There have been an unusual number of ultra high-end audio components and systems introduced over the past year or so but the dCS Varèse Music System might be the most unusual to make it to market. With a $300,000+ USD price tag; and that does not include amplification or loudspeakers, the Varèse requires a deeper dive.
The Varèse Music System
The Varèse Music System is comprised of a stack of five components that work together to decode digital music with the utmost precision. Ultimately it outputs analog stereo (left/right) signals ready to be amplified.
- Varèse User Interface: £20,000
- Varèse Master Clock: £32,500
- Varèse Mono DAC: £90,000 (pair)
- Varèse Core: £75,000
Components
User Interface: The user interface works in combination with the dCS Mosaic ACTUS app (iOS/Android) to support system control and menu navigation. An included remote control connects with the user interface via Bluetooth LE.
Master Clock (optional): This provides support for better image, focus, and presence by ensuring timing accuracy and synchronicity. The Master Clock incorporates Tomix protocols to control jitter and drift.
Two Mono DACs (one for each audio channel): These take care of all Digital-to-Analog signal conversion.
Core: This handles all hi-res audio formats and streaming services, and any processing needed before the signals are passed to the Dual Mono DAC section. It uses the ACTUS protocol to support easy setup.
Bespoke Technologies
dCS claims Varèse reimagines playback for a new era, utilizing innovations to bring listeners a more immersive and revealing musical experience.
Varèse is the company’s most advanced music system so far and is expected to offer a level of performance beyond anything they have introduced. At the same time, the Varèse provides a simpler, more intuitive user experience, and a design that combines cutting-edge mechanics and hardware in stylish housing.
Varèse is the culmination of project development pursued over the years by dCS. As a result, Varèse incorporates a suite of new technologies claiming to further enhance performance and deliver sound with greater precision and clarity.
The new technologies include:
- dCS Tomix: A patented new clocking technology.
- ACTUS: A bespoke interface that carries audio, control, and timing signals between components.
- Differential Ring DAC: This is a new version of the dCS Ring DAC™ that represents the biggest change to our DAC architecture in a generation.
Additional Technologies
Varèse also features several mechanical and electronic innovations, from new circuit design to enhanced power supplies. The benefits of these advancements further reduced jitter, while increasing linearity, lowering noise floor, and eliminating crosstalk, once again setting a new standard for measured performance in the process.
For music listeners, Varèse offers all the qualities people have come to expect from dCS. Building on the capabilities of their current range to deliver a new level of realism, Varèse is designed to provide a broader, more expansive soundstage; an increased sense of effortlessness, musicality, and rhythmic flow; more tangible vocals; improved texture, timing, and impact of bass instruments; and enhanced speed and tunefulness at lower frequencies, among other qualities.
Each person’s experience is unique, but Varèse’s many innovations combine to provide the most transcendent dCS experience to date, bringing listeners a performance where sound has a more palpable presence than ever before.
From dCS Managing Director David Steven: “Varèse is the most challenging undertaking of our careers in audio,…We set out to redesign state-of-the-art whilst at the same time creating an entirely new and immersive user experience. We knew we had to embrace a singular vision and be brave and relentless in our pursuit of this, to bring listeners a system that is measurably and demonstrably special and exceeds the capabilities of our current body of work.”
From Andy McHarg, Technical Director at dCS: “I think it’s fair to say Varèse is the most complicated and challenging project I’ve been involved in…I’ve been at dCS for over 30 years, working across every major project for audio professionals and consumers. I think it’s fair to say that Varèse is the most complicated and challenging project I’ve been involved in, but I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of the team and the system they have created.”
Specifications
- Price (total system): £217,500/$305,000 USD (does not include amplifiers or speakers)
- Color: Silver
- D/A Converter Type: dCS Differential Ring DAC
- Analog Outputs 1: 2x pair balanced outputs on 4x XLR connectors – Output Impedance: 1.5Ω.
- Analog Outputs 2 2x pair unbalanced outputs on 4x RCA connectors – Output Impedance: 52Ω.
- Maximum Load: 600Ω (10k-100kΩ is recommended).
- Output Levels: 0.2V, 0.6V, 2V, 6V rms for a full-scale input, set in the menu.
- Digital Inputs: Ethernet on RJ45 connector for network streaming.
- USB: Type A connector for mass storage devices (navigated using Mosaic ACTUS) If the Digital I/O Module is fitted to the Varese Core.
- USB: Type B connector 2.0 interface on B-type connector, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 384kS/s PCM, DSD/64 & DSD128 in DoP format.
- Digital Inputs: 3x AES/EBU inputs on 3-pin female XLR connectors, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 192kS/s PCM & DSD/64 in DoP format. AES1+2 acts as a Dual AES pair that accepts 24-bit 88.2 – 384kS/s PCM, DSD/64 & DSD/128 in DoP format.
- Digital Outputs: If the Digital I/O Module is fitted to the Varese Core, 1 x S/PDIF interface on RCA Phono connector, outputs 24-bit 44.1 – 192kS/s PCM, DSD/64 in DoP format.
- Wordclock I/O: If the Digital I/O Module is fitted to the Varese Core, 1 x Word Clock Output on 1x BNC connector. Outputs a TTL-compatible Wordclock at either 44.1kHz or 48kHz depending on the input sample rate.
- Sample Frequencies and Format Formats
- 44.1-384kHz up to 24-bits
- DSD/64, DSD/128, DSD/256, DSD/512
- Native DSD + DoP
- FLAC, WAV, AIFF
- Residual Noise: Better than 118dB, 20-20kHz
- Spurious Responses: Better than -115dB, 20-20kHz
- Power Supply: Self-selecting for 100, 115, 220 and 230V AC 50-60Hz
- Power Consumption: 30W
Dimensions
All dimensions are given as Height x Width x Depth. Allow an additional 60mm depth for ACTUS cable connectors plus 120mm for ACTUS cable bend radius. Allow space for airflow around the unit.
- Core: 244 x 444 x 438mm / 9.7 x 17.5 x 17.3”
- User Interface: 131 x 444 x 450mm / 5.2 x 17.5 x 17.8” (includes Bluetooth aerial depth)
- Master Clock: 131 x 444 x 437mm / 5.2 x 17.5 x 17.3”
- Left Mono DAC: 131 x 444 x 437mm / 5.2 x 17.5 x 17.3”
- Right Mono DAC: 131 x 444 x 437mm / 5.2 x 17.5 x 17.3”
Weight
- Core: 33.1 kg / 73 lbs
- User Interface: 14.6 kg / 32.2 lbs
- Master Clock: 15.7 kg / 34.7 lbs
- Left Mono DAC: 18.7 kg / 41.3 lbs
- Right Mono DAC: 18.7 kg / 41.3 lbs
Initial Impression
At $300,000+ USD, dCS Varèse arrives with the highest of expectations. It seeks to reveal the utmost possible from digital music via state-of-the-art digital-to-analog processing, but ultimately needs to be connected to amplifiers and loudspeakers which are not part of the system.
dCS has indicated that they will provide an in-depth look at the system’s design over the next few months, with deep dives, white papers, and videos showcasing the technologies and features that drive its performance.
We’re very curious to hear an upcoming demonstration, and especially interested to learn what amps and speakers dCS suggests to be ideal pairings.
Availability and Pricing
Varèse debuted as a static display at the Hong Kong AV show on August 9, 2024. Live demonstrations are expected in the UK and US from September 2024 onwards.
Systems will be manufactured in limited quantities and shipping will commence from late 2024 at the following prices:
- Varèse User Interface: £20,000
- Varèse Master Clock: £32,500
- Varèse Mono DAC: £90,000 (pair)
- Varèse Core: £75,000
Total System Total: £217,500 (~$305,000 USD, final priced TBD)
A Varèse CD/SACD Transport is also expected in 2025.
For more information: dcsaudio.com
Related Reading
