DCS Rossini
 

Dear members,

as user of a Puccini since 5 years, I am thinking for upgrading to Rossini player. I read many of you have the chance to have a Vivaldi stack :thumbsup:, but I didn't read something about the Rossini.

So can you share your experience with Rossini. It would be very helpful

DCS Rossini
 

Do you have the opportunity to listen to one? Also what will be your main source of getting digital to the DAC? I have both a Vivaldi stack (sans transport) in my main system and Rossini/clock (sans cd transport) in study system. The Vivaldi is better but the Rossini is one of the best values out there if you don't require SACD playback. A third option is Vivaldi DAC paired with dCS bridge.

Most of my digital music comes from ripped CDs and hi Rez downloads supplemented with some Tidal streams. All of this is managed by Roon ROCK on i7 NUC via Ethernet.

I don't use USB given inherent noise and IMO Ethernet is a higher quality source. I highly recommend the Rossini, it was better than the Linn, MSB and ARC options I listened to....IMO

DCS Rossini
 

Here is something I provided to a similar question a few months ago

Unfortunately I am going to be little help comparing the dCS units with current other digital contenders. I did compare the Vivaldi stack to the MSB flagship over 5 years ago when I bought the Vivaldi and the Rossini to ARC and Linn when I bought it....and I felt like the dCS units provided a more natural presentation with more resolution, a wider and deeper soundstage along with a more three dimensional picture of the individual performers. I have literally never heard anything better than the Vivaldi and it has gotten better over the years. I primarily listen to ripped CD's, high rez PCM and DSD downloads along with Tidal - initially using the Vivaldi app but more recently using Roon. I do not have Roon do any processing and let the upsampler handle the DXD upsampling or DSD passthrough into the DAC.

With respect to the Vivaldi vs the Rossini. I have them in two different systems so my comparison is not completely apples/apples. However, I am comfortable in saying the Vivaldi DAC/clock/upsampler is quite a bit better. primarily in those areas I discuss above. but it is more like 20-25% better for 3X the cost when you include all of the cabling. And in my study system which uses Wilson Alidas and Ayre VXR twenty/KX5 twenty components - I am not sure that the Vivaldi's superiority would even completely come through so the Rossini/clock is a good match for that system. And I do believe the clock on both systems makes a huge difference is timing which comes through as pace and rhythm.

if I were to put a new system in the study - I would consider the Vivaldi One - which has the Rossini upsampler but Vivaldi DAC (and comes in about 15-20k cheaper than the Vivaldi stack sans transport + cables) or to be even more frugal since I don't use a transport much - the network bridge and Vivaldi Dac and Rossini clock combo is an option to consider Especially if you get a good dedicated NUC to play roon. I find using Roon to upsample to the Rossini does sound better than using the Rossini upsampler and the Vivalidi DAC is superior. So the bridge receiving upsampled data and passing through to the Vivaldi DAC with Rossini clock could be the best value/performance combo out there

I may actually switch to that from the Rossini but want to have dealer bring out to compare. The Rossini is really good so it may not be enough to switch

I haven't tried the dcs rossini yet at home, it's on my list for next year potentially. Esp if I can find a used one. I loved the sound of it at the dealer compared to others.

For the bridge, I would encourage folks to try a general network access point that has wired Ethernet. I get amazing results with my Google WiFi puck and running Ethernet to my component from there :). Ymmv so be sure to measure.

I want from a Puccini to a Scarlatti stack ~4 years back. Now to Vivaldi. I've heard the Rossini at my dealer a few times. I can assure you, no regrets on moving up. None at all...enatai252 has good advice on the options...especially if you're not spinning a lot of discs...if you are the Rossini with cd drive is a great idea.


Speakers: Rockport Altair 2
Preamp: Robert Koda K10
Amp: Nagra HD Amps
Cables: Transparent Opus Gen 5 & Magnum Opus phono
Power Transparent Opus, Opus Source Power Cords & Opus Power Isolators
Power Shunyata DPC-6 v2
Digital dCS Vivaldi full stack w/ Transparent Reference XL Digital cables
Phono: Grand Prix Monaco TT, Spiral Groove Centroid, Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement v2, Nagra VPS/VFS/MPS
Racks: Grand Prix Audio Silverstone F1

Dear all,

already many thanks for you experiences. I will use the cd drive rossini, as I hava a lot of CD, especially coming from Japan most of time far better than European. I had the chance to listen the Rossini at home on four days. So yes, it is a huge step from Puccini, more musical, wider and deeper soundstage, it seems to get a HD soundstage.
My question was more focused on the facts I have the impression that members of AA are more interested in MBK or an Esoteric. So would a K01X better than a Rossini? I would to get a precise idea before changing.

Just a shout out to Jim (stillone) who incorporated a dCS Rossini in his fabulous system recently & is NUC shopping. I'm sure he's read this thread -- nice move Sir.

Best,

Bob

I am very happy with my choice of the Rossini. I have not had the K01x nor a Grandioso in my set-up so I cannot comment. I am sure these are excellent units and attract many supporters. If they were currently MQA ready I might have considered them for a audition.

I have had the K01 and D03/P03 plus clock in my set-up and neither bettered the 808v6 except in industrial design. The MSB IV did challenge the Meridian but in the end the additional cost for that set-up was a bit much and the industrial design was not for me. The MSB Select II is amazing but there is no way I will pay close to $100k for a DAC.

I will wait a bit before I add the clock to my set-up and also might try the Vivaldi plus Bridge to see how it compares in my room to the Rossini.

I can tell you that you will be happy whether you choose the Rossini or a K01x.

Great thread and great advice. I'm trying out the Rossini and really liking it!

Using it direct to a Constellation amp also on loan. Plan to try with Dan A'gostino Progression Stereo amp.

I'm surprised how good it sounds direct without a pre-amp in the chain.

Being fashionably late to this thread, I would add that I previously incorporated a K-03 in my system which was replaced by Meridian 808v5 which I happily lived with for several years. However, I made the mistake of stopping by JS Audio in Bethesda while visiting friends in the area and listed to the Rossini player. Simply put, it was amazing. Needless to say, my weekend visit turned out to be quite expensive as I ordered one on the spot and let go of my Meridian. The Meridian is a fine player; however, the Rossini was more detailed and threw a deeper and wider soundstage than did the Meridian. Through the Rossini, the music came across as more organic.

I decided to try the Rossini without a clock for a while. While I enjoyed my first year with the Rossini without the clock, I ended up purchasing a clock. Although the difference is not night and day, the clock improves the performance of the Rossini in a meaningful way.

I will not listen to the Vivaldi One or the traditional stack until my budget allows either to be a realistic possibility, so there's that.

I have 2 questions about the Rossini:

- If I get a dCS Rossini DAC + dCS's External Clock,.... can I use the dCS's External clock to clock also an Aurender W20 ?

- I read that the Rossini also includes DEEZER streaming, but... DEEZER is not mentioned in the Rossini's manual. So... can someone tell me if I can use DEEZER's iPad App and stream direct to the Rossini at full resolution (without using AirPaly)

thanks in advance for your answers

PS: has someone compared the Rossini DAC with the Brinkmann Nyquist DAC and the TotalDac Seven, all in the same price range ?

Can answer the question about the clock

Yes you can clock an Aurender W20 using I assume a Rossini clock. However to accommodate streaming of both 44 and 48 kHz material, you need a special dongle that communicates via the clock’s rs232 port via a usb input to automatically select the correct clock speed

Google Aurender dongle to see images etc

The new Rossini SACD/CD transport is finally about to be distributed in the U.S. (November 2018). Of course, one has to but a dCS DAC to secure the SACD hand-shake between units.

I wonder if dCS will have one at the Bartok event next week at Paragon?

New version 2.0 for Rossini, note far anymore or his big brother Vivaldi

Just done the upgrade to 2.0 on the Rossini (that I have on loan), great machine, now with the same "mapping" as the Vivaldi, the upgrade should create a SQ improvement to the newly introduced Bartok.

Which improvement do you hear?

I read the Rossini Manual v2.0x. In the session of "What's in the box" it adds "dCS Universal IR remote control" which is not listed in the manual v1.1x.

This means new Rossini will be shipped with remote control. I am wondering what kind of remote control it will be: the traditional or premium version?

The Rossini 2.0 software includes:

Updated RingDAC mapping algorithm based on the Vivaldi 2.0. This includes user-selectable mapping optimizations to allow for further tailoring of the sonic character of the DAC.
Addition of a DSDx2 up-sampling option adapted from Vivaldi 2.0 and Vivaldi One.
Addition of DSD Filter 5 from Vivaldi 2.0 ( A personal favorite of mine when listening to DSD on my Vivaldi DAC )
Improved handling of MQA transitions to eliminate dropouts
New time display modes for Rossini Player
Support for app control of a connected Rossini Transport (requires update to the dCS Rossini app via the App Store)

I have not played with the 2x DSD upsampling yet, but I did take some time to listen to the three different mappings and prefer the new map 1, sounds a bit fuller with more air around voices and instruments. (map 2 is what the Rossini had before)

I just purchased the new remote over the weekend. It looks a bit better than the original. Until they decide whether they will update the programing on the Vivaldi those with Rossini have much better control of Roon with either remote than I have.

http://www.moremusic.nl/dcs/vivaldi/vivaldi-remote.jpg

http://www.moremusic.nl/dcs/remote/dCS-Remote-big.png

I took delivery of a new Rossini at the end of last month. Mine did not come with a remote, but as good as the app is I don’t think one will be necessary.

Thanks to the good service of our local audio shop. I had tested MSB reference/premier / PD MPT-8 + MPD-8 / MPS-8 / dCS Rossini Player on my home audio system and finally ordered Rossini Player.

I am still waiting for delivery. If my new Rossini does not supply with remote control I will buy Logitech HARMONY 650 as a substitution. Although APP is more functional but a physical remote control is easier for CD playing.

Buddy... Big Congrats! Enjoy it in the best of health. :thumbsup:

The original remote is huge, you can kill someone with it :-)
If you use the Rossini as a pre-amp the volume control on the remote is great, but for the rest the app works fine. (easier to compare filters)

One comment, when using the internal streamer, the SQ is fantastic, but when my Ipad goes to sleep, the connection is fully broken and the playlist stops running, and when opening up the Ipad, it has to reconnect to the Rossini. That works much better with the Aurender N10.

I don't care for the dCS app and use Roon all the time. Even though I like Roon a lot what I don't like is having to pick up the iPad (or laptop) to start/pause/mute when playing music if the phone rings or my wife is looking for me. When I owned the Rossini I left its remote on the small table next to my chair and could easily reach it when I wanted to pause or mute the music without evening picking it up. Unfortunately at time the only functions the remotes control on the Vivaldi (when you have no transport) is swapping filters and powering up and down.

When using Roon and not the app. Music keeps playing when the iPad goes to sleep. Actually the music keeps playing if you close the app on my laptop since core is on my sonicTransporter.

As I understand the new remote comes with the recently released Rossini transport. The new remote is much longer than older unit. I will let you know how it feels after it arrives on Wednesday.

Thank you very much Ivan!

Buddy. The Rossini player is a excellent unit. I am sure it is even better with the recent update.

Jim I installed the 2.0 update last Saturday and I was very pleased with the sound quality improvement.

No more comments on the new version 2.0 ?

I recently purchased some MQA CDs but unfortunately they are not recognized by Rossini Player. It seems Rossini player only play MQA through files. MQA CD will be played as regular 16/44.1 CD.

I am a bit disappointed about Rossini player's limited MQA function. Hope dCS will improve in future firmware update.

You should be able to burn the file to your server and then play it thru the Rossini and get the MQA output.

Yes I have ripped all of them into my server and get MQA output through Roon.

However, I play CD very often. Since Rossini Player can not play sacd, I thought MQA CD can be a replacement in the future.

I have asked this question to dCS already, a physical MQA CD will not work at the moment, dCS say it is possible to make it work but it is not on their agenda.

If more request's will reach dCS, they might put it on their agenda for the next upgrade.

I had chance to audit version 1.0x Rossini in my house. Compared to my Accuphase DP-85 sacd player, Rossini Player provides better airy, detailed, and analog-like sound. I was impressed and finally placed order for Rossini Player/clock.

My Rossini player/clock arrived with version 2.0. New Rossini sounds a little bit thin on my system. It is good for string music but not good for vocal. With this tonal I am more comfortable with DP-85 rather than Rossini. I thought I probably had wrong decision of this upgrade.

I struggled with testing cables and speakers positioning to improve the mid tonal. Few weeks later, it seems miracles happened. The amazing Rossini comes back.

I'm wondering what makes this Rossini to be different. Burn in, speakers placement, cables, filters/mapping setup .... Anyway, I am happy with Rossini now.

You can always go back to the previous mapping (MAP 2 is the same as before the upgrade)

In my system I definitly prefer MAP 1 over MAP 2.

Olaf

I switch upsampling/mapping/filters very often. If Rossini controller app provides quick button for combo selection that will be wonderful.

The Rossini app does allow you to do this very easily.

You can save “configurations” and load them as needed. I played around a lot initially and found that for all Roon there is one setup I like. And then have another more heavily filtered I use if I am using YouTube for video.

Did you ask to dcs if it is well the case ?

"Configurations" only save/load for upsampling and filters. The mapper setup will not be effected.

For some ancient albums I use map2.