This would require an entirely new range of Rossini, Vivaldi and future products. At least an extra transformer and headphone amp board inside the (or a) case, and the extra sockets, and output selector button, in the (a) front fascia. So this would not be available to current owners of these ranges.
Hence the idea I got (and others) for a standalone headphone amp, which, if there anyway is another box, could relatively easily be a preamp as well.
And then, with anyway another box, why not think/ dream about what it could contain more?
If you donāt want or need it: no problem. But if you do want a headphone amp into your Rossini or Vivaldi: they cannot retrofit it in.
The required extra transformer and the headphone amp board, with Expanse, already exist. Just a new extra case to put it in, no doubt some extra things I do not know about, and an extra opportunity to expand its capabilities, and there it is.
Yep, understood. A basic re-fit of whatās already there isnāt likely! Good thing that living with a Bartok is hardly hell, eh?
If you (@Ermos) were in charge of features for the Praetorius, I bet itād be something that Iād love in an edited version of my current system. Iād swap the Bartok for a Rossini or Vivaldi, swap the Allegri Reference for the Praetorius and be a very happy chappie. I would almost certainly buy one.
I guess what Iām saying is that an even better option (for me) would be if the new dCS line-up had better rear outputs and optional front outputs throughout. Maybe an added cost for better rear outputs is an option. (Donāt MSB do something like that?)
One thing thatās easy to forget is how long the gestation period is for many products. The Vivaldi is knocking ten years old now, isnāt it? Iād be surprised if its replacement isnāt already largely pinned down in terms of featuresā¦
/me crosses fingers for the Praetorius or the dCS Bonzodog (the Vivaldi replacement).
I donāt foresee a separate dCS headphone amp - there are already a lot out there and what would differentiate it. But I would love to see dCS license the Expanse technology.
For example, my other headphone system is the RAAL/Requisite SR1a ear speakers with Schiit Jotunheim R amp. They are a very specific type of headphone that require a very specific type of connection, one that dCS is unlikely to adopt (prove me wrong). But - if the amp could adopt Expanse, awesome. (In fact, Iām selling this system to focus only on the Bartok + headphones + Expanse.)
I donāt really see the need for a standalone (analog) Preamp or Headphone Amp from dCS.
Iād rather dCS continue their R&D spend within their core competency, i.e digital. Especially given the flagship is now relatively long-in-the-tooth since 2.0, thereās probably avenue to further improve itās performance
Adding my two cents here, and recognizing my lower end equipment relative to this group (only Puccini), but perhaps some experience in building brands.
I would expect the following:
(1) no separate DCS preamp, likely ever. DCS has repeatedly boasted about their digital volume control, and that you can connect their player directly to a power amp, and they would rather you take the money for the preamp and invest it in digital.
(2) no separate amp line. Right now DCS has something most companies only dream about: a consistent story, deep expertise in a valuable domain, and accordinlgy great products. The companyās history is in signal processing, that led to excellence in digital, that in turn leads to the Rossini and Vivaldi. They have no such story or history in amplification, no 30+ years of instutional knowledge in amplification, and there is no reason to expect them to produce a superior amp (or preamp) relative to the market.
(3) Consistent improvements and investments in next generations of the Bartok with the same format (digital plus amp), as this is perfect solution for the headphone space.
ok, I can see there is no consensus around a separate headphone amp, neither on a preampā¦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
dCS have stated here several times that the BartĆ³k 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 Vivaldiās successor.
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 didnāt 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 ālook & listenā only. I have to keep reminding myself of that.
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, Iād love it to be battery powered and transportable, but it looks a bit too large for that (though Sony makes such a thing ā but the Chord Hugo is better proportioned).
Theyāre calling it a new line, so one could assume there will be other products in the line to follow.
