dCS Users

[Custodian]

Do you use Vivaldi, Verona or a Scarlatti clock ?

Currently I use Scarlatti clock. My Vivaldi system should arrive next month

 

[microstrip]

Currently I use Scarlatti clock. My Vivaldi system should arrive next month

Sorry, but are getting anything from DCS other than the DAC?

 

[Custodian]

Sorry, but are getting anything from DCS other than the DAC?

Complete replacement of Scarlatti with Vivaldi with DAC, upsampler and clock. I don't use transport. Main source is Aurender

 

[microstrip]

Complete replacement of Scarlatti with Vivaldi with DAC, upsampler and clock. I don't use transport. Main source is Aurender

Thanks. I still do not understand very well why the upsampler is needed. The Aurender dual-wire AES/EBU allows direct connection to the Vivaldi DAC with the best quality. Is it possible to upsample your files and download them already upsampled in the Aurender?

 

[Custodian]

Thanks. I still do not understand very well why the upsampler is needed. The Aurender dual-wire AES/EBU allows direct connection to the Vivaldi DAC with the best quality. Is it possible to upsample your files and download them already upsampled in the Aurender?

I think we have a communication breakdown here.

Aurender files may be 16/44 rips or 24 bit hires downloads. Certainly hires files can go direct to Dac, but others are upsampler. I also use Sonos, Crestron Adagio and satellite TV digital audio, all of which will benefit from upsampling

 

[microstrip]

I think we have a communication breakdown here.

Aurender files may be 16/44 rips or 24 bit hires downloads. Certainly hires files can go direct to Dac, but others are upsampler. I also use Sonos, Crestron Adagio and satellite TV digital audio, all of which will benefit from upsampling

Perhaps I was not clear as I never used Aurender - can you rip 16/44 using a PC, upsample the file to 192/24 using some third party software and download the resulting file to Aurender?

 

[Custodian]

Perhaps I was not clear as I never used Aurender - can you rip 16/44 using a PC, upsample the file to 192/24 using some third party software and download the resulting file to Aurender?

Why would you want to when you have the excellent DCS upsampler?

 

[microstrip]

Why would you want to when you have the excellent DCS upsampler?

Excellent but expensive. Also by audiophile curiosity. The Vivaldi sound fascinates me, but it is not simple to get a set to listen in my system.

 

[Custodian]

Excellent but expensive. Also by audiophile curiosity. The Vivaldi sound fascinates me, but it is not simple to get a set to listen in my system.

I understand. Certainly it is possible just to start with the DAC. If so, I would just input files with no additional external processing. I don't see much benefit in upsampling on the computer. What digital equipment do you use now?

 

[microstrip]

I understand. Certainly it is possible just to start with the DAC. If so, I would just input files with no additional external processing. I don't see much benefit in upsampling on the computer. What digital equipment do you use now?

As I can not see the difference between carrying the upsampling in the computer or in the upsampler, I would really know.

Audio Research CD8 - it is a very good match with my all AR equipment and sounds better than it should in this particular environment. However I have listened a few times to the top DCS's and was really impressed.

 

[nirodha]

Let's forget for a moment how the DAC is fed, whether through CD transport, USB-SPDIF converter, or build in USB (in case of Vivaldi).

Which components are essential to attain the full performance envelope of dCS converters?

I would like to hear from people who are judging based on first hand listening experience. I am not interested to go into a technical theoretical discussion regarding external clocking/upsampling.

I would also appreciate, if you vote, if you could post which converter the impression is based on (Vivaldi/Scarlatti/Paganini/Puccini).

Essential or desired...? I have been playing with my old Elgar Plus and Verdi set for ten years or so. Never felt the desire to put in an upsampler of external clock. But...I invested heavily in the best digital cable I could find (MIT Oracle MA Digital) which pushed up the quality enormously
However, putting in an dCS upsampler or clock would probably do a lot. dCS is hideously expensive but are also the best of the best if it comes to digital.

 

[Custodian]

So you want the one line answer. Simple. To get best performance from the stacks I own/have owned (original Verdi/Purcell/Elgar/clock; Scarlatti upsampler/clock/Dac; Vivaldi clock/upsampler/DAC) the answer is clear that each piece adds significant improvement. In addition, external 10MHz reference clock adds a large improvement also.

is you question really just "can I just get the DAC and still get the dCS magic?" then the answer is yes. They are very good DACS. If you want the best sound you can get, you'll need upsampler and clock also (and possibly an external reference clock).

Now people will immediately ask "why? or how much improvement? and what technical reasons produce the improvement.

I suppose the simple answer to your original request is to listen to a DAC, then add an upsampler, then add a clock and see if it sounds better to you.Not sure what else people can add.

Cables also have an impact, surprisingly particularly in the clock set up. I use Siltech Signature range which work well for me. I've used MIT and Transapernt which were also good but I prefer the Siltech.

 

[budda]

Where to by external 10mhz reference clock to the scarlatti clock and how mutch is it ?

 

[Elberoth]

SRS PERF10 is around $4k, and Antelope 10M is $6k. SRS is better.

 

[Custodian]

SRS PERF10 is around $4k, and Antelope 10M is $6k. SRS is better.

SRS is better. I use Quarzlock which is even better with lower phase noise, cost €4.5k, made in UK,

 

[microstrip]

Showing again my ignorance about the Vivaldi stack - does the signal go through the upsampler when listening to DCS DFF files?

 

[mep]

Showing again my ignorance about the Vivaldi stack - does the signal go through the upsampler when listening to DCS DFF files?

I would hope not.