Most audio equipment operates and sounds best when it has achieved thermal stability . This takes a while to reach with most units. If you care to you can see the internal temperature of your Bartok by looking at the Menu, Unit Status.
So even though I have never even heard a a Bartok HP I am sure that you are right.
good point! Current temp reading with the headphone amp running is: unit temp 46.1 and HP temp 53.8.
The barktok case is much warmer to the touch when the hedadphone section is running
Will check again when I turn the headphone section off
The Bartok headphone amp runs largely in Class A, so will certainly benefit from being warmed up.
Lol.
In case you need that “little push over the cliff” ?
My Apex upgraded Bartok is finally home and playing music. Right away it is an improvement over my speakers and seems to be a larger improvement playing over my Utopia headphones.
Since it was gone for about 2 months I’m going by memory.
Took my Bartók to the dealer 12 July. He said he’d ship it the next day. Anybody have any experience on what the turnaround is like? Is there a place to check on it?
Where did they send it?
Massachusetts, the dealer said.
Hi John,
When we get a unit back for an APEX upgrade it’s usually about a week to turnaround including pre-and-post upgrade tests and checks.
If you message me with your serial number I’ll find out from our US service centre (who are in Massachusetts) what the status is on your Bartok…
Cheers
Phil
Do all dCS DAC’s in the US go to Massachusetts for the Apex upgrade?
Hi,
Mostly US units would be APEX upgraded by our US service centre but there are dealers who have their own service facilities and have been given dispensation by dCS America (who look after the USA and Canada) to do APEX upgrades themselves.
Sometimes if a dealer has a large batch of upgrades that they want doing then we may arrange for a shipment of units to come back to the UK to avoid flooding the US service centre.
BR
P
that is what happed to our lot from Canada. They when back to the UK for the APEX upgrade
After spending some proper listening time with my Apex upgraded Bartok I can properly comment on the upgrade.
Usually I’m pretty cynical about upgrades like this but, this is amazing!
The added weight and clarity from both my Focal Diablos and Focal Utopias make it seem like I’m hearing them at their true potential.
The Utopias always seemed a bit bass shy, not anymore!
The definition is and clarity of all the notes is incredible.
I am very happy I went for this upgrade.
Well done dcs!
Echoing Phil, in the US, dCS units are (mostly) sent to Goodwins, in Waltham, MA. I have thus far had positive experiences with then for prior upgrades (dCS Puccini) and inspection (dCS Puccini clock).
Is this a new company at the same address or just another name for Fuller Sound?
Since the ‘70s when I was in graduate school in Boston I only knew them as Goodwin’s. Top notch then, and top notch now. I would never look elsewhere. And no, I am not a paid spokesperson.
Back then, in the late ‘70s, they were on Newbury Street I believe. I don’t know when they moved to Waltham (a suburb). Always gracious to a fault even to a poor grad student.
times have changed!
I checked here in the Pacific NW and it turns out that Definitive in Seattle does upgrades.
Thanks!
I came across this video where the Bartok Apex is playing. It sounds so musical and detailed with the Clear Reflection XLR interconnects and speaker cables which are two notches below the TOTL Cardas cables and are relatively affordable. It seems the clarity of the Bartock Apex is really synergistic with the Clear Reflection line.
