Стримеры — dCS ROSSINI APEX

The Rossini APEX is a network streaming DAC from dCS, built by hand at the dCS base in Cambridgeshire, England. It combines a Ring DAC, a network renderer and a set of digital inputs in a single box that serves either as a complete digital source or as a converter for a separate transport. Playback is managed through the dCS Mosaic app on iOS and Android. The APEX version adds a reconfigured Ring DAC circuit board and a new analogue output stage, which dCS credits with reduced distortion, increased linearity and stronger dynamic drive into the following stage.

Key specs that matter

Over Ethernet and USB 2.0, PCM is accepted at 24 bits from 44.1 to 384 kS/s, and DSD64 and DSD128 are handled in DFF, DSF and DoP form, with full MQA decoding from the network and USB inputs. Inputs cover Ethernet, asynchronous USB 2.0 Type-B, USB Type-A for storage devices, two AES/EBU XLR sockets that also work as a Dual AES pair up to 384 kS/s, S/PDIF on RCA and BNC up to 192 kS/s with DSD64 over DoP, and optical up to 96 kS/s. Balanced XLR outputs have 3 ohm output impedance and unbalanced RCA outputs 52 ohm, both switchable to 0.2, 0.6, 2 or 6 V rms. The case, in black or silver, is 444 mm wide, 125 mm high and 435 mm deep and weighs 15.6 kg.

Engineering and use context

Streaming support includes Roon Ready, AirPlay, Spotify Connect and UPnP, and the Mosaic control app browses TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer, Spotify and internet radio. In PCM mode up to six filters trade Nyquist rejection against phase response, while four DSD filters progressively lower out-of-band noise. Incoming PCM can be upsampled to DXD, DSD or DSDx2 in a multi-stage oversampling design. Two BNC word clock inputs accept 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192 kHz, and a BNC word clock output is fitted, so the unit can be slaved to an external master clock. Power draw is 23 W typical and 28 W maximum, and dCS configures the mains voltage before shipping for 100, 115/120, 220 or 230/240 V at 50 to 60 Hz.

Pairing

With the highest output setting and a digital volume control, the Rossini APEX may connect to a power amp directly from its XLR sockets, or feed a preamplifier at a lower setting. A CD transport can be connected over the Dual AES inputs, and the word clock sockets accept a separate dCS master clock.

Alternatives

The dCS Bartók APEX is a smaller streaming DAC with network and USB inputs, the same choice of output levels and an added headphone amplifier with balanced and 6.35 mm outputs.