Article: dCS Rossini DAC Review

[blaven]

 I have been reading the comments with great interest as I am presently considering either a Berkeley reference 2 MQA or DCS Rossini (and trying to figure out how much stuff I can sell /trade to be able to purchase either of these.  Hence interest in eliminating my pre for sale/trade and having either go directly to my amp)

 

 I just listened to both of them at Quintessence Audio in Chicago. 

 

I liked both, and ultimately ended up leaving there telling them I would like to hear them in my own system. I tremendously agree with those here who have said you need to live with a product in your own system. It is very difficult to tell the acoustic signature of an isolated product in a full system at an audio show. There are so many other uncontrolled variables present. You are ultimately hearing the acoustic signature of the entire system and environment. The same goes if you are hearing it at an audio store  and tremendously agree with those here who have said you need to live with a product in your own system. It is impossible to tell the acoustic signature of a product at an audio show. There so many other variables that are not controlled. You are ultimately hearing the acoustic signature of the entire system, and environment. The same goes if you are hearing it at an audio store in their system. 

 

 I love the idea of having the DAC directly drive the amplifier but I’ve never tried it. 

 

Most people whom I have interacted with in audio circles tend to not be computer audio folk like us. They universally have been against this. I am curious for a number of reasons, not the least of which it would allow me a lot more money on trade-in, as well as Rackspace, to get rid of my audio research REF 6 preamp (which I happen to think is the bees knees and absolutely amazing by the way )

 

 So my question stems from my love of vinyl as well. I’m one of these odd guys on this forum loves computer audio, but does also love vinyl, and appreciate what it brings to the table which clearly is different—Even from world-class digital reproduction.   This is off-topic to get into a discussion of vinyl versus digital, but I would like to continue listening to vinyl  which would seem too obviously necessitate the use of a preamplifier.  That being said, there are some pretty clever people in these forums and maybe somebody has other thoughts on another way to accomplish said task as most DACs do not have analog inputs

 

So, I guess my question is whether or not there are any slick options to have a turntable and  somehow get that signal to a digital preamplifier if I would abandon my ARC REF6. What sounds like is the only option out there is some sort of a DAC /pre  that has a phono input-I believe someone had commented on this being a possibility with MSB?

 

 Just curious if anybody has any thoughts on this specifically.  For those of us who have a love for vinyl, it sounds like we probably need to have a true preamplifier and not remove it from the chain?

 

 

 

Thanks all. Have a great weekend. 

 

Present system:

Aurender S10–Berkeley alpha USB—Meitner MA1–ARC REF 6 Pre—ARC REF 110–Vandersteen Quattro CT

 

Project Debut Carbon — ARC REF Phono 3–ARC REF6–etc. 

 

 

 

[blaven]

 By the way, as an aside, love Dylan. Absolutely would start with Blood on the Tracks.  There are certainly songs on other albums that I prefer but man the sound on that album is just awesome. It’s so eminently listenable and just makes me feel good right from the first notes of Tangled up in Blue. Its an an easy entrance point to Dylan. 

 

 Also, as a shameless plug for my present DAC, I will be looking to sell my Meitner MA1 on this site in the near future for those interested-I am the second owner (the first owner being Ted here on CA)

 

Thanks for thoughts. 

 

By the way Chris, I really value your reviews-I don’t believe you have ever reviewed any of the MSB offerings and I don’t even know where there is a dealer near me but it would be interesting to read one of your reviews on their equipment. 

[blaven]

Sure does help.  Thanks!

My analog stuff is nowhere near as nice as my digital, but even with an entry level Project turntable, it puts out amazing sound so I definitely won't be giving it up. I really do appreciate your thoughts.

 

I will have the Rossini and Berkeley both in my system shortly,  and try to get a sense of how much I like them and their different tonal characteristics.

 

I may or may not try to directly drive my audio research amplifier but I can't really think of any other way to listen to the vinyl without a quality preamp and phono-pre, so don't see much point and driving the speakers directly with the DAC, and likely will continue going through the preamp..