If the manufacturer had not threaten with a lawsuit, I would not know this video existed. Because of what they are doing, their brand’s reputation just tanked. They took out the hull plug on their sinking ship. Now, no one wants to touch the brand.
Thank you dCS for saving me the time and energy to never consider a dCS product. I could have still considered a dCS product in spite of the Golden Sound review because that is just one person's point-of-view and anyone looking to spend that level of money would hardly be basing a purchase decision on just one review by one person, but now that the entire dCS corporation has exposed your petty annoyance and acted in such a hyperbolic way--I am completely convinced dCS products are not for me. Again, thank you dCS for saving me the trouble.
Nice to see an open genuine review and you sticking to your opinion on how it sounds. But any company that threatens legal action against a reviewer needs to be avoided, its a clear red flag.
@@FabioGnecco there's ways and means - iirc there's a way to coax VLC to do it, or you could simply ("simply") record the whole window on PC with OBS Studio. for me the Newpipe android app is the most convenient
I probably would not have seen this review, thanks DCS for prompting me to watch this review, PROPS for making my gear choices a bit simpler! To GoldenSound, your integrity is appreciated and noted! DCS, your bully tactics are unacceptable!
I hadn't watched this video previously, but due to the commotion surrounding dCS attempts to squelch a reviewers opinions I felt compelled to watch it wherein I probably would not have watched had they not leveraged a lawsuit against a reviewer.
As a reviewer I 100% support your decision to not remove this video. If the day ever comes when reviewers have to be afraid of retaliation for giving a negative review. That will be the end of honest and fair reviews, and the end of reviewers having any credibility. I have not personally heard any DCS equipment, and therefor have no opinion, but now have no intension of reviewing anything from them in the future. In my opinion DCS has done far more damage to their reputation than a less than positive review could have ever done.
Very brave of you to offer such a verdict on a product from DCS, a truly world class company. For what it's worth, your verdict aligns perfectly with my impressions when I auditioned a number of expensive DACS & streamers to replace a Naim CDS3 cd player. I described the Bartok as being the best player of elevator music that I have ever heard. Music was beautifully smooth, refined, inoffensive and incapable of retaining our attention. All this in the context of a high end system with Innuos Statement server, Naim 500 series electronics and expensive Focal, Wilson & Kudos loudspeakers. By way of contrast, the Naim ND555, DCS Rossini (with external clock) and Chord DAVE (but only with M Scaler) all seemed to replay engaging music very well indeed, albeit each with its own character and strengths. N.B. my auditions were conducted before the APEX upgrade, so the Bartok may be materially more engaging now. Thank you for a super review.
None of your tests are valid. You did not hear any differences, you thought you did. Nothing but a properly level matched blind test will do, and if you hear a difference: something is wrong. That is not the expected result. I can put a 90s CD player behind a curtain and compare to any linear DAC and you will not hear a any differences. Bloody amateurs. Do you really think that everyone who designs the gear, and everyone who uses it professionally are WORSE than you at hearing things? How come they haven't noticed those differences and why have they not being able to create a transparent dac for consumers, when such a feat is available in the bottom budget ADCs? So, if a DAC sounds different: it is rubbish. If you hear a difference with each DAC: your methods are rubbish. Those are the only two possibilities.
Thanks dCS lawyers, I watch this because *YOU* created a Streisand Effect on your company and its products! *YOU* also made every honest reviewer cautious about reviewing your products on the future, ensuring less reviews thus less visibility for them and your company.
Man, all the butthurt because of this review... I think Goldensound clearly stated that he doesn't think the Bartok compares well in comparison to some other TOTL, and lesser DACs. In the end, that's his opinion, and he's clearly stated that - if you have the Bartok, and you like it - good for you, ride off into the sunset and be done with it. Everyone else, who does not own this DAC, now gets the benefit of having heard another opinion, and they can draw their own conclusions. Keep doing what you're doing Goldensound - we appreciate it very much.
Apparently this issue has now been resolved. The rogue employee who sent out the threatening emails to Cameron has been let go & apologies have been issued that's more like it!!! Maybe the rogue ex employee can get a job with Tekton... Rough; too rough! 😅
Given that most people can barely notice the difference between a cheap and expensive DAC for 15 Grand you'd want it to be absolutely flawless. From an electronics point of view: you're dealing with massive diminished returns above maybe a grand worth of components. Time for DCs to learn what the Streisand effect is.
Sensational review, absolute credit to you for speaking your mind on exactly how the Bartok sounds to you. Takes an awful lot of courage to talk down a piece of HiFi equipment, especially from dcs, but no other HiFi reviewer I’ve come across is prepared to offer anything other than good reviews for every product they get in their house. Subscribed and looking for more from you 🎉
Hearing you describe the minute differences in such high-end (and high-priced) equipment -- for someone that never had the luxury or spare cash to try such things -- is fascinating, but not entirely relatable. Would you consider doing a video on what to listen for, how to train one's hearing, or possibly some neat tricks to A/B test with lesser equipment, with the goal that more people can begin to hear what you are hearing?
I spend a lot of time upgrading my system one step at a time and listen carefully every time. Try to make differences like acoustic panels, cables, isolation, damping and any kind of tweaks, even if not component changes and try to hear the differences. I also go to a few shows a year and listen to other systems.
Oh, no! You don't want that! The more you train your ears to hear sonic defects, the more defects you will hear, and the lower your appreciation of music will be. Trust me, I'm an audiophile, and there are plenty of times when playing a favorite song of mine will turn into frustration because one thing is wrong. Sure, your enjoyment of music will be greater when upgrading from an 8-track player of the 1970's to modern equipment, but when you go so far as to be able to hear the difference between DAC's, you've gone too far. For those like me who crave and savor great music, it has become like a wine tasting, where you work more to try to find differences than you enjoy the music itself. Not to mention that you will end up spending 10 to 100 times the amount on your stereo system than you would have without all that ear training.
Would you ever be at $15K? I know I'd never consider that crap in a pretty box with less than $100 of components inside and no proprietary bogus snake oil to make it worth the $14,900 over the original price. THAT's why dCS is pissed -- someone exposed their grifting and snake oil. Trying to make $14K profit from a $1000 device (I'm thinking the case is worth $900). The DAC is probably using off the shelf $7 TI or Sabre parts.
I had always heard great things about dcs and had held them in high regard-until I found out this review exists because they threatened a lawsuit. Very glad to have one less brand to compare against now, so thank you for making the decision easy, dcs.
I figured I'd check out the review myself to check out the tone, and I'm appalled (but not surprised) a thin-skinned manufacturer would have a problem with this perfectly reasonable review. There are some beefs, some bouquets, and a clear and considered opinion, all stated with class. Sorry youre going through the legal b.s., sir!
Thank you to dCS for helping me find this channel, and this review. Would likely never have seen it if it weren't for dCS trying to bully this channel now. Good work people. This will hopefully cost you dearly.
I know I talked about the testing of this DAC for quite a while, and likely should have discussed the sound at greater length. But honestly I was simply frustrated that a product this expensive delivered such a mediocre result. Listening to something that isn't enjoyable...well...isn't enjoyable so I don't really want to spend more time than is needed doing so. But I wanted to make clear that I'd given it every possible chance and tested in every situation I could, thinking that a device of this expense at least deserves more thorough testing to quash any doubts, hoping that something was simply wrong or it just needed a bit of help with system synergy. But unfortunately that wasn't the case.
I'd never heard of your channel or dCS before this whole lawsuit thing, but I decided the least I could do was to show up and watch the entire video - and post this comment - to give it a boost.
I’m trying to understand how $15k components that are supposed to be incredibly accurate can introduce differences in TIMBRE?! If you’ve got a piece altering a signal that much it’s junk, I don’t care what it costs And screw them with the lawsuit bs, garbage move. Stay strong, your opinion is your opinion and you have every right to express it
Luckily there are lots of other brands out there with amazing sounding DACs like Mytek, Benchmark, Apogee, RME for a fraction of the price. And most importantly you won't get sued if you don't like them.
I am watching this in response to dCS threatening legal action to the “defamation” accusations for this review. This review was absolutely fair. It was critical of the product and its flaws, but *good reviews are critical.* That being said, this review was also critical of other products that were mentioned and compared. The fact that dCS threatened *legal action* on this review baffles me. In doing so, they have effectively absolutely destroyed any good reputation they had with informed consumers by doing so. dCS, if you don’t like the criticisms, make a better product. Oh, and treat those reviewing your products with proper decency and respect. You are *nothing* as a company if no one buys your shit.
I know very little about DAC's and I wouldn't have watched this review had it not been for the threats of legal action against you. However, I do take issue with your initial comments regarding build quality/looks. At 0:17 you see the junction point where the top meets the side. Pretty ugly. At 0:26 what appears to be poor gapping of the knob in the recess. At 0:38 the general fitting of the connectors on the back panel appears a bit rough. Finally, while the front panel is very clean looking, it's also mighty bland/boring/plain. Call it what you will but how much are they expecting anyone to pay for this device. I know I'll probably get some grief over this but when I walk into a store (I don't buy on line), the first thing that catches my eye is "how does it look?" and while most people won't admit it, it happens a lot. I want to like the product when I see it and then love it when I hear it and I just don't like it.
It would be better if dCS would think about how they make a better sounding DAC in China for $150, rather than threatening to sue an independent channel for a subjective opinion. And if they can't take negative criticism, then stop giving independent testers products, settle for those who are paid handsomely to give good ratings.
15 thousand British pounds for a digital device of this sort and designation is simply madness, regardless of who you are and what kind of rainbow are you chasing in your own head. 5-6 years down the road this will be superseded by another newer, more capable digital converter, what will you do then? Will you try to sell this one at a significant loss, will you 'bite a bullet' and keep it for longer, knowing it ain't at the top of the tree anymore and your friend across the street owns a 'better and newer' model? This is just mind blowing, sorry. And to the dCS - with your court action you just lost so much more in reputation standing than any negative review would have done to you. If you are really this nasty, I hope you never recover.
Hey dude, I just wanted to say, I think you are hands down not only one of the best audio/hifi RU-vidrs, but one of the best "RU-vidrs" right now. As someone who makes videos, and who has developed a sort of design philosophy through the years of doing so, (which in essence is "less is more") your channel screams this. You do mini B-roll clips, and to the critical eye, you can tell you don't have a $1500 dollar camera, but you did it anyways, and it works just as well. The way you structure your videos visually and narratively is absolute S tier. Everything feels thought out, meshed together, and relevant. Giant fan of what you are doing.
Thank you! That means a lot. I try to keep my videos looking decent, but also strike a balance. I don't want things to look like its a professional production (or attempt at one). I actually quite like the 'homemade' sort of feel. But also I like to keep things where the editing isn't too heavy so that I enjoy the process more. Though I'll of course spend more time producing stuff like the mqa vid. Always looking for constructive criticism though!
@@GoldenSound that's one of the best things about your channel. You're an audio expert first, videographer second. Too many RU-vidrs focus only on videography.
Man you are probably the only reviewer in yt that systematically compare end-game dacs. Really looking forward to your Bricasti dac reviews if you are planning to do it!
Had no idea DCS existed until they sued this guy. Well done giving me insight into this space of youtube and connecting the DCS brand with being a bunch of dicks
Came here after seeing how dCS threatened you. What a self-sabotaging company. They’ve wrecked their brand equity themselves, nothing to do with this honest review.
Interesting review. I do love my Holo Audio May KTE DAC for 2 years. It performs great with my PASS LABS equipment! Your review on the May was spot on, that's one of the reasons why I purchased the May.
Honestly, legal drama or not, that price tag is BS. Virtually all DACs are functionally equivalent past 500 dollars because you'd need superhuman ears to even detect the difference between a 100 dB and a 120 dB SNR. Enjoy your $12k placebo
"The dCS Bartok is a high end DAC with absolutely stunning build quality and features that make other DACs feel primitive by comparison.” dCS: let´s sue this guy!
ha haaaaa just looked at dCS's website and they claim they received a "commission to design the Blue Vixen radar system for the Royal Navy’s Sea Harrier FA 2 jets" - which must be a bit of a surprise for Ferranti
FWIW I'd never heard of this brand until this lawsuit nonsense blew up, and I'd been following audio reviews since around 2016. Maybe their stuff is just generally too expensive to be talked about much?
Oh snap! He said he didn’t like it! Sounds like grounds for a lawsuit 😂 oh man… sorry you got to go through all this garbage… hope it all gets resolved soon.
Basically, what you're saying is that playing back natural sounds you like it, electronic not so much. I tend to agree with this review, and I'm saying this as someone who listens to mainly classical, jazz and some rock using a dCS Vivaldi stack. I understand that someone who'll listen to electronic music, amplified instruments, synthetic etc. with perhaps some sounds of nature, such as a human voice (again, with artificial reverberation added etc.) mixed in, with instruments and voices artificially placed in the stereo "soundstage", might look for more "bite". You aren't looking for a DAC that'll reproduce, but "create" sound according to personal preference. The Chord Dave that you appear to like is an excellent example: with or without Scaler, it'll make anything sound artificial, and yet, that's a DAC that appears to be to your liking. To me the Chord is an awful lot of money as it can't make a voice sound like a voice, or a piano like a piano etc. I used to be an avid concertgoer before the pandemic, which is the reason I got the Vivaldi after listening to so many alternatives, as my priorities are different: I'm not comparing gear to gear. I want this "You are there" feeling of being in the presence of the live act, not sound tailored to one listener type's liking versus someone else's. Admittedly, the net result of a DAC that doesn't "add more" than to offer realism as best such a device can, may sound sober with some modern recordings, in particular ones heavily tinkered with during recording and mastering, but then, it'll really draw the listener into the music emotionally with music based on real voices, instruments, sounds of nature etc.
There is no single sound for voices or pianos. Every time a live act plays they'll sound different. Even if you were there at the one that was recorded your equipment still can't make it sound the same, because it had to go through microphones and other electronics.
@@loganmedia1142 And? This has nothing to do with the fact that we have the ability to perceive sound as real or artificial. Literally, if you walk by a window and hear piano music playing, you know instantly whether someone is practicing the piano or a recording is being played back on a system or other electronic device. That difference is what "High Fidelity" aims at overcoming, or else the term itself has no meaning.
If someone is charging 15 to 20 grand for a mediocre DAC, they're probably not very concerned about ethics. Not surprised someone like that would sue over a review which points out flaws.
Man... who is buying this stuff? I only came across this because of the negative review story, but £15,000 is a deposit for a house. Who is rich and mad enough to spend that much on a DAC? Honestly would like to know.
Just a thought from a slightly different perspective - if people are actually spending 15 grand on just this one component as part of their "process" chain just to listen to music, then I think those people need to re-think their priorities.....like spend 1 grand to fly to a Bach concerto night in Vienna, then maybe 1 grand to shuffle into a blues house in New Orleans, or another grand to stalk a ritzy jazz club in Paris - there, I've spent 3 grand for the real thing - real musicians playing real instruments into my ears, and you lot are still trying to figure out how to achieve perfection in a bunch of circuits and cables when it's not there to begin with. LOL Anyway, like everyone else, regardless of the subject matter and my tongue-and-cheek words above, I'm just concerned about the bullying censorship tactics on display. Next we'll hear that Hornsby is going after some closet model train enthusiast because of some comment made on a website saying the detail of a particular model is not true to the actual train. This tactic must be stamped out whenever it arises -well done to GoldenSound and his supporters for remaining true.
As great as the build quality and materials used are... it is still a DAC, it isn't going to sound any better, or any different to a $200 DAC assuming that the cheap DAC is well engineered - of which there are many on the market. A £15,000 DAC is just an exercise in stupidity.
Too many other reviewers disagreed with the comments on this channel to put me off wanting to buy one.Hell,I’d even gone and demoed one at my local dealer and was ready to go ahead with the purchase….not anymore.DCS can kiss my black ass….I’m not actually black but wanted to sound a bit like Ice Cube(oh Christ,I hope he’s not gonna try and bring a law suit against me). Anyway it looks like it could be a Tambaqui for me and average sounding streamer for me.
Came here just because of the recent lawsuit video. Greetings of Barbara Streisand to dCS. Solely because of your way of treating the community = possible customers, your immoral business ethics will spread even farther then weak products.
The manufacturer just effed itself. Never would have heard of such a badly designed piece of gear. This is not a good bad buzz. This is a effed up buzz. Luckily, now, I can tell my clients and my entourage not to buy products from such a shady company
90% of this is above my head, but I am supporting you due to the ridiculous bullying by DCS and their lawyers. I hope your legal representation countersues them. I will make a point to never buy or recommend any DCS product simply because of this bullying and legal harassment.
I was at Audeze room at Montreal Audiofest. I went straight for dCS Bartók station. Drums on Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters sounded like a limp dick. This might be great DAC for vocal music and perhaps some classical, but it wasn’t until i heard Hugo TT2 with MScaler (?) that i understood what i was missing. Cameron ain’t wrong. Too smooth.
dCS sounds like a horrible company to deal with. Say you don't like their products, and they sue you. Good thing they have a strong legal team to dissuade people from investing further in the company.
I'd be interested in seeing time-domain measurements (eg., step response) from DACs. I wonder if that would help us understand the softness of this product.
