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CD Players, Digital Music & Servers Aurender, dCs, Esoteric, Lumin. |
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DCS And Upgrades (Or Lack Thereof)
I couldn't find a "digital" section so this seemed the most appropriate area.
DCS owner's seem to be taking it in the shorts lately. Has anyone else noticed that DCS keeps coming out with a completely new stack (transport, upconverter & DAC) about every 18 months with absolutely no path for upgrade? And they're not cheap either. A current Vivaldi stack is insanely expensive. I'm always tempted to jump into the deep end on DCS, but they keep coming out with new gear. I'm just too afraid the second I purchase they'll release something way better and I'll be out serious cash to "upgrade". Is there a path for current owners to upgrade? Anyone familiar with DCS and "upgrades"? Take Meridian, they always have an upgrade path for current owners. It's not unreasonable either. The only downside is their form factor tends to get stale, but I'll take that over having to shell out for an entirely new stack. Last edited by allen_bh; 02-03-2013 at 05:14 PM. |
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There will always be something better that "just" came out....... But in my opinion better is usually "personal preference" and not truly BETTER at this level. Like the MCD1100 IMHO it is a great CD player and have no desire to upgrade for a long time, even if McIntosh came out with another flagship model. Yes I have read reviews about the DCS players but for the incremental cost to sonic benefit I am VERY VERY happy with the MCD1100.
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Audio Room: Sonus Faber Amati Faturas / JL Audio 13.5” Fanthom In Wall Subs / McIntosh C52 / McIntosh MCD 1100 / McIntosh MEN 220 / McIntosh MC 601’s / McIntosh MPC 1500 / McIntosh MT 5 / McIntosh MC 275’s / Luxman AS-55 Amp Selector / Silenzo (This thing is Amazing) / Gold Lion Tubes from Vintage Tube All items in green were bought thru the AA marketplace and blue from a current AA retailer |
#3
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Lets see, the Scarlatti came out in/around 2007; the Paganini & Puccini in/around 2008 and all three models remain current for several reasons. Primarily because dCS doesn't use any off the shelf DAC chips. Software updates to their Ring DAC & FPGA's add new features and changes in digital formats. I applaud them for the Vivaldi launch which just shows they have a true desire to extract & excel in digital. Best 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 Statement (on order) (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 Odin 2 Tone Arm 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 V (on order in Ferrari Argento Silver/Parchment 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:Ansuz Mainz D3 Distributor & Ansuz Mainz C2 1M 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:2M Nordost Odin 2 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 Power Amp & Preamp & Space Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube test sets. Last edited by vintage_tube; 02-04-2013 at 12:10 AM. |
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#5
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The Paganini, Scarlatti and Vivaldi (along with the other products) are at different price/performance levels. When dCS introduced new software about a year ago for the Pag, it was a free upgrade and made a big difference. As for the upgrade in Meridian players, not sure what you're talking about there. The 808 (which I've also owned) did not have an upgrade path to the .1, .2, .3 or current iterations from the past model. And they came out pretty close together as well. If you buy a Paganini or anything else in the dCS line, it won't be outdated anytime soon. If you bought a Paganini and you're grumpy because you can't afford a Vivaldi, it wasn't meant as a replacement. It will probably just require a software update at some point. That's why I bought dCS in the first place, because the software upgrades meant I didn't have obsolete hardware. |
#6
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Paganini Upgrade
Allen,
When I purchased my Vivaldi DAC, my Paganini upsampler couldn't send it DSD data because the Firewire interface was discontinued. dCS has a software upgrade on the way to send DSD data over dual AES connections. Your premise of no upgrade path is flawed. Even if it wasn't, your argument could be applied to computers, cars, phones and a myriad of other products. If you can't live without the next dCS model, trade your old one. The products hold their value well. By the way, the Vivaldi equipment reproduces music so authentically, I will never need another upgrade so have at it dCS! Cincy
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MSB Select II DAC MSB M500 Monoblocks Magico M3 Speakers Magico Q-Sub 15 Subwoofers (2) Transparent Opus Gen5 speaker cables and Interconnects PS Audio P20 regenerator Roon file management |
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Allen - DCS is the leaders and the innovators in the digital spectrum. No one can touch their top end offerings. I'd certainly love their finest and latest offering in my system.
That being said, Chris C. stated that the EMM LABS DAC2X (which I own) outperformed the Paganini stack he previously reviewed. I wonder with the upgrades and enhancements to the Paganini if he would still feel the same way today? Although I personally feel $100k for the latest dcs stack is incredibly expensive and better sonic value can be found elsewhere in the system chain (speakers, amps, etc), if you want the best of the best in digital playback, I suspect the DCS Vivaldi is it and as I said, I would sure love one in my system. Mike |
#8
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How are they not comparable in any way? They both at the end of the day play CD's or are used as a DAC........ I understand the price is not comparable. I think people lose sight of why they own a high end system (I own one to listen to music and don't care if something new comes out because I am happy with what I have. It sounds great!). That is my only point...... Buy and don't look back.
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Audio Room: Sonus Faber Amati Faturas / JL Audio 13.5” Fanthom In Wall Subs / McIntosh C52 / McIntosh MCD 1100 / McIntosh MEN 220 / McIntosh MC 601’s / McIntosh MPC 1500 / McIntosh MT 5 / McIntosh MC 275’s / Luxman AS-55 Amp Selector / Silenzo (This thing is Amazing) / Gold Lion Tubes from Vintage Tube All items in green were bought thru the AA marketplace and blue from a current AA retailer |
#9
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Preamp: McIntosh C1100T/C1100C, McIntosh MX180 Amp: McIntosh MC611 (2), MC601 (3), MI254 Digital: McIntosh D1100, McIntosh MCT450, Meridian 808v6, Aurender N20, Aurender ACS10, Oppo 203 Analog: McIntosh MT10, Hana Umami Red Phono preamp: Simaudio Moon 610LP, 820S Signal cables: WW Gold Eclipse 7 speaker cables; Shunyata Sigma v2 XLR (2); Sigma v1 XLR (2), Transparent Ref XL (MM2) XLR; WW Silver Eclipse 7 (4) Digital cables: Shunyata Omega USB, Omega Ethernet, Sigma Ethernet; WW Platinum 7 Coax, AES/EBU Switch: Innuos PhoenixNet Power: Audioquest Niagara 7000, Audioquest 5000, Audioquest Dragon, Hurricane PC, Shunyata Alpha HC, AQ NRG Edison outlets, (8) 20 amp dedicated lines, 125 amp subpanel Speakers: Wilson Sasha DAW, Dynaudio Contour 30, Dynaudio Contour 25C Subs: REL s/812 (6), REL s/510 (3) Accessories: HRS M3X2 shelf (MT10), Stillpoints Ultra II v2 w/ bases (21), Ultra SS (12), Mini (12), LPi v1 Sound treaments: Artnovion |
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