dCS Varése SuperDAC Makes East Coast Debut at Innovative Audio NYC
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- U.K. based dCS debuted its new Varése DAC at NYC's Innovative Audio, January 23rd, first in a mid-day press event to which you are invited (in this video) and later in the day to the public.
dCS Managing Director David Stevens, North American Director Emron Mangleson and Programme Director Andrew Zelke were on hand to make the presentation of the company's new $270,000 DAC.
You will see in this video what went into the research and development of this extraordinary product and, whether or not you can afford it, hopefully come to understand and appreciate what's been accomplished as the company worked to create a DAC that could sonically, physically and ergonomically surpass it's already world class Vivaldi.
Following the technical description the demo concluded with various music tracks "A/B"'d between the two DACS. The sonic differences were clear and obvious so much so that I chose to leave one in the video even though the sound was picked up by wireless microphones, one worn by Stevens and one worn by Mangleson, neither of whom was standing in a prime location.
Nonetheless I think the spatial differences those of us in the room clearly and easily heard, made it onto the video's audio track and hopefully onto the UA-cam version.
What what clear in the room was the improved ambient presentation of the space in which the orchestra played Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man", and the three dimensional images of the tympani and bass drums plus the far superior image focus, clarity of the attack, sustain and especially the orderliness of the decay. It all sounded "more real" and "less digital".
I can hear you now: "As well it should for $270K!". Hopefully this tech will trickle down. If you think it's all just 1s and 0s and turning those into properly ordered and arranged notes is simply accomplished, watch the video please.
When it was over I half joked that it sounded more like a good record because in my opinion this is an area where good, not even costly vinyl playback seems to always beat digital.
This presentation produced a major, easily heard spatial improvement in digital playback.
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Is the Core connected directly to the power amps?
Hi Michael, this was all very good but what does it all mean and is it any good?
This was not a review. It's an attempt to give people a press briefing experience and a look at a new product. It certainly made clear that the Varése sounds considerably better than the Vivaldi, which is among the top DACs you can buy....
What's the tracking angle on this DAC?
Tracking the digital angle
Surprising how different the presentations are, almost like a different recording , it seemed a little more forward the brass , but with greater textures in the instruments
You heard part of what we heard in the room, mostly because unlike some of the cynics posting here, you actually took the time to listen. Thank you.
@@trackingangle929 I was genuinely interested and listened thru expensive headphone amp and closed back phones, the first was good, but the second was almost like a different recording , I also know this piece very well, I would have liked to hear some masses string tone, which I feel digital often has trouble with, more than brass and drums ,
Golden ears.😂😂😂😂
Topping in a fancy box.
Wow😮, Digital seems to be improving significantly! I don't know if it will beat a good analogue setup though, maybe come closer!😮
"Digital is still an Analog problem, in audio" - Ed Meitner
The analog circuitry of both DACs is essentially identical
I'd better be careful about what I say about this dac, lest DCS threaten me with an ugly lawsuit :0
Both sides were responsible for what happened there. It was not "perp/victim" at all...
I completely disagree with you. Michael. The reviewer did his review and didn't like something about the DCS, after DCS saw the video, they threatened him with a lawsuit I'm sorry that was DCs being scumbags @@trackingangle929
@@trackingangle929how can you say both sides are responsible?? The UA-camr did his review found something about the DCS that he didn't like (as a reviewer you should know how important it is to have an opinion and not be pushed around by the manufacturer) and when DCS saw this they threatened them with a lawsuit. The proof that DCs is at fault is when the UA-camr challenged the lawsuit they back down knowing they were wrong and apologized.
@@trackingangle929 I wouldn't be surprised if they scripted that whole stunt to make money.
@@trackingangle929 how so? kindly disagree.
Surprising. Phase summing between channels more accurate? Psycoacoustic detection of the lower noise floor? Black magic? It does seem more realistic, more present. How can we even hear that when you're recording the room?
In the room it was clear that the new DAC sounds considerably better. I was surprised to hear when I edited the footage that some of the differences were audible in the video despite the wireless microphones worn by the two presenters.
I noticed a difference. More texture on the second track . I own Vivaldi and likely stay here. $$$.
Over UA-cam.😂😂😂😂
So Michael how much better is a DAC like this to my PS Audio Directstream MKII (Their latest with the Blue Sky update)? I must say that I have the Aja UHQR and the SACD from Analog Productions and have compared the two. I use a OPPO 103 with an OPPOMod card that allows me to stream the DSD data directly via I2S into the Directstream DAC. For analog front end I have a VPI Scout and tone arm and the Denon DL103r cartridge. All going through modified and updated vintage tube preamp and amp with Martin Logan Sequel II speakers. The analog and the digital have become sooooo close in quality using my gear I am astounded. I know I can probably do a lot better with the analog front end. But how much better is a DAC like this compared to the PS Audio?
BTW - How coy of them to come over from the UK and demo their system with Copeland. These guys know wha they're doing...
Great to see a UK company doing ultra high end. Fantastic insight Michael - thanks for sharing. What does the whole system with cables cost? just wondering about getting one as a second system in the bedroom.
🤣🤣🤣
High-end.😂
@@r423fplip There's always one 🤣
This is a JOKE! I personally don't care what digital domain or platform or type of files, how much better the audio is in this domain I will always continue to listen to vinyl records till the day I die and cremated.
To everything turn turn turn….
@@trackingangle929happy new years Michael, thanks for your sharing , you have kept me going mentally since I lost everything. Cheers
Yes , I have no love for digital as well , my ears only enjoyed the vinyl, cd was only exciting when I was a teenager in the 80s , but vinyl was my favorite and always will be . As well as losing my museum of audio gear , I lost my hole vinyl collection due to being sick then ending up homeless . Love and enjoy what you have today , there is no guarantees in life other than misery, cheers 🥓🥓
@@jasontimothywells9895 sorry to read that.....
Personally, it seems to me to be the last gasp before this product, like the company behind it, will soon become a thing of the past.
But anyone who believes that a product that costs around 300,000 euros in Germany will be a success is completely out of touch with life.
dCS is a successful company. Has been for many years and will be in the future. It will be successful with this product because there are many audiophiles with the money and desire to own it. The costly Vivaldi was a very successful product. Owners with the resources to buy this, will as it represents a considerable step up from what once was one of the best and still is one of the best. I'd say you are out of touch but more likely driven by jealousy. This product is for the few, like fine watches, cars, or whatever. It will be success.
@@trackingangle929 Saying I've lost touch with reality feels like sarcasm in its purest form.lol.
They lost all contact with real life, probably because they accused me of being jealous!
but keep pushing the big DCS drum.
They are already finished. Smsl and Topping are coming.
I wonder how the Varese compares to the Wadax reference DACs
How about the Topping d90.
Not quite in the same price category!
the quality of the new vinyl remains so poor that even I am thinking about a DAC😢
The crappiest music to play..
Correct: Aaron Copland is a crappy composer, Fanfare for the Common Man is a crap piece of music and you are a genius.
@@trackingangle929 totally agree Michael, I love that piece from a great 20th century American composer, who to a large extent invented the American sound which spilled into film music, especially westerns.
That system is top class, but too big for that room. That room is better suited for a pair of Sasha's. Large speakers are like SUV's. Most people have no need for them, but still want them either for conformity, ignorance or some kind of self-esteem issue.
I'd say the problem is yours. Those speakers are not too big for that room. I own a pair of those speakers in an even smaller room with the speakers in the corners. And they work spectacularly well. I get deep, tuneful bass and no bass bloat. I sit 9 feet from them and they completely disappear, as does the room. I've invited skeptics over to listen and after seeing and saying "those can't possibly work in that space" they say, "amazing. Works incredibly well". There are reasons why it works. There's no conformity, ignorance or self-esteem issues involved in my ownership of these speakers. My self-esteem comes from elsewhere. BTW: there's no apostrophe in Sashas.
SCAM? 😅
Not a scam at all.
No it's not a scam, it's just engineers thinking they can engineer their way out of a problem that doesn't exist.
@@davidkclayton what’s the problem that doesn’t exist ?
It's drivel.