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  #11  
Old 12-24-2012, 10:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cincy2 View Post
What happens when this thing breaks in? Cincy
Eric, you'll find yourself tripping over cords, bumping into stage hands, taking drink orders, neighbors complaining of all the trucks and vans out front, etc.

You get my drift.

Congrats sir on the Vivaldi DAC!!

Merry Christmas Folks,

Bob
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Amps:VAC 450iQ Monos in Silver Flake on HRS M3X2-1921's, HRS G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchor Conecoasters.
Preamp:VAC Master Preamplifier (Silver Flake)
Digital Source: dCS Rossini CD/SACD Transport, Vivaldi APEX DAC, Upsampler Plus & matching Clock (Silver)
Analogue Preamp:VAC Renaissance SE Phono stage in Silver Flake with XLR Output Option & with Nordost Valhalla XLR's.
Analogue Sources:SME 20/2 w/SME V arm & Nordost Valhalla TA cable, Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge & Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JRF Magnetic Sciences. Akai RC-17 cabled remote (original owner since 1974).
Vibration Control:TT on HRS M3X2-1921 shelf.
Speakers:Wilson Audio Alexia in Argento Silver/Black grills sitting on Acoustic Diode Kit.
Power Cables:4 Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on amps, preamp & DAC. Ansuz Acoustics C2 on Transport & Clock.
Power Distribution Bar:Shunyata Everest 8000 w/Omega XC Power Cable.
Power Outlets:Furutech GTX-D NCF (R) duplex outlet, GTX Wall Plate & Duplex Cover (x2) on dedicated, same panel phase, 20A breakers.
Speaker Cables:3M Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on Nordost Sort Lifts.
Signal Cables:Nordost Odin XLR's on dCS DAC & Amps.
Digital Cables: Nordost Odin 2's, 110 ohm AES/EBU on dCS Transport to DAC.
Clock Cables:5 each 75 ohm 1.25M Nordost Valhalla BNC/BNC Digital
Ethernet Cable: WireWorld Platinum 1M Starlight® 8 Twinax
Headphones:Vintage Koss Pro IV AA.
RCM: Audio Desk PRO
Tube Test Gear:Mint late '60's/calibrated Heathkit TT-1A, MaxiMatcher Preamp & Space Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube test sets.
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  #12  
Old 12-27-2012, 04:23 PM
allen_bh allen_bh is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cincy2 View Post
Some background first: I replaced my dCS Paganini transport and DAC with a dCS Vivaldi DAC only. I've cut the "physical media" cord and don't intend to look back. Before the switch, I was using a Mac Mini server running Pure Music's software engine to feed the USB port on the Pag Upsampler. I upsampled to DSD and sent that to the DAC via a Firewire interface. From the DAC I ran straight to my monoblocks without a pre amp. The sound I got from this set up was phenomenal. Never being one to leave good enough alone, I had to do something with the unused transport. When dCS announced the Vivaldi line back in August, the path became clear. I traded the Paganini transport and DAC for the Vivaldi DAC and patiently waited.

The first thing you notice about the Vivaldi DAC is the size and weight. It's a full 35 lbs and too big to fit in a standard rack shelf. Fortunately, my Adona rack has adjustable shelves. The fit and finish of the unit are what you would expect from dCS - flawless. I got the black version to complement the rest of my system electronics.

Connections: This was a little bit of a conundrum. dCS has abandoned the Firewire interface on the Vivaldi line for reasons unknown. This was the only way to get a pure DSD signal out of the Pag Upsampler. Consequently, I can't send a DSD output to the Vivaldi DAC. Instead I used the dual AES mode and sent the current maximum 24/192 resolution through a set of balanced interconnects to the DAC. I believe there is a software update for the Pag Upsampler coming that will increase the available sample rate that you can output. I will wait for that anxiously.

The set up menu's on the Vivaldi are simple and easily navigated. The display is a high resolution color LCD. This is a nice improvement for these old eyes over the Paganini displays. We had everything connected and ready to go in about 15 minutes.

Another note: The Vivaldi has multiple clock inputs that will let you send both 44kHz and 48.1Khz clocks separately if your sources are clocked differently. My Puccini clock can send either via the same connection and since I have only one source, this is nice to have but not required.

OK. Now for the sound. There are some variables I couldn't control in the comparison of Pag to Vivaldi. I was unprepared for the change from Firewire to AES (shame on me) so I had to use the pair of interconnects provided by dCS with the DAC. The sample rate is also different from my previous configuration (DSD to 24/192). With all this in mind, I cued up a sampler file from Blue Coast that is one of my reference recordings, held my breath and pushed Play. No burn in.

Two promising discoveries. The vocals have a weight and presence that bests the Paganini noticeably. Also the magical detail that was present at louder volumes with the Pag stack was now there at much quieter levels. The shimmer on cymbals for example lasted much longer into the decay than on my previous set up. These are both improvements to celebrate. I will update the post as the days go on. My Paganini stack took about 20 hours to fully develop. I also want to try the straight feed from Mac Mini to DAC USB without any upsampling. One of our fellow posters is interested in that configuration. I will have some time to play next weekend.

Pics attached. Merry Christmas to all!

Cincy
Cincy,

Congrats on your Vivaldi and thank you for the nice write-up. Did you find problems with the width or the height (or lenth)? The published specs of the Vivaldi say it's 444mm/17.5" x 435mm/17.2" x 151mm/6.0" high. I assume these mean it's 17.5" Wide, 17.2" deep, and 6" tall (or height between shelves on your rack).

I heard the Vivaldi DAC directly driven from a Mac book pro with Audirvana at a Wilson event. Peter McGrath sure liked the Vivaldi and the playback app a lot - and from what I heard he has every reason to. Beautiful sounding. FWIW, he was running it straight via USB 2.0 without an up-sampler. Not sure that's what he does at home, perhaps it's a bit complicated to take more gear like an up-sampler, etc. "on the road".

Looking forward to reading your thoughts as it breaks in further.
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  #13  
Old 12-27-2012, 08:58 PM
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I'm really temped to get a Vivaldi dac. Already requested an audition at home.

Biggest issue is the price vs alternatives...

The dCS Vivaldi costs (in Portugal) 60% more than the Audio Research Reference DAC that integrates a full analog preamp. Not clear why is the dCS so expensive...
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  #14  
Old 12-27-2012, 09:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Portugal View Post
I'm really temped to get a Vivaldi dac. Already requested an audition at home.

Biggest issue is the price vs alternatives...

The dCS Vivaldi costs (in Portugal) 60% more than the Audio Research Reference DAC that integrates a full analog preamp. Not clear why is the dCS so expensive...
Chalk and Cheese my friend. The two are not, imho, comparable at all
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  #15  
Old 12-28-2012, 04:49 AM
Elberoth Elberoth is offline
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dCS's dithered digital attenuation is one of the best. I actually sold my ARC Ref-3 preamp after comparing it to the variable out in my old dCS Puccini CDP. Direct to power amp connection sounded noticably better.

If you can stay within 0dB to -18dB range of digital attenuation, my sugestion is to try it direct first.
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  #16  
Old 12-28-2012, 07:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elberoth View Post
dCS's dithered digital attenuation is one of the best. I actually sold my ARC Ref-3 preamp after comparing it to the variable out in my old dCS Puccini CDP. Direct to power amp connection sounded noticably better.

If you can stay within 0dB to -18dB range of digital attenuation, my sugestion is to try it direct first.
I second that recommendation as I use the Vivaldi (and the Paganini DAC before it) without a pre-amp.

Have a few more hours on the DAC. The bottom has fallen out of the noise floor! The voices and instruments are so clean (on a good CD) that it defies description. Low level detail is abundant. Things I couldn't hear on the Pag are obvious now with Vivaldi. Human voices pop out of the background in three dimensions with the timbre and weight of real life. I'm more and more impressed with this unit each day.

Cincy
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  #17  
Old 12-28-2012, 10:12 AM
jfrech jfrech is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cincy2 View Post
I second that recommendation as I use the Vivaldi (and the Paganini DAC before it) without a pre-amp.

Have a few more hours on the DAC. The bottom has fallen out of the noise floor! The voices and instruments are so clean (on a good CD) that it defies description. Low level detail is abundant. Things I couldn't hear on the Pag are obvious now with Vivaldi. Human voices pop out of the background in three dimensions with the timbre and weight of real life. I'm more and more impressed with this unit each day.

Cincy
Thanks for the continual updates...I know part of this is just the Vivaldi warming up...part will come from break in...I'm getting itchy to call my dealer and see about swapping my Scarlatti DAC...congrats on your purchase!
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  #18  
Old 12-28-2012, 12:37 PM
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Dear Cincy,

Congratulations for your Vivaldi DAC!

I have a Playback Designs MPS-5 (music from MacMini with Pure Music through USB) and I am itching to try the Vivaldi DAC in my system.

Could you please try your Vivaldi DAC using the USB input and no external clock, and then compare the sound of Vivaldi DAC with the clock? That would be very useful.

Thank you,

VPN
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  #19  
Old 12-28-2012, 02:06 PM
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After reading postings on the dCS Vivaldi components, all I can say is

Help



Happy Holidays Folks,

Bob
__________________
Amps:VAC 450iQ Monos in Silver Flake on HRS M3X2-1921's, HRS G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchor Conecoasters.
Preamp:VAC Master Preamplifier (Silver Flake)
Digital Source: dCS Rossini CD/SACD Transport, Vivaldi APEX DAC, Upsampler Plus & matching Clock (Silver)
Analogue Preamp:VAC Renaissance SE Phono stage in Silver Flake with XLR Output Option & with Nordost Valhalla XLR's.
Analogue Sources:SME 20/2 w/SME V arm & Nordost Valhalla TA cable, Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge & Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JRF Magnetic Sciences. Akai RC-17 cabled remote (original owner since 1974).
Vibration Control:TT on HRS M3X2-1921 shelf.
Speakers:Wilson Audio Alexia in Argento Silver/Black grills sitting on Acoustic Diode Kit.
Power Cables:4 Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on amps, preamp & DAC. Ansuz Acoustics C2 on Transport & Clock.
Power Distribution Bar:Shunyata Everest 8000 w/Omega XC Power Cable.
Power Outlets:Furutech GTX-D NCF (R) duplex outlet, GTX Wall Plate & Duplex Cover (x2) on dedicated, same panel phase, 20A breakers.
Speaker Cables:3M Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on Nordost Sort Lifts.
Signal Cables:Nordost Odin XLR's on dCS DAC & Amps.
Digital Cables: Nordost Odin 2's, 110 ohm AES/EBU on dCS Transport to DAC.
Clock Cables:5 each 75 ohm 1.25M Nordost Valhalla BNC/BNC Digital
Ethernet Cable: WireWorld Platinum 1M Starlight® 8 Twinax
Headphones:Vintage Koss Pro IV AA.
RCM: Audio Desk PRO
Tube Test Gear:Mint late '60's/calibrated Heathkit TT-1A, MaxiMatcher Preamp & Space Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube test sets.
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  #20  
Old 12-28-2012, 02:11 PM
joeinid joeinid is offline
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Bob,

You know you want it. We know you want it. Just swap the DAC and clock. There, easy.
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