Testing & Measurement
Performance-led
We are obsessive in our quest to pioneer innovations that deliver quantifiable benefits to music playback. With our exceptionally talented and creative engineers, decades of learning and exhaustive development, we are able to design unique systems and technologies that redefine perceptions of audio performance and bring inspiration to music lovers worldwide.
Our engineers intuitively know that improving measured performance in certain areas can improve the musical performance of our products.
Reducing crosstalk, for example, can lead to enhanced stereo imaging, minimising distortion can present more micro detail, while controlling jitter can deliver a better sense of timing and rhythmic flow.
However, at dCS, we believe that product development cannot be driven by chasing a simple set of numerical values alone. While measurements can be extremely useful, it is key to understand that performance improvements in singular areas do not always enhance the musical performance of a system.
This is why we adopt a holistic approach to design, testing and measurement, using our experience in interpreting a vast array of measured parameters to understand the full impact of each design decision we make. In addition to measuring technical performance, we also run subjective listening tests throughout our development process.
Our engineers have decades of experience at the cutting edge of Audio Measurement, ADC and DAC design. They understand implicitly that creating products which offer a state-of-the-art performance that takes you to the heart of a recording can only be achieved through mastery of the audio domain, rigorous testing and measurement, and skilled judgment in making a complex set of engineering trade-offs.
The unique design of our products, coupled with our proprietary approach to signal processing, gives us complete control of the audio signal path. This control and flexibility, combined with our experience of working at the forefront of music recording and playback, means we are able to create products that deliver an unrivalled performance across every important technical dimension.
Rigorous analysis
In addition to using measurements as a tool during the development phase, we also use a suite of systems within our factory to guarantee our products provide the highest levels of reliability and accuracy.
As our systems exceed the limits of conventional test hardware and software, we've developed a network of automated equipment that allows us to test each aspect of a product with absolute precision, so we can be sure it delivers the finest possible experience, however you choose to listen to music.
During our assembly and test phase, a typical dCS converter will go through an extensive series of tests to check its performance lies within the specified range for every possible usage setting. An upsampler, for example, can have thousands of potential configurations due to its various inputs, outputs, sample rates and clock settings, and each of these configurations must be assessed before a system receives our seal of approval.
Our products are renowned for their quality, craftsmanship and reliability, and our unwavering commitment to excellence means we never ship a system unless we are completely satisfied with its design, build and performance.
"Linearity error with 24-bit data was nonexistent down to below -120d BFS, which, in conjunction with the low noise, allows it to perfectly reproduce an undithered 16bit tone at exactly -90.31dBFS...."
Jon Atkinson reviews the Vivaldi's measured performance [read the full article here]
"[Distortion is] vanishingly low: down to 0.00002% at –10dBFs and no higher than 0.0002% over the top 30dB of its dynamic range through bass and midrange."
Hi-Fi News review's the dCS Rossini's performance [read the full article here.]
Ring DAC
Peerless performance
The dCS Ring DAC™ is unique in its design and peerless in its performance. Combining vanishingly low distortion, ultra-wide bandwidth and very low jitter, it provides an unforgettable experience which uncovers the finest of musical details and presents sound with every nuance of emotion intact
LEARN MOREDigital Processing Platform
Limitless potential
Our powerful processing platform provides our systems with unrivalled intelligence, flexibility and infinite scope to evolve. With its state-of-the-art performance, flexible architecture and FPGA-based design, it provides us with complete control over audio processing, and the freedom to bring even the most ambitious product ideas to life
LEARN MOREClocking
Command and control
Our pioneering approach to clocking ensures all dCS systems are synced to a precise and stable reference source which sets world class standards for accuracy and jitter control. The absolute precision in a dCS system ensures that no subtle timing or spatial cues are lost during the conversion stage, providing a lifelike and three-dimensional sound
LEARN MORETesting & Measurement
Performance-led
Applying our decades of experience in pushing the boundaries of digital audio, we utilise a holistic approach to design and measurement, ensuring every dCS system delivers an unrivalled technical and sonic performance across all key technical dimensions
LEARN MOREExpanse
Enhanced headphone listening
Expanse is a patent pending innovation from dCS that brings the headphone experience closer to the studio listening experience. Its unique processing method replicates the effects of studio listening, where sound is projected into the space around us, rather than inside our heads, without altering the reverberation in a recording or affecting a system’s performance
LEARN MOREMosaic
Superior streaming
Mosaic provides a unified playback and control interface for all dCS owners, bringing together music from multiple platforms and sources in a single, intuitive interface, while providing complete control over your listening experience and system settings
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