Congrats again, Robert. Good to hear you took good care of this beautiful machine.
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Having just posted in the ‘Dedicated Racks…’ thread, I thought I’d post here too.
My current set up;
dCS Rossini APEX DAC
dCS Rossini Master Clock
Gryphon Essence Preamplifier
Gryphon Essence Stereo Amplifier
Wilson Audio Alexia V Loudspeakers
PS Audio P15 Power Plant
SGC sonicTransporter i5 (server, soon to be replaced by an Antipodes K41)
Power cords;
Shunyata Research Alpha NR v2
AQ Monsoon & NRG Z3/2
Loudspeaker cables;
Iconoclast (by Belden) OFE
Interconnects;
Iconoclast (by Belden) 4x4 XLR UPOCC (2 pairs: DAC → Pre & Pre → Amp)
Geistnote 75 Ω Apogee Wyde Eye Word Clock
AQ Mackenzie RCA
AQ Carbon Coax
AQ Vodka TOSlink
AQ Cinnamon RJE
Bluesound Node 2i
IsoAcoustics Orea Indigo & Bronze
UpTone Audio EtherRegen
PliXir Elite BDC 12A 6V LPS (dual output) → sonicTransporter & ER
PliXir Statement DC p/c
Furutech p/c → P15
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Just wondering how that Gryphon Essence combination sounds?
Replaced Essence preamp with Pandora and I’m super happy (much superior to Essence IMHO). Pretty happy with Essence mono amps on the other hand.
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I think that the Essence combo sounds great in my system.
It drives my Alexia V’s very well, and I’m greatly enjoying the class A sound!
I do use the ‘green bias’ function, but not very often, as @Frankie67 predicted!
Excellent dynamics, superb macro & micro detail retrieval, huge sound stage (tall, deep and wide achieved with the Alexia V’s), punchy/tight bass, lovely midrange and beautiful highs…
I really can’t think of any negatives…
It’s simply a great pleasure to enjoy the music!
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Congrats Jonathan! Wonderful system!
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Thanks Franco. I’m happy with it…
for the time being! 
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beautiful system , but why do you have the speakers so close together ? is it a small listening room?
Thank you.
It’s certainly not a large listening room, although it is open plan, which definitely helps (especially with the points of first reflection).
However, the room layout is challenging to the extent that there is only one feasible area (an alcove) where my system can reside.
The alcove is also the only area with power sockets!
(I’m in a rented flat, so I can’t change that).
My Wilson dealer set up the Alexia V’s as far apart as possible for the optimal result.
I think that the photos make the speakers look closer together than they actually are…
They are 8 feet apart, and there’s 8 feet from the front baffle to my ears (which are 38 inches from the floor) whilst I’m seated in my listening position.
All very precise, as per the usual Wilson set up procedure (W.A.S.P.)
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I feel the power socket pain, Jonathan.
We’re renting too at the moment (figured moving back to a country I hadn’t lived in for 25 years wasn’t necessarily conducive to 100% accurate decision-making…) and it’s as if the people who built this place did so at a time that taxes were tied to power sockets. And that they didn’t want to show off their wealth 
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thanks - I understand wholeheartedly the vagaries of rentals…
luckily I have my own place now and the #1 criteria was a listening space! LOL
Good luck with the system and house hunting
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Thanks Ben. It really is a nuisance!
Whoever designed the layout was clearly only focused on the aesthetics (sound familiar? ), which is all well and good, but didn’t pay enough attention to the practicalities…
The longest wall in the flat (which would be a much better location for my system) has no power sockets at all!
Understandable!
I dream of having a properly designed/constructed listening room!
I can only wonder what my system would sound like in such a room…
Not that it sounds bad at all in my current situation, but I can’t help but feel that I’m not getting the best out of it…
Thanks
New to the forum but not to dCS. I actually did an apprenticeship there for 6 months in the year 2000. I was studying mechanical engineering back then and was able to work on some of the casework materials and manufacturing process. I’m talking the classic days of Elgar, Purcell and Delius. It was such a great experience being there. They also still made the pro gear back then and I also got to visit Abbey Road studio’s at one point. Great memories.
23 years onward a lot has happened. I still have a pro 972 upsampler and 955 DAC although the DAC needs repair. Now my kids are getting older and I’m in a position to dabble in this hobby once more. So last year I started upgrading my system with the wish to also own some nice dCS source again. Started with a Paganini transport and dac. Recently added a Network bridge and while pondering on getting a Bartok I had the chance of a Vivaldi at a really good price, so this is now at the center of my system.
I would like to get the Vivaldi transport and upsampler in time when funds allow once more and opportunities arise. For now I am enjoying the system very much.
Network Bridge
Paganini transport
Vivaldi DAC
Grimm CC2 and Mutec Smart clocks
ZM Iron Pumpkin pre (DIY)
ZM SIT power amp (DIY)
Wolf von Langa SON fieldcoils
Most wiring Acoustic Zen
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What an interesting introduction.
Having once owned all of the domestic dCS units you have or had including Elgar and Purcell I can claim some experience.
If you cannot find a suitable Vivaldi Transport don’t overlook the Rossini Transport. It is a huge advance over Paganini and also has a mechanism that is still in production.
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Even without Master Clock/Upsampler Plus I’m overwhelmed with this unit in my system. Though I must admit she’s a bit lonely, so if anyone could provide her with a nice mate…
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Rob- so you’re using Melco’s USB out straight into Vivaldi? How do you controll Melco?
Tx!
Melco has its own streamer and control that is used by i phone and tablet, unfortunately it’s not on android.
But it works well and sounds great, as i used it before i got the upsampler from my melco N10.
Haven’t tried comparing them, which i guess i should do really.
Anyone know if i can connect the usb from the melco to the upsampler or does it have to go direct into the dac ?
The other benefit of running the melco from usb over ethernet, it gives you the option to run the cd drive as a player, so if you have the D100 drive you now have a cd player as well as ripper.
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I’m in a similar boat by going the Vivaldi route one box at a time. We’ll get where we want and enjoy the process I’m sure.
I feel as though the Vivaldi Clock and Upsampler don’t come around that often used (less often than the DAC), although there are sets offered for sale. You could always ask the seller/dealer if they would sell separately or if you have a dealer you have a good relationship with to help keep an eye out for you.
To try out what clocks do, you could dip your toes in the shallow water first with a Mutec (or Grimm) as I did.The MC3+ is a nice unit supposedly, I have an older Mutec Smart clock which I bought off a studio. Only thing is most clocks will not output 44.1 and 48 at the same time, hence I have two
I am currently recapping an older Mutec Iclock which can do multiple frequencies at the same time. I bought this as defective and already repaired the power supply. Next step might be to add a Mutec Ref 10.
Would like to compare it to a Vivaldi clock someday though.
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