CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[adrianm]

Thanks. I went ahead bought it. Ships out tomorrow but not sure expected delivery date since coming from UK and I’m in San Diego. Sort of like that is was also from UK and had machined aluminum case. Felt like good fit with the Dave.

Just switching from the Mac mini to MacBook Pro into the mscaler is a bigger improvement then I’ve let on. It’s very noticeable in the fact that going back and listening to albums I’ve played in the last week and I can tell the difference. Completely black background, expanded soundstage, and a smooth liquid type of sound. Can’t believe how much I was holding back the sound. Don’t have the kind of money to go all out on source but I’m a believer in that it makes a difference.

Can you share what test tracks you used in your comparison? i've never encountered that big of a difference between sources testing with just Dave so far.

 

[iamoneagain]

Can you share what test tracks you used in your comparison? i've never encountered that big of a difference between sources testing with just Dave so far.

Big Star - Feel
The Divine Comedy - Queuejumper
Taking Heads - New Feeling - from the Name of of this band is Talking Heads
James - Out to Get You
Tones on Tail - Lions
John Zorn / Masada String Trio - Tahah

The Masada one might be easiest since excellent recording of Jewish style jazz. But pretty much anything I listen to I can tell has more immersive feel to it. More weight. Pulls you into the music more.

I listed just first tracks but I was listening to full albums.

 

[adrianm]

Big Star - Feel
The Divine Comedy - Queuejumper
Taking Heads - New Feeling - from the Name of of this band is Talking Heads
James - Out to Get You
Tones on Tail - Lions
John Zorn / Masada String Trio - Tahah

The Masada one might be easiest since excellent recording of Jewish style jazz. But pretty much anything I listen to I can tell has more immersive feel to it. More weight. Pulls you into the music more.

I listed just first tracks but I was listening to full albums.

Thanks i'll give them a whirl this weekend

 

[iamoneagain]

Big Star - Feel
The Divine Comedy - Queuejumper
Taking Heads - New Feeling - from the Name of of this band is Talking Heads
James - Out to Get You
Tones on Tail - Lions
John Zorn / Masada String Trio - Tahah

The Masada one might be easiest since excellent recording of Jewish style jazz. But pretty much anything I listen to I can tell has more immersive feel to it. More weight. Pulls you into the mu

Thanks i'll give them a whirl this weekend

So my thinking is that Rob probably did a great job in minimizing differences but that Mac mini was just terrible output. I’ll be surprised if hear significant improvement once the Link II arrives. But always when I think I’ve heard my setup at its best, it improves further.

 

[AndrewOld]

So my thinking is that Rob probably did a great job in minimizing differences but that Mac mini was just terrible output. I’ll be surprised if hear significant improvement once the Link II arrives. But always when I think I’ve heard my setup at its best, it improves further.

You also have the possibility to use the Link II to “clean” the USB output of the Macmini. Probably not how you want to use the Link II, but might be interesting as an experiment.

 

[iamoneagain]

You also have the possibility to use the Link II to “clean” the USB output of the Macmini. Probably not how you want to use the Link II, but might be interesting as an experiment.

Yeah maybe I can try that. I can see what it does to MacBook too. But yeah, idea is to use as direct roon endpoint.

 

[doraymon]

Thanks. I went ahead bought it. Ships out tomorrow but not sure expected delivery date since coming from UK and I’m in San Diego. Sort of like that is was also from UK and had machined aluminum case. Felt like good fit with the Dave.

Just switching from the Mac mini to MacBook Pro into the mscaler is a bigger improvement then I’ve let on. It’s very noticeable in the fact that going back and listening to albums I’ve played in the last week and I can tell the difference. Completely black background, expanded soundstage, and a smooth liquid type of sound. Can’t believe how much I was holding back the sound. Don’t have the kind of money to go all out on source but I’m a believer in that it makes a difference.

Good luck. I am looking at the Lumin U1 Mini, perfect for my desk layout and among the few Roon endpoints to offer both USB and optical out, to satisfy my never ending pursuit of the perfect sound (to my ears...).
Theoretically is well above my budget but I might have found a good offer through a friend.

 

[Ciggavelli]

This is gonna make some of you furious, but I’m not the only one who thinks the Innuos Phoenix reclocker helps to improve usb dac performance.

https://audiobacon.net/2020/09/08/innuos-phoenix-usb-reclocker-review/amp/

I use the reclocker in between my server and mDAVE, and I definitely think it brings about very noticeable improvements

 

[MatW]

Can someone please point me to a good post or article on optical vs USB input from a streamer?

 

[iamoneagain]

Can someone please point me to a good post or article on optical vs USB input from a streamer?

Well with Chord products, Rob claims jitter doesn’t matter, so usually they’d tell you to stay away from optical. USB is reclocked within the Dave and that’s supposed to be a good thing. Issue with USB is the noise and not the jitter with the Dave. So even though I bought a streamer with improved clocking, just think it’s the low noise that will matter. Rob already pointed out in past that it all gets reclocked within Dave anyway

Here’s a link to measurements done on other dacs:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...battle-of-s-pdif-vs-usb-which-is-better.1943/

 

[sm60]

Can someone please point me to a good post or article on optical vs USB input from a streamer?

I’m surprised by the play optical outputs and inputs are getting here. It was well known 25 years or so back (read old stereophile or TAS reviews) that on CD transports, optical outputs were distinctly inferior to say AES-EBU balanced or BNC. When it comes to streamers, it’s no contest. You cannot pass a DSD bitstream or high bit rate PCM easily through optical, which usually maxes out at 96khz or with luck 192khz. Optical has some advantages in terms of noise insulation, but Stereophile editor John Atkinson noted at least two decades ago that the sound changed if he moved the cable or bent it even slightly. It was never intended for high bit rate transmission.

 

[adrianm]

This is gonna make some of you furious, but I’m not the only one who thinks the Innuos Phoenix reclocker helps to improve usb dac performance.

https://audiobacon.net/2020/09/08/innuos-phoenix-usb-reclocker-review/amp/

I use the reclocker in between my server and mDAVE, and I definitely think it brings about very noticeable improvements

That Audiobacon guy just might be the dumbest person in this hobby. Why anyone would take his advice is beyond me. Especially over Rob's.

 

[Triode User]

That Audiobacon guy just might be the dumbest person in this hobby. Why anyone would take his advice is beyond me. Especially over Rob's.

Hmmn, well, one reason might be that for whatever reason the Innuos Phoenix works and does improve sound quality. And yes, I am fully aware of the possibility that an extra bit of kit in the line is just introducing noise which alters the sound but is mistaken for better sound quality. The Phoenix is not that.

I tried the Phoenix when I had an Innuos Zenith SE and I was stunned by the improvement going both into solo Dave and also to Mscaler Dave. I would have bought the Phoenix but selling my Blu2 and the Zenith SE enabled me to get a Statement which of course already incorporates the Phoenix circuits and more.

Rob gives good advice based on his huge knowledge and experience, advice which I generally follow but even so, sometimes a few things work when he thinks they ought not to. I am not sure it is the reclocking that makes the difference with the Phoenix, it might be something else going on but have a listen to one, you might be surprised.

 

[midicun]

Good luck. I am looking at the Lumin U1 Mini, perfect for my desk layout and among the few Roon endpoints to offer both USB and optical out, to satisfy my never ending pursuit of the perfect sound (to my ears...).
Theoretically is well above my budget but I might have found a good offer through a friend.

My setup is similar U1 Mini -> MScaler -> DAVE -> Utopia and have been happy with the U1 Mini so far (18 months). But have not compared it to any other sources outside of a MacBook.

 

[MatW]

I’m surprised by the play optical outputs and inputs are getting here. It was well known 25 years or so back (read old stereophile or TAS reviews) that on CD transports, optical outputs were distinctly inferior to say AES-EBU balanced or BNC. When it comes to streamers, it’s no contest. You cannot pass a DSD bitstream or high bit rate PCM easily through optical, which usually maxes out at 96khz or with luck 192khz. Optical has some advantages in terms of noise insulation, but Stereophile editor John Atkinson noted at least two decades ago that the sound changed if he moved the cable or bent it even slightly. It was never intended for high bit rate transmission.

Thanks for this. I am fairly new to the hobby so still learning. In my case I would be streaming max 192 khz as I only use Qobuz and Tidal, no PCM or DSD files, so I guess optical could do the job, from that perspective?