dCS Network Bridge

[kblundy]

I had the chance to chat with dCS about this yesterday at the Windsor HiFi show.

 

The box is diskless and will be available late this year.

 

It has great connectivity - a bit like an Auralic Aries but does not have a USB audio output. It has support for master clock input and will also output a master clock derived from the data-stream and its own internal clock. The box has two AES/EBU outputs and can work in both single ended dual AES modes.

 

The box will have Roon support and will launch with Tidal and Spotify also - Qubuz to follow.

 

It will have its own control App and can work with any UPNP server.

 

It looks and feels quality - as you would expect.

[kblundy]

I am demoing one at the moment vs N100H - its very good seems bigger in presentation but with all the subtly that the N100H delivers - early days but so far so good.

 

 

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[kblundy]

Somewhat related. I just auditioned a Denali 6000t and plugging my N100h into that made a nice difference.

I've considered the DCS but my Bricasti can't take dual AES and a single wouldn't allow DSD.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Computer Audiophile

 

Single AES works fine for DSD64

 

 

 

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[kblundy]

Good to hear, BTW have you done any USB and/or LAN optimization on the N100H, or is it just 'straight up'?

 

Will be interesting to see which one you prefer after extended listening.

 

Please update us, when ready.

 

;-)

 

The N100H is fed from a Melco N1 currently with Melco LAN cables and the USB cable is a AQ diamond. This has made a big difference to the N100H.

 

The DCS is running straight from the LAN with stock cables - having tried swapping things around yet.

 

 

 

 

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[kblundy]

Well - I have been using the Network Bridge for a couple of weeks now and I am starting to form a conclusion.

 

Initial impressions were quite good - but on extended listening, the Bridge is almost completely on a par with the N100H. Both have been playing into a dCS Scarlatti system. 

 

Using the N100H with Stillpoints, Grounded in to a Entreq Silver Tellus and using a Entreq SPDIF cable the sound is controlled and very musical - with a wide and deep soundstage. The Network Bridge without any of these goodies was good - but lacked the base control and sound-staging. Swapping a few things around - adding the Stillpoints and the SPDIF cable - got things much closer.

 

So is there a difference between the devices? At this stage with Firmware V1.0 the answer would be not really. The addition of Roon in the Bridge is very useful - but doesn't warrant the price at this point. Qobuz isn't supported on the Bridge as yet and it seems that is still work in progress. As with most things in the dCS camp - I would expect great things in the coming months as the firmware is updated - but today it is probably no better than the Aurender. 

 

I will keep listening for a few more weeks but it's not making sense at the moment to upgrade to a similar level product with the hope of things to come.

 

I am reliably informed that the new Melco N1Z products will likely be a much more interesting proposition - so I think it makes sense to try one of those at some point as an upgrade to my N1A.

 

Anyone else had the opportunity to listen yet?

[kblundy]

On 14/06/2017 at 3:30 AM, wdw said:

Would love to hear if this has been done as well

I use mine with a dCS Scarlatti master clock - it's fantastic.

 

the sound stage opens way up when used in a system where all the components are synced to a master clock.

[kblundy]

45 minutes ago, pam1975 said:

Thanks @kblundy

I am getting my dCS network bridge next week and was hesitating between their Rossini master clock and potentially another one in the dCS range but don't know what is the best match for the network bridge? Also what is the price point of the Scarlatti master clock?

 

If you don't have any other components in the Scarlatti system - you should go for the Rossini.

 

The Scarlatti range was the flagship until mid 2015 when it was replaced with the Vivaldi.

 

The Bridge ideally needs two master clock inputs 44.1K and 48K based. The Rossini can provide those if you are using it with the Rossini DAC.

 

The Scarlatti clock will only produce a single master clock - the rate of which can be changed to suit.

 

What DAC / Upsampler do you have?

 

[kblundy]

13 minutes ago, pam1975 said:

@kblundy I will use the dCS network bridge as standalone piece, meaning with no other dCS piece associated to it.

I bought myself Kii Three active speakers (which are absolutely stunning by the way) and they embed their own internal DAC as well. So I go straight from the dCS network bridge to my active Kii Three Speakers in AES.

As such, would the Rossini master clock be the best fit for purpose device? Or I can use any master clock that provides 44.1K and 48K?

The Rossini is an expensive addition if you don't need it for other dCS kit. If you were to try the mutec Mc-3+ that would provide all the clocks you need and is significantly cheaper. I have one of these and have tried with the bridge - it works fine. 

[kblundy]

On 28/06/2017 at 2:09 PM, r_w said:

 

Doh, LOL... I should really learn to read.

 

Sound like a reasonable comparison then.

 

There are still variables here - the cable used, the siting of the dCS vs the Naim etc. 

 

On my dCS NB using a entreq premium cable on the spdif out vs an exellent wireworld digital on AES is night and day - the spdif slaughters the AES. 

 

Also, place some Stillpoints under the NB and it will take on a much more focused solid presentation.

 

its really difficult to do a true comparison - as a small change can often have 

Significant effects.

 

if you add a master clock input to the NB it will again move many steps up.

 

 

 

 

[kblundy]

13 hours ago, flummoxe said:

 Hi kblundy,

 

Can I ask what DAC you're using with the dCS Network Bridge?

 

Thanks

DCS Scarlatti 

[kblundy]

11 hours ago, pam1975 said:

I added a Mutec MC3+ USB today as external masterclock and felt the SQ improvement was minor.

 

Interesting though about SPDIF beating AES, I assumed it would be the contrary!

My point wasn't about the spdif vs the AES outputs but the effects of cables connected to them.

 

its all about system tweaking. I have heard much better improvements in presentation by tweaking with stillpoints and Entreq cables and grounding than buying yet another piece of kit. 

 

You have to hear it in your system to see if it makes sense. 

[kblundy]

I sold my dCS NB - we had been promised upgrades that would have made it works with my Scarlatti system - including controlling the clock frequency and providing a USB audio out - but it didn't occur. So I sold it and spend the money ugrading my Melco server to the N1Zs/2 EX - blew the NB away. If you need the connectivity of SPDIF / AES etc - I would look at adding in a miniDSP SD Studio - all the connectivity you need and you can also use it to do room correction if needed. The miniDSP aslo is a roon endpoint.