Upsampler has USB inputs if you wish to use them. However you may well find ( many have) that best sound quality is when using the network connection ( RJ45). The Upsampler is also where network connectivity is housed for the Vivaldi line and thus you may want to use dCS Mosaic. In that case Melco should be configured as NAS which is how I use mine. You can then use the direct network output connection that Melcos have.
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Yes i know all that, it was more like comparing streaming from the vivaldi upsampler against the melco using usb.
Obviously the melco would need to go through the upsampler for it to be a fair comparison, against direct into dac.
Using the melco like this also gives you a cd player as well as ripper
Also as i have an innuos PhoenixNet, i have found running everything through it sounds best, as in the melco playing ripped music is better going through the PhoenixNet and then to the vivaldi upsampler rather than the melco feeding the upsampler from the player port. The upsampler also sounded better going directly from the PhoenixNet rather than the player port on the melco.
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Just recently stumbled upon this Vivaldi. It’s the recently Apex upgraded dutch importer’s former demo unit, after auditioning resistance was futile.
@T38.45 not liking Melco’s own control point I use BubbleUPnP which I’m familiar with and really enjoy.
Up to now I use Melco’s usb straight into Vivaldi (Audioquest Diamond). Probably not the best route but, coming from a PS audio Direcstream dac, this is a giant leap up!
Always used a Matrix x-spdif 2 powered by an upgraded lps Farad Super 3 to switch from usb to (reclocked) I2S into the Directstream dac. The Matrix also delivers AES and spdif out, will try these in the near future.
In the not too distant future I may run into a used dCS Network Bridge, Vivaldi Upsampler and/or clock(s)…
@ Duncan, August & Pete; thanks for the tips!
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Ah, fellow Dutchie Rob? Let me know if you’d like to borrow a clock or something else to try out (Network Bridge).
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How is the Rossini transport a huge advance over the Paganini?
Does it extract more bits from the source CD?
I shall assume that is ironic. As a criterion then the cheapest spinner from Amazon will do the job and we have all wasted our money.
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Yes and no.
Let’s assume we are talking about the Vivaldi stack, and one possesses the Upsampler and the DAC. Accordingly, the sole purpose of the transport should be reading information from the disk and passing it to the Upsampler.
If both transports extract the same digital information, and all information is upsampled and passed to the DAC buffer, then yes, I would like to know what makes the Rossini transport much better in this application…
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Maybe a stimulus for a further posting to the technical FAQ series from @James ?
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The CD reading is not like streaming, thus when data are not well red there is not second chance to read it again, corrects the stream sent to the dac and play it…When data are badly red, the dac miss that data and cannot convert it into analog frequency, and you loose precision, some details etc…You can experience that very easily when a CD is very dirty, you can some hear tiny “clicks” when playing.
An area where a CD can be improved is vibration canceling. Of course it is possible that dCS improved many other things not related to the reading but to data transmission to the Dac…If they have time they may tell you much better than me 
Worthy of a separate thread I think.
Plextor drives (and their PlexTool app) shows the extent to the number of C1, C2 and CU errors when reading any disc. But I’ve never seen any of the CD Transport vendors talk in detail about how well they’re able to minimise and/or mitigate these disc read errors.
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Trying something new… 1st speaker change since 2010. From Harbeth SHL5 to Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand Reference, on loan from a friend.
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I really love your simplicity here Ben. This the direction I am going : )
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Looks absolutely stunning, whats the unit on the bottom shelf ‘Antigone’…
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Its a power block filter thingy
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The rack looks gorgeous Ben! 
What’s the item sitting on top of the Rossini?
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Based on your prior threads Ben, on top is the Dartzeel preamp, and there is also a Dartzeel power amp not shown, correct?
Think it’s the HRS damping plate
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Always aspire these HRS racks. Never seen one in silver. Beautiful!
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Beautiful Ben – love your setup & those HRS SXR stands 
(but I need 2 
).
Michael Latvis at HRS has created a more affordable rack & after seeing the EXR’s; they have peaked my purchase interest (they make the best IMO).
Best to you Sir,
Bob
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