dCS Vivaldi One APEX

Our limited edition Vivaldi One is a single-box SACD/CD and Network Player that supports music from any digital source, in addition to streaming audio via network input. Exquisitely finished, it offers a sublime experience and state-of-the-art functionality.

The Vivaldi One was released in 2017 to mark dCS’s 30th anniversary. Inspired by the success of their Vivaldi series — which comprises a DAC, Upsampler, CD/SACD Transport and Master Clock — they set out to create a limited-edition system that distilled the Vivaldi’s core features and technologies into a single, exquisitely finished playback device.

Just 250 Vivaldi One systems were produced, and they quickly sold out. dCS have since received numerous emails, letters and phone calls from music lovers around the world looking to purchase a Vivaldi One. Whilst they were delighted to see such a strong demand for the product, and had often considered re-releasing the Vivaldi One, they ultimately decided to focus their efforts on developing new features and enhancements to the Vivaldi and Rossini ranges, as well as developing the dCS Bartók.

This year, however, dCS launched a major hardware upgrade that allowed them to further enhance the performance of the Vivaldi DAC, Rossini DAC and Rossini Player. Their new dCS Ring DAC™ APEX hardware is measurably better in several ways, and brings a range of sonic improvements, with listeners noting enhanced dynamics, rhythm and timing, greater soundstage resolution and image focus, blacker backgrounds, and a heightened sense of realism.

Following extensive development, and several rounds of testing, dCS decided to launch new APEX editions of the Vivaldi DAC, Rossini DAC, and Rossini Player, which feature the Ring DAC APEX hardware as standard. We also announced the launch of a global upgrade programme for existing owners of the Vivaldi DAC, Rossini DAC, Rossini Player and original Vivaldi One.

The response to the upgrade programme, and the launch of the Rossini and Vivaldi APEX models, has been overwhelming. The positive feedback we received from the audio community inspired them to explore the idea of releasing an APEX edition of the dCS Vivaldi One, and with their 35th anniversary just around the corner, it seemed like the perfect time to release a new, improved edition of a much-loved and celebrated dCS product.

The Vivaldi One APEX is a powerful network music player and CD/SACD Transport. It offers the same core technologies as the globally renowned dCS Vivaldi series, including the latest-generation dCS Ring DAC, and the dCS Digital Processing Platform, as well as our proprietary clocking system.

It supports all major lossless codecs, including MQA, and is compatible with a wide range of streaming services and music management platforms, including Roon, TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer, Internet Radio and Spotify. It also supports streaming via Apple AirPlay, TIDAL Connect and Spotify Connect.

For silver disc enthusiasts, its Esoteric VMK3 VRDS-Neo CD/SACD mechanism works in tandem with dCS hardware and software to extract revelatory levels of detail from standard and Super Audio CDs. An array of digital inputs, plus multi-stage DXD oversampling with optional DSD/64 or DSD/128 upsampling, and user-selectable DSP and DSD filters, offer unrivalled flexibility.

The system’s performance is driven by flexible firmware, which can be easily updated to deliver new product features and enhancements. An aerospace-grade aluminium chassis reduces mechanical vibration and magnetic effects for enhanced audio performance, while features such as multi-stage power regulation, twin mains transformers, and separate power supplies for digital and analogue sections ensure maximum consistency and reliability.

Upsampling CD / SACD / Network Player

444mm (17.5”) wide x 420mm (16.6”) deep x 220mm (8.7”) high. Allow extra depth for cable connectors

27.4kg (60.4lbs). (Anodised silver)

dCS proprietary Ring DAC TM topology

Ethernet network port on RJ45 connector, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 384kS/s PCM, DSD/64 & DSD128 in DFF/DSF format; USB 2.0 interface on B-type connector, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 384kS/s PCM, DSD/64 & DSD128 in DoP format; USB On-The-Go interface on A-type connector, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 384kS/s PCM, DSD/64 & DSD128; 2 x AES/EBU inputs on 3-pin female XLR connectors, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 192kS/s PCM & DSD/64 in DoP format; 1 x Dual AES pair, accepts 24-bit 88.2 – 384kS/s PCM, DSD/64 & DSD/128 in DoP format or dCS-encrypted DSD; 1 x SPDIF on RCA Phono connector, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 192kS/s PCM & DSD/64 in DoP format; 1 x SPDIF on BNC connector, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 192kS/s PCM & DSD/64 in DoP format; 1 x SPDIF optical on TOSLINK connector, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 96kS/s PCM

TEAC Esoteric VMK3 VRDS Neo

1 x pair balanced outputs on 2x XLR connectors. These outputs are electrically balanced and floating. Output levels: 0.2V, 0.6V, 2V, 6V rms for a full-scale input, set in the menu. Output impedance: 3Ω. Maximum load: 600Ω (10k-100kΩ is recommended); 1 x pair unbalanced outputs on 2x RCA connectors. Output levels: 0.2V, 0.6V, 2V, 6V rms for a full-scale input, set in the menu. Output impedance: 52Ω. Maximum load: 600Ω (10k-100kΩ is recommended)

2 x Word Clock Inputs on 2x BNC connectors, accept standard Word Clock at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192kHz. The data rate can be the same as the clock rate or an exact multiple of the clock rate. Sensitive to TTL levels; 1 x Word Clock Output on 1x BNC connector. With Sync Mode set to Master, a TTL-compatible Word Clock is output

16-bit data: Better than –96dB0, 20Hz - 20kHz unweighted. 24-bit data: Better than –113dB0, 20Hz - 20kHz unweighted. (6V output setting)

Better than –115dB0, 20Hz - 20kHz

Better than –115dB0, 20Hz - 20kHz

PCM mode: up to 6 filters give different trade-offs between the Nyquist image rejection and the phase response. DSD mode: 4 filters progressively reduce the out-of-audio band noise level, a 5th filter offers a minimum-phase roll-off

User-selectable upsampling to DXD, DSD/128 or DSD/64

Download available via Mosaic App

dCS Mosaic App for Unit Configuration and Playback. RS232 interface (via 3rd party automation system). dCS Universal IR remote control is included

Factory set to 100, 115/120, 220 or 230/240V AC, 50 / 60Hz

40 Watts typical / 60 Watts maximum