dCS Varèse

[DSJR]

He’s a really nice guy and we were gutted when he left Meridian. Seems to be doing really well at dCS.

Bloody 'ell, you gave it both barrels as politely as possible


That vid pic above with part of the guts on show. is that a power cell with the thick yellow outer to the disc? If it is, how long before it leaks all over that VERY expensive circuit board? Maybe it doesn't, but I have recurring nightmares of soldered-in memory batteries (tuning memories in tuners and TVs of old, plus a preamp which is now tetchy due to nearby board damage) which fail and then leak acid all over the nearby circuit track. Sorry if I have it wrong here...

 

[Thighsofsteel]

Not that there are any dCS customers who believe that our crude measurements in any way relate to sound quality, but dCS could do nothing to stop an owner sending their product to an independent tester.

Of course they couldn’t stop anyone. But if they had any inkling someone might, then there would be all sorts of pressure and inducements. Not that it would happen of course.
As you say if you drop that of cash on this product it is extremely unlikely that person would even know about this site.

 

[Soniclife]

dCS is nothing if they don’t stick to that Matra, right?

Check out this recent correspondence between me and someone I know at dCS (former colleague at Meridian) on LinkedIn. I commented after they shared a link to a WhatHIFI article they contributed to.

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Original LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/acti...urce=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link

That seems such a weak attempt to deflect, I'm struggling to read it as anything other that 'we know it's a scam, please stop asking the right questions'.

 

[Purité Audio]

But you do get FIVE big boxes five, must be good mustn’t it.
Keith

 

[egellings]

Get a couple sets for the kids at that price, hey? Let your personal accountant handle the financial details so that you do not have to be bothered by such trivia.

 

[Matt_Holland]

That seems such a weak attempt to deflect, I'm struggling to read it as anything other that 'we know it's a scam, please stop asking the right questions'.

I know, but as he is not an engineer or digital audio expert, he can only do his best as a marketing person with a reasonable amount of technical product knowledge.

I’m wondering if there is an equivalent of what dCS are doing in another sector? Do dCS actually claim technical superiority and an advancing of the SOTA? Or can they be classed in the same category as other luxury brands like Rolex that, sure, produce technically excellent time pieces, but whose value lies in craftsmanship and brand reputation and kudos.

 

[LionIT]

Lol.. this is fun
Have they already done the amplifier that manages not to degrade the sound of a DAC with a couple dozens bits of DNR?

 

[Robin L]

I know, but as he is not an engineer or digital audio expert, he can only do his best as a marketing person with a reasonable amount of technical product knowledge.

I’m wondering if there is an equivalent of what dCS are doing in another sector? Do dCS actually claim technical superiority and an advancing of the SOTA? Or can they be classed in the same category as other luxury brands like Rolex that, sure, produce technically excellent time pieces, but whose value lies in craftsmanship and brand reputation and kudos.

I think I mentioned this elsewhere - back around twenty years ago dCS was the world leader for ADCs, with the best DSD converters. That first series of RCA "Living Stereo" SACDs boast of using dCS converters. Of course, what was SOTA twenty years ago can be found in much cheaper and smaller designs. But dCS has been positioning themselves as the standard for digital converters ever since their startup and their overdesigned packaging is there in part to justify their extraordinarily high prices.

 

[Matt_Holland]

I think I mentioned this elsewhere - back around twenty years ago dCS was the world leader for ADCs, with the best DSD converters. That first series of RCA "Living Stereo" SACDs boast of using dCS converters. Of course, what was SOTA twenty years ago can be found in much cheaper and smaller designs. But dCS has been positioning themselves as the standard for digital converters ever since their startup and their overdesigned packaging is there in part to justify their extraordinarily high prices.

Ironically an old thread resurfaced which included this link:

6moons industry features: Luxury watches versus high-end hifi

 

[Soniclife]

Do dCS actually claim technical superiority and an advancing of the SOTA?

They do, from their website.

The first dCS product of its kind, it utilises our novel ACTUS protocol to radically simplify setup whilst taking sonic and measured performance to new heights.

(My bold)

If you read their website they are selling technical amazingness, and I've no reason to doubt they don't perform very well. Not that it matters as stunning DAC performance is already available for little money.

 

[Soniclife]

I’m wondering if there is an equivalent of what dCS are doing in another sector?

There is probably many equivalents, for example I used to know a chemist that worked for a major cosmetic brand, he was very open that the performance of their cheap face creams was identical to their expensive ones. Another friend worked for the luxury mobile phone brand intended for the ultra rich, it was basically a Nokia in an expensive heavy metal case, with worse reception because of the case. Humans are deeply programmed to conflate price and performance, were easy marks.

 

[Bland_username42069]

I saw someone selling a dcs cd player costing £20,000 new about 10 years ago.

Not content with charging him 20k they charged him another 500 to unlock up scaling feature

 

[Purité Audio]

There is a place for ‘high-end’ products but not for the marketing which insinuates that with the high cost comes improved sound quality.
Keith

 

[Matt_Holland]

There is a place for ‘high-end’ products but not for the marketing which insinuates that with the high cost comes improved sound quality.
Keith

But how else are you supposed to market these things? They are not the investment that other luxury products are like watches, super cars and artwork.

 

[Purité Audio]

Luxury watches aren’t sold on their ability for accurate time keeping as to art, well that is the ultimate scam.
Keith

 

[Matt_Holland]

Luxury watches aren’t sold on their ability for accurate time keeping as to art, well that is the ultimate scam.
Keith

I agree, but my point was that buying a dCS is not a financial investment as the asset depreciates. Therefore it doesn’t sell itself and must be marketed that it brings some other benefit. If a dCS doesn’t offer absolute SOTA performance then it is pointless.

 

[Mart68]

I agree, but my point was that buying a dCS is not a financial investment as the asset depreciates. Therefore it doesn’t sell itself and must be marketed that it brings some other benefit. If a dCS doesn’t offer absolute SOTA performance then it is pointless.

Even if it does it's still pointlessly expensive.

Watches aren't a good analogy as they are jewellery to be worn and seen. Some also appreciate in value. Is there any digital audio device in history that has actually appreciated in value?

 

[Sokel]

Even if it does it's still pointlessly expensive.

Watches aren't a good analogy as they are jewellery to be worn and seen. Some also appreciate in value. Is there any digital audio device in history that has actually appreciated in value?

Both of them have some huge sale spikes at around November-December. Along with some art too.
Their final cost can very well be zero if you know what I mean (again, pay attention at the time line)

 

[Purité Audio]

I really don’t have a problem whatsoever with expensive kit, if someone wants to own a smart looking box that’s fine, my issue is that the high-end manufacturers market their kit as offering an improvement in sound quality, which clearly it does not.
Keith

 

[Mart68]

I really don’t have a problem whatsoever with expensive kit, if someone wants to own a smart looking box that’s fine, my issue is that the high-end manufacturers market their kit as offering an improvement in sound quality, which clearly it does not.
Keith

Exactly - although they are careful not to make any absolute or verifiable claims. Ironically, they don't need to since the reviewers and end users will do that.

End users especially can be almost guaranteed to make claims like 'Obvious step up', 'Night and day', 'Improvements were immediately obvious', 'Even the wife noticed the difference', and other amusing hyperbole.

All the manufacturer ads really need to do is show a photo, the price, and where to buy it. The marketing comes later for free and is outside the purview of any regulatory bodies.