kemmler3D
Master Contributor
It being overpriced
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From HiFi plus this month and a sneak listen they had. I mean what does this even mean - micro-timing information - presumably the listener reads about external clocks and mono dacs and something called the proprietary ACTUS system and their expectation bias does the rest ? It really is just a load of b%#lsh1t
"What struck me was timing information that completely changed a good, but not outstanding musical performance, into one that was engaging, involving, and demanded my full attention. In some magical way, the Varèse presented micro-timing information that was, previously unknown to me, multilayered with colour and texture dramatically elevating my emotional response to the music. Until today I did not know that level of timing information towards a new level of communication existed. I’ve certainly never written that before!"
"What struck me was timing information that completely changed a good, but not outstanding musical performance, into one that was engaging, involving, and demanded my full attention. In some magical way, the Varèse presented micro-timing information that was, previously unknown to me, multilayered with colour and texture dramatically elevating my emotional response to the music. Until today I did not know that level of timing information towards a new level of communication existed. I’ve certainly never written that before!"
That design looks like something straight out of a data center rack. With that kind of budget you could fill a rack with some servers and ten NVIDIA H100 GPUs to run large language models up to 800GB. But to buy this massive metal pile you don’t even get an amplifier. Even less functional than that $6 Dell dongle. What a waste.
I don't like the styling of DCS so my interest in it ends there - even if I could afford it, which I can't, and even if it really was better at 'timing information towards a new level of communication'. Which it isn't.
I do know DCS owners and people who aspire to be DCS owners, so the market is there and good luck to them.
I do know DCS owners and people who aspire to be DCS owners, so the market is there and good luck to them.
Ah, magic. That explains it.
I wonder what micro timing is. Compared to nano, pico and just run of the mill timing.
Hearing colors on the other hand is a condition that can exist. Not sure I'd like a machine introducing my brain to it though.
The magic only happens when listening to it when you know what it is, what it cost, and have zero understanding of how digital audio works.
dCS is a storied brand... they've been at this for decades... they've always had their boots filled with the likes of What Hifi
they were making $10k DACs then $10k was a lot of money and not a 10yr old Hundai
they sold on the fact that 'high tech' companies from the 'old country' that werent cottage industries like Leak could do no wrong
I mean wizened English chaps in tweed jackets and elbow protectors cant be wrong?
In the last decade where internet and measurements came in then they had minor issues but I mean... look at those publicity pics - their sanctioned buffoonery transcends culture and langauge
i'm listening to some DSD off a $95 SMSL C-100 right now so... yeah
they were making $10k DACs then $10k was a lot of money and not a 10yr old Hundai
they sold on the fact that 'high tech' companies from the 'old country' that werent cottage industries like Leak could do no wrong
I mean wizened English chaps in tweed jackets and elbow protectors cant be wrong?
In the last decade where internet and measurements came in then they had minor issues but I mean... look at those publicity pics - their sanctioned buffoonery transcends culture and langauge
i'm listening to some DSD off a $95 SMSL C-100 right now so... yeah
I'm in this picture and I don't like it.
Hi
There are many adjectives that come to my mind when I see those and similar High End stuff.
"Disappointing" or "concerning", that so much B.S. manages to sell at all , or about how many would line up to defend such a product .. then again we're living in a world where facts, too often, do not seem to count, in spite of the vast amount of data available.
This is a pile of B.S. and, those who make these and similar, do know that they're taking their customers for ride. They know that this stack of boxes doesn't perform better than wares from the likes of Topping or SMSL, etc. Make no mistake, they know, many who write or post for the HEA, are fully conscious of those facts ... They know.
Call it disingenuous if you will, there are better adjectives, IMO. "dishonest" could come to mind but ... not my mind... since
I am not trying to get sued.
It is perhaps important to remind those who are just lurking on ASR that these products are no better than many costing a mere fraction (1/1000 .. ) of their lofty prices. That ASR, routinely reviews products under $1000 , even 100, that are often superior, in all objectives metrics. That we had a case of a DAC costing $15,000 that was no better than the $10, Apple dongle. And that under controlled conditions ( knoweldge removed, marched levels, etc), this expensive contraption will sound the exact same as a $100 Wiim ... Yes.
That for the cost of this "stack" one can build a SOTA music and/or HT system... that is if listening to music is the goal ... I could go on...
These are not worth their asking prices (likely >$100,000) by any rational metrics. Let's not waste our times, discussing snake oil.
Peace.
There are many adjectives that come to my mind when I see those and similar High End stuff.
"Disappointing" or "concerning", that so much B.S. manages to sell at all , or about how many would line up to defend such a product .. then again we're living in a world where facts, too often, do not seem to count, in spite of the vast amount of data available.
This is a pile of B.S. and, those who make these and similar, do know that they're taking their customers for ride. They know that this stack of boxes doesn't perform better than wares from the likes of Topping or SMSL, etc. Make no mistake, they know, many who write or post for the HEA, are fully conscious of those facts ... They know.
Call it disingenuous if you will, there are better adjectives, IMO. "dishonest" could come to mind but ... not my mind... since
I am not trying to get sued.
It is perhaps important to remind those who are just lurking on ASR that these products are no better than many costing a mere fraction (1/1000 .. ) of their lofty prices. That ASR, routinely reviews products under $1000 , even 100, that are often superior, in all objectives metrics. That we had a case of a DAC costing $15,000 that was no better than the $10, Apple dongle. And that under controlled conditions ( knoweldge removed, marched levels, etc), this expensive contraption will sound the exact same as a $100 Wiim ... Yes.
That for the cost of this "stack" one can build a SOTA music and/or HT system... that is if listening to music is the goal ... I could go on...
These are not worth their asking prices (likely >$100,000) by any rational metrics. Let's not waste our times, discussing snake oil.
Peace.
to me i'm not willing to spend money on stuff that is... 'settled science'
you can get a $1,000 dac and really, what is the point spending above that to make it make sense... like an RME ADI2 is probably as 'good as you need it to be'
but I'm willing to 'suspend disbelief' on say speakers or an analog amp
would I buy a $10k set of passive floorstander speakers? sure I can entertain that
would I buy a $5k power amp? sure why not
you can get a $1,000 dac and really, what is the point spending above that to make it make sense... like an RME ADI2 is probably as 'good as you need it to be'
but I'm willing to 'suspend disbelief' on say speakers or an analog amp
would I buy a $10k set of passive floorstander speakers? sure I can entertain that
would I buy a $5k power amp? sure why not
DavidMcRoy
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Voodoo doesn't work if you don't "believe" in it.
Maybe CERN Labs might know what they are talking about ? But I would be dissappointed in reading that review that there was no "foot tapping" going on
kemmler3D
Master Contributor
If you could get a machine to do that for you instead of having to take questionable substances, I'm sure you'd find a very active market...
Punter
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So the top two units in this setup are separate DAC's for the left and right channels??? What's next ?? Hang on, I've had a brainwave. The next stack should be ELEVEN units, yes ELEVEN! How would this be achieved and still maintain believability in the audiophool community, simple, each channel will consist of a separate DAC for Low, Mid and High frequencies! Naturally, this will require two power supply units as the demands from the DAC channels will be substantial (at least 1000mA).
So totally using your imagination?
Storied brand of bullshit !
Why not separate positive and negative DAC if you use XLR with some kind of extra box to connect the signals to the xlr cable 
with separate psu for each . Then we can have 6 boxes per channel
with separate psu for each . Then we can have 6 boxes per channel 
DSJR
Master Contributor
I think when I got to know of the brand twenty-five years or so back, the performance really was at or close to state of the art and, in our extreme ignorance, the 'art' of separate boxes kind-of added respect back then - Naim and then Cyrus had been doing this for years in their upgrade ladder style of selling-up, adding power supplies and so on, so we were kind of conditioned to separating out parts that perhaps could/should be better integrated, so why not do that in the digital domain too?
SMSL, Topping, Schiit and a host of others should be so damned good for a couple of hundred quid/hundred bucks
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This looks like it's been built onto the side of a portable oil heater. A strange-looking thing indeed!
I will never forget the truly appalling dCS quote from the recent debacle of their own creation: "I am neither your mommy nor your therapist". Never would I give them my money.
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