DCS Bartok APEX or LINA and master clock

Go for APEX upgrade and add master clock as your finances permits. The overall cost is more with external master clock but you will appreciate the latest DAC and SOTA performance with external clock. I cannot stress enough the importance of master clock with devices that allows you connect external master clock. Once you hear Bartok with external clock like Mutec Ref 10SE, you won’t be able to go back! 

@lalitk ,

Can you explain the differences between the Apex and Lina?

I looked at the website, but couldn't figure it out.

Bob

Lina is a new DAC from DCS, basically a bartok without the preamp functions a smaller box.  Apex is the new DAC platform - an upgrade to the internal ladder dac.

Hope this helps.

“Lina is a new DAC from DCS, basically a bartok without the preamp”
@efoo 

I believe Lina would be a step back from Bartok. Even though the Ring DAC design is the core dCS technology at the heart of their DACs, the Bartok and the Lina are aimed at different uses and as such have different places where they would excel. I do recall reading somewhere, in head to head comparison; Bartok by contrast has a slightly deeper, and wider soundstage. Not to mention, physical casework on the Bartok allows for better isolation of the various subsections of the DAC. 

Many of the Lina DAC reviews compare to Bartok, but I have not seen any Bartok APEX reviews yet (Bartok APEX was only announced on Feb 7th). 
 

Rossini APEX and Vivaldi APEX are supposedly very significant improvement over the non-APEX versions. 
 

I have only heard Lina DAC in my system and like it very much.