Author Archives: Chris Thomas

World News

dCS APEX digital converter upgrades

Posted on by Chris Thomas

In 2017, dCS provided house owners an improve with a wholly new set of mapping algorithms for his or her Ring DAC. It was software-based, extremely efficient and free. It lifted the efficiency of the Vivaldi DAC I was utilizing notably and was very effectively value having. It additionally gave a sign that dCS have been going to proceed to increase the musical potentialities of their tools by their Product Development Department and that house owners might look ahead to future upgrades as applied sciences moved ahead. Just a few years have handed and now dCS are providing a brand new and rather more profound improve, solely this time it’s hardware-based and it prices. But what a step ahead it’s!

It’s referred to as The Ring DAC APEX {hardware}, or simply APEX for brief. The newest manufacturing variations of related merchandise now carry the APEX suffix. But it’s also provided as a complete improve within the type of a brand new essential board as discovered contained in the Vivaldi DAC, Vivaldi One plus the Rossini DAC and the Rossini participant.

dCS Ring DAC APEX

The Ring DAC (now round 30 years outdated) plus its controlling software program are on the centre of the revisions, although the analogue output phases have additionally undergone growth. This is the very coronary heart of the system so though the DAC upgrades are primarily the principle APEX function, figuring out dCS I doubt they let the chance to work on different particulars move them by. They would most likely name it ‘housekeeping’. But the outcomes are really fascinating and past what I used to be anticipating.

Conception and implementation

Director of Product Development at dCS, Chris Hales and his group started their work effectively over a 12 months in the past with an intense take a look at current efficiency parameters. This concerned growing new, bespoke instruments to analyse by exact measurement the place enhancements is likely to be made. But when you think about the large complexity of each the Ring DAC and its accompanying software program help techniques it’s not arduous to know how a base level was a necessary beginning place. The best journeys start with a single step. As the efficiency of the Ring DAC already exceeded the capabilities of typical measuring tools, Chris says that designing and implementing new measuring platforms was crucial. Adding to that was a well-known dilemma, maybe associated to The Observer Effect, the place the measuring system itself needed to be of such a regular that it could not itself introduce distortions, noise or bandwidth limitations to offer the engineers deceptive info. So, what may appear a comparatively easy proposition of creating enhancements now takes on new a number of ranges of complexity and certainly potential jeopardy. The analogue output stage of the DAC has all the time been accessible in each balanced and single-ended configurations with switchable output ranges to swimsuit varied preamp enter sensitivities. I’ve all the time most popular single-ended and the 6V output. In truth I are inclined to take the single-ended possibility every time it’s provided through the years as I often discover it extra open. Also I’ve all the time most popular together with a preamplifier as a substitute of driving the facility amplifier straight from the DAC. The APEX has challenged each of those views. Work has been achieved on the 2V output too to convey it nearer to the extra highly effective and punchy 6V possibility, my selection for its drive and rhythmic freedom. Post APEX, I’m now fortunately settled on the balanced outputs.

How does it sound?

In a phrase, improbable… and but curiously totally different to what I used to be anticipating. For a few months previous to the APEX improve turning into accessible and in anticipation of its arrival I had use of a Vivaldi One, the restricted version single field SACD participant/digital hub. A extra excellent synthesis of digital parts in a single compact house, it’s arduous to think about. In a phrase, it’s a magnificent technique to entry digital music.

Now, at this stage of the assessment it’s vitally necessary that I set up that the Vivaldi One in commonplace trim had already set the bar very excessive. Yet, inside the first couple of hours I understood that APEX had pushed again the boundaries by defining an entire new stage of musical efficiency. In no means have been these the small element enhancements I used to be anticipating. This was a brand new type and form of sound and the change shouldn’t be refined.

dCS Ring DAC APEX

Since the Vivaldi and its stablemates have arrived the dCS sound has all the time had the power to convey you nearer to the music. But this entire APEX-effect is one thing else completely. Close to the music has develop into nose to nose with it and the tales and views that move out of the APEX-based merchandise are in a brand new world for dCS.

There will be few actual upgrades that don’t retrospectively counsel decrease background noise and APEX isn’t any totally different. But the sense of black nothingness that lies deep inside the manufacturing of a lot music and towards which the recordings exist is totally hanging. This have to be indirectly a part of the explanation why the pure depth of the accessible musical stage appears to have expanded in all dimensions. This stunning re-arrangement of recorded views is thrilling. The bodily distances between the lower-level content material and the solo contributions definitely stunned me at first and some months and several other thousand songs later, they nonetheless have that energy. The musical layering that the APEX brings is excellent. Now, close-miked vocal or the up entrance soloist strikes sharply throughout the room to inside touching distance. When you hear the pure depth and distinction between the background or ambient instrumentation that simply occurs means within the distance and set towards the blackness of nothingness, it brings an entire new curiosity and depth to listening. The soundstage has been radically expanded. But the bass grabs you instantly. It is cleaner, has an intensely focussed forefront and may be very highly effective. It simply drives by time and house with huge agility and carries the remainder of the music together with it.

Musical boundaries

It makes me suppose that I can not hear the musical boundaries that in a way are the system’s limitations of time and house. I believed I knew my Wilson Duette 2’s so much higher than I apparently do. Listening to Bailero from Songs Of The Auvergne, a chunk I do know passably effectively was a revelation. It was one of many very first items I requested the APEX to unravel for me.

Satin clean rendering of tonal colors and shading added to a sense that the devices have been gliding in house with excellent projection and a delicate movement towards this sea of silence. Then the vocal emerged, magnificently transferring, but sympathetic to the orchestral color wash as that ebbed and flowed mysteriously someplace within the distance. It was a subtly altering and nuanced expression of an orchestral tonal palette. As the system spoke I used to be loving not solely how totally different it was however simply how stunning the piece had grown. I all the time admired it however now it was so musically ethereal and quietly highly effective. It commanded my full consideration, drew me in and invited me to hear ever extra intently. I couldn’t tear myself away from it. As it ended I famous down that, taking into account this was the primary piece I had listened to by the APEX, it was nearly one of the best musical debut I had ever heard. The undeniable fact that it wasn’t even run-in crammed me with anticipation.

As the times handed and the music flowed I started to develop ever extra fascinated and intrigued. There was no restrict to the APEX’s potential to attach me to no matter music I used to be enjoying both on CD or streaming by the wonderful dCS Mosaic app. Peter Ostroushko’s Heart Of The Heartland delivered its conventional homespun, plaintive nation melody with a painfully poignant magnificence. The sympathetic gentleness and restraint of the orchestra led by his immaculate Mandolin enjoying inspired me to cease listening to the APEX comparatively and simply let the colorful waves move over me. This is what audio actually must be about. Trusting the system sufficient to attach emotionally with the music, letting it in and listening to what it has to say.

Instrumental comparisons?

Ask any musician. There’s one thing about enjoying an awesome instrument versus merely a very good one. You like one however you’re keen on the opposite and need it since you sense that it has the facility inside it to encourage you. You wish to launch one thing inside your self by it and you understand that you’ll all the time have the ability to faucet into its moods. Great devices usually are not in contrast to nice audio techniques I feel. They each make calls for of you. A fantastic instrument talks by you about emotions, particulars and emotion. Small modifications are a lot extra significant and profound. It tells a narrative each time you play it. The nearer you hear, the extra intense the melodies are. The pure tonal color and determination that the APEX attracts from the music, the larger your understanding and consciousness of musical eloquence by phrasing turns into. Open your self to its influences and it’ll inform you tales in a means you’ve got by no means heard earlier than. This is exactly what I’ve been listening to by the APEX and is the principle cause why it’s that significantly better than the older model.

Sob Rock by John Mayer is an attention-grabbing album and ‘Shouldn’t Matter But It Does’ is a kind of break-up songs that you simply sense John has put fairly a little bit of himself into. As it started, the APEX, not for the primary time, caught me unawares. Something totally different was occurring right here it appeared as all of a sudden the light however atmospheric background synth that I hadn’t actually seen earlier than pointing the way in which by the chord modifications. Now it was a way more critical tune with the synth a brilliantly judged counterpoint sweetener for the acidity of the monitor. More bile and bitterness there I believed.

Lone wolf

Drifting by the streaming world of latest experiences whereas trying to fulfill my basic style for the bizarre and obscure I discovered myself within the firm of Sinnika Langeland and her album Wolf Rune. This is an ECM launch and I’ve all the time had a smooth spot for Manfred Eicher’s usually darkish, brooding musical view of the world of sound. This I found, was no totally different. Spacious, mythic music set in sharp aid towards countless, barren Nordic landscapes. Classic Manfred for certain and compelling stuff sung in a language I don’t perceive, which has its personal points of interest. Not a lot in the way in which of foot tapping right here so simply let it occur and go together with it. It’s mysterious and overflowing with small surprises and delights. The Scandi-noir of music maybe? APEX paints expressive photos in sound correct in entrance of your ears they usually inform of a world, in contrast to ours, the place something is feasible and musical conventions and recognisable tempos are of little consequence.

A superb improve

APEX is a superb and completely worthwhile improve to the dCS vary and in case you already personal a appropriate product you’re going to need it. I’d go as far as to say that you simply want it. I might present so many extra examples of the way it labored its magic on me however It speaks for itself musically and likewise for the individuals inside the firm who I feel deserve large congratulations for each designing and delivering it. But, in one other sense, the largest beneficiaries are the artists and producers who make the music we like to take heed to. APEX has definitely given them larger freedom of expression and translated their potential to speak to us of many issues by increasing the vocabulary of their music and our inside connections to it. It actually is that important I feel as a result of emotionally, music has no boundaries and APEX walks that exact path with ease.

Prices and get in touch with particulars

  • Type Upgrade for current dCS house owners (new dCS consumers could have APEX {hardware} fitted as commonplace). Factory match improve solely
  • Specifications as per current dCS platform, usually 12dB larger linearity and decrease noise towards earlier dCS mannequin
  • Ring DAC APEX Hardware is accessible for house owners of the Vivaldi DAC, Vivaldi One, Rossini and Rossini Player.
  • NOTE: Since this assessment was produced, the APEX improve is now accessible for the dCS Bartók DAC. This would be the topic of a later assessment
  • Price improve £6,000; Rossini DAC APEX £28,000; Rossini Player APEX £30,750; Vivaldi DAC APEX £38,500

Manufacturer

dCS

dcsaudio.com

UK Distributor

Absolute Sounds

absolutesounds.com

+44(0)20 8971 3909

Back to Reviews

The submit dCS APEX digital converter upgrades appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

dCS APEX digital converter upgrades

Posted on by Chris Thomas

In 2017, dCS supplied house owners an improve with a completely new set of mapping algorithms for his or her Ring DAC. It was software-based, extremely efficient and free. It lifted the efficiency of the Vivaldi DAC I was utilizing notably and was very properly value having. It additionally gave a sign that dCS had been going to proceed to broaden the musical prospects of their gear by means of their Product Development Department and that house owners might stay up for future upgrades as applied sciences moved ahead. Just a few years have handed and now dCS are providing a brand new and rather more profound improve, solely this time it’s hardware-based and it prices. But what a step ahead it’s!

It’s known as The Ring DAC APEX {hardware}, or simply APEX for brief. The newest manufacturing variations of related merchandise now carry the APEX suffix. But it’s also supplied as a complete improve within the type of a brand new foremost board as discovered contained in the Vivaldi DAC, Vivaldi One plus the Rossini DAC and the Rossini participant.

dCS Ring DAC APEX

The Ring DAC (now round 30 years outdated) plus its controlling software program are on the centre of the revisions, although the analogue output phases have additionally undergone improvement. This is the very coronary heart of the system so though the DAC upgrades are primarily the principle APEX function, understanding dCS I doubt they let the chance to work on different particulars cross them by. They would most likely name it ‘housekeeping’. But the outcomes are really fascinating and past what I used to be anticipating.

Conception and implementation

Director of Product Development at dCS, Chris Hales and his workforce started their work properly over a 12 months in the past with an intense have a look at present efficiency parameters. This concerned growing new, bespoke instruments to analyse by means of exact measurement the place enhancements is perhaps made. But when you think about the large complexity of each the Ring DAC and its accompanying software program help programs it’s not exhausting to know how a base level was a vital beginning place. The biggest journeys start with a single step. As the efficiency of the Ring DAC already exceeded the capabilities of standard measuring gear, Chris says that designing and implementing new measuring platforms was crucial. Adding to that was a well-known dilemma, maybe associated to The Observer Effect, the place the measuring machine itself needed to be of such a typical that it could not itself introduce distortions, noise or bandwidth limitations to provide the engineers deceptive info. So, what might sound a comparatively easy proposition of creating enhancements now takes on new a number of ranges of complexity and certainly potential jeopardy. The analogue output stage of the DAC has all the time been accessible in each balanced and single-ended configurations with switchable output ranges to swimsuit numerous preamp enter sensitivities. I’ve all the time most well-liked single-ended and the 6V output. In truth I are likely to take the single-ended possibility each time it’s supplied over time as I normally discover it extra open. Also I’ve all the time most well-liked together with a preamplifier as an alternative of driving the ability amplifier straight from the DAC. The APEX has challenged each of those views. Work has been performed on the 2V output too to convey it nearer to the extra highly effective and punchy 6V possibility, my alternative for its drive and rhythmic freedom. Post APEX, I’m now fortunately settled on the balanced outputs.

How does it sound?

In a phrase, incredible… and but curiously totally different to what I used to be anticipating. For a few months previous to the APEX improve changing into accessible and in anticipation of its arrival I had use of a Vivaldi One, the restricted version single field SACD participant/digital hub. A extra excellent synthesis of digital elements in a single compact house, it’s exhausting to think about. In a phrase, it’s a magnificent approach to entry digital music.

Now, at this stage of the evaluation it’s vitally necessary that I set up that the Vivaldi One in customary trim had already set the bar very excessive. Yet, inside the first couple of hours I understood that APEX had pushed again the boundaries by defining a complete new stage of musical efficiency. In no means had been these the small element enhancements I used to be anticipating. This was a brand new fashion and form of sound and the change shouldn’t be refined.

dCS Ring DAC APEX

Since the Vivaldi and its stablemates have arrived the dCS sound has all the time had the power to convey you nearer to the music. But this entire APEX-effect is one thing else fully. Close to the music has grow to be head to head with it and the tales and views that circulation out of the APEX-based merchandise are in a brand new world for dCS.

There might be few actual upgrades that don’t retrospectively recommend decrease background noise and APEX isn’t any totally different. But the sense of black nothingness that lies deep inside the manufacturing of a lot music and towards which the recordings exist is completely putting. This should be in a roundabout way a part of the rationale why the pure depth of the accessible musical stage appears to have expanded in all dimensions. This lovely re-arrangement of recorded views is thrilling. The bodily distances between the lower-level content material and the solo contributions actually stunned me at first and some months and a number of other thousand songs later, they nonetheless have that energy. The musical layering that the APEX brings is excellent. Now, close-miked vocal or the up entrance soloist strikes sharply throughout the room to inside touching distance. When you hear the pure depth and distinction between the background or ambient instrumentation that simply occurs means within the distance and set towards the blackness of nothingness, it brings a complete new curiosity and depth to listening. The soundstage has been radically expanded. But the bass grabs you instantly. It is cleaner, has an intensely focussed forefront and may be very highly effective. It simply drives by means of time and house with monumental agility and carries the remainder of the music together with it.

Musical boundaries

It makes me assume that I can now not hear the musical boundaries that in a way are the system’s limitations of time and house. I believed I knew my Wilson Duette 2’s quite a bit higher than I apparently do. Listening to Bailero from Songs Of The Auvergne, a chunk I do know passably properly was a revelation. It was one of many very first items I requested the APEX to unravel for me.

Satin clean rendering of tonal colors and shading added to a sense that the devices had been gliding in house with excellent projection and a mild movement towards this sea of silence. Then the vocal emerged, magnificently shifting, but sympathetic to the orchestral color wash as that ebbed and flowed mysteriously someplace within the distance. It was a subtly altering and nuanced expression of an orchestral tonal palette. As the system spoke I used to be loving not solely how totally different it was however simply how lovely the piece had grown. I all the time admired it however now it was so musically ethereal and quietly highly effective. It commanded my full consideration, drew me in and invited me to hear ever extra intently. I couldn’t tear myself away from it. As it ended I famous down that, allowing for this was the primary piece I had listened to by means of the APEX, it was nearly one of the best musical debut I had ever heard. The proven fact that it wasn’t even run-in stuffed me with anticipation.

As the times handed and the music flowed I started to develop ever extra fascinated and intrigued. There was no restrict to the APEX’s capability to attach me to no matter music I used to be taking part in both on CD or streaming by means of the wonderful dCS Mosaic app. Peter Ostroushko’s Heart Of The Heartland delivered its conventional homespun, plaintive nation melody with a painfully poignant magnificence. The sympathetic gentleness and restraint of the orchestra led by his immaculate Mandolin taking part in inspired me to cease listening to the APEX comparatively and simply let the colorful waves circulation over me. This is what audio actually ought to be about. Trusting the system sufficient to attach emotionally with the music, letting it in and listening to what it has to say.

Instrumental comparisons?

Ask any musician. There’s one thing about taking part in an incredible instrument versus merely a superb one. You like one however you’re keen on the opposite and need it since you sense that it has the ability inside it to encourage you. You wish to launch one thing inside your self by means of it and that you’ll all the time be capable of faucet into its moods. Great devices are usually not in contrast to nice audio programs I feel. They each make calls for of you. An incredible instrument talks by means of you about emotions, particulars and emotion. Small modifications are a lot extra significant and profound. It tells a narrative each time you play it. The nearer you hear, the extra intense the melodies are. The pure tonal color and backbone that the APEX attracts from the music, the higher your understanding and consciousness of musical eloquence by means of phrasing turns into. Open your self to its influences and it’ll let you know tales in a means you have got by no means heard earlier than. This is exactly what I’ve been listening to by means of the APEX and is the principle cause why it’s that a lot better than the older model.

Sob Rock by John Mayer is an fascinating album and ‘Shouldn’t Matter But It Does’ is a type of break-up songs that you just sense John has put fairly a little bit of himself into. As it started, the APEX, not for the primary time, caught me unawares. Something totally different was occurring right here it appeared as out of the blue the light however atmospheric background synth that I hadn’t actually seen earlier than pointing the way in which by means of the chord modifications. Now it was a way more severe music with the synth a brilliantly judged counterpoint sweetener for the acidity of the monitor. More bile and bitterness there I believed.

Lone wolf

Drifting by means of the streaming world of latest experiences whereas seeking to fulfill my normal style for the bizarre and obscure I discovered myself within the firm of Sinnika Langeland and her album Wolf Rune. This is an ECM launch and I’ve all the time had a comfortable spot for Manfred Eicher’s typically darkish, brooding musical view of the world of sound. This I found, was no totally different. Spacious, mythic music set in sharp reduction towards limitless, barren Nordic landscapes. Classic Manfred for certain and compelling stuff sung in a language I don’t perceive, which has its personal points of interest. Not a lot in the way in which of foot tapping right here so simply let it occur and go together with it. It’s mysterious and overflowing with small surprises and delights. The Scandi-noir of music maybe? APEX paints expressive footage in sound correct in entrance of your ears and so they inform of a world, in contrast to ours, the place something is feasible and musical conventions and recognisable tempos are of little consequence.

A superb improve

APEX is a superb and completely worthwhile improve to the dCS vary and when you already personal a suitable product you will need it. I’d go as far as to say that you just want it. I might present so many extra examples of the way it labored its magic on me however It speaks for itself musically and likewise for the individuals inside the firm who I feel deserve large congratulations for each designing and delivering it. But, in one other sense, the most important beneficiaries are the artists and producers who make the music we like to hearken to. APEX has actually given them higher freedom of expression and translated their capability to speak to us of many issues by increasing the vocabulary of their music and our interior connections to it. It actually is that important I feel as a result of emotionally, music has no boundaries and APEX walks that exact path with ease.

Prices and get in touch with particulars

  • Type Upgrade for present dCS house owners (new dCS consumers could have APEX {hardware} fitted as customary). Factory match improve solely
  • Specifications as per present dCS platform, sometimes 12dB higher linearity and decrease noise towards earlier dCS mannequin
  • Ring DAC APEX Hardware is out there for house owners of the Vivaldi DAC, Vivaldi One, Rossini and Rossini Player.
  • NOTE: Since this evaluation was produced, the APEX improve is now accessible for the dCS Bartók DAC. This would be the topic of a later evaluation
  • Price improve £6,000; Rossini DAC APEX £28,000; Rossini Player APEX £30,750; Vivaldi DAC APEX £38,500

Manufacturer

dCS

dcsaudio.com

UK Distributor

Absolute Sounds

absolutesounds.com

+44(0)20 8971 3909

Back to Reviews

The put up dCS APEX digital converter upgrades appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

Uncategorized

dCS APEX digital converter upgrades

Posted on by Chris Thomas

In 2017, dCS provided homeowners an improve with a wholly new set of mapping algorithms for his or her Ring DAC. It was software-based, extremely efficient and free. It lifted the efficiency of the Vivaldi DAC I was utilizing notably and was very nicely value having. It additionally gave a sign that dCS have been going to proceed to develop the musical potentialities of their gear by means of their Product Development Department and that homeowners might sit up for future upgrades as applied sciences moved ahead. A couple of years have handed and now dCS are providing a brand new and rather more profound improve, solely this time it’s hardware-based and it prices. But what a step ahead it’s!

It’s known as The Ring DAC APEX {hardware}, or simply APEX for brief. The newest manufacturing variations of related merchandise now carry the APEX suffix. But it is usually provided as a complete improve within the type of a brand new foremost board as discovered contained in the Vivaldi DAC, Vivaldi One plus the Rossini DAC and the Rossini participant.

dCS Ring DAC APEX

The Ring DAC (now round 30 years outdated) plus its controlling software program are on the centre of the revisions, although the analogue output levels have additionally undergone growth. This is the very coronary heart of the system so though the DAC upgrades are basically the principle APEX function, realizing dCS I doubt they let the chance to work on different particulars cross them by. They would most likely name it ‘housekeeping’. But the outcomes are really fascinating and past what I used to be anticipating.

Conception and implementation

Director of Product Development at dCS, Chris Hales and his crew started their work nicely over a yr in the past with an intense have a look at current efficiency parameters. This concerned creating new, bespoke instruments to analyse by means of exact measurement the place enhancements is perhaps made. But when you think about the big complexity of each the Ring DAC and its accompanying software program help methods it’s not laborious to know how a base level was a necessary beginning place. The best journeys start with a single step. As the efficiency of the Ring DAC already exceeded the capabilities of typical measuring gear, Chris says that designing and implementing new measuring platforms was vital. Adding to that was a well-recognized dilemma, maybe associated to The Observer Effect, the place the measuring system itself needed to be of such a regular that it could not itself introduce distortions, noise or bandwidth limitations to present the engineers deceptive data. So, what might sound a comparatively simple proposition of constructing enhancements now takes on new a number of ranges of complexity and certainly potential jeopardy. The analogue output stage of the DAC has all the time been out there in each balanced and single-ended configurations with switchable output ranges to go well with varied preamp enter sensitivities. I’ve all the time most well-liked single-ended and the 6V output. In reality I are likely to take the single-ended choice at any time when it’s provided through the years as I often discover it extra open. Also I’ve all the time most well-liked together with a preamplifier as an alternative of driving the facility amplifier straight from the DAC. The APEX has challenged each of those views. Work has been executed on the 2V output too to deliver it nearer to the extra highly effective and punchy 6V choice, my alternative for its drive and rhythmic freedom. Post APEX, I’m now fortunately settled on the balanced outputs.

How does it sound?

In a phrase, incredible… and but curiously totally different to what I used to be anticipating. For a few months previous to the APEX improve changing into out there and in anticipation of its arrival I had use of a Vivaldi One, the restricted version single field SACD participant/digital hub. A extra good synthesis of digital elements in a single compact area, it’s laborious to think about. In a phrase, it’s a magnificent option to entry digital music.

Now, at this stage of the evaluation it’s vitally vital that I set up that the Vivaldi One in commonplace trim had already set the bar very excessive. Yet, inside the first couple of hours I understood that APEX had pushed again the boundaries by defining an entire new stage of musical efficiency. In no means have been these the small element enhancements I used to be anticipating. This was a brand new type and form of sound and the change will not be delicate.

dCS Ring DAC APEX

Since the Vivaldi and its stablemates have arrived the dCS sound has all the time had the flexibility to deliver you nearer to the music. But this complete APEX-effect is one thing else fully. Close to the music has turn into head to head with it and the tales and views that circulation out of the APEX-based merchandise are in a brand new world for dCS.

There could be few actual upgrades that don’t retrospectively counsel decrease background noise and APEX is not any totally different. But the sense of black nothingness that lies deep inside the manufacturing of a lot music and towards which the recordings exist is completely placing. This should be not directly a part of the rationale why the pure depth of the out there musical stage appears to have expanded in all dimensions. This stunning re-arrangement of recorded views is thrilling. The bodily distances between the lower-level content material and the solo contributions actually stunned me at first and some months and a number of other thousand songs later, they nonetheless have that energy. The musical layering that the APEX brings is great. Now, close-miked vocal or the up entrance soloist strikes sharply throughout the room to inside touching distance. When you hear the pure depth and distinction between the background or ambient instrumentation that simply occurs means within the distance and set towards the blackness of nothingness, it brings an entire new curiosity and depth to listening. The soundstage has been radically expanded. But the bass grabs you instantly. It is cleaner, has an intensely focussed forefront and could be very highly effective. It simply drives by means of time and area with huge agility and carries the remainder of the music together with it.

Musical boundaries

It makes me assume that I can now not hear the musical boundaries that in a way are the system’s limitations of time and area. I believed I knew my Wilson Duette 2’s quite a bit higher than I apparently do. Listening to Bailero from Songs Of The Auvergne, a chunk I do know passably nicely was a revelation. It was one of many very first items I requested the APEX to unravel for me.

Satin clean rendering of tonal colors and shading added to a sense that the devices have been gliding in area with good projection and a delicate movement towards this sea of silence. Then the vocal emerged, magnificently shifting, but sympathetic to the orchestral color wash as that ebbed and flowed mysteriously someplace within the distance. It was a subtly altering and nuanced expression of an orchestral tonal palette. As the system spoke I used to be loving not solely how totally different it was however simply how stunning the piece had grown. I all the time admired it however now it was so musically ethereal and quietly highly effective. It commanded my full consideration, drew me in and invited me to pay attention ever extra intently. I couldn’t tear myself away from it. As it ended I famous down that, taking into account this was the primary piece I had listened to by means of the APEX, it was nearly the most effective musical debut I had ever heard. The incontrovertible fact that it wasn’t even run-in crammed me with anticipation.

As the times handed and the music flowed I started to develop ever extra fascinated and intrigued. There was no restrict to the APEX’s capability to attach me to no matter music I used to be enjoying both on CD or streaming by means of the wonderful dCS Mosaic app. Peter Ostroushko’s Heart Of The Heartland delivered its conventional homespun, plaintive nation melody with a painfully poignant magnificence. The sympathetic gentleness and restraint of the orchestra led by his immaculate Mandolin enjoying inspired me to cease listening to the APEX comparatively and simply let the colorful waves circulation over me. This is what audio actually needs to be about. Trusting the system sufficient to attach emotionally with the music, letting it in and listening to what it has to say.

Instrumental comparisons?

Ask any musician. There’s one thing about enjoying a fantastic instrument versus merely a superb one. You like one however you like the opposite and wish it since you sense that it has the facility inside it to encourage you. You wish to launch one thing inside your self by means of it and you recognize that you’ll all the time be capable of faucet into its moods. Great devices are usually not not like nice audio methods I feel. They each make calls for of you. An awesome instrument talks by means of you about emotions, particulars and emotion. Small adjustments are a lot extra significant and profound. It tells a narrative each time you play it. The nearer you pay attention, the extra intense the melodies are. The pure tonal color and determination that the APEX attracts from the music, the better your understanding and consciousness of musical eloquence by means of phrasing turns into. Open your self to its influences and it’ll let you know tales in a means you’ve gotten by no means heard earlier than. This is exactly what I’ve been listening to by means of the APEX and is the principle purpose why it’s that significantly better than the older model.

Sob Rock by John Mayer is an fascinating album and ‘Shouldn’t Matter But It Does’ is a type of break-up songs that you just sense John has put fairly a little bit of himself into. As it started, the APEX, not for the primary time, caught me unawares. Something totally different was occurring right here it appeared as instantly the mild however atmospheric background synth that I hadn’t actually observed earlier than pointing the way in which by means of the chord adjustments. Now it was a way more severe track with the synth a brilliantly judged counterpoint sweetener for the acidity of the monitor. More bile and bitterness there I believed.

Lone wolf

Drifting by means of the streaming world of recent experiences whereas trying to fulfill my basic style for the weird and obscure I discovered myself within the firm of Sinnika Langeland and her album Wolf Rune. This is an ECM launch and I’ve all the time had a gentle spot for Manfred Eicher’s usually darkish, brooding musical view of the world of sound. This I found, was no totally different. Spacious, mythic music set in sharp aid towards infinite, barren Nordic landscapes. Classic Manfred for positive and compelling stuff sung in a language I don’t perceive, which has its personal sights. Not a lot in the way in which of foot tapping right here so simply let it occur and go along with it. It’s mysterious and overflowing with small surprises and delights. The Scandi-noir of music maybe? APEX paints expressive footage in sound correct in entrance of your ears they usually inform of a world, not like ours, the place something is feasible and musical conventions and recognisable tempos are of little consequence.

An excellent improve

APEX is an excellent and completely worthwhile improve to the dCS vary and in case you already personal a suitable product you’ll need it. I’d go as far as to say that you just want it. I might present so many extra examples of the way it labored its magic on me however It speaks for itself musically and likewise for the folks inside the firm who I feel deserve big congratulations for each designing and delivering it. But, in one other sense, the most important beneficiaries are the artists and producers who make the music we like to hearken to. APEX has actually given them better freedom of expression and translated their capability to speak to us of many issues by increasing the vocabulary of their music and our inside connections to it. It actually is that vital I feel as a result of emotionally, music has no boundaries and APEX walks that specific path with ease.

Prices and call particulars

  • Type Upgrade for current dCS homeowners (new dCS consumers may have APEX {hardware} fitted as commonplace). Factory match improve solely
  • Specifications as per current dCS platform, usually 12dB better linearity and decrease noise towards earlier dCS mannequin
  • Ring DAC APEX Hardware is offered for homeowners of the Vivaldi DAC, Vivaldi One, Rossini and Rossini Player.
  • NOTE: Since this evaluation was produced, the APEX improve is now out there for the dCS Bartók DAC. This would be the topic of a later evaluation
  • Price improve £6,000; Rossini DAC APEX £28,000; Rossini Player APEX £30,750; Vivaldi DAC APEX £38,500

Manufacturer

dCS

dcsaudio.com

UK Distributor

Absolute Sounds

absolutesounds.com

+44(0)20 8971 3909

Back to Reviews

The put up dCS APEX digital converter upgrades appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Gold Note system

Posted on by Chris Thomas

There has always been a reluctance on the part of your average audio enthusiast to source their entire system from a single manufacturer. The reasons are historic and founded in the kind of knowledge and truths that perhaps tend to linger long after any real relevance. Few manufacturers are as good at making electronics as they are loudspeakers and to break that down still further, there are many examples of electronic manufacturers being better at designing and producing preamplifiers than power amplifiers, or vice versa. The resultant thinking has been to mix ’n match what each company does best and this, in my experience, can have mixed success.

Things have moved along though and for every rule, there have always been exceptions. Then there is always the thorny issue of component compatibility and system synergy to consider. I once hooked the best preamplifier I have ever heard into a pair of the best mono amplifiers that had crossed my path and the results were disappointing. Balancing the musical strengths of one component against another is tricky, but can also be an ultimately rewarding business. Getting them both to sing the same song, especially when the rather thorny issue of cabling is thrown into the mix, can be dicey. Then again, it can be glorious.

Fuss-free

Recently, I had the great pleasure of spending some time with the Gold Note DS-10 EVO, a single box network streamer DAC that also offered a really fine output level section that enabled it to be deployed as a preamplifier. Nothing especially new there you might think, except the performance was so musically involving and the function in tandem with its dedicated app so fuss-free that I could see that this machine had real system potential. I wrote as much and then discovered that there was an optional dedicated power supply available so, before it went back the distributor dropped one off and it did exactly what it should have and moved the performance onto an entirely new level. Things were becoming more serious and my curiosity was piqued.

A glance through the Gold Note catalogue was revealing in its depth of products. Alongside a £62,000 turntable there was an entire 10-series range including a neat power amplifier that could be used as a stereo chassis or a pair of them could be employed as mono amplifiers, with a quite surprising lift in quoted available power. I am sure you can see where this is going as the idea of a full Gold Note system began to look more and more appealing if the DS-10 EVO experience was anything to go by. What about a pair of speakers? Lo and behold, Gold Note produce a range of five models, the smallest and immediately the most appealing to me were the A3 EVO II, a conveniently sized and quite beautiful little design which, I figured, would allow me to enjoy Il Suono Italiano, Gold-Note’s motto, to the full. The course was set with only a few details to sort before I could embark on the journey.

GoldNote_A3 EVO II pair-matt

As the system arrived without speaker stands or cabling that was the first issue that needed sorting. Running through my stash of speaker stands yielded some very variable results. No surprise in itself but the end solution was as unexpected as it was impractical. I still had a pair of the now defunct Quadraspire acrylic stands that slot neatly together from two pieces. If memory serves, these were the shorter versions and I had superb results when I used them a lot, several years ago, especially with lighter weight speaker designs. I would normally hesitate to recommend equipment that is no longer made but perhaps the low-mass construction of the Quadraspire designs gives a clue as to wringing the best from the A3 EVO IIs. Whatever the case, these stands set the speakers musically free. Primarily dynamically, but also in their whole sense of lightness of touch and speed. This was to remain the very best I could wring for them. Often these small designs are claimed to be suitable for shelf mounting. Personally I couldn’t imagine a worse location for these speakers and this is a real compliment to their potential. They like and need free air to breathe, especially through that rear-facing port. Correctly mounted, they will surprise and delight you and perhaps the bolt-together stands that Gold Note have designed for them are the answer. I don’t know. Not having a pair means that I can’t speak to that but my advice is to get your dealer to loan you several pairs of stands and try them in your listening room. The differences you will hear will guide you.

Stand out

The cabinets of the review pair were a real stand-out. A gloss walnut-veneered side panel has been shaped into a kind of diamond profile where the broadest point is alongside the 153 mm treated paper bass/mid driver and supplemented by a tasteful metallic inlay that runs the full depth of the cabinet. Atop that is a 28 mm silk-domed tweeter where the side panels taper down to give a truly elegant and classy cabinet dynamic. The front baffle that seems almost like a sub-structure in appearance is small and most people would be able to span the centres of the drivers with one hand. The cabinet is very stiff, thanks to those side panels but it has a bit of depth to it too at around 300mm and the bass is loaded through a rear facing port. It’s a compact design but its performance is anything but. In many ways it was the surprise package of the whole system, then again, no part of any system operates entirely independently.

I soon discovered that, like many Italian systems, this one majored on a smooth dynamic performance, full of colour and tonal light and shade. Cabling ended up as Nordost Blue Heaven. The reason I decided to go this way was because I like the linearity and speed of the Nordost cables which have an extremely delicate dynamic touch too without any excess baggage in the low end. I found that it balanced very nicely with the system’s qualities. You might choose another option but the slight tonal lift that the Blue Heaven bought through midband worked well for me.

The PA-10 amplifier is the same size as each of the boxes in this system which means that the overall system aesthetics are great. This is a fully-balanced design that can be simply switched from a stereo chassis to a mono-block. Like all the 10-series electronics it is substantially constructed from a solid steel chassis and thick aluminium panelling for appropriate shielding. As a single stereo design it sounds sweet and very smooth with notable resolution and the sort of tonality and grip that the Gold Note speakers thrive on. Driven from the pre-out of the DS-10 EVO it has power levels that most smaller rooms are going to find entirely adequate. If you have a PA-10 operating in this configuration my advice is to double up with another unit bridged for mono as soon as you can because the improvements are exponential. Once you’ve heard the sheer musical authority that this configuration brings, you won’t want to go back I promise you.

A small panel on the upper right of the rear panel carries the BTL (Bridge Tied Load) switch that turns the amplifier into a bit of a beast as well as releasing copious amounts of power. I used the balanced inputs from the DS-10 EVO. Don’t think that this is all about pure output levels though. The extra control and levels of articulate resolution change much more than that and the system is notably better at low levels too. Suddenly the speaker becomes a wider window into the stereo soundstage and this now expands way beyond the physical boundaries of the cabinets.

Balance and presence

The depth of the sound and the way the speaker can now layer instruments and voices tier upon tier with a sense of balance and presence that often evades much more costly designs is a really attractive feature of this system. For anybody thinking that the style has been placed before sound quality then I have to tell you that you couldn’t be more wrong. It is all those things but this is a really serious music system too. That extra power is actually quite startling but it has been deployed entirely to bring the music closer to you by allowing for greater dynamic freedom and the EVO II speakers really come to life when they are supplied with that extra level of musical energy that the upgrade brings.

At the front end of course the DS-10 EVO streaming DAC that I previously had a lot of fun with received its own boost in just about everything from the PSU-10 external power supply. The system felt the changes from back to front. That’s the level of the improvements on offer here. The DS-10 EVO is a great little Streamer/DAC and Line Stage in its own right but turbo boost it with the PSU-10 and you’re again talking about a whole new level of performance. It connects via a single umbilical lead to a much stiffer and more robust transformer set-up. This is a dual-choke hybrid design comprising of a four transformer layout where three are dedicated to supplying the power and one for the inductive filter. It also has ultra-low noise voltage regulators and you can hear that the DS-10 EVO operates in a quieter musical domain as a result.

So, we are looking at a very configurable system here. I could use it as a simple, very compact two-box source and amplifier or a four-box set-up where the Streamer/DAC /Pre has its own dedicated power supply and the amplification is effectively doubled up. The result is a system that doesn’t take up too much more room but is much more focussed musically and sounds a lot more intense and involving.

The Gold Note speakers are particularly ‘stiff’ when straight out of the box; this pair had seen action but would still need a period of use before they started to perform. After initial installation, I selected a playlist and just let the music energise the system for a while, but I just wasn’t expecting the depth and width that flowed out of those little boxes. Running Tidal through the GN Control app the random music playlist that I heard began with tracks from an old David Crosby album from about 40 years ago. It caught me cold. The recording was so solid and the vocal so intimate that I ended up sitting and listening for a straight hour as the playlist unfolded.

Exceeded expectations

One of the lovely things about this system is that it reserves the ability to surprise you every time you spend time with it. I like small speakers and while I acknowledge their size limitations, I have seldom heard any with this much sense of tone and pure colour. Couple that with a real feeling of dynamic drive from the amplifiers and I soon understood that this system constantly exceeded my expectations. The other notable thing about it is how adaptable it is to just about any style or flavour of music. It has the sort of body, weight and depth that makes sweeping classical pieces come alive and it never grows thin or compressed like so many small cabinet designs. Yet, when you ask it to do intimate music of extreme subtlety with tiny micro-shifts of emphasis then the electronics are enormously capable. I will long remember listening to one of my favourite musicians Masaaki Kishibe, a wonderful Japanese composer/guitarist seduce me with beautiful tones, subtle phrases and melodies very soon after the system had arrived. That will live long in my memory because it paints musical pictures.

This is a very nice system that just does its thing bringing music from its streamer to your ears without fuss. It is so very easy and unchallenging to listen to and I really like that. It takes up very little room and I can imagine it looking great in many homes where system aesthetics are important.

Technical specifications

Gold Note DS-10 EVO Streaming DAC

  • Type Streaming DAC / Pre
  • Streaming from Roon, Airplay, MQA, Qobuz, Deezer, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, V-Tuner
  • Price £2,900

Gold Note PA-10 Stereo power amplifier

  • Type Stereo power amplifier with bridging option
  • Power Output 75 watts at 8 ohms, 150 watts into 4 ohms
  • Power Output in BTL 600 watts per channel into 4 ohms
  • Audio Inputs 1 × RCA unbalanced, 1 × XLR balanced
  • Price  £1,700

Gold Note PSU-10 EVO external power supply

  • Type external power supply for DS-10
  • Price £1,200
  • Dimensions of all electronics 80 × 200 × 260 mm (H×W×D)

Gold Note A3 EVO II speakers

  • Type 2-way stand-mounted loudspeaker
  • Drivers 1 × 153mm Mid/Bass driver, 28mm Silk-Domed tweeter
  • Port Rear facing
  • Sensitivity 87dB
  • Nominal impedance  6 Ohms
  • Dimensions 350 × 240 × 295mm (H×W×D)
  • Weight 20Kg pair (net)
  • Finishes available Black cabinet with matt or gloss walnut side panels
  • Price £4,000

Manufacturer

GOLD NOTE

www.goldnote.it

UK distributor

Airt Audio

www.airtaudio.com

+44 (0)1354 652566

Back to Review

The post Gold Note system appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

Uncategorized

Gold Note system

Posted on by Chris Thomas

There has always been a reluctance on the part of your average audio enthusiast to source their entire system from a single manufacturer. The reasons are historic and founded in the kind of knowledge and truths that perhaps tend to linger long after any real relevance. Few manufacturers are as good at making electronics as they are loudspeakers and to break that down still further, there are many examples of electronic manufacturers being better at designing and producing preamplifiers than power amplifiers, or vice versa. The resultant thinking has been to mix ’n match what each company does best and this, in my experience, can have mixed success.

Things have moved along though and for every rule, there have always been exceptions. Then there is always the thorny issue of component compatibility and system synergy to consider. I once hooked the best preamplifier I have ever heard into a pair of the best mono amplifiers that had crossed my path and the results were disappointing. Balancing the musical strengths of one component against another is tricky, but can also be an ultimately rewarding business. Getting them both to sing the same song, especially when the rather thorny issue of cabling is thrown into the mix, can be dicey. Then again, it can be glorious.

Fuss-free

Recently, I had the great pleasure of spending some time with the Gold Note DS-10 EVO, a single box network streamer DAC that also offered a really fine output level section that enabled it to be deployed as a preamplifier. Nothing especially new there you might think, except the performance was so musically involving and the function in tandem with its dedicated app so fuss-free that I could see that this machine had real system potential. I wrote as much and then discovered that there was an optional dedicated power supply available so, before it went back the distributor dropped one off and it did exactly what it should have and moved the performance onto an entirely new level. Things were becoming more serious and my curiosity was piqued.

A glance through the Gold Note catalogue was revealing in its depth of products. Alongside a £62,000 turntable there was an entire 10-series range including a neat power amplifier that could be used as a stereo chassis or a pair of them could be employed as mono amplifiers, with a quite surprising lift in quoted available power. I am sure you can see where this is going as the idea of a full Gold Note system began to look more and more appealing if the DS-10 EVO experience was anything to go by. What about a pair of speakers? Lo and behold, Gold Note produce a range of five models, the smallest and immediately the most appealing to me were the A3 EVO II, a conveniently sized and quite beautiful little design which, I figured, would allow me to enjoy Il Suono Italiano, Gold-Note’s motto, to the full. The course was set with only a few details to sort before I could embark on the journey.

GoldNote_A3 EVO II pair-matt

As the system arrived without speaker stands or cabling that was the first issue that needed sorting. Running through my stash of speaker stands yielded some very variable results. No surprise in itself but the end solution was as unexpected as it was impractical. I still had a pair of the now defunct Quadraspire acrylic stands that slot neatly together from two pieces. If memory serves, these were the shorter versions and I had superb results when I used them a lot, several years ago, especially with lighter weight speaker designs. I would normally hesitate to recommend equipment that is no longer made but perhaps the low-mass construction of the Quadraspire designs gives a clue as to wringing the best from the A3 EVO IIs. Whatever the case, these stands set the speakers musically free. Primarily dynamically, but also in their whole sense of lightness of touch and speed. This was to remain the very best I could wring for them. Often these small designs are claimed to be suitable for shelf mounting. Personally I couldn’t imagine a worse location for these speakers and this is a real compliment to their potential. They like and need free air to breathe, especially through that rear-facing port. Correctly mounted, they will surprise and delight you and perhaps the bolt-together stands that Gold Note have designed for them are the answer. I don’t know. Not having a pair means that I can’t speak to that but my advice is to get your dealer to loan you several pairs of stands and try them in your listening room. The differences you will hear will guide you.

Stand out

The cabinets of the review pair were a real stand-out. A gloss walnut-veneered side panel has been shaped into a kind of diamond profile where the broadest point is alongside the 153 mm treated paper bass/mid driver and supplemented by a tasteful metallic inlay that runs the full depth of the cabinet. Atop that is a 28 mm silk-domed tweeter where the side panels taper down to give a truly elegant and classy cabinet dynamic. The front baffle that seems almost like a sub-structure in appearance is small and most people would be able to span the centres of the drivers with one hand. The cabinet is very stiff, thanks to those side panels but it has a bit of depth to it too at around 300mm and the bass is loaded through a rear facing port. It’s a compact design but its performance is anything but. In many ways it was the surprise package of the whole system, then again, no part of any system operates entirely independently.

I soon discovered that, like many Italian systems, this one majored on a smooth dynamic performance, full of colour and tonal light and shade. Cabling ended up as Nordost Blue Heaven. The reason I decided to go this way was because I like the linearity and speed of the Nordost cables which have an extremely delicate dynamic touch too without any excess baggage in the low end. I found that it balanced very nicely with the system’s qualities. You might choose another option but the slight tonal lift that the Blue Heaven bought through midband worked well for me.

The PA-10 amplifier is the same size as each of the boxes in this system which means that the overall system aesthetics are great. This is a fully-balanced design that can be simply switched from a stereo chassis to a mono-block. Like all the 10-series electronics it is substantially constructed from a solid steel chassis and thick aluminium panelling for appropriate shielding. As a single stereo design it sounds sweet and very smooth with notable resolution and the sort of tonality and grip that the Gold Note speakers thrive on. Driven from the pre-out of the DS-10 EVO it has power levels that most smaller rooms are going to find entirely adequate. If you have a PA-10 operating in this configuration my advice is to double up with another unit bridged for mono as soon as you can because the improvements are exponential. Once you’ve heard the sheer musical authority that this configuration brings, you won’t want to go back I promise you.

A small panel on the upper right of the rear panel carries the BTL (Bridge Tied Load) switch that turns the amplifier into a bit of a beast as well as releasing copious amounts of power. I used the balanced inputs from the DS-10 EVO. Don’t think that this is all about pure output levels though. The extra control and levels of articulate resolution change much more than that and the system is notably better at low levels too. Suddenly the speaker becomes a wider window into the stereo soundstage and this now expands way beyond the physical boundaries of the cabinets.

Balance and presence

The depth of the sound and the way the speaker can now layer instruments and voices tier upon tier with a sense of balance and presence that often evades much more costly designs is a really attractive feature of this system. For anybody thinking that the style has been placed before sound quality then I have to tell you that you couldn’t be more wrong. It is all those things but this is a really serious music system too. That extra power is actually quite startling but it has been deployed entirely to bring the music closer to you by allowing for greater dynamic freedom and the EVO II speakers really come to life when they are supplied with that extra level of musical energy that the upgrade brings.

At the front end of course the DS-10 EVO streaming DAC that I previously had a lot of fun with received its own boost in just about everything from the PSU-10 external power supply. The system felt the changes from back to front. That’s the level of the improvements on offer here. The DS-10 EVO is a great little Streamer/DAC and Line Stage in its own right but turbo boost it with the PSU-10 and you’re again talking about a whole new level of performance. It connects via a single umbilical lead to a much stiffer and more robust transformer set-up. This is a dual-choke hybrid design comprising of a four transformer layout where three are dedicated to supplying the power and one for the inductive filter. It also has ultra-low noise voltage regulators and you can hear that the DS-10 EVO operates in a quieter musical domain as a result.

So, we are looking at a very configurable system here. I could use it as a simple, very compact two-box source and amplifier or a four-box set-up where the Streamer/DAC /Pre has its own dedicated power supply and the amplification is effectively doubled up. The result is a system that doesn’t take up too much more room but is much more focussed musically and sounds a lot more intense and involving.

The Gold Note speakers are particularly ‘stiff’ when straight out of the box; this pair had seen action but would still need a period of use before they started to perform. After initial installation, I selected a playlist and just let the music energise the system for a while, but I just wasn’t expecting the depth and width that flowed out of those little boxes. Running Tidal through the GN Control app the random music playlist that I heard began with tracks from an old David Crosby album from about 40 years ago. It caught me cold. The recording was so solid and the vocal so intimate that I ended up sitting and listening for a straight hour as the playlist unfolded.

Exceeded expectations

One of the lovely things about this system is that it reserves the ability to surprise you every time you spend time with it. I like small speakers and while I acknowledge their size limitations, I have seldom heard any with this much sense of tone and pure colour. Couple that with a real feeling of dynamic drive from the amplifiers and I soon understood that this system constantly exceeded my expectations. The other notable thing about it is how adaptable it is to just about any style or flavour of music. It has the sort of body, weight and depth that makes sweeping classical pieces come alive and it never grows thin or compressed like so many small cabinet designs. Yet, when you ask it to do intimate music of extreme subtlety with tiny micro-shifts of emphasis then the electronics are enormously capable. I will long remember listening to one of my favourite musicians Masaaki Kishibe, a wonderful Japanese composer/guitarist seduce me with beautiful tones, subtle phrases and melodies very soon after the system had arrived. That will live long in my memory because it paints musical pictures.

This is a very nice system that just does its thing bringing music from its streamer to your ears without fuss. It is so very easy and unchallenging to listen to and I really like that. It takes up very little room and I can imagine it looking great in many homes where system aesthetics are important.

Technical specifications

Gold Note DS-10 EVO Streaming DAC

  • Type Streaming DAC / Pre
  • Streaming from Roon, Airplay, MQA, Qobuz, Deezer, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, V-Tuner
  • Price £2,900

Gold Note PA-10 Stereo power amplifier

  • Type Stereo power amplifier with bridging option
  • Power Output 75 watts at 8 ohms, 150 watts into 4 ohms
  • Power Output in BTL 600 watts per channel into 4 ohms
  • Audio Inputs 1 × RCA unbalanced, 1 × XLR balanced
  • Price  £1,700

Gold Note PSU-10 EVO external power supply

  • Type external power supply for DS-10
  • Price £1,200
  • Dimensions of all electronics 80 × 200 × 260 mm (H×W×D)

Gold Note A3 EVO II speakers

  • Type 2-way stand-mounted loudspeaker
  • Drivers 1 × 153mm Mid/Bass driver, 28mm Silk-Domed tweeter
  • Port Rear facing
  • Sensitivity 87dB
  • Nominal impedance  6 Ohms
  • Dimensions 350 × 240 × 295mm (H×W×D)
  • Weight 20Kg pair (net)
  • Finishes available Black cabinet with matt or gloss walnut side panels
  • Price £4,000

 

Manufacturer

 

GOLD NOTE

Homepage: https://www.goldnote.it

DS-10 EVO Streaming DAC – https://www.goldnote.it/electronics/ds-10/.

PA-10 Stereo power amplifier – https://www.goldnote.it/electronics/pa-10/

PSU-10 EVO external power supply – https://www.goldnote.it/power-supplies/psu-10-evo/

A3 EVO11 speakers – https://www.goldnote.it/loudspeakers/a3-evo/

Distributors – https://www.goldnote.it/distributors/

 

UK distributor

 

Airt Audio

www.airtaudio.com

+44 (0)1354 652566

Back to Review

The post Gold Note system appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Gold Note DS-10 EVO

Posted on by Chris Thomas

Have you tapped into your inner musicologist and entered the world of high-quality streaming yet? Are you not yet addicted to having the world of music as your library rather than being limited to what you find in your record or CD rack? Over the past few years, the entire proposition has been getting better and better to a point where, right now, with a little careful consideration, there is some superb equipment available. These advances in musical quality and, particularly, stability have never been more evident than at the lower end of the market. If you’re still thinking about it, then I might have something of interest here.

What is it?

Gold Note is an Italian company that originally made its name with analogue equipment. The company’s DS-10 EVO is a streamer/DAC which can be supplied with or without an internal analogue preamplifier. Whatever configuration you choose, it makes a powerful case for itself by offering extensive features in a half-sized box at a very reasonable price. It has the technical and musical chops to sit at the front of some impressive music systems. The list of features starts most obviously with a remarkably bright and clear 2.8-inch TFT display. Easily read from across the room, it tells you everything you need to know. The unit I used was also equipped with the optional preamplifier section, which means that you could drive it straight into a power amplifier. If you choose this configuration, then you make it entirely viable as a streamer / DAC / preamplifier. Using it with an integrated Vitus SIA 025 amplifier meant that I was initially running it through two preamp sections, which is less than ideal, obviously. It was easy to remove the volume control electronically, thereby turning it into a straight line level output unit with the anticipated increase in sound quality quite apparent. But, from a system point of view and given its quality, the preamplifier section can make a lot of sense. We will return to the DS-10 EVO again in the future when I will look at it afresh and with its optional separate power supply (PSU-10 EVO) in an all-Gold Note system, including a power amplifier and speakers.

Gold Note DS-10 Evo

All commands run through the rotary control. You merely set the parameter you want to access and scroll through the options. It’s as simple as it sounds. It’s worth mentioning the remote control here, too, which can mimic the onboard controls. All I will say is that if only all remotes operated as well as this and from such fine angles, the audio world would be a better place.

What can it do?

The DS-10 EVO can handle all resolutions, including MQA and Gold Note offer its own control app to navigate through the world of music. It can also accept external digital inputs from other equipment through a series of various rear panel connections. All the usual streaming services are catered for, including Tidal, of course, which is the one I generally use.

The Gold Note platform is a simple design based on the M-Connect platform, but it does provide you with all the basic access you need to search for and play music. I would gently suggest, though, that the search function should be quietly incorporated into the top bar as its pop-up box looks rather clunky. I used the app throughout my time with the unit and the Tidal version. It’s well worth noting here that the Gold Note DS-10 EVO is fully updatable online as and when improvements become available, and the app, too, will no doubt undergo the same soon.

Easy to use?

This is literally a plug ’n’ play machine though I am going to slip in the usual caveat that it does like a bit of running so it can stretch its legs and clear its throat. Give it an hour or so of work to do, and it will be in full flow. Connected to a router with the streaming service account enabled, you are looking at a comprehensive streaming DAC. Unlike many similar streamers, the DS-10 Evo was up and playing in a few moments, the current resolution being displayed in the top left of the screen and the unit configuration writ large in the centre.

Interestingly enough, Gold Note included a range of settings that I haven’t seen on a streamer/DAC before. They call it Chameleon mode, and though its concept is simple, the sheer depth of its implementation possibilities is impressive. By controlling three parameters, you gain access to 192 different set-ups. This allows you to customise the DAC to suit your own music system and, of course, taste. Broadly speaking, these three control the EQ curve, and the De-emphasis curve and provide fine control options over the voltage being sent to the DAC section itself.

The individual adjustments, alongside descriptions of their effects, are listed in the detailed handbook, and they deal with everything from the tonality to the coolness or warmth of the sound. This can be done via the front panel, and there are three presets that can be selected once you have spent many happy hours running through the 192 options before locking in those combinations you wish to keep. You may, for instance, have distinct preferences when listening to certain styles of music or just trim the system tonally or work those numbers to make the system sound fit the room acoustics better.

Alternatively, you might just like to tweak. A bit overwhelming? Perhaps, but fear not, getting back to the standard set-up is as easy as pushing a button, giving you a constantly available reference point. Actually, I liked that setting the best.

But can it play music?

Let’s forget the numbers and the features and pose the question that eventually must be asked of all audio equipment. Is it musical? Such a loaded and weighty enquiry for sure! I’m going to spare you all the arguments and justifications which could go on forever before ending up back at the beginning and rephrasing it. Is it musically intriguing and enjoyable enough to actually make you want to listen to it? The answer to that is a resounding yes. In fact, it’s really the only question that has ultimately ever really made much sense to me of any audio component. This little machine has a compelling musical nature and some desirable attributes that appeal to those core audio values that I have always looked for.

Gold Note DS-10 Evo rear panel

It sounds taut and controlled but never rhythmically over-rigid. Its tonal balance is just about spot-on, and it never strays into that rather matter-of-fact sense of resolution-first music style that some streamers/DACs do. In fact, its resolving power tends to feel entirely subsidiary to its bouncing sense of tuneful exuberance most of the time. But what I really enjoy about it is the way it puts all the musical elements together to highlight a performance. The top to bottom balance and certainly how it can layer the instrumentation is compelling.

Where some systems can bombard you with needlepoint resolution yet sound rather flat and uninteresting, the Gold Note has a real and attractive view of the soundstage and the shape of the music. It is also very quiet, which helps enormously and shows you perspectives and instrumental pictures and shapes with dimension and exceptional stability. It has real depth in more ways than one.

I admit to being surprised at how musically interesting this unassuming but highly efficient little machine is. I think it’s a great little package because it is always succinct and to the point. It sounds very good indeed, and as a gateway to the world of music outside your living room, I’d say it’s a pretty solid investment for anyone wanting to take that next step.

 

Technical specifications

  • Type: Streamer / DAC / optional Preamplifier
  • D/A Converter: AKM PCM up to 32bit / 768kHz and DSD 512
  • Services: TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify, vTuner, Apple Airplay, Roon 
  • Digital Inputs:1 × RCA PCM coaxial, 2 × optical PCM, 1 × AES / EBU XLR PCM, 1 × USB-B, 1 × USB-A
  • Bluetooth Bluetooth 5 (44/16)
  • Analogue Inputs: 1 × 3.5 mm mini-jack
  • Audio Outputs: 1 × unbalanced RCA, 1 x Balanced XLR, headphone output
  • Remote: Yes
  • Dimensions: 80 × 200 × 260mm (H×W×D)
  • Weight: 5kg boxed
  • Finishes: black, silver and gold
  • Price: DAC/streamer £2,499
    Dac/streamer/preamplifier £2,999

Manufacturer

Gold Note

URL: goldnote.it

UK Distributor

Airt

URL: airtaudio.com

Back to Reviews

The post Gold Note DS-10 EVO appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Gold Note DS-10 EVO

Posted on by Chris Thomas

Have you tapped into your inner musicologist and entered the world of high-quality streaming yet? Are you not yet addicted to having the world of music as your library rather than being limited to what you find in your record or CD rack? Over the past few years, the entire proposition has been getting better and better to a point where, right now, with a little careful consideration, there is some superb equipment available. These advances in musical quality and, particularly, stability have never been more evident than at the lower end of the market. If you’re still thinking about it, then I might have something of interest here.

What is it?

Gold Note is an Italian company that originally made its name with analogue equipment. The company’s DS-10 EVO is a streamer/DAC which can be supplied with or without an internal analogue preamplifier. Whatever configuration you choose, it makes a powerful case for itself by offering extensive features in a half-sized box at a very reasonable price. It has the technical and musical chops to sit at the front of some impressive music systems. The list of features starts most obviously with a remarkably bright and clear 2.8-inch TFT display. Easily read from across the room, it tells you everything you need to know. The unit I used was also equipped with the optional preamplifier section, which means that you could drive it straight into a power amplifier. If you choose this configuration, then you make it entirely viable as a streamer / DAC / preamplifier. Using it with an integrated Vitus SIA 025 amplifier meant that I was initially running it through two preamp sections, which is less than ideal, obviously. It was easy to remove the volume control electronically, thereby turning it into a straight line level output unit with the anticipated increase in sound quality quite apparent. But, from a system point of view and given its quality, the preamplifier section can make a lot of sense. We will return to the DS-10 EVO again in the future when I will look at it afresh and with its optional separate power supply (PSU-10 EVO) in an all-Gold Note system, including a power amplifier and speakers.

Gold Note DS-10 Evo

All commands run through the rotary control. You merely set the parameter you want to access and scroll through the options. It’s as simple as it sounds. It’s worth mentioning the remote control here, too, which can mimic the onboard controls. All I will say is that if only all remotes operated as well as this and from such fine angles, the audio world would be a better place.

What can it do?

The DS-10 EVO can handle all resolutions, including MQA and Gold Note offer its own control app to navigate through the world of music. It can also accept external digital inputs from other equipment through a series of various rear panel connections. All the usual streaming services are catered for, including Tidal, of course, which is the one I generally use.

The Gold Note platform is a simple design based on the M-Connect platform, but it does provide you with all the basic access you need to search for and play music. I would gently suggest, though, that the search function should be quietly incorporated into the top bar as its pop-up box looks rather clunky. I used the app throughout my time with the unit and the Tidal version. It’s well worth noting here that the Gold Note DS-10 EVO is fully updatable online as and when improvements become available, and the app, too, will no doubt undergo the same soon.

Easy to use?

This is literally a plug ’n’ play machine though I am going to slip in the usual caveat that it does like a bit of running so it can stretch its legs and clear its throat. Give it an hour or so of work to do, and it will be in full flow. Connected to a router with the streaming service account enabled, you are looking at a comprehensive streaming DAC. Unlike many similar streamers, the DS-10 Evo was up and playing in a few moments, the current resolution being displayed in the top left of the screen and the unit configuration writ large in the centre.

Interestingly enough, Gold Note included a range of settings that I haven’t seen on a streamer/DAC before. They call it Chameleon mode, and though its concept is simple, the sheer depth of its implementation possibilities is impressive. By controlling three parameters, you gain access to 192 different set-ups. This allows you to customise the DAC to suit your own music system and, of course, taste. Broadly speaking, these three control the EQ curve, and the De-emphasis curve and provide fine control options over the voltage being sent to the DAC section itself.

The individual adjustments, alongside descriptions of their effects, are listed in the detailed handbook, and they deal with everything from the tonality to the coolness or warmth of the sound. This can be done via the front panel, and there are three presets that can be selected once you have spent many happy hours running through the 192 options before locking in those combinations you wish to keep. You may, for instance, have distinct preferences when listening to certain styles of music or just trim the system tonally or work those numbers to make the system sound fit the room acoustics better.

Alternatively, you might just like to tweak. A bit overwhelming? Perhaps, but fear not, getting back to the standard set-up is as easy as pushing a button, giving you a constantly available reference point. Actually, I liked that setting the best.

But can it play music?

Let’s forget the numbers and the features and pose the question that eventually must be asked of all audio equipment. Is it musical? Such a loaded and weighty enquiry for sure! I’m going to spare you all the arguments and justifications which could go on forever before ending up back at the beginning and rephrasing it. Is it musically intriguing and enjoyable enough to actually make you want to listen to it? The answer to that is a resounding yes. In fact, it’s really the only question that has ultimately ever really made much sense to me of any audio component. This little machine has a compelling musical nature and some desirable attributes that appeal to those core audio values that I have always looked for.

Gold Note DS-10 Evo rear panel

It sounds taut and controlled but never rhythmically over-rigid. Its tonal balance is just about spot-on, and it never strays into that rather matter-of-fact sense of resolution-first music style that some streamers/DACs do. In fact, its resolving power tends to feel entirely subsidiary to its bouncing sense of tuneful exuberance most of the time. But what I really enjoy about it is the way it puts all the musical elements together to highlight a performance. The top to bottom balance and certainly how it can layer the instrumentation is compelling.

Where some systems can bombard you with needlepoint resolution yet sound rather flat and uninteresting, the Gold Note has a real and attractive view of the soundstage and the shape of the music. It is also very quiet, which helps enormously and shows you perspectives and instrumental pictures and shapes with dimension and exceptional stability. It has real depth in more ways than one.

I admit to being surprised at how musically interesting this unassuming but highly efficient little machine is. I think it’s a great little package because it is always succinct and to the point. It sounds very good indeed, and as a gateway to the world of music outside your living room, I’d say it’s a pretty solid investment for anyone wanting to take that next step.

 

Technical specifications

  • Type: Streamer / DAC / optional Preamplifier
  • D/A Converter: AKM PCM up to 32bit / 768kHz and DSD 512
  • Services: TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify, vTuner, Apple Airplay, Roon 
  • Digital Inputs:1 × RCA PCM coaxial, 2 × optical PCM, 1 × AES / EBU XLR PCM, 1 × USB-B, 1 × USB-A
  • Bluetooth Bluetooth 5 (44/16)
  • Analogue Inputs: 1 × 3.5 mm mini-jack
  • Audio Outputs: 1 × unbalanced RCA, 1 x Balanced XLR, headphone output
  • Remote: Yes
  • Dimensions: 80 × 200 × 260mm (H×W×D)
  • Weight: 5kg boxed
  • Finishes: black, silver and gold
  • Price: DAC/streamer £2,499
    Dac/streamer/preamplifier £2,999

Manufacturer

Gold Note

URL: goldnote.it

UK Distributor

Airt

URL: airtaudio.com

Back to Reviews

The post Gold Note DS-10 EVO appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

Uncategorized

Gold Note DS-10 EVO

Posted on by Chris Thomas

Have you tapped into your inner musicologist and entered the world of high-quality streaming yet? Are you not yet addicted to having the world of music as your library rather than being limited to what you find in your record or CD rack? Over the past few years, the entire proposition has been getting better and better to a point where, right now, with a little careful consideration, there is some superb equipment available. These advances in musical quality and, particularly, stability have never been more evident than at the lower end of the market. If you’re still thinking about it, then I might have something of interest here.

What is it?

Gold Note is an Italian company that originally made its name with analogue equipment. The company’s DS-10 EVO is a streamer/DAC which can be supplied with or without an internal analogue preamplifier. Whatever configuration you choose, it makes a powerful case for itself by offering extensive features in a half-sized box at a very reasonable price. It has the technical and musical chops to sit at the front of some impressive music systems. The list of features starts most obviously with a remarkably bright and clear 2.8-inch TFT display. Easily read from across the room, it tells you everything you need to know. The unit I used was also equipped with the optional preamplifier section, which means that you could drive it straight into a power amplifier. If you choose this configuration, then you make it entirely viable as a streamer / DAC / preamplifier. Using it with an integrated Vitus SIA 025 amplifier meant that I was initially running it through two preamp sections, which is less than ideal, obviously. It was easy to remove the volume control electronically, thereby turning it into a straight line level output unit with the anticipated increase in sound quality quite apparent. But, from a system point of view and given its quality, the preamplifier section can make a lot of sense. We will return to the DS-10 EVO again in the future when I will look at it afresh and with its optional separate power supply (PSU-10 EVO) in an all-Gold Note system, including a power amplifier and speakers.

Gold Note DS-10 Evo

All commands run through the rotary control. You merely set the parameter you want to access and scroll through the options. It’s as simple as it sounds. It’s worth mentioning the remote control here, too, which can mimic the onboard controls. All I will say is that if only all remotes operated as well as this and from such fine angles, the audio world would be a better place.

What can it do?

The DS-10 EVO can handle all resolutions, including MQA and Gold Note offer its own control app to navigate through the world of music. It can also accept external digital inputs from other equipment through a series of various rear panel connections. All the usual streaming services are catered for, including Tidal, of course, which is the one I generally use.

The Gold Note platform is a simple design based on the M-Connect platform, but it does provide you with all the basic access you need to search for and play music. I would gently suggest, though, that the search function should be quietly incorporated into the top bar as its pop-up box looks rather clunky. I used the app throughout my time with the unit and the Tidal version. It’s well worth noting here that the Gold Note DS-10 EVO is fully updatable online as and when improvements become available, and the app, too, will no doubt undergo the same soon.

Easy to use?

This is literally a plug ’n’ play machine though I am going to slip in the usual caveat that it does like a bit of running so it can stretch its legs and clear its throat. Give it an hour or so of work to do, and it will be in full flow. Connected to a router with the streaming service account enabled, you are looking at a comprehensive streaming DAC. Unlike many similar streamers, the DS-10 Evo was up and playing in a few moments, the current resolution being displayed in the top left of the screen and the unit configuration writ large in the centre.

Interestingly enough, Gold Note included a range of settings that I haven’t seen on a streamer/DAC before. They call it Chameleon mode, and though its concept is simple, the sheer depth of its implementation possibilities is impressive. By controlling three parameters, you gain access to 192 different set-ups. This allows you to customise the DAC to suit your own music system and, of course, taste. Broadly speaking, these three control the EQ curve, and the De-emphasis curve and provide fine control options over the voltage being sent to the DAC section itself.

The individual adjustments, alongside descriptions of their effects, are listed in the detailed handbook, and they deal with everything from the tonality to the coolness or warmth of the sound. This can be done via the front panel, and there are three presets that can be selected once you have spent many happy hours running through the 192 options before locking in those combinations you wish to keep. You may, for instance, have distinct preferences when listening to certain styles of music or just trim the system tonally or work those numbers to make the system sound fit the room acoustics better.

Alternatively, you might just like to tweak. A bit overwhelming? Perhaps, but fear not, getting back to the standard set-up is as easy as pushing a button, giving you a constantly available reference point. Actually, I liked that setting the best.

But can it play music?

Let’s forget the numbers and the features and pose the question that eventually must be asked of all audio equipment. Is it musical? Such a loaded and weighty enquiry for sure! I’m going to spare you all the arguments and justifications which could go on forever before ending up back at the beginning and rephrasing it. Is it musically intriguing and enjoyable enough to actually make you want to listen to it? The answer to that is a resounding yes. In fact, it’s really the only question that has ultimately ever really made much sense to me of any audio component. This little machine has a compelling musical nature and some desirable attributes that appeal to those core audio values that I have always looked for.

Gold Note DS-10 Evo rear panel

It sounds taut and controlled but never rhythmically over-rigid. Its tonal balance is just about spot-on, and it never strays into that rather matter-of-fact sense of resolution-first music style that some streamers/DACs do. In fact, its resolving power tends to feel entirely subsidiary to its bouncing sense of tuneful exuberance most of the time. But what I really enjoy about it is the way it puts all the musical elements together to highlight a performance. The top to bottom balance and certainly how it can layer the instrumentation is compelling.

Where some systems can bombard you with needlepoint resolution yet sound rather flat and uninteresting, the Gold Note has a real and attractive view of the soundstage and the shape of the music. It is also very quiet, which helps enormously and shows you perspectives and instrumental pictures and shapes with dimension and exceptional stability. It has real depth in more ways than one.

I admit to being surprised at how musically interesting this unassuming but highly efficient little machine is. I think it’s a great little package because it is always succinct and to the point. It sounds very good indeed, and as a gateway to the world of music outside your living room, I’d say it’s a pretty solid investment for anyone wanting to take that next step.

 

Technical specifications

  • Type: Streamer / DAC / optional Preamplifier
  • D/A Converter: AKM PCM up to 32bit / 768kHz and DSD 512
  • Services: TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify, vTuner, Apple Airplay, Roon 
  • Digital Inputs:1 × RCA PCM coaxial, 2 × optical PCM, 1 × AES / EBU XLR PCM, 1 × USB-B, 1 × USB-A
  • Bluetooth Bluetooth 5 (44/16)
  • Analogue Inputs: 1 × 3.5 mm mini-jack
  • Audio Outputs: 1 × unbalanced RCA, 1 x Balanced XLR, headphone output
  • Remote: Yes
  • Dimensions: 80 × 200 × 260mm (H×W×D)
  • Weight: 5kg boxed
  • Finishes: black, silver and gold
  • Price: DAC/streamer £2,499
    Dac/streamer/preamplifier £2,999

Manufacturer

Gold Note

URL: goldnote.it

UK Distributor

Airt

URL: airtaudio.com

Back to Reviews

The post Gold Note DS-10 EVO appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Copland CSA-150 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier

Posted on by Chris Thomas

Copland is one of those audio companies that never shouts about its products. Their marketing is, in the UK at least, decidedly low-key. As a result, Copland’s products might even slip below the radar of most audio enthusiasts. Thinking about it and considering the amount of amplifiers that have passed through my hands over the years, I cannot recall ever having heard one let alone having one at home for any sort of listening but I had always thought of them as tube amplifier builders. But I was wrong, as the CSA-150 leads the line of three new models that are hybrid designs. These use a tube input stage and solid state MOSFET power sections with the obvious intent of utilising the best of both technologies to achieve a specific sonic balance. When implemented successfully this can be interesting audio chemistry.

I have obviously heard other hybrid designs over the years, some more rewarding than others. They are often designs that bring mixed musical blessings. The tonal richness and ease of the tubes alongside the drive, grip and transient power of solid-state is a difficult balance to master. All of my previous experiences have left me with the conclusion that, sitting the amplifier on a performance peak and extracting the best from both technologies often results in a design that, while generally sounding sweet, often come across as a bit soft and certainly a touch conflicted where tempo and drive are concerned. A classic curate’s egg. But the Copland is an object lesson in how it should be done.

Copland amplifiers are designed and built in Denmark. The company was founded some 30 years ago by designer Ole Møller. The CSA-150 is the most powerful of the three amplifiers in the CSA series, the CSA‑70 and the CSA-100 being the others. Power output seems to be the most obvious difference between them. The 150 certainly has features aplenty and truly is a one-stop integrated as it comes with an excellent onboard quad mono DAC with good connectivity and even the option of a fitted Bluetooth aptX module which I found very useful. There is also an onboard phono stage RIAA configured for MM cartridges and an impressive DAC. This is based on a Sabre ES 9018 Reference module from ESS Technology. It will deal with PCM and DSD, up to 128, and has several digital inputs. A small front panel window might have been handy here to show the resolution. There is however a small LED that glows whenever a DSD encoded signal is detected. Connectivity to the DAC is made through a couple of optical Toslinks, an S/PDIF or there is a USB.

The front panel design is excellent and very clean with an intuitive layout. A rotary input selector guides you through the three RCA or single balanced XLR line inputs while selecting the digital input option brings into play the small sub-source selector that gives access to the rear inputs. The USB has an effective power supply of its own and can work at 32-bit with a frequency of 384 kHz. Mac OS or Linux computers will work without drivers and for Windows users Copland provide links for a suitable driver, with instructions, in the accompanying handbook.

There is also a headphone socket, a decent remote control and you can also separate the pre and power sections should you want to. Push the power button and the amplifier goes through a 30-second boot up procedure and then you are ready with 145 watts per channel (8 ohms) at your disposal. I wondered how, with the double triode gain stage (6922) the Copland would behave so soon after switch-on but I needn’t have worried. From cold the amplifier lets you know its character and although it certainly improves as the hours pass, it is a rather gentle upward curve and gives the music slightly better top to bottom coherence perhaps rather than offering anything more drastic. In short, the Copland starts singing from the opening bars of music and has a certain clarity of musical purpose that, against the truly silent backgrounds it always produces, makes listening a relaxed pleasure. It won’t take long before you pick up on the space and general dimension of the sound that the Copland always seems to produce.

The post Copland CSA-150 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Copland CSA-150 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier

Posted on by Chris Thomas

Copland CSA-150 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier

Copland is one of those audio companies that never shouts about its products. Their marketing is, in the UK at least, decidedly low-key. As a result, Copland’s products might even slip below the radar of most audio enthusiasts. Thinking about it and considering the amount of amplifiers that have passed through my hands over the years, I cannot recall ever having heard one let alone having one at home for any sort of listening but I had always thought of them as tube amplifier builders. But I was wrong, as the CSA-150 leads the line of three new models that …

Privacy Preference Center

Consent Management

Privacy Policy

Required
Privacy Policy Updated at 2022-09-29 CHISTO (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how your personal information is collected, used, and disclosed by CHISTO. This Privacy Policy applies to our website, and its associated subdomains (collectively, our “Service”) alongside our application, CHISTO. By accessing or using our Service, you signify that you have read, understood, and agree to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service. This Privacy Policy was created with Termify. Definitions and key terms To help explain things as clearly as possible in this Privacy Policy, every time any of these terms are referenced, are strictly defined as: Cookie: small amount of data generated by a website and saved by your web browser. It is used to identify your browser, provide analytics, remember information about you such as your language preference or login information. Company: when this policy mentions “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” it refers to CHISTANA, (Pärnu mnt 105, Tallinn 11312 Estonia), that is responsible for your information under this Privacy Policy. Country: where CHISTO or the owners/founders of CHISTO are based, in this case is Estonia Customer: refers to the company, organization or person that signs up to use the CHISTO Service to manage the relationships with your consumers or service users. Device: any internet connected device such as a phone, tablet, computer or any other device that can be used to visit CHISTO and use the services. IP address: Every device connected to the Internet is assigned a number known as an Internet protocol (IP) address. These numbers are usually assigned in geographic blocks. An IP address can often be used to identify the location from which a device is connecting to the Internet. Personnel: refers to those individuals who are employed by CHISTO or are under contract to perform a service on behalf of one of the parties. Personal Data: any information that directly, indirectly, or in connection with other information — including a personal identification number — allows for the identification or identifiability of a natural person. Service: refers to the service provided by CHISTO as described in the relative terms (if available) and on this platform. Third-party service: refers to advertisers, contest sponsors, promotional and marketing partners, and others who provide our content or whose products or services we think may interest you. Website: CHISTO’s site, which can be accessed via this URL: chisto.com You: a person or entity that is registered with CHISTO to use the Services. What Information Do We Collect? We collect information from you when you visit our website, register on our site, place an order, subscribe to our newsletter, respond to a survey or fill out a form. Name / Username Phone Numbers Email Addresses Mailing Addresses Billing Addresses We also collect information from mobile devices for a better user experience, although these features are completely optional: Location (GPS): Location data helps to create an accurate representation of your interests, and this can be used to bring more targeted and relevant ads to potential customers. When does CHISTO use end user information from third parties? CHISTO will collect End User Data necessary to provide the CHISTO services to our customers. End users may voluntarily provide us with information they have made available on social media websites. If you provide us with any such information, we may collect publicly available information from the social media websites you have indicated. You can control how much of your information social media websites make public by visiting these websites and changing your privacy settings. When does CHISTO use customer information from third parties? We receive some information from the third parties when you contact us. For example, when you submit your email address to us to show interest in becoming a CHISTO customer, we receive information from a third party that provides automated fraud detection services to CHISTO. We also occasionally collect information that is made publicly available on social media websites. You can control how much of your information social media websites make public by visiting these websites and changing your privacy settings. Do we share the information we collect with third parties? We may share the information that we collect, both personal and non-personal, with third parties such as advertisers, contest sponsors, promotional and marketing partners, and others who provide our content or whose products or services we think may interest you. We may also share it with our current and future affiliated companies and business partners, and if we are involved in a merger, asset sale or other business reorganization, we may also share or transfer your personal and non-personal information to our successors-in-interest. We may engage trusted third party service providers to perform functions and provide services to us, such as hosting and maintaining our servers and the website, database storage and management, e-mail management, storage marketing, credit card processing, customer service and fulfilling orders for products and services you may purchase through the website. We will likely share your personal information, and possibly some non-personal information, with these third parties to enable them to perform these services for us and for you. We may share portions of our log file data, including IP addresses, for analytics purposes with third parties such as web analytics partners, application developers, and ad networks. If your IP address is shared, it may be used to estimate general location and other technographics such as connection speed, whether you have visited the website in a shared location, and type of the device used to visit the website. They may aggregate information about our advertising and what you see on the website and then provide auditing, research and reporting for us and our advertisers. We may also disclose personal and non-personal information about you to government or law enforcement officials or private parties as we, in our sole discretion, believe necessary or appropriate in order to respond to claims, legal process (including subpoenas), to protect our rights and interests or those of a third party, the safety of the public or any person, to prevent or stop any illegal, unethical, or legally actionable activity, or to otherwise comply with applicable court orders, laws, rules and regulations. Where and when is information collected from customers and end users? CHISTO will collect personal information that you submit to us. We may also receive personal information about you from third parties as described above. How Do We Use The Information We Collect? Any of the information we collect from you may be used in one of the following ways: To personalize your experience (your information helps us to better respond to your individual needs) To improve our website (we continually strive to improve our website offerings based on the information and feedback we receive from you) To improve customer service (your information helps us to more effectively respond to your customer service requests and support needs) To process transactions To administer a contest, promotion, survey or other site feature To send periodic emails How Do We Use Your Email Address? By submitting your email address on this website, you agree to receive emails from us. You can cancel your participation in any of these email lists at any time by clicking on the opt-out link or other unsubscribe option that is included in the respective email. We only send emails to people who have authorized us to contact them, either directly, or through a third party. We do not send unsolicited commercial emails, because we hate spam as much as you do. By submitting your email address, you also agree to allow us to use your email address for customer audience targeting on sites like Facebook, where we display custom advertising to specific people who have opted-in to receive communications from us. Email addresses submitted only through the order processing page will be used for the sole purpose of sending you information and updates pertaining to your order. If, however, you have provided the same email to us through another method, we may use it for any of the purposes stated in this Policy. Note: If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, we include detailed unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of each email. How Long Do We Keep Your Information? We keep your information only so long as we need it to provide CHISTO to you and fulfill the purposes described in this policy. This is also the case for anyone that we share your information with and who carries out services on our behalf. When we no longer need to use your information and there is no need for us to keep it to comply with our legal or regulatory obligations, we’ll either remove it from our systems or depersonalize it so that we can't identify you. How Do We Protect Your Information? We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information when you place an order or enter, submit, or access your personal information. We offer the use of a secure server. All supplied sensitive/credit information is transmitted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and then encrypted into our Payment gateway providers database only to be accessible by those authorized with special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential. After a transaction, your private information (credit cards, social security numbers, financials, etc.) is never kept on file. We cannot, however, ensure or warrant the absolute security of any information you transmit to CHISTO or guarantee that your information on the Service may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by a breach of any of our physical, technical, or managerial safeguards. Could my information be transferred to other countries? CHISTO is incorporated in Estonia. Information collected via our website, through direct interactions with you, or from use of our help services may be transferred from time to time to our offices or personnel, or to third parties, located throughout the world, and may be viewed and hosted anywhere in the world, including countries that may not have laws of general applicability regulating the use and transfer of such data. To the fullest extent allowed by applicable law, by using any of the above, you voluntarily consent to the trans-border transfer and hosting of such information. Is the information collected through the CHISTO Service secure? We take precautions to protect the security of your information. We have physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to help safeguard, prevent unauthorized access, maintain data security, and correctly use your information. However, neither people nor security systems are foolproof, including encryption systems. In addition, people can commit intentional crimes, make mistakes or fail to follow policies. Therefore, while we use reasonable efforts to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. If applicable law imposes any non-disclaimable duty to protect your personal information, you agree that intentional misconduct will be the standards used to measure our compliance with that duty. Can I update or correct my information? The rights you have to request updates or corrections to the information CHISTO collects depend on your relationship with CHISTO. Personnel may update or correct their information as detailed in our internal company employment policies. Customers have the right to request the restriction of certain uses and disclosures of personally identifiable information as follows. You can contact us in order to (1) update or correct your personally identifiable information, (2) change your preferences with respect to communications and other information you receive from us, or (3) delete the personally identifiable information maintained about you on our systems (subject to the following paragraph), by cancelling your account. Such updates, corrections, changes and deletions will have no effect on other information that we maintain, or information that we have provided to third parties in accordance with this Privacy Policy prior to such update, correction, change or deletion. To protect your privacy and security, we may take reasonable steps (such as requesting a unique password) to verify your identity before granting you profile access or making corrections. You are responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your unique password and account information at all times. You should be aware that it is not technologically possible to remove each and every record of the information you have provided to us from our system. The need to back up our systems to protect information from inadvertent loss means that a copy of your information may exist in a non-erasable form that will be difficult or impossible for us to locate. Promptly after receiving your request, all personal information stored in databases we actively use, and other readily searchable media will be updated, corrected, changed or deleted, as appropriate, as soon as and to the extent reasonably and technically practicable. If you are an end user and wish to update, delete, or receive any information we have about you, you may do so by contacting the organization of which you are a customer. Personnel If you are a CHISTO worker or applicant, we collect information you voluntarily provide to us. We use the information collected for Human Resources purposes in order to administer benefits to workers and screen applicants. You may contact us in order to (1) update or correct your information, (2) change your preferences with respect to communications and other information you receive from us, or (3) receive a record of the information we have relating to you. Such updates, corrections, changes and deletions will have no effect on other information that we maintain, or information that we have provided to third parties in accordance with this Privacy Policy prior to such update, correction, change or deletion. Sale of Business We reserve the right to transfer information to a third party in the event of a sale, merger or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of CHISTO or any of its Corporate Affiliates (as defined herein), or that portion of CHISTO or any of its Corporate Affiliates to which the Service relates, or in the event that we discontinue our business or file a petition or have filed against us a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding, provided that the third party agrees to adhere to the terms of this Privacy Policy. Affiliates We may disclose information (including personal information) about you to our Corporate Affiliates. For purposes of this Privacy Policy, "Corporate Affiliate" means any person or entity which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with CHISTO, whether by ownership or otherwise. Any information relating to you that we provide to our Corporate Affiliates will be treated by those Corporate Affiliates in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy. Governing Law This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of Estonia without regard to its conflict of laws provision. You consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in connection with any action or dispute arising between the parties under or in connection with this Privacy Policy except for those individuals who may have rights to make claims under Privacy Shield, or the Swiss-US framework. The laws of Estonia, excluding its conflicts of law rules, shall govern this Agreement and your use of the website. Your use of the website may also be subject to other local, state, national, or international laws. By using CHISTO or contacting us directly, you signify your acceptance of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, you should not engage with our website, or use our services. Continued use of the website, direct engagement with us, or following the posting of changes to this Privacy Policy that do not significantly affect the use or disclosure of your personal information will mean that you accept those changes. Your Consent We've updated our Privacy Policy to provide you with complete transparency into what is being set when you visit our site and how it's being used. By using our CHISTO, registering an account, or making a purchase, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. Links to Other Websites This Privacy Policy applies only to the Services. The Services may contain links to other websites not operated or controlled by CHISTO. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy or opinions expressed in such websites, and such websites are not investigated, monitored or checked for accuracy or completeness by us. Please remember that when you use a link to go from the Services to another website, our Privacy Policy is no longer in effect. Your browsing and interaction on any other website, including those that have a link on our platform, is subject to that website’s own rules and policies. Such third parties may use their own cookies or other methods to collect information about you. Cookies CHISTO uses "Cookies" to identify the areas of our website that you have visited. A Cookie is a small piece of data stored on your computer or mobile device by your web browser. We use Cookies to enhance the performance and functionality of our website but are non-essential to their use. However, without these cookies, certain functionality like videos may become unavailable or you would be required to enter your login details every time you visit the website as we would not be able to remember that you had logged in previously. Most web browsers can be set to disable the use of Cookies. However, if you disable Cookies, you may not be able to access functionality on our website correctly or at all. We never place Personally Identifiable Information in Cookies. Blocking and disabling cookies and similar technologies Wherever you're located you may also set your browser to block cookies and similar technologies, but this action may block our essential cookies and prevent our website from functioning properly, and you may not be able to fully utilize all of its features and services. You should also be aware that you may also lose some saved information (e.g. saved login details, site preferences) if you block cookies on your browser. Different browsers make different controls available to you. Disabling a cookie or category of cookie does not delete the cookie from your browser, you will need to do this yourself from within your browser, you should visit your browser's help menu for more information. Remarketing Services We use remarketing services. What Is Remarketing? In digital marketing, remarketing (or retargeting) is the practice of serving ads across the internet to people who have already visited your website. It allows your company to seem like they're “following” people around the internet by serving ads on the websites and platforms they use most. Payment Details In respect to any credit card or other payment processing details you have provided us, we commit that this confidential information will be stored in the most secure manner possible. Kids' Privacy We do not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13. If You are a parent or guardian and You are aware that Your child has provided Us with Personal Data, please contact Us. If We become aware that We have collected Personal Data from anyone under the age of 13 without verification of parental consent, We take steps to remove that information from Our servers. Changes To Our Privacy Policy We may change our Service and policies, and we may need to make changes to this Privacy Policy so that they accurately reflect our Service and policies. Unless otherwise required by law, we will notify you (for example, through our Service) before we make changes to this Privacy Policy and give you an opportunity to review them before they go into effect. Then, if you continue to use the Service, you will be bound by the updated Privacy Policy. If you do not want to agree to this or any updated Privacy Policy, you can delete your account. Third-Party Services We may display, include or make available third-party content (including data, information, applications and other products services) or provide links to third-party websites or services ("Third- Party Services"). You acknowledge and agree that CHISTO shall not be responsible for any Third-Party Services, including their accuracy, completeness, timeliness, validity, copyright compliance, legality, decency, quality or any other aspect thereof. CHISTO does not assume and shall not have any liability or responsibility to you or any other person or entity for any Third-Party Services. Third-Party Services and links thereto are provided solely as a convenience to you and you access and use them entirely at your own risk and subject to such third parties' terms and conditions. Facebook Pixel Facebook pixel is an analytics tool that allows you to measure the effectiveness of your advertising by understanding the actions people take on your website. You can use the pixel to: Make sure your ads are shown to the right people. Facebook pixel may collect information from your device when you use the service. Facebook pixel collects information that is held in accordance with its Privacy Policy Tracking Technologies Cookies We use Cookies to enhance the performance and functionality of our but are non-essential to their use. However, without these cookies, certain functionality like videos may become unavailable or you would be required to enter your login details every time you visit the as we would not be able to remember that you had logged in previously. Information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) We may be collecting and using information from you if you are from the European Economic Area (EEA), and in this section of our Privacy Policy we are going to explain exactly how and why is this data collected, and how we maintain this data under protection from being replicated or used in the wrong way. What is GDPR? GDPR is an EU-wide privacy and data protection law that regulates how EU residents' data is protected by companies and enhances the control the EU residents have, over their personal data. The GDPR is relevant to any globally operating company and not just the EU-based businesses and EU residents. Our customers’ data is important irrespective of where they are located, which is why we have implemented GDPR controls as our baseline standard for all our operations worldwide. What is personal data? Any data that relates to an identifiable or identified individual. GDPR covers a broad spectrum of information that could be used on its own, or in combination with other pieces of information, to identify a person. Personal data extends beyond a person’s name or email address. Some examples include financial information, political opinions, genetic data, biometric data, IP addresses, physical address, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. The Data Protection Principles include requirements such as: Personal data collected must be processed in a fair, legal, and transparent way and should only be used in a way that a person would reasonably expect. Personal data should only be collected to fulfil a specific purpose and it should only be used for that purpose. Organizations must specify why they need the personal data when they collect it. Personal data should be held no longer than necessary to fulfil its purpose. People covered by the GDPR have the right to access their own personal data. They can also request a copy of their data, and that their data be updated, deleted, restricted, or moved to another organization. Why is GDPR important? GDPR adds some new requirements regarding how companies should protect individuals' personal data that they collect and process. It also raises the stakes for compliance by increasing enforcement and imposing greater fines for breach. Beyond these facts it's simply the right thing to do. At CHISTO we strongly believe that your data privacy is very important and we already have solid security and privacy practices in place that go beyond the requirements of this new regulation. Individual Data Subject's Rights - Data Access, Portability and Deletion We are committed to helping our customers meet the data subject rights requirements of GDPR. CHISTO processes or stores all personal data in fully vetted, DPA compliant vendors. We do store all conversation and personal data for up to 6 years unless your account is deleted. In which case, we dispose of all data in accordance with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, but we will not hold it longer than 60 days. We are aware that if you are working with EU customers, you need to be able to provide them with the ability to access, update, retrieve and remove personal data. We got you! We've been set up as self service from the start and have always given you access to your data and your customers data. Our customer support team is here for you to answer any questions you might have about working with the API. California Residents The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) requires us to disclose categories of Personal Information we collect and how we use it, the categories of sources from whom we collect Personal Information, and the third parties with whom we share it, which we have explained above. We are also required to communicate information about rights California residents have under California law. You may exercise the following rights: Right to Know and Access. You may submit a verifiable request for information regarding the: (1) categories of Personal Information we collect, use, or share; (2) purposes for which categories of Personal Information are collected or used by us; (3) categories of sources from which we collect Personal Information; and (4) specific pieces of Personal Information we have collected about you. Right to Equal Service. We will not discriminate against you if you exercise your privacy rights. Right to Delete. You may submit a verifiable request to close your account and we will delete Personal Information about you that we have collected. Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. We do not sell the Personal Information of our users. For more information about these rights, please contact us. California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA) CalOPPA requires us to disclose categories of Personal Information we collect and how we use it, the categories of sources from whom we collect Personal Information, and the third parties with whom we share it, which we have explained above. CalOPPA users have the following rights: Right to Know and Access. You may submit a verifiable request for information regarding the: (1) categories of Personal Information we collect, use, or share; (2) purposes for which categories of Personal Information are collected or used by us; (3) categories of sources from which we collect Personal Information; and (4) specific pieces of Personal Information we have collected about you. Right to Equal Service. We will not discriminate against you if you exercise your privacy rights. Right to Delete. You may submit a verifiable request to close your account and we will delete Personal Information about you that we have collected. Right to request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. We do not sell the Personal Information of our users. For more information about these rights, please contact us. Contact Us Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Via Email: [email protected] Via Phone Number: +372 712 3341 Via this Link: chisto.com

Necessary

This cookie is set by Google Analytics. It stores and update a unique value for each page visited and is used to count and track pageviews.

Cookies Used

Required
_gid , _ga

Advertising

Used by Meta to deliver a series of advertisement products such as real time bidding from third-party advertisers

Cookies Used

_fbp

Analytics

This cookie is set by Google Analytics. It stores and updates a unique value for each page visited and is used to count and track pageviews.

Cookies Used

_gid , _ga

Other

Tracks when someone clicks through a Klaviyo email to your website

Cookies Used

Required
__kla_id