Welcome dCS Varèse

This is from the Rossini DAC, containing a similar Artix-7 and a similar slot, containing the StreamUnlimited network board:

Anyway, it seems to be an expansion card slot (at the lower left corner). Perhaps you are right @August and is it a memory card slot for the DAC’s buffer.

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dCS now uses non-volatile RAM so I guess it does not fulfill the same function?

Indeed,

96 current sources, 48 run in phase, 48 run in anti-phase, which means very clean draw on the power supply.

according to David Steven, during the HK presentation.

I don’t think I have seen actual specs. Are they out? Thx

No news yet from dCS. Maybe later today, as announced.

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Hi folks,

We’re thrilled to finally be able to show you Varèse - the product page and specifications are now up here. It’s been great watching all of the conversation around the system, and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing you all piece things about Varèse together so quickly!

We are going to be hosting three sessions for dCS Community members. On Tuesday 13th August we’ll be giving a virtual walkthrough of Varèse, discussing individual components, system configuration and the host of new technologies we’ve developed.

There will also be time for a Q&A so you can ask us any questions you might have. We’ve made a note of all of the questions posed so far on the various threads, so we will cover as many of these as we can.

We will be running three sessions at different times on the 13th, so hopefully there will be one that works for you. Sessions will take place at 07:30, 12:00 and 17:30 BST and each session will last approximately one hour.

If you’d like to join, you can register for the 07:30 event here, the 12:00 here, and the 17:30 here.

We’re going to keep these sessions for active Community members, so please register using the email address linked to your forum account.

I look forward to giving you all loads of info and answering lots of questions on Tuesday!

Thanks,

James

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Specs are here:

  • DSD/64, DSD/128, DSD/256, DSD/512

Varèse:

Residual Noise
Better than -118dB0, @ 20-20kHz

Spurious Response
Better than -115dB0, @ 20-20kHz

Vivaldi:

Residual Noise
Better than -113dB0, @ 20-20kHz

Spurious Response
Better than -105dB0, @ 20-20kHz

Corrected spec sheet is now here:

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This may sound a little perverse, but I’m glad to not see MQA listed in the specifications :rofl:

Ha, a bummer to you, but in the specs of the Vivaldi you will also not see it. dCS is listing MQA in the Key Features of a component. :smile:

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Talking of the speechifications, perhaps I don’t understand (my default position :thinking: ) but there is no support for AAC or other codecs. So no steaming of BBC internet radio, Spotify ( both AAC) or many others AAC, MP3 etc). Correct?

Does Mosaic Actus offer airable? If not perhaps why its navigation is being stated as simple?

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Pete, I’m guessing it’s just a case of omission, rather than “no support”. I can’t imagine any of the existing supported formats would be actively removed (that includes MQA of course).

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An important quote from the above article:

The Varèse is a true step change in high-end audio. The sort of thing that only happens once in a generation. I think your challenge is how to get across the significance of the Varèse to the world.

I fully agree with that. How will we ever understand and enjoy the magic of Varèse? The vast majority of us will never experience, and certainly not own, the Varèse system.

Will the supposedly upcoming trickle-down systems still have an important part of that magic?

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So am I. My underlying point being that our friends at dCS are very clever chaps but seem so centred on this that they have omitted to tell the punters out here what on earth that refrigerator sized box collection does. I am told in detail how it does it in techno language that means nothing to me. All I want to know is can I stream Qobuz or do anything except play my local files.

That “discover” piece on Only the Music needs urgent revision IMO.

I am not aware of any plans for trickle down systems. There may be module additions to, for example, add legacy unit or third party access but these are modules for Varese ( which, of course, you need to own in the first place).

That is why I wrote supposedly. dCS will have to monetise their new technolgy through selling more boxes than the few Varèse systems they will sell. Like what happened after Vivaldi.

2012: Introduction dCS Vivaldi

2015: Introduction dCS Rossini

dCS builds on its vision for the future with the launch of the Rossini: a network DAC that allows listeners to stream audio direct from NAS drives, streaming services and Apple Airplay, as well as devices connected via USB, AES or S/PDIF inputs.

The system uses the same core technologies developed for the Vivaldi range, and - like its predecessor - combines unrivalled technical performance with a flexible, futureproof design.

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Yes, there certainly has been a fair amount of speculation.

Of course this is probably based on the history of earlier units. Of course it may turn out that the uniqueness of Varese is a major USP and trickle down products could therefore not be in dCS’ interest.

So , more positively, and back to your original question:

There are two ways of achieving such products ( or a combination of both). Reduce scope or cheapen construction.

I am sure that, for example, cheaper circuit parts could be selected. Scope is more complex given that there seems no obvious substitutional units. What gets omitted? How would any of these options affect the “magic”?

Viewed from outside this may be difficult to do and reach a commercially viable result. Finding one that ,say, reduced m.s.r.p from circa $225K to $190K would not be worth it IMO. It’s still unfordable on the one hand or an easily bridgeable gap on the other for the wealthy.

I’m back to my wait and see strategy.

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By a happy accident I’m visiting the factory on Monday. I will try to elicit some hints about future developments. I was going say here that I’d mention to dCS that many keen music lovers and supporters on the Forum are concerned that pricing makes this product (and others?) simply unaffordable. However, (a) dCS must surely know their customers already, (b) decisions about trickle-down systems may have already been made. I think Pete’s “wait and see strategy” is the one we will have to adopt. I’ve only just Apexed my current system, and I am not itching to make new purchases.

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This is pure speculation on my part, but not even difficult to imagine:

Take the Varèse Core in your mind, with its 3 expansion bays for modules.

Add one or more of the following modules:

  • a stereo DAC
  • two mono DACs
  • a clock module

and add a UI box and the new remote.

And then there is a trickle down system, building on Varèse. Mmmm, building on Varèse: the dCS Zappa :grin:

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I could definitely see something like that.

It is pretty much what Linn does with their Selekt program. There are plug in modules including mono dacs, stereo dac, amplifier etc.

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Loving the pictures, design and specs of the stack. Favorite is the newly introduced user interface module. I thought dCS was real weak in that. Now they are addressing it big way.

But probably I can never afford this stack.

Regards,
Sourav

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