• Sample rates: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 & 192kS/s

• 24 bit resolution

• 8 digital inputs

• Sony DSD digital input via IEEE1394 interface

The original dCS Elgar was launched in 1996, when it made history by becoming the world’s first 24/96 audiophile D/A converter. In 1998 some more history was made when we upgraded the Elgar and it became the world’s first audiophile 24/192 D/A converter. In 2000, we added the facility to accept DSD data from professional DSD digital sources. Now in 2001, we continue to add new functions and performance enhancements.

The Elgar plus is now being shipped with an IEEE1394 interface as standard. This is the digital interface that Sony will use to transfer DSD data between its audiophile products and it will therefore become the standard consumer DSD digital interface. We will also be using IEEE1394 on our forthcoming SACD transport. This interface has more than sufficient bandwidth to accommodate 8 channels of DSD audio, plus control data and gives the option of integrating the Elgar plus into a multi-channel system in the future.

The Elgar plus is also fitted with a professional SDIF-2 interface which enables the unit to play back DSD from professional DSD digital sources.

This wide range of interfaces, combined with the unit's ability to lock to any standard sample rate from 32kS/s to 192kS/s and accept DSD data, enables the Elgar plus to be used with almost any currently available, or foreseeable standard audiophile digital source.

The dCS Elgar
Rated Class A

Reviews:

Volume #20, Issue #7

Volume #20, Issue #12

Volume #22, Issue #2

dCS designs digital to analogue and analogue to digital converters for the world's top recording studios, as well as integrated circuits for the military and communications industry, so why shouldn't you have access to this technology? The Elgar can be demonstrated at our Store in Richmond Hill so come in for your listening session.

 

Rated Class A Reviewed in Volume #22, Issue #2

dCS's 24/192 Digital Upsampler

The dCS Purcell is the first high precision Digital Upsampler designed specifically for audiophile use. It is used to increase the sample rate and/or wordlength of the output from domestic linear pcm digital audio sources, such as CD and DVD players, up to a maximum sample rate of 192kS/s and a maximum wordlength of 24 bits. When decoded by a high sample rate D/A converter, the upsampled signal from the Purcell shows:

• Improved dynamics

• More dimensional stereo imaging in both width and depth

• More accurate bass

• Better resolution of fine detail

• A more relaxed and natural presentation

These improvements are not subtle but are quite clearly audible, even to inexperienced listeners. Over the last 2 years we have successfully demonstrated this technique to several thousand amazed listeners at audio shows around the world. Reactions have ranged from stunned silence, after the sound of jaws hitting the floor had faded away, to near incoherence in the case of one listener who was unable to ask questions about what he was hearing fast enough. The best analogy to describe the effect that we have come up with so far, is that of fitting a higher quality cartridge to your turntable. You played the same records, but heard more music as you rediscovered each LP.

The dCS Purcell is more than just an upsampler. The advanced technology it employs makes it possible to give the user a very wide range of extra functions beyond that found in ordinary audiophile digital products. This gives great flexibility in how the unit may be set up and used in any particular system. The wide range of interfaces combined with the unit's ability to lock to any standard sample rate from 32kS/s to 96kS/s enables the Purcell to be used with almost any currently available, or foreseeable audiophile digital source. Each individual input can accept the sample rates 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96kS/s. You can therefore upsample CDs, DATs, Digital Radio and even 24/96 DVDs.

Software and Hardware Upgradable - Don't Fear the Future
aBecause digital audio formats and interface standards are in a state of flux, it is essential that new digital equipment should be easy to upgrade. Upgrades should also be available at a reasonable cost. All of the major digital processing in the Purcell is carried out in DSP and FPGA ICs. These are software controlled devices that make it very easy to adapt the unit to accommodate changes in digital formats and to add new functions. Whilst some upgrades may require hardware as well as software changes and so be more expensive, it is our policy to make upgrades as inexpensive as we possibly can.

Here are some neat Purcell features

Self test
Every time the Purcell is switched on, it automatically performs a rigorous self test on its digital processing system. It also constantly analyses the input signal and flags errors if they occur. This can be very useful in trouble shooting problems with digital sources. A display self test can also be initiated from the Function Menu.

Channel check
An easy to use channel identification routine enables you to quickly verify that you have the left and right channels in your system correctly connected. This outputs a synthesised 1kHz digital tone, first on the left channel and then on the right channel. At the same time the main display indicates which channel is being tested.

Phase check
A phase check routine allows you to quickly and easily check the phasing of your speakers. This outputs a pink noise signal that is first in phase on both channels and then inverts the phase on one channel. At the same time the main display shows whether the test signal is in phase, or out of phase.

System burn-in signal
A system burn-in signal enables you to use the Purcell to burn-in new items in your system. Having this function and the Channel and Phase check built into the Purcell means that you will no longer have to turn your listening room up-side-down looking for that elusive test CD.

Parameter memory
When the Purcell is switched off, all of the unit's settings such as the Output Sample Rate, Noise Shaping, Dither, Digital Filter, Display Mode, Display Brightness etc are saved in a non-volatile memory. These are restored when the unit is next switched on and this removes the need to reset all of the parameters each time the unit is used.

 

The dCS Delius 24/192 D/A converter sets a new level of sonic excellence in its class. It has been developed from our state-of-the-art dCS Elgar 24/192 D/A converter and uses a version of the Elgar's dCS Ring DAC. The Delius shares the same styling as our dCS Purcell Digital Upsampler and when used together, these two units create a musical tour de force that you will find it difficult to walk away from. As with all dCS products, modular construction and the extensive use programmable logic ensure a very high degree of upgradability. Key features include:

• dCS Ring DAC

• 24 bit resolution

• Software and hardware upgradable

• Balanced and unbalanced analogue outputs

• 4 User selectable digital filters

• Self test

• 5 Year Guarantee
  

• Sample Rates: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kS/s

• 6 digital inputs

• Digital volume and balance controls

• 2 user selectable maximum output levels

• Function Menu

• 3 User selectable mute/unmute speeds

• 2 User selectable PLL bandwidths

• Display brightness control

• Infra-red remote control

Most importantly, the dCS Ring DAC has exceptional linearity, which it maintains all the way across it's dynamic range. Linearity is a key figure of merit for a D/A converter, that interestingly you will rarely see mentioned in the specifications of audiophile converters. Generally they will be referred to as 24 bit converters, but this simply means that the converter can accept a 24 bit long data word. It does not mean that the converter is able to resolve data in all 24 bits. The Delius however can. We detail the measurements behind this bold statement in our paper Resolution, Bits, SNR and Linearity.

The better the linearity of the D/A converter, the more accurately it will recover the music from the digital source. The dCS Ring DAC’s exceptional linearity enables the Delius to resolve this fine detail so that the music becomes more involving and long listening sessions no longer result in the listener feeling tired at the end.

All of the major digital processing in the Delius is carried out in DSP and FPGA ICs (software controlled devices). This makes it very easy to adapt the unit to accommodate changes in digital formats and to add new functions. We have a long standing policy of making upgrades as inexpensive as we possibly can. New software may loaded into the Delius from a PC via a rear panel connector. This enables software upgrades to be performed without the need to take the lid off, or change any parts.

Before you buy a new D/A converter, ask the maker about the cost of upgrading to 24/192 and when it will be available. Also ask whether the unit has DSD processing capability already built in and if not what will have to be changed and what will it cost. Remember, the Delius is already there!

The Delius is equipped with all of the current standard audiophile digital audio interfaces.
RCA Coaxial x 2
BNC Coaxial
AES/EBU x 2
Toslink Optical

The ability to lock to 192kS/s allows the Delius to be used to maximum effect with the dCS Purcell digital upsampler.

The Delius is equipped with balanced and unbalanced analogue outputs and can drive any high quality valve or solid state power amplifier directly. Maximum output levels of either 6 volts or 2 volts may be selected via the unit's Function Menu.

Every time the Delius is switched on, it automatically performs a rigorous self test on its digital processing system. It also constantly analyses the input signal and flags errors if they occur. This can be very useful in trouble shooting problems with digital sources.

Digital De-Emphasis
The Delius has four de-emphasis settings:
The unit de-emphasises according to codes in the input data.
Manually selects 50/15µs. This was used on some early CDs.
Manually selects CCITT J17. This is a broadcast radio standard.
Performs no de-emphasis regardless of codes in the input data.

The first two modes are of especial interest to the audiophile, as they enable the Delius to deal with any CD, whether it was recorded with pre-emphasis or not and whether the emphasis identification flags in the data stream were correctly set when the CD was mastered or not. Because the de-emphasis is performed digitally, the filter curves are followed extremely accurately. An additional benefit of using digital de-emphasis filters is that if new digital standards are adopted that require de-emphasis, it will be very easy to update the Delius to accommodate this. On D/A converters where the de-emphasis filtering is implemented in the analogue domain, any update will require potentially expensive hardware and software changes.

The Delius, like all dCS audiophile products, is guaranteed for 5 years from the date of purchase. This guarantee is transferable to subsequent owners. Delius owners who register their purchase with dCS will be notified when upgrades become available.

Finally its time to hear it....
You've read the sales pitch, so why not hear the difference for yourself. Don't forget to bring some of your favourite CDs and DVDs.