ok, I can see there is no consensus around a separate headphone amp, neither on a preamp…reading this thread, the best idea seems to be the Vivaldi 3.0 including a phone amp with the Expanse technology 
dCS people ! Now you know what to do first in 2021 
No preamp for me to.
I vote for a Vivaldi Network Bridge without upsampler.
With USB out to the Vivaldi DAC, haha…
Or a new Vivaldi clock including the Network Bridge
Bartok s/w upgrade first please
No way… you have everything in one box already…
dCS have stated here several times that the Bartók can drive low impedance headphones, and that it is largely working in Class A, then shifting into AB:
I see Vivaldi 3.0 and a headphone output as two separate things. The latter will require a new hardware release. The former need not. I fully support a headphone capability like Bartok in Vivaldi’s successor.
I’d like to see a phono unit option, with A to D processing in dCS products. This would simplify system building substantially.
As I said earlier this year the market for such a thing may be limited particularly for those of us who are seriously committed to vinyl replay, though I admit it could be attractive for those who just wish to play the odd LP ;
A surprise! Information didn’t leak out onto the internet this time. I will be interested to hear this new range, even knowing nothing except that it is for headphones. However, having made a purchase earlier this year to beat the price rises, and because of the general state of the world right now, I think my position will be ‘look & listen’ only. I have to keep reminding myself of that.
From the teaser https://youtu.be/4XDvoO0JkSg I can see a glimpse of this:
I see a SD card and holder there (right bottom).
This is clearly a headphone amp.
This one seems to have a Ring DAC inside, and what seems to be a network board.
Anyway, we will find out tomorrow.
Looks cool! Maybe a dedicated headphone DAC/amp that slots in under the Bartok in the range? The headphone amp market is pretty huge now, but most of the action comes in below the pricing of the Bartok. Look forward to seeing the details!
That would make sense. Personally, I’d love it to be battery powered and transportable, but it looks a bit too large for that (though Sony makes such a thing – but the Chord Hugo is better proportioned).
They’re calling it a new line, so one could assume there will be other products in the line to follow.
Exciting times.
Tomorrow we will know if the “new product series purpose built for headphone listening” has something we were waiting for.
Here it is: Welcome dCS Lina
Absolutely no interest here.
Well, at least now we know why there hasn’t been an replacement for the Vivaldi…
I would expect that to be next on dCS’s product roadmap
I would guess a Vivaldi replacement is a couple of years away. Apex isn’t even out yet. dCS would really anger a lot of customers if they release a new Vivaldi right after the Apex upgrade.
Good point. I’m sure you’re right.
Also noting: Vivaldi was introduced in 2012 (if I’m not mistaken). A lot has certainly delayed by COVID but that’s a pretty long time…
