Chord Electronics - Blu Mk. 2 - The Official Thread

[ChordElectronics]

Welcome to Blu Mk. II - CD Without Limits - The Blu Mk. II is our advanced second generation FPGA CD transport. Designed for DAVE it upsamples your CD collection (or BNC/S/PDIF input) to 705.4kHz and a mighty ONE MILLION taps.

At its core lies a giant state of the art Xilinx XC7A200T FPGA loaded with the world’s most advanced filter technology by Rob Watts. This, combined with the legendary precision of the CD Pro 2 mechanism and a Chord Electronics proprietary switch mode power supply, creates an experience never heard before from CD - setting a new standard. Blu Mk. II also sports a stunning revised aesthetic developed by Chord’s Chief Designer - John Franks.

Available early 2017​

Learn more at: chordelectronics.co.uk/product/blu-mk-2/​

BLU MK.II - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:


Chipset: Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx XC7A200T FPGA

Tap-length: 1,015,808 (16FS filter)

FPGA current draw: 10amps

Frequency response: 0Hz (DC) - 20kHz +/- 0.0000001dB

In-band ripple 0Hz-20kHz: +/- 0.0000002dB

Stop band rejection: -135dB

THD and noise (24bit input): -144dB

Noise 2.6 uV ‘A’ weighted: No measurable noise floor modulation

Signal to noise ratio: 126dB ‘A’ Weighted

Power supply: 90v AC - 24v AC Auto-Switching

Power consumption: 30w

Weight: 7000g

Dimensions: 335mm (L) x 170mm (W) x 105mm (H)​

 

[ChordElectronics]

Reserved

 

[supabayes]

One millions taps sound great

 
I hope that it will come in black to match a black DAVE.  

 

[Beolab]

So next year we will see a Coral series streamer transport made for DAVE with
1 million taps instead of the Blu- CD MKII i can assume.

 

[adyc]

Why does it not have USB input? How do they expect us to enjoy one million taps from steaming?

 

[DaveRedRef-III]

With Blu II and Dave we should finally get an idea of what Red Book is truly capable of and whether there is still meaningful benefit in Hi Res files. I am betting it will be a very close call.

 

[AndrewOld]

So next year we will see a Coral series streamer transport made for DAVE with
1 million taps instead of the Blu- CD MKII i can assume.

Hope so!

 

[analogmusic]

With Blu II and Dave we should finally get an idea of what Red Book is truly capable of and whether there is still meaningful benefit in Hi Res files. I am betting it will be a very close call.

 
Well this is cost issue too.

 

[Beolab]

So can anyone confirm that the blue got a digital input that would be WTA upscaled in the same way as the CD signal?

 

[ecwl]

I wonder if there will be too much audio delay with 1 million taps to use the BNC input for video viewing. I currently use my DAVE for video viewing at 164000 taps without problems. I guess I could get a video processor that'll delay the video too but that may be more challenging.

 

[Deftone]

i  didnt like the design for the choral stand when a dave is used in it alone but when its like this
 

 

 

[Weatherlight]

Come on, Chord!
This, but without the CD... $4-5k... Win!

 

[ubs28]

Don't forget you need to buy 2 x stands. Those stands are not cheap when I last checked them.

 

[Deftone]

  Don't forget you need to buy 2 x stands. Those stands are not cheap when I last checked them.

 
i think its £4,000 for the 2 choral stands
 
if you wanted Dave,Blu and stands its gonna cost you £20,000

 

[Clive101]

Having recently purchased a Dave I have considered pre-ordering a Blu Mk 2.
 
I have no doubts as to the quality and up-scaling, but as I have committed to digital files and USB from Melco and Laptop. I find myself reluctantly unable to pre-order owing to the cabling issue USB to BNC/S/PDIF input..?
 
The cost of three more interconnects as well as the stands (OK you can do without the stands) but I simply do not need a CD Player.
 
If there was a simple box with USB in (for digital files) then out to Dave it would be an instant purchase for me and presume other Dave owners, but not sure if that is technically possible perhaps Dave (2)..?
 
I have considered a second Dave (upgrade from a Hugo TT) but may hold for a while and see what happens.
 
Thank you Chord for developing new products, Dave was an instant purchase decision for me after 10 minutes of demo...!
 
I look forward to a demo of the Blu Mk2 perhaps I could be persuaded..?