Michael Fremer, in his January 2014 review of dCS's four-piece Vivaldi system ($114,996), of which the Vivaldi DAC is part, called it "the best non–digital-sounding digital system I've heard." John Atkinson, in his measurements for that…
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John Atkinson asked me to review the dCS Network Bridge ($4250), which was designed to be paired not just with the dCS Vivaldi DAC ($35,999) running the current v.2.02 software, but with any DAC. This meant I was forced to endure several months with the state-of-the-art Vivaldi as a replacement for my reference dCS Rossini ($23,999). Oh, how I suffered.
After everything settled in, I used the Bridge app to play the first movement of Lou Harrison's Concerto for Violin with Percussion Orchestra, with soloist Tim Fain and Angel Gil-Ordóñez conducting the Post-Classical Ensemble (24/48 WAV, Naxos 8.559825/HDtracks). The Bridge-Vivaldi combo painted the solo violin and percussion with far more believable body and substance than I'd heard before, at home or at audio shows. Textures of drums, gongs, and chimes were far more realistic and transparent, with copious air around percussion. I was astounded by the percussion's lifelike visceral impact…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I took these measurements while setting up the SVS SB16-Ultra, to optimize its match with my Quad speakers by adjusting the sub's position. Although I used the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) module of Studio Six Digital's AudioTools, my measurements should not be compared with the in-room responses taken by John Atkinson that accompany all loudspeaker reviews published in Stereophile. Mine were taken in a room very different from his, and JA uses a better microphone, and bases his averaged results on more data points.
I took my measurements with Studio Six…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Network player/Roon endpoint. Inputs: Ethernet, Apple AirPlay, USB 2.0 (data), 2 word clock (BNC). Outputs: 2 AES/EBU on (3-pin XLR), for PCM output up to 24-bit/384kHz or DSD128 in DoP when used as dual AES; S/PDIF (coax RCA), for PCM output up to 24/192 or DSD64 in DoP; SDIF-2 (BNC), for PCM output up to 24/96 or SDIF-2 DSD64; word-clock (BNC), for PCM data up to 96kHz.
Dimensions: 14.2" (360mm) W by 2.65" (67mm) H by 9.65" (245mm) D. Weight: 10.2 lbs (4.6kg).
Finishes: Silver, Black.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 0052911.
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: dCS Paganini SACD/CD transport & Rossini, Vivaldi, & Mytek HiFi's Manhattan II DACs & Scarlatti clock; Oppo Digital UDP-205 universal BD player; Intel NUC7i7BNH computer with 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, running Roon; Apple MacBook Pro computer with Intel i7, SSD, 8GB RAM; Apple iPad Pro; external hard drives, USB sticks.
Power Amplifiers: Pass Laboratories XA200.8 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Diamond (FireWire, Ethernet), Nordost Odin 1 & Odin 2 & Valhalla 2…
In 1990, when Stereophile was still headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I was reviewing the Eclipse loudspeaker from a new Coloradan company, Avalon. The company's principals, Neil Patel and Charley Hansen, visited to set up the speakers in my listening room, and during that visit Charley and I talked speakers. And more speakers. And even more speakers. I was enormously impressed by his grasp not only of the engineering involved, but also of the larger issues of audio reproduction. I felt that what had taken me two decades to learn and understand was just the starting point for this "kid…
At age 16, South African soprano Pretty Yende (b. 1985) encountered the now legendary British Airways TV commercial whose soundtrack included the gorgeous "Flower Duet" from Délibes's Lakmé. Astounded, she immediately went to her high school teacher in the small town of Piet Retief, about 200 miles from Johannesburg, to ask what kind of music she had heard. When she learned that it was opera, she knew almost immediately that she wanted to be an opera singer.
As in fairy tales come true, eight years later, Yende entered the young artists' program at the house where Maria Callas reigned, La…
The January 2018 issue of Stereophile, which will hit newsstands at the end of this week, features GoldenEar Technology's flagship Triton Reference loudspeaker on its cover, with a review inside from John Atkinson. When GoldenEar's co-founder and president Sandy Gross visited JA last July to set the speakers up in his Brooklyn listening room, John asked Sandy about his loudspeaker design goals, his preferences in sound quality, his tastes in audio, and the state of the high-end audio market.
As the day this video was shot was one of the hottest days in the New York summer and JA'…
Loudspeaker manufacturer SVS is embarking on a launch event tour for its new 4000 Series subwoofers. These free events will feature prize giveaways, home-theater demos of the new subwoofers, and a presentation by SVS president Gary Yacoubian, as well as "festive" local refreshments.
The next event will take place at Electronics Expo (491 US 46W, Wayne, NJ 07470) 6–8pm, Tuesday December 5. Please RSVP here.
Following events include Starpower Home Theater & Audio/Video (15340 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75248), 6–8pm, December 7—RSVP—Primetime Audio Video (6917 East State Street…
The King's Singers: A Contemporary Collection
Works by Peter Dickinson, Malcolm Williamson, Richard Rodney Bennett, Krzystof Penderecki, Paul Patterson
EMI EMD 5521 (UK LP). MMG Records MMG 1142 (US LP). 1975. Christopher Bishop, prod.
Works by Peter Dickinson, Malcolm Williamson, Richard Rodney Bennett, Krzystof Penderecki, Paul Patterson
EMI EMD 5521 (UK LP). MMG Records MMG 1142 (US LP). 1975. Christopher Bishop, prod.
Astounding performances! Every piece here was commissioned by the King's Singers, those six English gentlemen whose vocal artistry surely has never been surpassed. The works here are by Peter Dickinson, Malcolm Williamson (recently appointed by HRH Elizabeth II to the post of Master of the Queen's Musick, succeeding the late Sir Arthur Bliss),…