Changes at dCS

English digital audio company dCS has announced a major change in its management and ownership structure. David Steven, marketing manager for the last four years, has purchased the majority shareholding in the company. Derek Fuller, who was the business manager, has left the company, while Mike Story, dCS's founder, will continue as chief digital designer. A dCS press release says that the change should result in "products and programs that have a much more customer-centric focus."

In other news, the dCS Verdi LaScala upsampling transport, one of Stereophile's two Joint Digital Products for 2005, has been transformed into the Verdi Encore by the addition of two digital inputs which will be activated by a software CD update, available in the "not too distant" future. Price, basic spec, and performance are said to remain the same. "This change has been planned for some time," said dCS, "following the cessation of production of the previously used mechanism. It also enables dCS to increase the use of a common software platform through a range of players and transports, making development and design times shorter."

Stereophile has just taken delivery of a review sample of the UK company's first one-box SACD player, the P8i, which was premiered at Home Entertainment 2005 last May. Further members of the P8i family will be demonstrated at next month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

dCS consumer products are distributed in the US by Audiophile Systems, 8709 Castle Park Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46256. Tel: (317) 841-4100. Fax: (317) 841-4107.

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