Bought a Rossini Today!

Hi Anup, thanks for this tip. I’m switching off all “features” in roon.
But I think the problem is this: the music in my case has to travel from:
Melco–switch—roon—switch—dCS vs
Melco–switch–dCS.
With roon between it’s an addtl. “hop” - roon claims to bit bitperfect but this may be exactly the difference in SQ (Same album/music access by the way). Even for mp3 radio broadcastings the differences are there.
I don’t want to open the roon vs upnp discussion again :wink: it’s only music…

Well it’s been super fun seeing and reading all the convos and commentary here.

I got the Rossini set up this past weekend and thought I’d share some initial impressions. I’ve already learned so much.

First off, it’s a huge upgrade from my Mytek Brooklyn. Just better in every way - hardly even a point in discussing further. Wish I could A/B it for anyone who says all DACs sound the same.

I was initially a bit disappointed though, I must admit. I was comparing to my reference which is a mid-tier (modern) Linn LP12 playing some UHQR vinyl releases. Part of what I was hoping to get from the Rossini was the incredible soundstage and dynamics I get from those recordings. I did not get that on the digital files (which were different masterings). Flat and a little lifeless. They just didn’t grab my ear

But eventually I found some good recordings, and especially tidal masters, and I realized that this thing just can’t spin garbage into gold. If it’s an unremarkable mastering, it’s going to sound unremarkable, and it’s not fair to compare that to some of the best-mastered (for vinyl, specifically) material that exists. On similar quality source material, the Rossini more than held its own. I found it has a level of control and definition in the mid/bass region that the turntable does not.

I heard differences with file formats more than previously. MQA certainly is its own thing and I get the controversy. I think whether or not it’s “better” is subjective and dependent on the recording, particularly those that weren’t mastered with the format in mind. The tidal masters I played in MQA were the best-sounding digital thing I’ve heard yet, although if I can get these SACDs ripped I’ll test that.

I played with all the filters and upsampling options and heard (very) minor differences that probably won’t matter outside of critical listening sessions.

One thing I was curious about is whether there is a “warm-up” time for these or similar products. I swear the bottom end really filled out after 30 minutes or an hour and I wonder if just letting it get up to operating temperature could have contributed in some way. Could be placebo, but if so, it’s a helluva drug.

Most importantly though, I listened to more music this weekend than I have in quite some time, and I had a blast. I think this is the start of a lengthy and rewarding relationship!

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I understand your relative disappointment. I have a Vivaldi set up and on some music it is better than my lp12, on some music the lp12 is better, but must of the time it is rather similar…
But, because I am a little bit lazy, I use my dCS set up 80% of the time…

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I completely understand you. I have a fully maxed Klimax level LP12 (only exception being my preference to my Aro tone arm instead of the Ekos) however my Rossini APEX gets most of my use……and that is with 7000 records on the shelves.

Laziness rules the day😁

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That’s ok, we can always have a pleasant discussion. Not to derail Ben’s thread, but I’ll leave you with this simple thought;

If playing a track via Roon/RAAT sounds different/worse than via Mosaic/UPnP because of the additional “hop” (or whatever reason), then it would be impossible for a track with just one single continuous tone, say at 1kHz, to remain a single continuous tone at 1kHz when played back via Roon/RAAT (versus Mosaic/UPnP).

Do you really believe that in your system, Roon/RAAT cannot properly reproduce that single continuous tone? What about tones at any/every other frequency, or a multi-tone track? Or you believe music is different from just tones? So, Roon/RAAT or the extra Switch knows the difference in the IP packets?

There are many ways to prove whether there’s really a difference or not :slight_smile:

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If you want to obtain a wider image with a better focus, add the Rossini clock or even much better the vivaldi. One thing adding great improvement, change fuse for a sr purple. Even look to cable used.

It’s not the data that has a influence on SQ.

Then what is it?

By the way, the reasoning still stands for the tone test I mentioned.

A powersupply on a switch can introduce noise

And when decoupled optically, galvanically, and with linear PSU?

Sorry, that’s clutching at straws :grin:

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that’s your opinion that you keep spreading here, have you tried different power supplies on a switch yourself ?

Of course!

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Lineair power supply does not have to be the best solution for a switch, it can be to slow.

You’re clearly still clutching at straws I’m afraid.

again that’s your opinion, I have tried three power supplies on my switch and they all sound different.

So your system can’t properly reproduce a simple tone without adding distortion then I guess?

Sure, only your system is resolving enough

No, I’m suggesting Your system has no problem reproducing tones cleaning as the Ethernet Switches/PSU or whatever, has zero impact whatsoever on the IP Packets that get to the Streaming Board in your dCS DAC.

No use to argue then, I really think you have never tried different switches or Power supplies.

But that’s fine, with my ears I can hear the difference in my system

Well, you’re mistaken. :laughing: