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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
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Elgar,
it may be worth trying to find a later version of the DCS transport with firewire built in. I dont know which version of the Elgar dac you have, but if it has firewire then you are in good shape as the La scarla and Encore transports have the upsampler built in. So you can go straight from the transport using DSD to the dac via firewire. Much neater.
elgar
12 posts
 
Hello Chadeffect,
i´ve also thought about your idea of changing, but didn´t exspect far more over all improvement.
Of course the Encore would be the best for me, but my own Verdi has the 1394 conection (don´t know if there is a DCS Transport without), only at Elgar and Purcell they are missing.The La Scala is the wrong option for me, cause i need a input to be able upsampling other sources.
Wait and see what DCS tells about the upgrade costs.

Kind regards
Joe
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Hi Elgar,
see what DCS say, but I am sure just removing another set of cables and connections and another box will get you somewhere. Again it is a law of diminishing returns, so there may be a cheaper way to improve your sound.

Find a good firewire cable too. I know it sounds stupid, but I tried a few and while they should make no difference to the data, I found the shielded versions did help the soundstaging and the sound seemed cleaner. I am not sure if you need to go as far as the siltech FW cable though! That must be the most expensive FWcable on the planet. I know virtual dynamics were working on something, but it is not out yet. I use a modified pro cable that is for a Protools rig. It has a silver screen and ferrite rings at each end. A good cable for the clock seems to help too.

The other thing that is obvious but seems to effect the DCS a lot, is making sure the transport is completely flat, as if it were a turntable. This can make the DCS very clinical and lacking warmth and lower mid/bass support.
elgar
12 posts
 
Hello

i use the good testet digital and analog interconects "Reference one" from Fadel Art, but i think about changing them, step by step agains MIT Oracle MA in the future.
But what is wrong with thinking, that if the path via firewire(DSD) is best, i "only" need the clock cables?
I did not find firewire cables in Highend market yet. Any improvement to exspect this way ?
Good news: I´ve just payed, and i´m waiting for my U-Clock.
Seems that Audigon is a real win/win forum in every aspect !

Kind regards from over the ocean

Joe
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 :)
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