Digital Drive

Thanks, that was an interesting read........

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Chris Garrett

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In Reply to: DCS Verdi/Elgar/Purcell/Verona SACD Player posted by Tyke on February 04, 2004 at 22:30:55:

and the fact that a 'better clock' can bring changes for the better is not lost on the regulars that visit the three digital asylums. I guess $50k brings something to the party after all?
Take care and please keep us posted.
Chris

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Re: Thanks, that was an interesting read........ - Tyke 10:26:39 02/05/04 (4)
Some really interesting comments on my review , thanks. I would like to say something however on the issue on other pieces of equipment which may or may not have better clocks. In my listening, which was extensive, the dCS stack was quite clearly superior to the Accuphase DP77/85, Krell KPS25/28, Wadia 861 and ML390. Not just IMO better, but in a different league. The clock made a difference, a big difference. I didn't want it to, but it did. Everyone at the demo that I spoke to, agreed with me. It was better on both Redbook and SACD. It can handle up to 5 devices and can do everything up to 96KHz.. The performance is BETTER than 1 ppm, David said typically 0.5 ppm. People are entitled to their opinion about the value of the clock, just like there are people who have different opinions on upsampling and SACD. Fine... I just reported what I heard, it works for me but if others choose Teac or something else, that is OK, I am not a dCS evangelist!!
Regards
Tyke
- Re: Thanks, that was an interesting read........ - fmak 00:27:33 02/06/04 (0)
  I agree with you on the sound. It is not the accurracy of the clock but the phase noise and jitter that matter. Most XOs are pretty poor devices and UK clcok manaufacturers not knowledgeable about these aspects.
  When one pays attention to XO performance and power supply performance to the XO (very critical), then sonics tends to converge.
- I'm heading...... - Chris Garrett 14:48:14 02/05/04 (2)
  up to my buddy's place now for a listen to his new Avid Acutus w/SME V and Lyra cart. He's had the Purcel and Delius fed by a ML 31 for a good couple of years and I've got a lot of hours in front of that stack which is quite revealing/detailed.
  I saw lots of Verdi stacks at CES and there's no doubt that the designers at dCS know their stuff. About the worse thing that can be said is that it might be a tad too clinical on redbook for some tastes and it's God awful expensive to buy new.
  I'm not a fan, in theory, of Accuphase SACD players because they convert the DSD stream to 24/192 PCM. dCS does not.
  Anyhow, thanks and keep us posted.
  Chris
  - Re: I'm heading...... - Tyke 23:53:47 02/05/04 (1)
    I can agree with your comments on the clinical nature of the dCS, for me clinical=accurate and uncoloured, for some clinical=cold and digital...you pays your money.... I did get to heat the EmmLabs DAC a couple of months ago and was impressed, probably the closest thing I have heard to the dCS, but it was definitely warmer sounding.
    It's interesting how reading the thread some make constructive comments, some just want to be negative . I bought the dCS cos it was the best I heard..full stop. I did have the chance to hear most of the best stuff around from Krell, Accuphase, AR, Burmester, Boulder and ML. However as I say I am no evangelist for dCS, people should make up there own minds. One thing is clear though, the Verona does improve the dCS dramatically. If you accept that the dCS three box is at least up there with the best, then the Verona is a great achievement. If people want to be sceptical fine, but surely they should listen first before they judge.
    Regards
    Tyke
    - Re: I'm heading...... - fmak 00:33:44 02/06/04 (0)
      Or try the Swissonic WD8 from thomann.de for 200 euros! You CAN tell the difference.
      The dCS units are also very sensitive to cabling. The twisted pairs connecting the sockets to pcb with plugs don't look the best arrangement to me and if they are reading, they should improve this.
      Having said this, the correctly terminated waveforms from the dCS outputs are excellent and better than most. My units also sound warm but also precise and analytical, although I have had to go back to the software controlling the 954 to the 2001 version. The latest version sounded aggressive and I think they might have tried to tailor to studio tastes by some tweaking of the response. Their words to were was 'compatability?'

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