The knob on my dCS plank (the current beast of a remote) feels the same as the knob on my Rossini.
(I don’t think I’ve ever written “knob” as often as I have on this thread.)
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if you go Vivaldi, you need the Upsampler for Ethernet streaming as well 
Ya aware of that. I am thinking to get “something” in the meantime. Do you have any suggestion besides the dCS Upsampler.
I might get the 2nd hand Network Bridge as a temporary streamer 
. And slowly upgrade to the Upsampler + clock in the future.
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many options…Auralic, Lumin for high-end, even Sonore build a pure network transporter (ethernet in…usb/aes out), controlled by ipad & co.
Hi Chris,
Be aware that even 2v can drive the NAP300 into clipping with the “right” (i.e. loudly recorded) source material so I would suggest caution if you are going to run 6v … I know I’m a devil for playing loud so I popped my 'scope across the speaker terminals on my NAP300 just to check and on 6v I was clipping far more readily than I was happy with so now I run 2v.
What I really ought to do is get a couple of high power 8 ohm resistors so I can use them as a load to properly check out levels without having the dog and cat hiding and the neighbours complaining doing it using the speakers as the load. 
Yes, that is definitely one bonus that I forgot about - the “before 9 o’clock” channel imbalance!
Phil
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I did exactly that into my Vivaldi until I could buy the Upsampler. Network Bridge is definitely very good and offers a big percentage of Upsampler insofar as network connection is concerned. As this thread significantly turns on what is attainable then ,once burned in, Upsampler is nevertheless consistently preferable IMO. However bearing in mind mind the huge cost premium Network Bridge is certainly viable. A shame that it became uneconomic to continue to manufacture it. BTW as most know I don’t use the upsampling feature . On the other hand you will not use the downsampling feature of Network Bridge .
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Just to make sure I understand. The Upsampler job is two fold. Streaming services as well as upsampling right.
I wonder why the Vivaldi DAC itself don’t also offer streaming 
. Upsampler like quite an investment too.
Do people who upgrade, first try to do master clock or upsampling first.
Yes, that’s right.
Vivaldi has to be understood as a system . It is to provide the best attainable performance which entails separate boxes to enable the considerable space required and the use of separate power supplies etc. It also allowed a degree of interconnectivity with earlier generations of dCS equipment which had a similar structure ( but no networking).
Insofar as Vivaldi and streaming are concerned it is also worth pointing out that it was announced in 2012 and started production in 2013. Although a small minority were then interested in UPnP there was not much (if anything) in existence regarding streaming services.
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Hi,
It’s important to remember that the Vivaldi Upsampler and the Vivaldi Clock do not cross over in functionality so which one you look at getting first will generally be defined by the use case that you have and by what functionality you need … for example if you are wanting to stream audio or use Roon then this would suggest that - if it’s the choice of buying one or the other - the Upsampler would likely be more useful than the clock for that particular user.
Alternatively if you have a hefty collection of CDs (and/or SACDs) and you have a Vivaldi Transport (or another transport that has external wordclock inputs) and have no interest in streaming then the Clock would likely be of more use to you…
Best Regards
Phil
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Okay coming from Naim with separates PSU, I think that make sense.
Only stream digital online service for this young audience so I guess Upsampler first 
. Tks very much for the education!
I used my melco to stream from to start with, and it did a great job.
But for sure a network bridge will be even better.
The one question i do have is, if i only have the vivaldi dac and upsampler, will i get a nice upgrade in sound quality using a clock, over clocking the upsampler from the dac output?
The upsampler requires two separate clock inputs and so requires an external wordclock generator which provides these. This is necessary to allow automatic clock frequency changes as the source sampling rate alters. The single wordclock out port of the Vivaldi DAC will not allow this. Nevertheless the output will vary according to the source. However the upsampler uses two clock input groups ( 44. KS/s base or 48 KS/s base). So each change of source frequency may require manually resetting the upsampler input. Not too practical if using a high res-streaming service like Qobuz.
As for the subjective sound quality of the DAC clock output v. the system wordclock the use of the DAC clock slaves the Upsampler to it (master synch). However there is no change to the accuracy or stability of the DAC clock per se. To gain those advantages the DAC clock has to be slaved to the system wordclock which, in any case, has sufficient outputs to directly connect both DAC and upsampler. Though the use of the external clock is technically (and practically) superior the level of audibility is really down to your sensitivities and preferences as there appears to be some disagreement regarding the level of improvement the external clock brings without even considering your comparison. For my part I am an enthusiastic user of the wordclock.
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That’s great to know, thank you. Only real issue I have potentially come across is the slight delay in handshake between Mosaic and LINA in order to quickly drop the volume if necessary. I don’t think there is an option to use LINA with an existing dCS remote?
Hi
I don’t have to do anything, as in switching things over, etc.
I have just followed the instructions in the manual and paired the dac and upsampler together as far as clock goes.
Its just as i will never get a dCS transport, i was just curious to how much better or benefit i would get from added a clock.
I guess i just need to try one and see if i feel its worth the outlay.
Cheers dunc
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In my opinion, Dunc — the benefit is enormous. And that’s on a Rossini (and Rossini Apex later). I’d assume that a Vivaldi might show the benefits even more. Worth a test, but go in ready to spend the wonga.
Edited to add: and no Transport here. Just the DAC.
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Nice!
(Unlike Ben, I’m not a knob fan) Aesthetically I can’t imagine why Linn spoilt the clean lines with that big ugly knob up top! A front-panel display with capacitive-touch would have been way cooler and better looking. It could have been a classic clean design like the CD12. 
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I had a Rega RP10 with a Rega phono stage and this was connected to a meridian 808v6 pre amp / dac. The meridian digitised the phono signal and it sounded significantly better than running the vinyl rig through a PS Audio BHK signature reference pre amp .
For fun I recently purchased the Audio Technica Sound Burger and connected its line out to a WiiM mini streamer/ dac . The WiiM was connected via its optical digital out to the Rossini Apex , so basically the WiiM performed the ADC and this chain sounded remarkably good . The WiiM costs about £80. Worth a punt !
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I find one disturbing effect regarding dCS Rossini straight to NAP 250DR.
When in high volume, it sounded wonderful. But tonight I play it with low volume the sound is like collapsed and lose all dynamics to the point where I much prefer my ND555+552.
Is this entirely due to the digital volume control of the dCS where low volume will definitely suffer?
What output voltage you using?
As you might find running a lower output voltage from the rossini, and then a higher volume setting helps.
But unless you are right down the volume scale, i think dCS say the volume is very good, and doesn’t lose anything till a certain point. The figures i can’t remember but there’s a few threads with the info in.
Plus you might find the amp doesn’t like how you are running it at low volumes, as the naim amp’s aren’t known for being great at low volume.
But as said i bet if you go down the dac’s output voltage you will find it all comes good again