Big review(s), big system(s), even bigger effort.
By Roy Gregory
The last few months BV (before Vienna) saw the completion of a major review project, covering the CH Precision C10 DAC, D10 transport and T10 clock, comparing them to their 1 Series predecessors/stable-mates. As with the analogue components, the 10 Series don’t replace the established 1 Series – just create a performance level above it, while also generating the circuitry and solutions for trickle-down upgrades to the junior line (seasoned CH watchers/owners should be watching this space). It was a major undertaking, involving multiple boxes, options and configurations, but it was also incredibly worthwhile, setting the significant performances advances represented by the C10/D10 in the context of both the earlier CH components and prevailing expectations. What it demonstrated, clearly and unequivocally, is that the Wadax Reference DAC (and its partnering pieces) is no unicorn. Its previously unassailable performance level is finally being approached by the best of the competition, with CH’s digital replay – and optical disc replay in particular – making significant recent strides.
But it was also a project rudely interrupted by the demands of the Vienna show. No sooner was the review complete than the review units were packed up (no small task) and shipped off to do double duty at High-End 2026. “Interrupted” because this particular project is far from over. Not only does the CH 10 Series digital platform offer additional options, promising further performance benefits (separation of DSP processing and DAC circuitry, the addition of a second PSU to create a ‘true mono’ DAC topology) that need to be assessed and prioritized, but the complete, eight-box rig needs to be compared to the Wadax, to see how they stack up and, just as importantly, how they differ.
Well, the C10/D10/T10 are back and ready to roll – waiting only for the arrival of the Conductor (DSP/processing unit) and the Master (true mono) DAC. Sadly, the components necessary to complete the upgrade steps are likely to be housed in standard, mid-grey CH casework, rather than the champagne plumage (I’d have said nearer to sauternes) of the C10/D10, but this beggar doesn’t get to choose.
However, ascending this particular digital Everest is only part of the story. You don’t clamber to the top of a mountain and fail to take in the view. Having assembled such an elevated cast of bleeding-edge digital components – and the amplification to go with them – it would be an awful waste not to exploit their presence in assessing just how far we can take different, cutting-edge speaker projects. To that end – and adding considerably to the physical burden of installation – enter the Göbel Divin Monarques, almost a metric tonne of seriously ambitious loudspeaker. Add those to the 11 CH and five Wadax boxes already involved in the set-up, along with a considerable supporting cast and that’s quite a task. Fortunately, it’s not something I’ve had to do alone, drafting in considerable muscle and technical aid. To that end, it’s worth looking at the step-by-step process and decisions that underpin such a complex and wide-ranging review project, some of the challenges and some of the lessons learnt.
