It is a judgement. When I go out and buy what I call expensive equipment, I judge myself. I don't have an audio budget, it all comes out of the common fund which includes wife, daughter, grandaughters. In the review, Michael Framer pronounced the quarter-of-a million-dollar wonder as good as analogue. You can buy a good turntable for ten to twenty grand. I guess at some point I see certain price points in audio as just too much. When I was growing up, my mother said, "Eat your beans. People are starving in China." (A very long time ago.) I'm sure that my friends judge me all the time for the "moderate" amount I spend on audio. My new speakers were $18K and I was gulping at that. Sorry for judging, but I do from time to time judge our hobby.
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?
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This seems similar buying a car new or used. Once we buy the car, we usually don’t care about newer models coming out, but rather we are satisfied with the function and use of our purchase because it is doing “exactly” what we expected at the time of purchase. Products types vary in innovation, from slow (furniture, roof tiles…) to fast including high-tech (software, laptops, smartphones, audio equipment..). In high-end anything. It’s foolish to purchase anything thinking/hoping that better tech “won’t happen”, and when it does the individual becomes disappointed. Meanwhile, the high-end anything is functioning exactly as it was intended at the time of purchase- it’s doing what we expected it to do to give us satisfaction.
As an example, after long research, both Audiophile1 (A1) and Audiophile2 purchased the same DAC. A1 simply enjoys the DAC - it’s consistently performing to expectations at the same level of when it was first purchased A2 is satisfied enjoys it for awhile, then hears news of a better model coming out so A2 becomes dissatisfied. But wait, the news is false so now A2 is back to being satisfied. The manufacturer announced that they are working on a newer/better model, A2 becomes dissatisfied. But due to health reasons, the manufacturer will retire aka no new model, A2 becomes satisfied. Meanwhile, the DAC is performing the same as in day 1. What is changing? Its better to be A1 without the emotional baggage
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Not withstanding the companies behavior, I did have a chance to hear the reviewed setup. It is an amazing stack. Unobtanium at anything realistic price wise. I can't say the performance is anything but beyond next level. The high end actually got a high end machine. I was amazed and more than amused by what I heard. You should go listen to it wherever your Ferraris are sold. But anyone who's heard high end systems knows this DAC isn't a snake oil review. |
@audio-b-dog Excellent post. I think more folks should have the attitude that you have in regards to high end purchases..of anything. I also think more of us should judge this hobby in the way you state.
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@christopherp Can you tell us what the rest of the system consisted of when you heard the new dCS Varese stack..gear, room, music, etc??
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