DCS Vivaldi

Al M.

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It's like a $50 bottle of red wine. Just tastes great. Then someone opens a $150 bottle and you know which one you want to stick with...the $50 bottle just sits there.

Depends. There are outstanding $20 bottles of wine that are used by very high-end restaurants to flavor up certain courses. For other courses they use more expensive wine. They know what they're doing. It's about the matching high-quality flavor, not the $$.
 

microstrip

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Depends. There are outstanding $20 bottles of wine that are used by very high-end restaurants to flavor up certain courses. For other courses they use more expensive wine. They know what they're doing. It's about the matching high-quality flavor, not the $$.

You should compare the outstanding $150 bottles of wine with the outstanding $20 ones. Unfortunately the answer is not difficult :)
 

jfrech

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still-one

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jfrech

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I was considering going that route before I pulled the trigger on the Rossini/Clock. Maybe someday.

My dealer has both the Vivaldi stack, the Rossini player and clock and a network bridge. The reviewer compared a Scarlatti...The Rossini, with built in upsampler, I'd venture to guess is better than Roon upsampling...I think you made a great chioce ! Curious when you get MQA going on your Rossini ! Let us know please !
 

Barry2013

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Pretty interesting article for dCS fans. dCS Vivaldi DAC + Network Bridge seems a great way to get the Vivaldi experience for a lot less $$'s

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2017/11/05/review-dcs-network-bridge-the-swiss-army-knife-of-streamers/

Thanks jf.
Very interesting. Having recently upgraded to Scarlatti Transport, Paganini DAC with existing Scarlatti clock and upgrading the cables to Entreq Atlantis Infinity Dual AES/Apollo3.5V earth to Olympus 10, and delighted with the upgrade, the review of the NBR has got me thinking.
 

JimmyS

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Just installed the latest Firmware updates and MQA is up and running on my Rossini. One more day of work, and I can start doing some real listening. That is a 2L track streaming from Tidal.

IMG_20171220_204343.jpg
 

Elberoth

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Pretty interesting article for dCS fans. dCS Vivaldi DAC + Network Bridge seems a great way to get the Vivaldi experience for a lot less $$'s

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2017/11/05/review-dcs-network-bridge-the-swiss-army-knife-of-streamers/

A friend of mine (Rossini DAC owner) has recently compared his Rossini DAC to the Vivaldi DAC + Network Bridge (both in Roon Ready mode). To his surprise, he prefered his Rossini DAC to the more expensive combo.

I have no doubt the Vivaldi One or the full Vivaldi stack would be better than the Rossini, but that is $$$.

If anyone is considering the Vivaldi DAC + Network Bridge combo, I strongly sugest to try the Rossini DAC instead.
 

jfrech

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A friend of mine (Rossini DAC owner) has recently compared his Rossini DAC to the Vivaldi DAC + Network Bridge (both in Roon Ready mode). To his surprise, he prefered his Rossini DAC to the more expensive combo.

I have no doubt the Vivaldi One or the full Vivaldi stack would be better than the Rossini, but that is $$$.

If anyone is considering the Vivaldi DAC + Network Bridge combo, I strongly sugest to try the Rossini DAC instead.

I'm guessing it's the upsampling in the Rossini and less cables? Where the Vivaldi is a better dac but doesn't have the upsampling since it's in a separate box...

Was this on DSD files or PCM upsampled?
 

microstrip

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A friend of mine (Rossini DAC owner) has recently compared his Rossini DAC to the Vivaldi DAC + Network Bridge (both in Roon Ready mode). To his surprise, he prefered his Rossini DAC to the more expensive combo.

I have no doubt the Vivaldi One or the full Vivaldi stack would be better than the Rossini, but that is $$$.

If anyone is considering the Vivaldi DAC + Network Bridge combo, I strongly sugest to try the Rossini DAC instead.

There are many factors that can affect sound quality in a networked computer audio system and it is also a preference and system matching matter. I have listened several times to Vivaldi DAC + upsampler versus Rossini side by side and it is really a very large difference - I would never tell anyone seriously considering a Vivaldi DAC to listen to a Rossini. But it is me, YMMV ...

After I introduced a fiber link between the Vivaldi upsampler and the router and disabled the WIFI section of the router my computer audio system - TIDAL included - experienced a big jump in performance - and I have the feeling I have just started tuning it!
 

BMCG

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There are many factors that can affect sound quality in a networked computer audio system and it is also a preference and system matching matter. I have listened several times to Vivaldi DAC + upsampler versus Rossini side by side and it is really a very large difference - I would never tell anyone seriously considering a Vivaldi DAC to listen to a Rossini. But it is me, YMMV ...

After I introduced a fiber link between the Vivaldi upsampler and the router and disabled the WIFI section of the router my computer audio system - TIDAL included - experienced a big jump in performance - and I have the feeling I have just started tuning it!

+1

I'd add the Master Clock before the Upsampler...without such a timing foundation doubtful you are getting the most out of either the Rossini or Vivaldi Dac. ....moreover having listened to the Vivaldi One....it also requires a clock...microdetail/soundstaging/depth...all suffer without.

Ergo: dCS DACs should be clocked.

Furthermore..and this annoys me no end....the Abendrot Stute (the $40k reference clock)....bolsters the dCS Master Clock...a view echoed by a half dozen or so dCS system owners in this neck of the woods. (am keen to see whether its the Stute alone or whether the Mutec Ref10/Cybershaft can afford similar gains)

As for the Upsampler...my mileage differs..as I remain unsold on its merits....but then again I fettle to the nth my Music Server that feeds my DAC....
 

jfrech

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+1

I'd add the Master Clock before the Upsampler...without such a timing foundation doubtful you are getting the most out of either the Rossini or Vivaldi Dac. ....moreover having listened to the Vivaldi One....it also requires a clock...microdetail/soundstaging/depth...all suffer without.

Ergo: dCS DACs should be clocked.

Furthermore..and this annoys me no end....the Abendrot Stute (the $40k reference clock)....bolsters the dCS Master Clock...a view echoed by a half dozen or so dCS system owners in this neck of the woods. (am keen to see whether its the Stute alone or whether the Mutec Ref10/Cybershaft can afford similar gains)

As for the Upsampler...my mileage differs..as I remain unsold on its merits....but then again I fettle to the nth my Music Server that feeds my DAC....

I've wondered about a 10 mhz reference ... Mutec is at a much better price... how much does the Stute better the dCS stack? Better clock cables improve dCS also...
 

BMCG

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I've wondered about a 10 mhz reference ... Mutec is at a much better price... how much does the Stute better the dCS stack? Better clock cables improve dCS also...

+1 on the better clock cables....that took some digesting too...as two Chord Music's ain't exactly trivial on the cost front....and these cables are outside the digital signal path (!!???)....but it seems (again) that the timing foundation for dCS has to be built well.

from my posting on computeraudiophile: "Now I've run the Abendrot Stute with my dCS Vivaldi Clock & DAC. The enhancement to microdetail was not subtle....listening to the 24/96 version of the Doors "The End".....and the enhancements to the opening cymbals were a stand out...Sense of realism stepped up pointedly...and it is not like the base dCS combo is usually construed as lacking in detail.."
 

Barry2013

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+1

I'd add the Master Clock before the Upsampler...without such a timing foundation doubtful you are getting the most out of either the Rossini or Vivaldi Dac. ....moreover having listened to the Vivaldi One....it also requires a clock...microdetail/soundstaging/depth...all suffer without.

Ergo: dCS DACs should be clocked.

Furthermore..and this annoys me no end....the Abendrot Stute (the $40k reference clock)....bolsters the dCS Master Clock...a view echoed by a half dozen or so dCS system owners in this neck of the woods. (am keen to see whether its the Stute alone or whether the Mutec Ref10/Cybershaft can afford similar gains)

As for the Upsampler...my mileage differs..as I remain unsold on its merits....but then again I fettle to the nth my Music Server that feeds my DAC....

I agree that a DCS clock is an essential complement to DCS Dacs and Transports.
Recently I installed a pair of Entreq Infinity Dual AES cables with Apollo Infinity earth cable to an Olympus 10.Played it without the Scarlatti clock and then hooked up the Scarlatti transport and Paganini Dac and the improvement was immediately obvious.
I would be interested in other members' experience of the Scarlatti upsampler. I don't have one at the moment so would appreciate what people think.
 

jfrech

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I agree that a DCS clock is an essential complement to DCS Dacs and Transports.
Recently I installed a pair of Entreq Infinity Dual AES cables with Apollo Infinity earth cable to an Olympus 10.Played it without the Scarlatti clock and then hooked up the Scarlatti transport and Paganini Dac and the improvement was immediately obvious.
I would be interested in other members' experience of the Scarlatti upsampler. I don't have one at the moment so would appreciate what people think.

Do you listen to all DSD? PCM? Or some of both? Upsampler won't help with DSD files. For PCM, once heard, you won't go back. Your transport has upsampling capabilities already, although not as good as the dedicated Scarlatti upsampler. Have you tried that feature? Should give you a glimpse...

In your case, you might consider upgrading the Paganini Dac to Scarlatti/Rossini or Vivaldi DAC before a Scarlatti upsampler...just another option...used Scarlatti dacs are pretty good buy...your dCS dealer may have access to "certified used" trade in's
 

Barry2013

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Thanks JF
A mixture of SACDs and Red Book and generally prefer the SACDs but some of the SACD remasters have disappointed. I am using the upsampling on the Scarlatti transport.
Present intention is to upgrade to a Scarlatti dac next year and I do have access to factory refurbished DCS dacs, The Paganini is factory refurbished unit
Moving to the dual AES Entreq Atlantis Infinity along with the Apollo Infinity speaker cables was something of a game changer. Gave me a much more liquid natural musical sound and better definition.
Not that I needed it but a welcome reminder of the importance of the cables in a system.
 

jfrech

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Thanks JF
A mixture of SACDs and Red Book and generally prefer the SACDs but some of the SACD remasters have disappointed. I am using the upsampling on the Scarlatti transport.
Present intention is to upgrade to a Scarlatti dac next year and I do have access to factory refurbished DCS dacs, The Paganini is factory refurbished unit
Moving to the dual AES Entreq Atlantis Infinity along with the Apollo Infinity speaker cables was something of a game changer. Gave me a much more liquid natural musical sound and better definition.
Not that I needed it but a welcome reminder of the importance of the cables in a system.

Cables matter. I've relearned that lesson a few times too :). If get a Scarlatti dac then the upsampler is a natural add for your redbook playing...it'll definitely improve over upsampling off the transport. But I do wonder if you maybe better off with a Rossini dac (gives you upsampling and network input) and keep your scarlatti transport and clock...I ran my Vivaldi DAC with a Scarlatti Transport and clock for the better part of a year...
 

number95

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May 14, 2014
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Direct Connection to Power Amps

As some of you may remember, a while ago I wrote to the forum regarding direct connection from Vivaldi DAC to power amps hence bypassing the preamp. It has been weeks after weeks and I can’t believe that I am still going on that route. Whether I was going slightly mad or what I have been hearing was true, this had to be also tested by some other ears. First, almost all audiophile friends who recently listened to my system w/o preamp agreed that they also favor the current state of the system with a big margin to previous in terms of resolution, dynamic impact, speed, pinpoint imaging and layering. Some also mentioned, for an audiophile whose main dish is a wide and bold soundstage, then a very good preamplifier might also be considered. I still have doubts on that in case that might create a compromise from the recent benefits listed above (or at least until I try one at my setup and hear with my own ears). To me, certainly the pity is lack of analog. Since I had no intention to live with only one format, at some stage presumably the analog bug inside me will favor a preamp. But that will most probably force me to upgrade the existing analog gear as well since digital really rules here. I used to consider -as many others- Vivaldi setup as extremely expensive including the cable investments one also needs to do. That said for a digital source only audio setup, I strongly believe Vivaldi can be connected to power amps without any hesitation and for many that means a significant saving as one needs to spend serious bucks for a really good preamp to compete and even in that case I presume the differences will be like splitting hairs. So in terms of using practices I came to the conclusion that Vivaldi is not that expensive relative to current pricing in hiend industry, that is interesting but true.
 

microstrip

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As some of you may remember, a while ago I wrote to the forum regarding direct connection from Vivaldi DAC to power amps hence bypassing the preamp. It has been weeks after weeks and I can’t believe that I am still going on that route. Whether I was going slightly mad or what I have been hearing was true, this had to be also tested by some other ears. First, almost all audiophile friends who recently listened to my system w/o preamp agreed that they also favor the current state of the system with a big margin to previous in terms of resolution, dynamic impact, speed, pinpoint imaging and layering. Some also mentioned, for an audiophile whose main dish is a wide and bold soundstage, then a very good preamplifier might also be considered. I still have doubts on that in case that might create a compromise from the recent benefits listed above (or at least until I try one at my setup and hear with my own ears). To me, certainly the pity is lack of analog. Since I had no intention to live with only one format, at some stage presumably the analog bug inside me will favor a preamp. But that will most probably force me to upgrade the existing analog gear as well since digital really rules here. I used to consider -as many others- Vivaldi setup as extremely expensive including the cable investments one also needs to do. That said for a digital source only audio setup, I strongly believe Vivaldi can be connected to power amps without any hesitation and for many that means a significant saving as one needs to spend serious bucks for a really good preamp to compete and even in that case I presume the differences will be like splitting hairs. So in terms of using practices I came to the conclusion that Vivaldi is not that expensive relative to current pricing in hiend industry, that is interesting but true.

Did you try the Altair II in your system? What was in the empty space in your signature or have you been using in these comparisons?
 

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