Owning dCS is too easy-dCS Network Bridge network streamer
British dCS is a well-known digital source brand and a dream product in the hearts of many enthusiasts. However, being a High-End brand is always not so close to the people. In the past year, dCS has added network streaming functions to its sources. For example, Vivaldi or Rossini can be upgraded to achieve the use of network streaming. In addition, the newly launched independent product dCS Network Bridge will make more Fans who admire dCS products have a chance to see the demeanor.
The bridge between network audio and DAC
dCS Network Bridge does not include the well-known Ring DAC module. It is positioned as a bridge between digital music files and DAC. After digital files are transferred in, they are output as digital files. Users can connect existing external storage devices such as Nas through the Internet, connect to online network streaming service providers such as Tidal, or connect to a flash drive or hard drive through the USB input. The wireless transmission part also supports AirPlay of Apple devices, and also supports Roon playback software, which perfectly transmits music signals to any equipment with a DAC in the back end.
Contains FPGA for signal processing, can be matched with various DACs
dCS Network Bridge has an FPGA inside responsible for processing all digital music signals, and output after reaching the bit perfect sound. It can receive and output PCM music files up to 24bit/384kHz, and supports all mainstream music formats, while DSD can receive DSD64 With DSD128, output in native file or DoP mode. Because dCS Network Bridge does not include a DAC, it is used with a DAC. In order to be able to work with all DACs and play music of all formats and sampling rates, the internal FPGA can downgrade music files to the specified sampling rate, while DSD files It can also be converted to PCM and output.
For example, our evaluation used RCA to output digital signals for Esoteric K-03X decoding. The K-03X''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s digital RCA received the highest sampling rate of 96kHz, but through the down-conversion function in dCS Network Bridge, I was still able to play higher sampling rates. The PCM music files and DSD files enable users to play almost all collected music when they are in use.
Independent capacitor processing clock circuit
Source factories usually attach great importance to the accuracy of the signal on the time base, and dCS clock products have always been highly valued. dCS Network Bridge has an exclusive”auto clocking architecture”Technical architecture, the internal clock system used is the same as Vivaldi and Rossini. The clock can automatically adjust the time sampling rate according to different song formats, which can minimize the time base error and improve the sound quality.
Various digital output terminals
From the terminals on the back of dCS Network Bridge, you can see all the input and output terminals. There are 2 groups of AES/EBU XLR connection terminals, each group can transmit 24bit/192kHz and DSD64 music files, and the 2 groups can be used together to transmit 24bit/ 384kHz and DSD128 music files (DAC must correspond to two sets of digital inputs at a time). 1 set of SPDIF RCA digital output, capable of supporting 24bit/192kHz and DSD64 music files. A pair of BNC output terminals can output 24bit/96kHz and DSD64 music files.
dCS Network Bridge has the functions of clock output and clock input. It can be seen that the clock system of dCS Network Bridge is stronger or the clock of DAC is stronger. It can be connected to each other through BNC to further make the time base problem more accurate and consistent. When the external time base is input, the usable frequency is 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192kHz, and when the time base signal is output, the highest frequency is 96kHz.
Rely on App remote operation
You can see that the dCS Network Bridge is very simple in appearance. Except for the rear terminal, there is no control button and no display screen. This is different from all network streaming products on the market. The operation of dCS Network Bridge must rely on the App developed by dCS itself. This App can change all the settings and functions of dCS Network Bridge. The most important thing is to browse the music database and play songs through it.
Demonstration of operating software App
When dCS Network Bridge is turned on, open the App and you will see the equipment icon and text on the startup screen. You can see equipment information and setting options in the two options below. Click the equipment icon to enter the main operation In the picture.
In Configuration, you can inquire about the equipment''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s own information, version, network connection information, current temperature, etc., and can also set important down-sampling rates or online streaming services.
Set the highest output sampling rate
The setting of this position is very important. When connecting an external DAC, you must first set it here. The main reason is that the sampling rate of each gear of the digital output must be consistent with the highest sampling rate that the external DAC can accept. If the DAC cannot pass through These transmission methods accept DSD files, and the sampling rate of DSD files can also be reduced here. After the setting is completed, basically any music file format can be played.
The DAC SPDIF I used can receive up to 96kHz files, so here I set all the music files transmitted via SPDIF to the highest 96kHz, and turn on the DSD down conversion. In this way, even if I choose 192kHz or DSD file, it can be played smoothly.
In addition, you can set your favorite input source in Preferences. After setting it, it will appear on the home page of the main screen, meaning similar to a desktop shortcut on a computer, and it will be faster to find music in the future.
The main screen is presented as follows. The top three options are the playlist in sequence, UPnP device browsing, USB input, Favourites means shortcuts, and frequently used options can be stored here. The small machine logo in the upper left corner can return to the previous boot screen, and the gear in the upper right corner is to enter the Configuration page.
Click UPnP to see all the Nas connected to the Internet. Usually, you must first go here to create a playlist or play songs directly when you use it for the first time. Or when using a USB external hard disk, go to the upper USB option to search for songs.
Click on one of the Nas to see the music files in the Nas. All the album covers are presented as follows, and you can also use a bar display.
Listed album display method. At this stage, the song can be played as the whole album. Long press for about one second and the album will be highlighted, and then press the play icon in the upper right corner to play the whole album. If you want to enter the album and select a few songs to play, tap on the album name to enter the next layer to display all the songs of the album.
When you enter the album, you can see all the songs in the album. Tap and then tap the play icon in the upper right corner to play, or tap multiple songs at once to play in sequence. If you want to insert a song, you can choose to play the next song or arrange to the end of the playlist.
If you want to add a new song in the middle of playing, the App will ask for confirmation. You can close this dialog box after using it.
If you want to add a new song in the middle of playing, the App will ask for confirmation. You can close this dialog box after using it.
You can enter a name when creating a playlist.
When playing a song, you can see the information of the album, and it is quite detailed. The information display system is based on the album’s universal ID in the music file to connect to the database. If there is no way to display it, there may be two reasons. The first is the music file. There is no album ID information, and the second is that it is not connected to the external network.
When there is no information, it will display as follows.
In addition, if you want to use Tidal or Spotify, the user himself must have an account to apply for the service provider. Generally, such services must be paid to the service provider separately, and dCS Network Bridge only provides direct connection to the service provider’s server. Function, just like buying a mobile phone itself and a telecom service provider are two things.
The main function of dCS Network Bridge is about this at present. It is simple and easy to use, but it does not stop there. At present, the proportion of R&D engineers in dCS is close to 40%. The upgrade plan will never stop. In the future, it will be on the software. The upgrade of dCS will not cost the user a dime. This is the main upgrade method of dCS. If there is a hardware upgrade, there will be a hardware cost problem, and you must charge for it.
Incorporate high-definition streaming function into classic digital playback system
The main purpose of the birth of Network Bridge is to add high-definition streaming capabilities to classic digital playback systems such as Scarlatti, Paganini and Puccini, which used to be the British music dCS. The extremely complete connection interface includes USB 2.0 Type A plug-and-play and a RJ45 Ethernet terminal with a transmission speed of 1,000 Mbps. Users only need to cooperate with the UPnP streaming platform and their own written control App, and they can pass through Directly play music files stored in the NAS via the intranet, the upper limit is DXD (24 Bit / 384 kHz) and DSD128 (packed in DoP) level FLAC, WAV, AIFF, WMA, ALAC, MP3, AAC, DFF, DSF format music files , And can enjoy TIDAL at the same time™, Spotify™ and Deezer™ such as high-definition streaming music services provided by online music providers, Apple product users can even use Airplay™ For wireless streaming, the gameplay is extremely diversified.
However, the automatic clock frequency locking technology of Network Bridge is derived from the Vivaldi and Rossini series. This technology can automatically switch in response to sources of different sampling frequencies and completely eliminate time-based distortion. Any negative effects on replay sound effects. Two sets of BNC clock input respectively correspond to 44.1, 88.2, 176.4 and 48, 96, 192 kHz clock signals with TTL level sensitivity. The data frequency can be exactly the same as the input clock frequency, or locked by multiples, plus 1 set of high The upper limit is 96 kHz, which is designed for SDIF-2 connection interface.Ω BNC clock output.
In terms of output, Network Bridge is equipped with 2 x AES/EBU and coaxial S/PDIF, supporting high 24 Bit / 192 kHz and DSD64 signals (connected in DoP packet, single wire mode) and DXD (24 Bit / 384 kHz) And DSD128 signal (connected in DoP packet, Dual AES two-wire mode), as for a set of 3 sets of SDIF-2 BNC connection interfaces that need to be used with independent clock signals, which can output high 24 Bit / 96 kHz and DSD64 specifications Signal. It is worth mentioning that Network Bridge allows users to adjust the sampling frequency and character length of the output data by themselves to fully meet the specification requirements of dCS classic products in different periods.
dCS Network Bridge Specification:
- Volume (H× W× D): 67× 360× 245 mm
-Weight: 4.6 kg
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