Nice filming but the content is people tightening screws and placing the finished article in a carton. That’s it.
@PAR April Fools’ Day 
Today yes , but the video came out yesterday. Otherwise, subtle 
.
1 Like
New Stereophile Magazine review.
9 Likes
Thanks Ruud 
From the time the Varèse entered my system, my sole frustration was that I was unable to listen all the time, every day. I have never experienced so much pleasure and satisfaction, reveling in all kinds of music, in my music room.
If not this, then next life
2 Likes
I wonder why this wasn’t at AXPONA?
1 Like
BBC Radio 3. 20th Century Radicals. Episode 2 on Varese!
4 Likes
A caveat for listeners outside of the UK. BBC is to block access to BBC Sounds outside of the UK at some point this spring. There is to be a replacement international service but I am given to understand from various BBC reports that his will only make available non-music services e.g. Radio 4 and World Service. We shall see.
Edit 17/04. The BBC “Feedback” programme just announced that the closure of access to BBC Sounds outside the UK is being delayed until later in the year when the new .com service from BBC Studios is able to ensure that otherwise missing repertoire ( including Radio 3) will be available outside of the UK via " other platforms".
We worked with Mick and Pat at Quintessence for the show – the guys put together two absolutely amazing systems, both with Vivaldi as the source. We’ve had great feedback on the sound of these systems, both from show attendees and members of the industry, so we’re chuffed with how it went. We had a number of people very familiar with the components the Vivaldi was paired with say it was the best they’d heard them sound.
As we all know from trade shows though, the sound is often compromised and the environment is not ideal for really auditioning a system. For that, you need a suitable quiet and relaxing environment, with time and a knowledgeable dealer to discuss & ask questions to. Crucially, you should also be able to listen to your own favourite music. That’s how we want people to experience Varèse, in the right environment where what we’ve achieved can be fully appreciated.
5 Likes
Hi James,
Sound like a great event!
Could you or @AndrewS pls share the latest playlist (with format) that dCS is using at shows? As well as the equipment setup this time, recognizing the compromised you cite.
Best regards,
Richard
I’m doing my Axpona show report right now for Positive Feedback. The quintessence room with the Vivaldi was amazing! Both the XVX and Sonus Faber rooms were highly musical and engaging.
Nice work James!
1 Like
Oh, the Vivaldi rooms were incredible. The Alexia V room with the Vivaldi stack in 2024 is what made me want the dCS products. My hope that the Varese would be there lies in the sentiment, “wait, there’s something even better?”
Hi Richard,
We don’t have one “master” playlist, we each have multiple and build a new one for most events. I’ll check with Emron if he used one for AXPONA or if he just ad libbed.
Here is one of mine, one of David’s and one of Rav’s just to give you an idea.
Quintessence went all in and was showing dCS equipment in multiple live systems as well as static display. Their three main rooms consisted of:
- Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy, Boulder 1110 pre-amp, 1108 phono amp with 1151 mono blocks, Clearaudio Reference Jubilee turntable with HANA Umami red cartridge, dCS Rossini Apex streaming DAC, Innuos Zen NG with Phoenix Net server and Transparent Reference cabling.
- Sonus Faber Stradivari speakers paired Audio Research Ref 10 pre-amp, Ref 10 phono pre-amp Ref 330 monoblocks, a Clearaudio Master Jubilee turntable with Unity tonearm with Goldfinger statement cartridge and a Universal 9” tonearm with DS Audio Grand Master EX Cartridge via a TB-100 tube equalizer, dCS Vivaldi APEX streaming DAC, Vivaldi Clock and Vivaldi Upsampler, Innuos Zenith and Phoenix, with Kubala Sosna cabling and Critical Mass isolation products.
- Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX speakers, D’Agostino Relentless pre-amp, Momentum HD phono and Relentless M800 monoblocks, Clearaudio Statement turntable with Diamond Jubilee MC cartridge, dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC, Vivaldi Clock and Vivaldi Upsampler, Innuos Statement NG with PhoenixNet and Transparent Opus and XL cabling.
Chris Connaker was blown away by the sound in room 3, saying it was the best he had experienced at any show. Will be interesting to see @Lee’s more detailed comments when he posts his impressions.
5 Likes
Oh, and I understand that a Vivaldi short stack was also in use in the Stenheim/Nordost room.
1 Like
hi Andrew : )
Thank you for all of these interesting and valuable details!
Just curious: When you write “Vivaldi short stack,” do you mean 3-piece or 2-piece Vivaldi (upsampler+DAC)
thx!
R
By ”short stack” I mean 3 piece, i.e. minus the transport.
2 Likes
https://alphahighend.be/cno-2025-brasschaat/
In English:
https://alphahighend.be/en/cno-2025-brasschaat/
Info on the next demo of the Varèse in Belgium.
1 Like
I’ll be there probably Saturday.
Here’s the web based version of the same review …
https://www.stereophile.com/content/dcs-varèse-music-system-da-processor
2 Likes