Twittering Machines Reviews the Crescendo Verse: "Three for Three" for LAiV
- Laiv
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
A big thank you to Michael Lavorgna of Twittering Machines for his review of the Crescendo Verse DAC. Michael is one of the most respected voices in hi-fi writing, with deep roots in the audio press and a readership that values thoughtful, music-first reviews. When he says a product is worth your attention, it carries weight.
This review is especially meaningful because Michael has now reviewed three LAiV DACs. He previously covered the Harmony uDAC and the Harmony DAC, both favourably. His verdict on the Verse? LAiV is "three for three" in delivering DACs that punch well above their price. That kind of consistency across a product line is exactly what we work toward.
Michael tested the Verse on his desktop system, where he found it resolving, nimble, and dynamic with no etch or bite. He preferred NOS mode for its richer, airier character and describes the Verse as delivering "a lot of DAC goodness for the money. Remarkably so." He also notes that the Verse looks and feels like it costs more than it does, which speaks to the care we put into fit and finish at every price point.
He does point out that when paired with a system costing many times its price, the Verse cannot quite match what pricier DACs deliver. We appreciate that honesty. Michael is upfront that this is a deliberate mismatch, saying it "doesn't really make sense" to pair a sub-$1k DAC with a $10k amplifier and $17.5k speakers. In its intended context, on a desktop or in a modest full system, he could "very easily live with this desktop system for another 14 years."
One technical note: Michael observed an audible pop when switching between PCM and DSD formats. This is a known characteristic of native DSD processing during format transitions. For mixed-format playback, DSD Multibit mode avoids this entirely, as noted in the Verse manual.
Read the full review at https://twitteringmachines.com/review-laiv-crescendo-verse-dac/.
Michael's writing is as enjoyable as the music he listens to, and the review is well worth your time.
LAIV Designing Dreams, Yours Specifically!
Credit: Michael Lavorgna
Editor @ Twittering Machines