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dCS Puccini Clock

I had yesterday the oportunity to hear for first time the Puccini clock.

I must admit that I was a little sceptical. The system consisted of:

Howland preamp HP-200 SE
Howland amp RADIA SE
Avalon Indra
Transparent power cleaner / station ?
I can't tell which cables

Well the effect is quite amazing and you can easily recognize it in a blind hearing. If I have to describe it I would say, you become aware of the hall / the space in which the recording has been done. The difference is very noticeable when you switch the clock off, suddenly the music sounds dryer, shorter and the space all around the whole music desapears.

I heard:
Luiz Bonfa plays and sing Bossa Nova (Verve)
Bruckner 4th by Jaap van Zweden (bad SACD & interpretation)
Bruckner 4th by Günter Wand (the last recording)
Ports of Call by Eiji Oue (Ref. Rec. bravo Prof. Johnson you are a great sound engeneer!)

One of these days I will take it home and have a test on my system ... and will make some blind hearing with my wife ;-)

I will report then about the experience.
clavil

Showing 7 responses by mert

mert's avatar
mert
132 posts
 
I have spoken directly with Martin Reynolds about BNC cable, I think they use with MIT Oracle bnc cable. I think this unit is up to fixing clocking errors. IMO, there is no need to apply excessive powercord and BNC cables on U clock. I have a Stereovox XV2 BNC cable and will be using together with its stock powercord. If any change occur, than it means OK. If not, will try with maybe MIT oracle BNC.
mert's avatar
mert
132 posts
 
I would like to make a few comments about dCS u clock.( mine has just arrived)
Stereovox xv2 works fine and there is no need to invest on expensive BNC cables.( for this specific duty, the quality of the BNC cable will not yield an extraordinary benefit)
Since the unit consumes only 6 watts, the choice of pcord is not a critical decision.
The difference? without clock? with clock?
I don't know. Will find out soon and post it :)
mert's avatar
mert
132 posts
 
Clavil

You have asked same question under different topic. I was going to answer it but I was fallen into sleep last night.

I do have actually puccini and its dedicated clock.
I have various powercords in my collection: Elrod EPS 2 sig, Shunyata Anaconda helix 15-20 amp, Acrolink Mexcel pc-7100, Purist Anniversary 15-20 amp, lastly, I bought a Kubala Sosna Emotion. ( I had Nordost Valhalla but sold)
I have additional DIY and original cords but not using them as prime cords: Modified Audience au 24 with oyaide p 46 male and female plugs, Oyaide Tunami with Furutech 25-35-50 (gold, rhodium, and the most expensive one with carbon fiber or kevlar)

With Puccini I have used Elrod, Kubala Sosna Emotion and liked. I have now Kubala Sosna and decided to keep it with Puccini.
I am 100 percent sure Elrod Eps 2 sig will work perfectly under any condition.(tube or solid state pre in chain, solid state power amp in the end of the chain)
If you can tell more about your setup, I may give you more accurate advise?
mert's avatar
mert
132 posts
 
Clavil,

I am not familiar with your gear and the cables. I can not make any accurate comment.

However, DCS stuff is powercord reactive. It will change the presentation of your setup.(cords around 2-3k range)

If you would like to hear the dcs as how it is, make a simple DIY cord( would say Acrolink 4030 bulk) and apply any Rhodium based plug(furutech or oyaide) in order to maintain a flat response.
Expensive cords will not make a system sound SOTA but will let to voice the gear according to preference and priority.

Cheers
mert's avatar
mert
132 posts
 
Puccini U clock
It is time to finish this topic!
1-Yes it does make difference! No surprise, I was expecting this especialy when I play damaged, scratched, ext. sort of discs where error correction becomes critical and affects performance.(jitter because if transport can't read the disc 100 percent, it will make second try, third, fourth.....)
2-Stereovox xv2 cable is adequate for this operation.
3-There is no need for skypriced powercords: anyone with a good shield and isolation will work fine.( ofcourse plugs has to be at least oyaide or furutech)
4-computer based audio is getting more and more popular than we think. There is a potential of saving from buying cds.
5-It has to be placed over the Puccini player not under unless you do not have a Finite Elemente Pagode Master Reference stand as I do have....
That's it, good luck to Puccini owners!
mert's avatar
mert
132 posts
 
I don't have any empty shelf so I had to place over the puccini:)
It is good place transports over the shelf first in order to reduce vibration and other negative effects. If you place puccini over clock, you will end up with more vibration since it not rigid.
mert's avatar
mert
132 posts
 
Kops
Don't be oversure about solidity of alumun. box of dCS. Mind you, it is half empty! If Alumun is composed as sandwich like Symposium Svelte format, I would understand that. Heat? Yes there is. There are no external heatsinks on Puccini. Matterfact there will be always heat.
I couldn't report this to Mr.Stevens(RIP)of dCS because he passed away:(
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