British genius…
It’s the best disc spinner I’ve ever heard, but even at dCS’s own demo’s I’ve only heard it with CD, and that goes back to when it first came out around 2013. It proved to me that 16/44 is the future as for most audiophiles it still has untapped potential.
British genius for normal people …
1 Like
…when you concentrate your musical preference towards an instrumentation level like jazz trio, string quartets or folk singers, because this sounds best on your stereo…
3 Likes
Despite all the noise to the contrary, I suspect you may be an audiophile if you think a $5,600 network interface for audio is “for normal people”.
It is an interesting box. $3,750 used over here - if you can find one; was $4,250 when it came out 3 years ago, and the current number above is from a US dealer. Not entirely sure what the reasons are for the current price differential.
It is really sorta bugging me how every network streaming/serving/playing device these days seems to do different things in different ways in different combinations with different I/O. But I suppose that’s like asking that there be a single standard of audio format. Ain’t gonna happen.
As one small example (if I’m remembering this right - just read several reviews), dCS’s Vivaldi DAC ($36k for just the DAC piece of the 4-box $100+k deal) was/is USB in ONLY. The NBR has NO USB outputs. 
1 Like
4427 SACDs.
If you are expensive enough, you can reduce functionality and connectivity as a feature … see Apple (which I like anyway) 
These 11 manufactures currently support those SACD titles with players.
Arcam
dCS
Denon
Esoteric
Luxman
Marantz
Mark Levinson
PS Audio
T+A
Technics
Yamaha
1 Like
Boxes are in trunk of car!
My Innuos Zen Mk3 cost about $2,500 including the 20% sales tax. I primarily use it to host Roon, hence also my music library and Qobuz. I have a lot of downloads that are not available to stream so I need a library. The Innuos was not much more than a QNAP, which was an option, and much better designed for music.
The dCS Vivaldi has multiple digital inputs, including four AES/EBU, as their preferred input is Dual AES/EBU. It is widely considered THE reference DAC.
Apple are very clever and rightfully successful in telling their customers what is good for them. That was the genius of Steve Jobs. It forces you to buy in to their approach by denying the customer options.
The MacBook Pro really is a fabulous product, I also use Mac mini for desktop with BenQ screens (I don’t like Apple screens), the mini has Crucial third party RAM kits and I use a Samsung phone. I do not buy in to one brand.
Sweartogod, I have the hardest time understanding what you’re thinking when you hit “reply” to a specific post and write (yet again) about what you own, inferring you’ve got it all sorted; how great British gear is (except uh, some French stuff), etc. - as if it was in some way a response to the post you’re replying to.
This is when you’re not writing with snark and disdain about audiophiles, of course.
2 Likes
You might be an audiophile if you read a review that says, “At a price of $65,000, these speakers are a reasonable buy.” and you don’t blink an eye. 
3 Likes
You might be an audiophile if you post snarky comments on audio forums.
2 Likes
I’m guilty on both counts!
2 Likes
… if you read the third non-fiction book on room acoustics, after watching all available YT videos on the subject matter, knowing that all dreams of installing any of the bass traps and ceiling treatments you know would change in oder of magnitude more than the last thousands you spend on power supplies will stay dreams. And still you are on the search for the optimal ceiling fixation system for these absorbers.
To sum it up: Being fully prepared for hopeless dreams might be a good indicator.
PS: not to forget that constantly convincing yourself how everyone will understand the necessity of these PSU investment once that Room treatment, which won’t happen, is installed…
2 Likes
Your soundroom chair produces the most gratifying, emotion inducing, memory recollecting, goosebump hair-raising, occasional tear inducing experience that, although you want to share the experience of the moment with everyone – you realize you simply can’t. It is the most gratifying, solitary, un-shareable thing in your life. You can demo it for your friends, but you can’t demo your experience.
4 Likes
…if your wife’s knowledge status is, that all your equipment was either won, donated, rent, traded or under 250$.
1 Like
That’s friggin hilarious.
Dont underestimate dCS capacity of being complex, and selling you more than you need.
The Vivaldi dac sports:
- 1 usb connection
- 1 toslink
- 4 aes/ebu, for dual connection, in order to pass DSDx2 signal (they abandoned the IEE1394 - firewire - connection they used on Scarlatti)
- 1SDIF (yes, SDIF connection), that demand 1 BNC for left, 1 BNC for right and 1 BNC for clock info
- 2 SPDIF RCA
-1 SPDIF BNC - 3 clock-in BNC
-1clock-out BNC
Amazing connectivity, aint it? And think that normally you would only need one, max 2 of these inputs.
The best connectivity management I know is from the modular structure from MSB. they only sell what you really need. But for a very hefty price.