Description: Upsampling Network D/A processor with volume control and remote control. Roon Ready and compatible with AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and UPnP. Streaming from Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, and internet radio. File playback of PCM, DSD, and MQA from NAS, external drive, or USB stick via dCS Mosaic Control app or other playback software. Automatic upsampling to DXD, DSD64, or DSD128. Filters: 6forPCM,4forDSD,1for MQA. Digital inputs: Network (Ethernet RJ45) accepts up to PCM 24/384 and DSD128 in DFF or DSF format; USB-B 2.0 accepts up to 24/384 and DSD128 in DoP format; USB-A accepts up to 24/384 and DSD128 in DFF/DSF format; 2 × AES3 inputs on 3-pin female XLR connectors accept up to 24/192 PCM and DSD128 in DoP format; one Dual AES pair accepts from 24/88.2–384 and DSD128 in DoP format; 1 × S/PDIF (RCA) accepts up to 24/192 and DSD64 in DoP format; 1 × S/PDIF (BNC) accepts up to 24/192 and DSD64 in DoP format; 1 × S/PDIF optical (TosLink) accepts up to 24/96 PCM. Full decoding and rendering of MQA from network and USB2 ports. RS232 interface. Analog outputs: 1 pair balanced (XLR), 1 pair single-ended (RCA). Output levels: selectable 0.2V, 0.6V, 2V, 6V RMS. Output impedance, XLR: 3 ohms. Output impedance, RCA: 52 ohms. Minimum load: 600 ohms (10k–100k ohms recommended). Word Clock inputs: BNC, accepts standard Word Clock at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, or 192kHz; data rate can be the same or an exact multiple. Word Clock output: BNC. Upsampling to DXD, DSD64, or DSD128. Residual noise for 24-bit data: Better than –113dB, 20Hz–20kHz unweighted at 6V output setting. L/R crosstalk: <–105dB, 20Hz–20kHz. Power consumption: 23W (typical), 28W maximum.
Dimensions: 17.5" (444mm) W × 5"(125mm) H × 17.2" (435mm) D. Weight: 34.3lb (15.6kg).
Finish: Silver or Black.
Serial number of unit reviewed: RSD59579. Manufactured in the UK.
Price: $32,800. dCS-installed Apex upgrade: $9000. Approximate number of dealers: 24. Warranty: 3 years, parts & labor, for original owner, from date originally shipped from dCS.
Manufacturer: dCS (Data Conversion Systems), Ltd., Unit 1, Buckingway Business Park, Anderson Rd., Swavesey, Cambridge CB24 4AE, England, UK. US distributor: Data Conversion Systems Americas, LLC, PNC Bank Bldg., 300 Delaware Ave., Suite 210, Wilmington, DE 19801. Tel: (302) 473-9050. Web: dcsaudio.com.
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COMMENTS
If someone showed that pcb to me
https://www.stereophile.com/images/922dcs.ins.jpg
And said it was an R2R ladder dac, I'd believe them. Please enlighten me, is a RingDac dac, R2R based??? I never saw R2R dac chip or discrete in Arcam's DCS ring dac players when replacing laser.
Cheers George
Based on this (and also the article PDF):
https://dcs.community/t/dcs-ring-dac-a-technical-explanation/2724/20
The dcs RingDAC technology appears to be a multibit (5-bit) SDM system upsampled to rates like 2.8-6.1MHz depending on the model. There's a first step oversampling to 768kHz which is presumably also where the digital filtering options are applied.
With faster technology over time, these numbers can certainly increase with each generation. Not sure if necessarily needed or will imply better sound quality. Objective results look excellent already!
Given that DACs, such as the $700 Topping D90SE, routinely reach 21 bits of resolution (with one or two reviewed in Stereophile having 22), what is it about this particular DAC that justifies it being priced at more than ten times that amount?
If it sounds better, even just a little, that might be worth the price to some.
I enjoyed this review, and I appreciated that Mr. Serinus did a comparison of DACs, but I just wish he'd go that extra step and make it double-blind. That would eliminate so much doubt and justified skepticism. It would really be an endorsement of the product and its technology. I would be more willing to BUY this product after a double-blind ABX.
Would be real interesting to do a blind A/B with those two.
However I do with Redbook PCM CD replay believe in R2R dacs, they just sound more "fleshed out" to me.
Cheers George
Or even just a direct recording from the outputs in 24/96 using a hi-res ADC and listen to the difference. (I've done this over the years accompanying DAC measurements/reviews - do a search on "Archimago AMPT" if you haven't heard these.)
I would be very surprised to hear a big difference comparing the Topping D90SE/LE vs. this DAC in a volume-controlled set-up.
There is not much excuse to avoid blind ABX when it comes to DACs. It's not so easy to do with speakers or amps or preamps or cables. But with DACs, it's the same source feeding two DACs, into a single pre. Someone else does the switching (ideally the switching is done randomly by a machine-- these exist) and then the listener aims to identify which DAC is delivering the music. I can't see how anyone could object to this, except for the manufacturer and/or reviewer who realizes that there's no detectable difference. Come on Stereophile, how about for DACs, let's use the scientific method!
PS: I forgot to add, for ABX, the two DACs would need to be level matched, so it's more complicated than I stated at first. The path to knowledge is NOT EASY.
the analog stage - which is the sole object of the apex update - is the most important part of a dac; thankfully dcs realized it at last.
I am told the upgrade involved three things:
1- Better current sources to the Ring DAC
2- Improved trace locations in the Ring DAC board
3- Improved analog output stage
Best I can say is just go for a listen. If you cannot tell the difference, then you can save a lot of money. I just upgraded my Rossini to Apex and can very much tell the difference. YMMV.
Or at least you imagine that you can. Placebo is a powerful thing.
...skills, a highly resolving stereo system, a nice room, and great music!
I ask because, if you do not, your comment immediately presents as breathtakingly pretentious. But if you do know him, I will gladly retract my observation.
Also, I do not respond to such comments, which are based on nothing else but prejudice.
For all of the expense DCS could have at least added an HDMI input for high resolution playback from Blu-ray and SACD players. It is a severely limited product. I suppose they couldn't afford the licensing fee.
You can buy a dCS transport, or do what I do and rip the SACDs to DSD files and play them directly - you can use Roon, Audirvana, or the internal player either with a connected hard drive or over UPnP. I have done all of the above.
If you really want to use something like a BluRay player to play both SACDs and BluRay discs (eg with an Oppo or similar), you can get one of those little $100 boxes on eBay that will produce a digital stream from the HDMI signal into a SPDIF signal - it works with BluRay hi res audio (PCM) and with SACDs (over DoP, which by the way dCS invented). I have one such box and works great (but I don't really use it).
I should add that playing from a consumer BluRay player is not really the market segment for this product.
Better yet would be for DCS to have HDMI like Bryston, T+A, McIntosh and a few other notable high end companies. There's many audio only Blu-Ray discs out there.
how can I do that? tx in advance
best
HB72
how can I do that?
See https://www.stereophile.com/content/music-round-93-minidsp-ripping-sacds-page-2.
John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile
About 7yrs ago I purchased an old Sony PS3 with a specific firmware that allowed me to run a piece of software to rip SACDs to ISO files, then convert those to DSD files. Recently my PS3 started flaking out so I seeked other means.
I looked into the Oppos I had heard about but as you might know the Oppos are not made anymore and the few that would do this ripping and are in good shape sell for inordinate amounts of money.
Turns out today you can use a large number of DVD players, most of which you can easily get on eBay for $20-$30, and by putting together a USB drive to initialize the DVD player and using some software on your computer, you can very easily rip SACDs directly into DSD files.
Follow this thread: https://www.psaudio.com/copper/article/down-the-rabbit-hole-of-sacd-ripping-and-dsd-extraction/
I use a Sony BDP-S5100, which I got basically brand new on eBay for about $30. Works amazingly well.
I don't know why they are lying, nothing has changed compared to the original version, and the technology used is some old stocks of xilinx chips that are more than 10 years old, completely ridiculous, so I guess everyone understands what it means to be 10 or more years behind in digital technology
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