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dCS · Vivaldi
$41,000
Not currently in our rooms. For a serious buyer we will often bring a piece in from the manufacturer for a private session — tell us about your system and what you are weighing it against, and we will advise.
dCS · Vivaldi
The disc source for the Vivaldi system: a 23 kg CD/SACD transport with a dual-wavelength laser mechanism that outputs SACD as native DSD and upsamples CD to DSD, DSDx2 or DXD over Dual AES, locked to the Vivaldi Master Clock.
Second-generation Vivaldi transport. Upsampled CD and SACD output is encrypted for a dCS DAC with a Dual AES input. Available to order.
Authorized dCS dealer · Delivery and installation by Pearl Audio · Trade-ins welcome
The story
The Vivaldi Transport II is the second generation of the Vivaldi disc transport, combining the original's signal path with a Sound United D&M SACD mechanism, the same assembly dCS fits to the Rossini Transport and, with a new mounting, to the Varèse Transport. Like every dCS transport it processes as well as reads. A CD's 16-bit/44.1 kS/s data can leave the Dual AES outputs as DXD (24-bit at 352.8 kS/s), DSD (1-bit at 2.822 MS/s) or DSDx2 (1-bit at 5.644 MS/s), encrypted for decoding by a dCS DAC; an SACD's DSD layer is passed as encrypted DSD. A single AES output and two S/PDIF outputs carry plain 16-bit/44.1 kS/s for other equipment. The transport's internal clock is calibrated to ±10 ppm, and in a Vivaldi system it is slaved over a BNC word clock link to the Vivaldi Master Clock at 44.1, 88.2 or 176.4 kHz, so that disc, Upsampler and DAC all run from one reference; in a two-box system the Transport can act as master for the DAC.
dCS describes the Transport II as combining proven dCS technologies with the dual-wavelength laser mechanism, in an aluminium chassis chosen for performance and stability. The case for a disc transport in a system that streams is the one John Atkinson made when reviewing the Rossini Transport for Stereophile: SACD playback that was "sweet and natural", CDs upsampled to double DSD with "palpable realism", and a fuller presentation from an SACD in the transport than from the same data streamed. In a Vivaldi system the Transport II gives an SACD collection a path into the Vivaldi APEX DAC at native resolution, which no network source can provide, and gives CDs the same upsampling options as the Vivaldi Upsampler offers for streamed material.
The Transport II is 178 mm tall, the tallest Vivaldi component, and weighs 23 kg. Control is from the front panel, the dCS Universal Remote (supplied with the Vivaldi DAC), the Mosaic app or RS232, and software updates are loaded from CD-R. In a full Vivaldi system it connects to the Vivaldi APEX DAC's second Dual AES input, leaving the first for the Upsampler, and takes a 44.1 kHz feed from one of the Master Clock's output groups.
Within the dCS range the Transport II is the disc source for Vivaldi, as the Rossini Transport is for Rossini and Bartók and the Varèse Transport, with its ACTUS connection and no internal upsampling, is for Varèse. It also works with a Rossini APEX DAC or Bartók APEX, since the Dual AES format is common to all. The Transport II is available to order; ask us to arrange an audition with the Vivaldi APEX DAC, Upsampler and Master Clock in Portland.
Both finishes are the same price. Allow space for airflow around the 178 mm-high chassis.
| Drive | Sound United D&M SACD mechanism with dual-wavelength laser |
| Formats | CD (Red Book) and SACD; CD data output as encrypted DSD (2.822 MS/s), DSDx2 (5.644 MS/s) or DXD (24-bit/352.8 kS/s) on Dual AES, selectable in the menu; SACD output as encrypted DSD |
| Outputs | 1 × Dual AES pair (2 × XLR, AES1+2) for dCS DACs; 1 × AES/EBU (XLR, AES3) at 16-bit/44.1 kS/s; 2 × S/PDIF (RCA and BNC) at 16-bit/44.1 kS/s |
| Clock | 1 × word clock input (BNC) at 44.1, 88.2 or 176.4 kHz, lock range ±300 ppm; 1 × word clock output (BNC) in Master mode; internal clock calibrated to ±10 ppm when shipped |
| Control | Front panel; dCS Universal Remote (supplied with the Vivaldi DAC); Mosaic app; RS232; software updates from CD-R |
| Dimensions | 444 mm W × 435 mm D × 178 mm H (17.5 × 17.2 × 7.0 in); allow extra depth for connectors and space for airflow |
| Weight | 23.0 kg (50.7 lb) |
| Power | Factory set to 100, 115/120, 220 or 230/240 V; 16 W typical, 50 W maximum, under 0.5 W powered down from the front panel |
| Finish | Silver or black anodised aluminium |
The disc source for the Vivaldi system; it also works with a Rossini or Bartók DAC over Dual AES.
It partners the Vivaldi APEX DAC and Vivaldi Upsampler, with the Vivaldi Master Clock as the shared reference.
Plan your dCS system with Pearl Audio
Pearl Audio is an authorized dCS dealer. The Vivaldi Transport II is available to order; ask us to arrange an audition with the Vivaldi system in our Portland showroom. Call (503) 222-2599 or email sales@pearlaudio.com.
The Reference Collection
The Pearl Audio experience
A system at this level should be heard, thoughtfully matched, and properly set up. From the first audition to long-term ownership, you work with the same people, in person.
The Vivaldi Transport II is not in our rooms at present. When it is the right piece for a client we arrange a demonstration unit from the manufacturer and set it up for a private session.
We deliver and install throughout the Portland area, taking care of placement, connections, ventilation and system configuration ourselves.
We support everything we sell for as long as you own it, whether the answer comes by phone, in your home, or through factory service.
Trade-in assistance and qualifying 100% Trade-Up options give you flexibility when your listening priorities or your system change.
