dCS Rossini DAC Reviews

I have Rossini Dac before I changed to MSB Premier.  It is a very good and musical Dac and has the network input which I always prefer. The sound is more analog than many DACs I have used before.  The only feature or design I do not like is the clock which requires separate input of 44.1kHz and 48kHz.  There is not much choice of external clock without manually changing the frequency according to the sample rate of the file to be played and leaving its Rossini clock  to be the only alternative. 

If one do not insist on Ethernet input and ladder dac, you may have a lot of choice well below the price range of Rossini Dac.

Not having access to a local dealer my experience with DCS was instigated on faith. I first bought a  used Debussy and was very impressed. Compared to the PS Audio Directstream I had or the DACs in my Trinnov Altitude 16 which are both very good,  it was no contest..... for me.  Bear in mind, my opinion at this point was at this level you are getting into the realm of preference over superiority, but for me the Debussy was clearly preferred. I don't have all of the flowery words of a reviewer, but it was just more there, more analog, just sounds more like the real thing. I thought I was done for a while until I came across a used Rossini with clock at a good price so I took another leap of faith. OMG. I am now clearly out of the realm of preference. The Rossini is without a doubt way above the level of the other DACs I mentioned. It does everything the Debussy did that so enamored me to it but takes it to a completely different level. Highly recommended.

you can see my system on Audiogon under Herman

Mac Mini running Roon, Uptone power supply/fan mod

Cisco 2960 ethernet switch modified with TCXO clock and removal of switching power supply

Linear 12V power supply for Mini and switch (eBay Chinese that some companies rebrand and sell for a premium)

DCS Rossini with Rossini Clock

Placette passive preamp balanced

Pass XA30.8 power amp

Avantgarde DUO Omega with 16 foot DIY bass horns

Cardas Clear XLR interconnects

Cards Clear Cygnus speaker cables, tri-wire

The dCS Rossini is currently one of my reference DACs. I haven't taken it out of my system for over a year. It's that good. Sure it's expensive, but it's got everything.

Here is my full review for those interested: