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For sale is a dCS Scarlatti CD/SACD Transport, a legendary flagship revered for its staggering detail retrieval and fluid, analog-like presentation. It remains a premier standard in high-end audio and is considered one of the best CD transports ever made. In fact, it may be one of the best pieces we have ever had in the shop.dCS gear brings the analog virtues of timbre, texture, and spatiality into the digital realm. The Scarlatti Transport was part of the modular Scarlatti system stack, which consisted of a separate transport, DAC, upsampler, and master clock. It upsamples Red Book CDs to DSD and plays SACDs in their native format. Its top-end and transient responses are as pure, clean, and natural as we have heard from any digital component, and that realism is what set the Scarlatti apart from every other CD player of its day.Formats supported: CD, SACD, and external digital audio streams. Outputs: IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Dual AES/EBU (XLR), SPDIF (Toslink), Coax, SPDIF-2 (BNC), and BNC Word Clock Sync. Clocking: highly accurate multi-stage Phase-Locked-Loop (PLL) system.Cosmetically, the unit is in good condition, featuring only minor scratches and blemishes visible in the pictures.Recently serviced by Stereo Rehab. The seized disc spindle elevator was completely removed and separated, both shafts polished and sleeve nylon honed, both shafts properly oiled with synthetic oil and returned to proper operation, optical pickup sleds oiled with synthetic oil, and drawer rails oiled with synthetic oil. It is now operating as designed.A 6ft Pangea AC-9SE power cord is included.Retail was $32,999
This is a serious digital front end, and the asking price lands right on the market’s center line. At US$5,999, it matches the median of recent comparable US$ listings and sits just above the 25th percentile, so this reads as a fair buy rather than a bargain or an inflated ask.
dCS gear is valued for its polished, highly resolving presentation and the Scarlatti remains a respected reference-level DAC for listeners who want scale, texture, and low-fatigue refinement. The real upside here is simply getting into that tier at a sensible market price; if the unit is clean and complete with original accessories, this is the sort of listing worth serious consideration.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
dCS: British Digital Audio Pioneer
dCS (Data Conversion Systems) was established in Cambridge, England in 1987, emerging from a background in advanced signal processing and radar systems for aerospace applications including RAF Harrier and Typhoon aircraft. This foundation in hard science and digital engineering has defined the company's trajectory from electronics consultancy to specialist audio manufacturer. The company transitioned to consumer audio in 1989 with the 900 ADC, an analogue-to-digital converter for professional studios, and by 1996 launched the Elgar, claimed to be the first 24-bit high-resolution DAC for the domestic hi-fi market.
dCS specializes exclusively in digital audio conversion technology, with their product range centered on DACs (digital-to-analogue converters) and associated digital processing components. Every product incorporates the company's proprietary Ring DAC technology, a hallmark of their engineering approach. Rather than diversifying into amplifiers, speakers, or other categories, dCS has maintained singular focus on mastering the conversion and playback of digital audio signals with maximum fidelity.
The brand occupies the ultra-premium, high-end segment of the audio market, positioning itself among the world's most respected specialist manufacturers. All products are hand-assembled in-house at their Cambridge facility by a dedicated team of designers and technicians. dCS commands significant respect among professional recording engineers and discerning audiophiles seeking uncompromising digital audio performance, representing a rare example of a British hi-fi company that has sustained innovation and manufacturing excellence over nearly four decades.
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