I wonder if the differences are in the area of noise, detail extraction and ease/flow or naturalness. I've only heard a few analog systems rival the ultra low noise of digital. But I've also only heard a few digital systems approach the liquid naturalness of great analog. Resolution can be great with both as can dynamics.

I respect the advantages each format has, but I always return to the comfort of analog. I'm sure it is nothing more than my personal/subjective bias or preference, and the cost and effort involved with starting a digital collection from scratch.

I would also humbly suggest that moving up a tier in analog with a different table and some isolation will improve things on that front. I am fairly certain your arm and cartridge are at the top level, though I have not heard the combination.

It would be very interesting to take the Vivaldi stack over to Albert's or Babybear's system to compare with their analog, or conversely, listen to one of their turntables in your system. It intrigues me that I think all three of your tables are Direct Drive - GP Monoco, Technics SP10 III, and Dobins The Beat.

Don't hold back on providing more details about the sound. Very curious.

peterayer November 09, 2014 21:24

Yes, agree with Peter...quite an observation when it comes to a big fan of vinyl which i believe you are, JFrech. Congrats!! That is big news. Look forward to more insights as you (doubtless) get more questions from people like Peter and me on how they compared.

Perhaps put another way...what do you think it is about the vivaldi (relative to your earlier Scarlatti) that has allowed digital to make this great leap forward to rival vinyl in your system?

lloydelee21 November 09, 2014 16:27

That's pretty interesting Jfrech. I don't know what the Vivaldi stack retails for, but how does that price compare to your analog cost?

How did the sound change after adding the Clock? Was that the missing sound that held digital back relative to you analog? Finally, even if you now don't have a preference, could you describe the strengths and weakness of each?

Sorry for all of the questions, but this is quite an observation. Of course there are many people who prefer digital for a variety of reasons.

Congratulations on the improvements.

peterayer November 09, 2014 15:57

System edited: Added dCS Vivaldi Clock and updated a few pics. I had a friend stop by today. And I'll likely get kicked off the forums for saying this...my digital has caught my vinyl. My friend and I tried several recordings 33's, 45's and SACD's. All cut from the same master tape. The digital and vinyl do a few things differently...but couldn't say one was better. It's been a interesting journey adding one dCS Vivaldi piece at a time and retiring the corresponding Scarlatti piece. Starting with the DAC, then the Trans and finally the clock. Everything else remained constant...

jfrech November 08, 2014 22:26

Hi Ken, it's 26 ft long, 18.4 wide and 3 alcoves on one side 4ft wide x 3ft long each. and a office/record storage area in the back of the room that adds another 10ft x 8ft. It's a complicated room that i had Rives Audio design custom treatments for...

jfrech September 30, 2014 15:51

Hi jfrech, what size is your room?

Thanks, Ken

kwb September 30, 2014 03:08

HI on the Typhon...yes a little...I don't remember that about the soundstage...to me each of the notes were delivered with more energy from a blacker background...pulling the plug feels like putting a blanket over the speakers...it's a slow break in...not much current flow through it...

jfrech September 17, 2014 22:26

John
Both the Atlas and Proteus are great carts but if I had to choose one, hands down it would be the Atlas.
A quick question on breakin of the Typhon. Is it a linear sort of process or two steps forward and a few inches backwards kind of thing ? The reason I ask is I get the impression that the soundstage is a wee bit sucked out . This happened a few days back.
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956 September 17, 2014 12:39

Saint: that's a great way to put it for my digital... :-) !!

jfrech September 15, 2014 12:19

Jfrech,

Congrats!! It sounds like the Vivaldi has reintroduced you to the music you love. I love when that happens. It's almost like getting an entirely new catalog of music or that you're hearing your music for the first time. That emotional connection is what I'm after. Nice. Really nice!!

thesaint519 September 15, 2014 00:28

you know good question...they might...but also I suspect it adds a variable to existing model...so maybe only when something new is released (like a point version or a new model would be my guess...

jfrech September 14, 2014 21:04

Hi Peter,

Good question! I imagine they probably did, as I imagine TA would have just sold Wilson their latest cable run at that time?

Anyway, as far as Jumper cable...I think you're right...but in the end, I think I have found a 'weak link' in the stock jumper plate...which is excellent...but which I think is bettered by the TA Ref jumpers.

So naturally, the question is, do TA Ref XL jumpers shore up this weak link better? Or is it only a marginal improvement.

Given the fact that my only other option is to remove the jumper plate and bi-amp the X1s (owners swear by it, though its not authorized/recommended by Wilson)...I am trying to see how far I can take it relative to a biamp which is a big commitment (though I've heard it can be transformationally good for these speakers).

lloydelee21 September 14, 2014 18:42

Jfrech, with all of this talk about Transparent cables being upgraded, do you know if they upgrade the cables in Wilson and Rockport speakers when new models are introduced? There is almost no discussion about what level of TA cables are actually in these speakers.

Lloyd's question about the jumpers has me wondering if he upgrades the jumpers will they be better than the internal wiring? And if so, will the signal just degrade once it is back inside the speaker?

peterayer September 14, 2014 15:34

Hi Pradeep, the thing about the dCS Vivaldi does...is draw you in...like vinyl...also has a image width, depth, 3d quality like vinyl. I keep saying like vinyl ...

Yes on the Transparent cables. Andy uses them in his listening room and I know your Rockports and mine are internally wired with Transparent. I do think Andy Payor also designed the carbon fiber network enclosures on the Opus...so some synergy at work I suspect.

I am still digging my Nagra VPS phono stage. I almost bought a battery supply to power it last week (Red Wine Audio Black Lightning)...but ended up sticking with the Nagra AC supply. I've asked my dealer to order a Nagra MPS power supply to demo with the Nagra VPS.

The battery does lower the noise floor..allowing a more "pure" sound. I felt the AC supply energized the notes in a more interesting way...which is why I'd like to try the Nagra MPS.

I plan on demoing a Allnic H3000 soon (demo'd the 3000v before and have a suspicion the rectifier tube wasn't the best and the extra switches is the variable RIAA signal path might not yield as pure of a sound). I also want to demo a Lamm LP2.1...never know unless you try it at home...

Did you end up liking the Lyra Atlas better than the Transfiguartion Proteus?

jfrech September 14, 2014 13:54

John
Congrats on the Vivaldi Transport. Almost if not better than analog, if that's what you are saying , than it must be pretty amazing.
Do you find TA speaker cables a better match for your Rockports ?
Cheers
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956 September 14, 2014 11:55

Hmm on the jumpers. I have no experience here. I can only spend your money with out any data to back it up :-)

jfrech September 14, 2014 11:21

Question JFrech,

I am using some 7-year old Transp Ref Jumpers on my Wilson X1s jumper plate...I still use the stock Wilson 1/4" thick copper plate...but ADDING 2 jumpers per speaker has made some great improvements in similar ways as you describe your Scarlatti...for me, the bass has become incredibly 'nimble'...

...so inevitably my QUESTION TO YOU IS:

- would you recommend I try a newer TA jumper. They apparently have TA Ref XL jumpers and (gulp) Opus jumpers.

Thoughts? They are 'just' jumpers...but my old TA Ref jumpers made such a nice difference, I am curious...particularly since the one possible downside is that although treble attack is more natural...it is also just a 'touch' less powerful.

I am wondering if newer generation TA might keep what I like and improve on attack...thanks for any advice.

lloydelee21 September 13, 2014 22:13

Congrats, Jfrech...that is great stuff. In particular:

1) ...the musicians intent...
2) better bass (what can I say? bass freak here!)
3) the density of the guitar note AND the decay...that makes a HUGE difference in understanding the music and the 'intent' as you say. It also seems to be the same 'skills' your digital has that also allows 'lesser' instruments in the background to suddenly have their own space on the stage.

Enjoy and look forward to further updates...

lloydelee21 September 13, 2014 22:09

Lloyd/Saint...THANKS...I have about 24 hours playing time on the transport now. It's simply better to the point of the former, in comparison, didn't sound right--and trust me...the Scarlatti Trans sounded excellent for 3 years in my system.

Really 3 things strike me right now on the Vivaldi Trans:

1) how the Vivaldi Transport unravels and organizes the notes is a more profound way. You can pick apart some instrument at the back or side of the stage and just immerse your self in it. It's there...it's real...it's part of the band...but it's its own thing. And the precision of the timing of the music...how you can head the piano leading the violin..or the other way around...vs them just playing together. I notice things in recordings I just hadn't noticed before....the musicians intent...

2) the bass. so much more defined, refined, powerful, deeper, delicate and tuneful along with more linear.

3) how it places things in space. it's diff than the scarlatti transport. a guitar is more guitar sized...but the reverberations of the strings are big in space. The pluck if a string is a defined, small event. But the sound the string makes as it decays into a large space...isn't as small as the original pluck of that string...

All of this really...is what vinyl has done for me. Now the dCS Vivaldi seems to be doing a few things better (like the bass) and a few things more (a lot more) analog like (like the specificity of the images and the unraveling of the notes)

The Vivaldi DAC sounded great after a few hours...then after 2-3 months really relaxed and opened up...guessing the Vivaldi Transport will follow a similar path.

I'll never give my vinyl and I know I've been saying this...but I do plan to upgrade my phono stage one day soon...

jfrech September 13, 2014 19:34

Jfrech,

Massive step forward, I suppose. At least that's what I've read. So, how does it sound? Congrats!!

thesaint519 September 13, 2014 15:31

B-I-G NEWS!!! Congrats, Jfrech!

lloydelee21 September 13, 2014 12:28

System edited: replaced Scarlatti Transport with Vivaldi Transport

jfrech September 13, 2014 11:38

Hi Peterayer,

You are SO right. It is just wishful thinking.

thesaint519 August 08, 2014 16:39

Oh boy....it for sure is wishful thinking. I could kick myself for spending so much...but right now I am so loving the music...

jfrech August 08, 2014 13:56

Sorry John. I read Thesaint519's post of 8/07 to you in which he writes "...but almost done." I mistakingly thought you wrote that and I was just jokingly trying to convey that anyone who thinks that he is "almost done" in this hobby is engaged in wishful thinking. But I suppose it is possible.

peterayer August 08, 2014 12:21