LAiV Crescendo Verse Review: Desktop R2R That Plays Nice With IEMs
General / Packaging / Build The LAiV Crescendo Verse is an all-in-one desktop box. A discrete R2R ladder DAC, a discrete preamp and a discrete headphone amp share one chassis. It is the first unit in LAiV's new Crescendo range and it lands at US$849. That is not pocket change, but for what is inside it is fair. In the box you get the unit, a remote, a power adapter with interchangeable plugs and a quick start guide. Nothing fancy, nothing missing. The build is very solid. Anodised aluminium with tempered glass, at 0.9kg. It feels like it belongs on a desk next to much pricier gear. The front has a 4.4mm balanced and a 6.35mm output, a rotary dial, and menu, enter and power buttons. The 20×7 dot-matrix display is small and basic, but readable from a distance, which is handy with the remote. The back gives you USB, optical, coaxial and I2S inputs, plus XLR and RCA outputs so it can double as a preamp. Now the UI, and this is where I have to be honest. The dot-matrix display scrolls...
