dCS Varèse Music System

To say Varèse is a "hi-fi streamer" is much like saying a Bugati is a car. Years of research and development, including designing a digital protocol from scratch, have been distilled into what could be described as the finest digital front end of all time. Some of the Audio Connection team were lucky enough to have a private demonstration at dCS' Cambridge facility, and were able to directly A/B the new Varèse against the Vivaldi system. To say it was an improvement over an already outstanding system doesn't really do the Varèse justice - it was an almost night and day type scenario. The kind you rarely find in hi-fi. Once the comparison was done, the team in attendance were left fighting over the control iPad, each pushing to try out just one more reference song! 

Varèse features a unique architecture devised for total precision and absolute fidelity. Its novel design and bespoke technologies bring a level of performance beyond anything you could dare to dream possible.

The Core is the heart of the Varèse Music System. This technological powerhouse supports most hi-res formats and major streaming services. It handles a multitude of operations, from audio input to the conversion, noise shaping and filtering stages carried out before signals are output to the Varèse Mono DACs. The first dCS product of its kind, it utilises the novel ACTUS protocol to radically simplify setup whilst taking sonic and measured performance to new heights.

MONO DACS

The Ring DAC exists at the heart of all dCS DACs, and its design is subject to continual refinement. dCS made many updates to its architecture and operation over the years, improving its bandwidth and capabilities, and Varèse presents the most radical change to its design in a generation. Each Varèse Mono DAC features a new iteration of the Ring DAC - the Differential Ring DAC. This new version features twice as many current sources as previous designs, and employs a differential mode of operation, where one set of current sources is run in phase and the other in antiphase. Each DAC also features a suite of new mechanical and hardware innovations, from optimised transformers to enhanced power supplies. All DAC operations are carried out on a single circuit board, an approach also seen in the Lina Network DAC (a component that was informed by research and development work on Varèse). The dCS Tomix clocking protocol, meanwhile, ensures that the dual Mono DACs operate in perfect synchronicity. Together, these developments have enabled dCS to further enhance DAC performance and in turn, the musical experience provided. Each listener’s encounter is unique, but those who’ve spent time with Varèse have reported an even greater sense of greater immediacy and physical presence – giving them a stronger feeling of being transported to the real musical event. In measured terms, dCS have been able to significantly reduce noise floor by around 5dB, whilst further increasing linearity. The Varèse Mono DACs encapsulate our relentless focus on absolute performance. Driven by a desire to further enhance the sonic and technical capabilities of their DACs, dCS embarked on a radical reinterpretation of their DAC architecture and technologies. dCS created a dedicated DAC for each audio channel, along with an all-new version of the renowned dCS Ring DAC™ hardware. They also devised a patented clocking protocol, dCS Tomix, to ensure perfect synchronicity between the Mono DACs. These innovations have enabled them to take their signature ultra-low distortion performance to a new level whilst significantly lowering noise floor, bringing listeners an even more compelling and visceral sonic experience. Discover new depths of detail and emotion in your music, and prepare to fall in love with your favourite recordings all over again, with the sublime capabilities of these extraordinary components.

The Varèse Master Clock brings all the benefits of a dedicated dCS master clock – including improved imaging, focus and presence – to the Varèse Music System. It ensures absolute timing accuracy and synchronicity for optimal performance at all audio sample rates. The Master Clock utilises our new ACTUS and dCS Tomix protocols to deliver unrivalled jitter performance, providing dCS' lowest jitter, lowest drift and most accurate clocking signal yet. Its design is informed by decades of experience developing audio master clocks for both professional and home use.

The Varèse User Interface works in tandem with the Varèse Remote Control and dCS Mosaic ACTUS app to deliver a rich and engaging playback experience. Its full-colour touch screen displays full album art plus detailed track data, play queues and other settings, allowing you to view more information at a glance. Display modes and visible information can be tailored to suit your preferences, with customisable views, adjustable text size settings and optional dark mode. The User Interface connects with the Varèse Remote Control via Bluetooth LE. It also enables compatibility and integration with UPnP control point renderers and servers.

With its ergonomic design, backlit touch icons and focused hot keys, the Varèse Remote Control provides an intuitive and highly tactile way to interact with your Varèse Music System. Use the volume dial to adjust levels or perform a range of functions such as play, skip, pause and mute with just one tap, all whilst remaining immersed in your music.

The Remote Control charges via USB-C and connects to the Varèse Music System via Bluetooth for maximum convenience. Meticulously crafted, it features a capacitive touch glass screen with illuminated icons and CNC-machined aluminium casework.

The new dCS Mosaic ACTUS app offers a rich browsing experience and refreshingly simple navigation. Its intuitive design allows you to set up your system, browse music and control playback with the greatest of ease, so you can spend more time immersing yourself in your favourite recordings.

The Varèse system utilises a bespoke interface, dCS ACTUS, to deliver audio, control and timing signals between Varèse components. This means that components can be connected with a single ACTUS cable running from the Varèse Core to each unit.

The ACTUS cable is made up of six twisted pairs of copper cable, carrying asynchronous & error corrected audio signals, control signals and a master clock signal sent via the patented dCS Tomix protocol.

ACTUS is a bespoke interface that delivers audio, control and timing signals between Varèse components. This novel innovation enables the Varèse Music System to be connected with a single cable running from the Core to each unit. The ACTUS protocol is unique to Varèse. Building on learnings gained through four decades of audio design, dCS set out to radically simplify setup whilst further enhancing musical performance. This novel innovation removes the complexities associated with multi-component audio systems and provides a simple yet high-performance solution for listeners.

Dimensions

All dimensions given as height x width x depth. Allow additional 60mm depth for ACTUS cable connectors plus 120mm  for ACTUS cable bend radius. Allow space for airflow around the unit.

- User Interface: 131mm x 444mm x 450mm (includes Bluetooth aerial depth)

- Master Clock: 131mm x 444mm x 437mm 

- Left Mono DAC: 131mm x 444mm x 437mm 

- Right Mono DAC: 131mm x 444mm x 437mm 

- Core: 244mm x 444mm x 438mm 

Weight - User Interface: 14.6kg 

- Master Clock: 15.7kg

- Left Mono DAC: 18.7kg 

- Right Mono DAC: 18.7kg 

- Core: 33.1kg 

D/A Converter Type dCS Differential Ring DAC

Analogue Outputs - 2x pair balanced outputs on 4x XLR connectors. 

Output impedance: 1.5Ω. 

- 2x pair unbalanced outputs on 4x RCA connectors. Output impedance: 52Ω. 

- Maximum load: 600Ω (10k-100kΩ is recommended). 

- Output levels: 0.2V, 0.6V, 2V, 6V rms for a full-scale input, set in the menu. 

Digital Inputs - Ethernet on RJ45 connector for network streaming. 

- USB Type A connector for mass storage devices (navigated using Mosaic ACTUS). 

If the Digital I/O Module is fitted to the Varese Core:

- USB 2.0 interface on B-type connector, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 384kS/s PCM, DSD/64 & DSD128 in DoP format. - 3x AES/EBU inputs on 3-pin female XLR connectors, accepts 24-bit 44.1 – 192kS/s PCM & DSD/64 in DoP format. AES1+2 act as a Dual AES pair, accepts 24-bit 88.2 – 384kS/s PCM, DSD/64 & DSD/128 in DoP format.

Digital Outputs If the Digital I/O Module is fitted to the Varese Core, 1 x S/PDIF interface on RCA Phono connector, outputs 24-bit 44.1 – 192kS/s PCM, DSD/64 in DoP format. 

Wordclock If the Digital I/O Module is fitted to the Varese Core, 1 x Word Clock Output on 1 x BNC connector. I/O Outputs a TTL-compatible Wordclock at either 44.1kHz or 48kHz depending on the input sample rate.

Sample Frequencies and Formats Supports the following audio formats and sample rates: - 44.1-384kS/s up to 24 bits - DSD/64, DSD/128, DSD/256, DSD/512 - Native DSD + DoP - FLAC, WAV, AIFF 

Residual Noise Better than -118dB0, 20-20kHz 

Spurious Responses Better than -115dB0, 20-20kHz 

Power Supply Self-selecting for 100, 115, 220 and 230V AC 50-60Hz 

Power Consumption 30W