Well, the Varese undoubtedly fits well into a system costing probably $1 million and up, but most of us have to rummage around the audio basement, or perhaps the first or second floor, as our systems cost only a small fraction of the price of the Varese. Yet, my new Gungnir 2 was a marked improvement to my system, which when I add a streamer of suitable quality, would be about eight percent of the price of the Varese, which still needs amplification and speakers. Part of the enjoyment is assembling a system that yields the sound quality one seeks at a price one can afford. That is not to slam the Varese, however, as it sets a “mark on the wall” for others to try to emulate at a lower cost, much as research done for NASA and the military ends up in the products we use every day, such as the GPS system and medical advances that came out of wars of the last 80 years. So, I can say “the Varese is really something” and not feel my latest acquisition is destined for a yard sale … or A-gon. With relatively limited means and a few additional interests and responsibilities, I am quite happy with my system. Can it be improved? Of course, but the law of diminishing returns enters the equation at a relatively low level when compared to the price of the Varese system. So, I can admire but have no need to envy.
The new dCS Varese DAC...it is so good that all others are now relegated to history??
In the current issue of 'The Absolute Sound' magazine, Jacob Heilbrun applies about as much hyperbole on the new dCS Varese DAC stack as I have ever read!!
There are references to the sound of a 'live' piano and other points about the 'quantum leap in SQ' of this product.
Yet, i ask this, how is it possible that the digital recording chain can in fact pick up the many incredible subtleties that Jacob references in his review??
Nonetheless, at the price asked for the new Varese, it had better do your washing, cooking and take out the dog for a walk!
Next year, we will hear how the new dCS Varese is being upgraded, and that the new revisions are more accurate, more resolving, more this...more that, for a large price increase. Pathetic on a number of plains. Thoughts?