly improved musical realism.

The Scarlatti dac is more complex with chips all over the place.

View attachment 4772

rockitman · Aug 12, 2012

Looks like ceramic circuit boards to dissipate heat quicker...impeccable build quality. It should be.

AudioExplorations · Aug 13, 2012

The DAC alone is $28K and apparently has an asynch USB input. Depending on the internal clock implementation in the DAC the external clock *may* bring only marginal improvements (if any), same goes for the upsampler... use of a music server means the transport is also not needed, and this suddenly becomes a very interesting and much more accessible product. Even in this standalone configuration this has definite potential to be the SOTA DAC to beat.

Emre Üçöz · Aug 13, 2012

AudioExplorations said:
Even in this standalone configuration this has definite potential to be the SOTA DAC to beat.

absolutely agree on this.

Roysen · Aug 13, 2012

FrantzM said:
Has to be the most expensive piece of Digital stuff out there ..

Nope - Goldmund Eidos Reference Blue Limited Edition and Weiss Maya are more expensive if that should mean anything.

docvale · Aug 13, 2012

AudioExplorations said:
The DAC alone is $28K and apparently has an asynch USB input. Depending on the internal clock implementation in the DAC the external clock *may* bring only marginal improvements (if any), same goes for the upsampler... use of a music server means the transport is also not needed, and this suddenly becomes a very interesting and much more accessible product. Even in this standalone configuration this has definite potential to be the SOTA DAC to beat.

My understanding is that the USB input is part of the upsampler only. Accordingly, you might need a USB to SPDIF/AES-EBU adapter to use the DAC only with a computer or a music server. Also, if dCS continued with its tradition, you'd need a double AES-EBU connection to run 24/192 file. Obviously, you wouldn't need to spend tons of dollars for that kind of interface, but still, this stack is mostly conceived to be purchased as a combination.

Not commenting the price, which speaks by itself, I honestly don't get the meaning of keeping both the Scarlatti and the Vivaldi in the catalogue. Vivaldi is going to be the third and top 4-chassis stack in dCS. Isn't that too much?
I'd rather remove the Scarlatti (which is a 2005 product) and introduce a new single chassis SACD player with USB input.

AudioExplorations · Aug 13, 2012

I understand the DAC unit itself has a USB input....

asiufy · Aug 13, 2012

docvale,

I believe dCS has sort-of upgraded the Scarlatti as well. The USB input is now on the Scarlatti clock, instead of the Upsampler. That will allow full DSD over USB.
Most likely, the Vivaldi will also use this set-up. So, for computer playback, all you'll need is the DAC+Clock.
I was considering upgrading to the Scarlatti (from the Paganini), but I'd like to see the individual prices of these new units now...

alexandre

docvale · Aug 13, 2012

asiufy said:
docvale,

I believe dCS has sort-of upgraded the Scarlatti as well. The USB input is now on the Scarlatti clock, instead of the Upsampler. That will allow full DSD over USB.
Most likely, the Vivaldi will also use this set-up. So, for computer playback, all you'll need is the DAC+Clock.
I was considering upgrading to the Scarlatti (from the Paganini), but I'd like to see the individual prices of these new units now...

alexandre

So, mine is an assumption based on the press release by dCS, such as here: http://www.avguide.com/article/dcs-launches-vivaldi-digital-playback-system There, they say that the USB is in the upsampler.

With a USB input in the DAC, lots of people would just buy it, ignoring all the other components.

I know that the Scarlatti got updated.
The point is: why keeping a reference and a presumed super-reference competitor in the same catalogue?

wizard · Aug 13, 2012

Read the Vivaldi technical overview at my blog.

AudioExplorations · Aug 13, 2012

Thanks for bringing us the info Wizard. Great to see asynch USB on the DAC unit!

docvale · Aug 13, 2012

wizard said:
Read the Vivaldi technical overview at my blog.

Ok, so apparently both the upsampler and the DAC have an asynchronous USB input.
Maybe the upsampler is required only if you're playing a CD disc with the transport...

Anyway, this is a feature that makes the life of the Scarlatti (in which you have to have more than one chassis to get computer audio through USB) even harder now...

Phelonious Ponk · Aug 13, 2012

docvale said:
Ok, so apparently both the upsampler and the DAC have an asynchronous USB input.
Maybe the upsampler is required only if you're playing a CD disc with the transport...

Anyway, this is a feature that makes the life of the Scarlatti (in which you have to have more than one chassis to get computer audio through USB) even harder now...

For that kind of money they should wire asynchronous USB directly to my brain.

Tim

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