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| December
2008 | Issue 2 |
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Puccini
U-Clock makes its debut - Raising the performance of the
world's finest one box player another notch
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| PRODUCT
LAUNCH |
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November saw the
launch of the patent pending (GB0817141.5) Puccini U-Clock, a
separate grade 1 system clock designed to reduce jitter and
improve
performance from Puccini player. The combination has to be heard to be
believed!
The U-Clock also features USB to SPDIF conversion using our patent
pending asychronous USB
technology, enabling Puccini owners to present sound files from a PC or
Mac to the legendary dCS Ring DAC onboard the Puccini at the same time
as clocking the PC/Mac source and minimising jitter.
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| WHAT
ARE WE LISTENING TO? |
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by
Chris Hales, Technical Director at dCS .
"A frequent visitor to the Hales family CD player since the summer has
been Delays’
“Everything’s the Rush”.
If you’re not familiar with the band’s combination of west-coast
harmonies and indie-pop guitar, and the proposition sounds appealing,
you owe it to yourself to check out this latest release.
Building
on the (artistic) success the preceding “Faded Seaside Glamour” and
“You See Colours” releases, “Everything’s the Rush” enjoys more solidly
constructed songs that make this Delays’ most complete recording
yet. |
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Brian
Wilson’s lost masterpiece “Smile” may not be to
everyone’s taste, but
set aside your prejudices and it becomes a stunning piece of aural
sculpture. Wilson’s own health problems may have taken their
toll, but ably aided and abetted by the Wondermints as he is here, it’s
hard to imagine these songs could sound any better.
For
maximum effect, the album does demand you listen to it in its entirety,
but with the reward of the glorious “Good Vibrations” to round off the
set, how much of a hardship can that be? Oh yes, check out
the
sleeve notes, and you’ll see the record was mastered using dCS
equipment.
Great backing vocals seems to be a theme that is
running through these selections, and nowhere are they better exhibited
than on the greatest record ever recorded; XTC’s “Oranges and
Lemons”. Andy Partridge’s compositions are
stunning in their
harmonic complexity and their variety. One thing this record
could never be accused of is being samey. From the chiming
guitar
of “The Mayor of Simpleton” to the ethereal “Chalkhills and Children”
this record has surprises and delights at every turn.
Lyrically,
also, this must be one of the sharpest collections ever, and Partridges
“Pink Thing” (exactly...) never fails to raise a smile. Of
course, if you don’t like pop music, you won’t like this or either of
my other choices. If you do like pop music you might just
fall in
love with “Oranges and Lemons”. I know I did when it was
released
in 1989, and I’ve been in love with it ever since.
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| NEW PRODUCTS |
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Most
people probably own a media server right now and use it every day...
yes, your PC or Mac has all the software and hardware
you need to rip, store and playback music.
That’s
why we are so excited about Puccini U-Clock as not only does the system
clock section improve the performance of an already unbelievable one
box
player but our patent pending approach to accepting music files via USB
means that you can get high end performance from a laptop or desktop
connected to the Puccini U-Clock.
Easy to set up, great value
for money and no need to throw out your CD’s or buy a shiny and
proprietary media server. The Puccini U-Clock will make your Christmas!
Read
and see more about the Puccini U-Clock
on our website.
Existing Users: For information on how the Puccini
U-Clock can be integrated into a media server set-up see our quick
set-up illustration or read our commmonly
asked questions on server based music.
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| EVENTS |
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CES
2009
Las Vegas, USA Venetian Tower 29-131
8 - 11 January 2009 | Website
We have our own suite at the Venetian for CES and we will have the
complete range of dCS product lines on display.
Our reference system will comprise Scarlatti Upsampler, DAC, CD/SACD
Transport and Master Clock. We will be using Verity Audio
loudspeakers, VTL
amplification and cables from Nordost.
Please contact
us if you want to meet our team or listen to dCS products at
the show.
Many heavyweights of the audio world will be using dCS as their digital
front end for CES, including; JM Focal, Scaena, Hansen, Usher, Jeff Rowland
and VTL.
SMARTLIFE Show 2009
Radisson SAS, Manchester Airport, UK
31 January - 1 February | Website
dCS and The Audio Works will be on display in a number of rooms at this weekend event in the North West.
The full dCS line up will be present along with our new usb equipped products.
Please contact
us if you want to meet our team or listen to dCS products at
the show.
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Sound By SInger Musical Event
New
York City, USA
27 - 28
January 2009 | Website
Sound
by Singer have
built what they believe to be the ultimate high end system and one that
justifies the title 'Heavyweight HiFi Champion of the World'.
Comprising
JM Focal Grande Utopia's, VTL 7.5 Pre-amp and VTL Siegfried
Monoblock Power Amps alongside dCS Scarlatti Upsampler, DAC, CD/SACD
Transport and Master Clock the system will be available for listening
during an open weekend on January 27-28 2009.
Folks from dCS,
Focal and VTL will be on hand to discuss and answer any questions you
have. Be sure to bring your own music and enjoy the magnificent sound!
Front Row Center - Grand Opening Party
Pompano Beach, Florida, USA
26 - 29 January | Website
dCS
is pleased to be a part of the grand opening celebrations for the newly
revamped Front Row Center High End in Pompano Beach, Florida.
dCS
and a host of other high end lines will be on demonstration and some of
our team will be there to meet with folks who stop by to listen.
Please contact
us for more details.
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| OUR TEAM |
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Chris
Hales is our Technical Director and has been with dCS for 10 years.
He has over 25 years experience in the audio world and joined
dCS
in 1998, soon extending
his influence to service, customer support and product
quality.
He moved
to R&D in 2004. His first project was to design the
dCS578
“Transmission Shelf” as part of the contract for the BBC W1
refurbishment programme. The dCS578 has been “on air” for all
BBC
network radio broadcasts since late 2004.
As part of the
management restructuring within dCS, Chris was appointed Technical
Director in 2006. Chris oversaw the design the Scarlatti,
Paganini and Puccini series, contributing all of the new circuit design
for those products.
Recently, Chris co-invented the (Patent pending)
Puccini U-clock concept with Director of Software, Andy McHarg.
In
his spare time, Chris likes to write and record his own songs, is a
keen amateur chef, specialising in Asian cuisine, and an enthusiastic
mixologist.
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Look out for another Bits
newsletter in the New Year. Merry Christmas!
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Copyright
© Data Conversion Systems Ltd. Mull House, Great Chesterford Ct.,
Saffron Walden, CB10 1PF, UK |
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