Chord Electronics - Blu Mk. 2 - The Official Thread

[Rob Watts]

Yes mine turned up in a nice box, CPC come wrapped with the keys.

Incidentally, I could here no change on Dave's mains cable with the ferrites attached to the cable close to Dave as possible. This is on my office, with Dave feeding small loudspeakers directly. It may be different on my main system.

 

[Triode User]

Yes mine turned up in a nice box, CPC come wrapped with the keys.

Incidentally, I could hear no change on Dave's mains cable with the ferrites attached to the cable close to Dave as possible. This is on my office, with Dave feeding small loudspeakers directly. It may be different on my main system.

OK, OK, no need to rub it in about the keys with CPC. You gave me the Farnell link after all!

Agreed about the mains. I tried 4 x ferrites on the Dave mains cable (the one that it comes with in the box) and heard no difference.

 

[Triode User]

Tri-wiring? Just a load of audio jewellery, mate. Cheap jumper leads would do.

I couldn't agree more.

OK guys, I recognise a wind up when I see it!

But notice that I have kept completely quiet at the mention of HFC cables. I had my collar felt once before by the mods and so know when to keep stumm.

 

[TheAttorney]

I heard the Antipodes - but not at length in my own system at home, so I do not feel qualified to comment on its comparative performance. It sounded quite good but the lack of an Ethernet output ruled it out for me for reasons I have previously mentioned.

To show how quickly servers are movining on, the new Antipodes DS Core (replacement to DS GT, 1 step down from DX) has twin ethernet sockets to allow bridging. Also has external p/s, so option to use a Paul Hynes (but I don't think this allows separate rails for the USB card etc as the DX (and probably Zenith) has). Also models in general getting re-engineered motherboards etc to reduce noise at the very heart of the server (PS, Antipodes for a while have claimed that SSD sounds better than spinners if implemented very carefully). Price not announced yet, but I expect it to be very similar to the Zenith SE or fully loaded SOtM. Decisions, decisions. I also don't like to audition things unless I have a fair chance of buying them.

Back to Blu. I wonder which is more important: Super Source to Dave, or Ordinary PC to BluDave?

 

[Malcyg]

To show how quickly servers are movining on, the new Antipodes DS Core (replacement to DS GT, 1 step down from DX) has twin ethernet sockets to allow bridging. Also has external p/s, so option to use a Paul Hynes (but I don't think this allows separate rails for the USB card etc as the DX (and probably Zenith) has). Also models in general getting re-engineered motherboards etc to reduce noise at the very heart of the server (PS, Antipodes for a while have claimed that SSD sounds better than spinners if implemented very carefully). Price not announced yet, but I expect it to be very similar to the Zenith SE or fully loaded SOtM. Decisions, decisions. I also don't like to audition things unless I have a fair chance of buying them.

Back to Blu. I wonder which is more important: Super Source to Dave, or Ordinary PC to BluDave?

Off the top of my head without testing, I would immediately say ordinary PC to BluDave but I was told that a dealer found Zenith SE into Dave to be comparable to Zenith into BluDave. I do know that when I went back to Dave alone recently, I found the difference to be huge and I can't imagine any source being able to compensate for that.

I believe that there is a 30 day satisfaction guaranteed or return policy for Zenith, so you could try at home without guilt.

Edit: I found the email from Zenith designer. 'One of our long-standing dealers has a BLU II, DAVE and YG speakers, all cabled with Chord Music cables. He has a Zenith for quite some time now and when I said we had the SE coming he was a bit skeptical about any improvements. We've taken our prototype Zenith SE there to compare with the Zenith. To our ears (and dealer agreed) the Zenith SE connected directly to the DAVE was slightly better than the BLU II connected to the Zenith. The Zenith SE connected to the BLU II was just something else... You won't be disappointed with your SE'.

I do find this hard to believe, but he wasn't trying to sell me anything as I'd already ordered the SE at this point. When I get time, I will wire my Melco into Blu and the SE into Dave and report back.

 

[Triode User]

Off the top of my head without testing, I would immediately say ordinary PC to BluDave but I was told that a dealer found Zenith SE into Dave to be comparable to Zenith into BluDave. I do know that when I went back to Dave alone recently, I found the difference to be huge and I can't imagine any source being able to compensate for that.

I believe that there is a 30 day satisfaction guaranteed or return policy for Zenith, so you could try at home without guilt.

Edit: I found the email from Zenith designer. 'One of our long-standing dealers has a BLU II, DAVE and YG speakers, all cabled with Chord Music cables. He has a Zenith for quite some time now and when I said we had the SE coming he was a bit skeptical about any improvements. We've taken our prototype Zenith SE there to compare with the Zenith. To our ears (and dealer agreed) the Zenith SE connected directly to the DAVE was slightly better than the BLU II connected to the Zenith. The Zenith SE connected to the BLU II was just something else... You won't be disappointed with your SE'.

I do find this hard to believe, but he wasn't trying to sell me anything as I'd already ordered the SE at this point. When I get time, I will wire my Melco into Blu and the SE into Dave and report back.

Satin, get thee behind me!

I will have to take this up with my Chord electronics dealer who also happens to be a Zenith dealer. Ha. Humbug.

 

[Malcyg]

Nick, this is just specially for you:

Glad to hear you're going forward with the Zenith SE. If you liked the Zenith I can assure you you will love the SE. There is a very audible improvement between the two: It picks up on the stage and PRaT of the Zenith and adds a much deeper stage and realism. It almost makes the Zenith sound 2D in comparison... One dealer commented it felt to him like the difference between a CD and SACD when playing through the SE.

 

[Triode User]

Nick, this is just specially for you:

Glad to hear you're going forward with the Zenith SE. If you liked the Zenith I can assure you you will love the SE. There is a very audible improvement between the two: It picks up on the stage and PRaT of the Zenith and adds a much deeper stage and realism. It almost makes the Zenith sound 2D in comparison... One dealer commented it felt to him like the difference between a CD and SACD when playing through the SE.

Wind up merchant!

 

[romaz]

Dear Romaz,

Your quote is as inspiring as always. Regarding the path you taking, may i ask what you consider to be more substantial:

- Adding High Fidelity Cable
- A low power server powered by Paul Hynes Linear Power
- Other tweaks such as SOTM( clock, TX-Ultra), Mutec Ref 10 Clock.

For your taste of music, i would strongly recommend you looking into horn speaker high sensitivity to combine with your upcoming digital amps. Aries Cerat for example.

With BluDAVE as my foundation, I would say my HFC Pro Series RCA interconnects. The ultra vivid clarity this brings is difficult to convey but the impact is beyond anything I've ever heard from a cable and this particular cable single-handedly changed my outlook on what cables can accomplish. I would not consider them a good value at the full retail price of $18.9k but I was fortunate to find a used pair for a third of that price and I haven't looked back.

I'm beginning to appreciate the allure of high sensitivity horns more and more although they are quite a spectacle to look at. Many of Voxativs' designs are based on horns. I enjoyed listening to the Stein Music Topline horns at Munich this year and very much enjoyed the Magico Ultimates at the LA Audio Show a few months ago. Unfortunately, I have no experience with Aries Cerat.

 

[romaz]

By the way, which of your headphones do you prefer with your BluDave? I use primarily speakers in the main system. I have HD800 and HD800S but am about to trade my 800S for HE-1000 V2 as I think that they sound great with BluDave.

I enjoyed my time with my HD800S when I owned it. Very accurate and a wonderful soundstage for orchestral music, however, I consider the HE-1000 (especially the V2) still the most musical headphone I've ever heard.

 

[Malcyg]

With BluDAVE as my foundation, I would say my HFC Pro Series RCA interconnects. The ultra vivid clarity this brings is difficult to convey but the impact is beyond anything I've ever heard from a cable and this particular cable single-handedly changed my outlook on what cables can accomplish. I would not consider them a good value at the full retail price of $18.9k but I was fortunate to find a used pair for a third of that price and I haven't looked back.

I'm beginning to appreciate the allure of high sensitivity horns more and more although they are quite a spectacle to look at. Many of Voxativs' designs are based on horns. I enjoyed listening to the Stein Music Topline horns at Munich this year and very much enjoyed the Magico Ultimates at the LA Audio Show a few months ago. Unfortunately, I have no experience with Aries Cerat.

Are you using these Roy? http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/high-fidelity-cables-“pro”-series-interconnects

 

[romaz]

I haven't travelled as far down the rabbit hole as you but I have had a sip of the Kool Aid. That is to say that I, as you know, have HFC cables in my system though I haven't gone as far up the food chain as you. My cables, in terms of expense, range from a CT-1 power cable to a CT-1 Ultimate Reference power cable. I am enormously happy with the HFC line and I expect that another CT-1 power cable for Blu2 will complete my financial investment.

Regarding a source, I have the SoTM 200ultra powered by the sps500 power supply, next connected to an Iso Regen followed by a Phasure Lush usb cable which I then connect to Blu2. I also have 8 Farnell Ferrite Cores on order to use with a pair of 2 meter 75ohm BNC cables(same supplier as Triode User). A Paul Hynes SR7 would be nice except that I have recently entered end game status, know by most people as "retired."

Incidentally, I have LH Labs' TOTL usb cables plus the Phasure Clairixa cable on hand so I haven't entirely settled on the Lush as of yet.

With the SoTM line I have made a decision to stop short of purchasing the txUltrausb and I have also decided against investing in a Mutec clock, however tempting. I expect that adding both would make for that much more of an extraordinary listening experience but, well, (for me at least) it has to end somewhere..

As you (Roy) also know, I have an HFC Trinity Helix as well that I use with an HE1000 V2. For cabling I've settled on the Danacables Lazuli Reference which I prefer to my (much shorter) DHC Prion4 cable, soon to be put up for sale.

I could live happily with this setup for the rest of my days(which would make my wife and our retirement investments extremely happy). To be totally honest, I would jump at the chance to pick up a pair of Devore speakers and the (future) Chord digital amp but, given how indulgent my wife has been thus far I really don't want to push it any further.

My next chapter in the adventures of BluDave will be comparing DSD and PCM files of the same music(including same mix and master) to see how BluDave conversion to PCM compares with nonconverted files played through Dave alone on the DSD setting. I admittedly have a significant expectation bias here given Rob's preference for PCM but I'll make a serious effort to not have that cloud my judgment.

Yes, Esau. Unfortunately, we have consumed much of the same Kool Aid. I consider BluDAVE end game. Every thing else is gravy.

 

[adyc]

Romaz,

Just like to clarify. Are you the owner of Audiobacon or you write for Audiobacon?

 

[Malcyg]

I enjoyed my time with my HD800S when I owned it. Very accurate and a wonderful soundstage for orchestral music, however, I consider the HE-1000 (especially the V2) still the most musical headphone I've ever heard.

That is interesting, thank you. My impression was similar and I shall be keeping my HD800 for classical and they are preferred for that purpose over the HD800S, whilst HE-1000 V2 will serve for everything else. They are very musical with the BluDave - I was surprised actually.

 

[romaz]

Back to Blu. I wonder which is more important: Super Source to Dave, or Ordinary PC to BluDave?

My viewpoint is that nothing can provide the resolution that Blu2 can when combined with DAVE. As much as I've spoken about the impact of upstream components, they are hugely overshadowed by the impact of Blu2, simply an engineering masterpiece without equal. As previously stated, everything is gravy after BluDAVE.