CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[ecwl]

When using DAVE with external amp via RCA out, should the manual preamp mode be used or will it be automatic if HP Not connected to front jack? How do you switch to preamp mode?

I personally think that nobody should ever use the DAC mode for DAVE. It is not automatic so in theory you could be in DAC mode and have an HP plugged to the front jack and maybe damage the HP so I have never tried it. As long as your DAC is in Digital Pre mode, if the HP is plugged in, the sound only goes to HP. If there is no HP plugged in, the sound goes to the RCA and XLR at the same time. DAVE remembers a separate volume for HP & a separate volume for RCA+XLR.

My reasons for people to always keep the DAVE in Digital Pre mode are:
1) If you love DAC mode so much, you can just stay in Digital Pre mode and set the volume at -3dB. They’re identical
2) Many amplifiers clip at 2V or 1V instead of 3V. So you actually don’t want your DAVE to be in DAC mode putting out 3V if your amp is clipping at 1/2V
3) Most amplifiers with analog volume control (integrated amplifiers) have specific volumes where they perform their best, in terms of low-level linearity, SNR and channel balance. Usually, it’s around 12 o’clock on the dial. I think it’s better to just leave your analog volume control set specifically at that position and then use DAVE to adjust the volume, rather than set DAVE at 3V and then adjust your amp’s volume control if you want optimal sound.

 

[tunes]

When using DAVE with external amp via RCA out, should the manual preamp mode be used or will it be automatic if HP Not connected to front jack? How do you switch to preamp mode?

I personally think that nobody should ever use the DAC mode for DAVE. It is not automatic so in theory you could be in DAC mode and have an HP plugged to the front jack and maybe damage the HP so I have never tried it. As long as your DAC is in Digital Pre mode, if the HP is plugged in, the sound only goes to HP. If there is no HP plugged in, the sound goes to the RCA and XLR at the same time. DAVE remembers a separate volume for HP & a separate volume for RCA+XLR.

My reasons for people to always keep the DAVE in Digital Pre mode are:
1) If you love DAC mode so much, you can just stay in Digital Pre mode and set the volume at -3dB. They’re identical
2) Many amplifiers clip at 2V or 1V instead of 3V. So you actually don’t want your DAVE to be in DAC mode putting out 3V if your amp is clipping at 1/2V
3) Most amplifiers with analog volume control (integrated amplifiers) have specific volumes where they perform their best, in terms of low-level linearity, SNR and channel balance. Usually, it’s around 12 o’clock on the dial. I think it’s better to just leave your analog volume control set specifically at that position and then use DAVE to adjust the volume, rather than set DAVE at 3V and then adjust your amp’s volume control if you want optimal sound.

So how do I set up my DAVE to always be in Digital Pre mode??

 

[Torq]

So how do I set up my DAVE to always be in Digital Pre mode??

With DAVE powered on, and with no headphones connected, simultaneously press and hold the left and right menu buttons until you see the mode (shown in the bottom right corner of the display) switch to "Digital pre".

It'll stay in that mode unless you change it manually or plug in headphones. Plugging in headphones will mute the RCA and XLR outputs and put Dave in "Headphone" mode. When you disconnect your headphones DAVE will switch back to "Digital pre" mode.

 

[Clive101]

Hello All
Just caught up with the last 20 pages...
DC4 = DAVE on steroids
Grounding
Anyone who has has a DC4 just ground it with some 10 mm earth wire (fits into the DC4 grounding connection) to an earth rod. Hear the difference (note this is against NEC) then try a Russ Andrews Super Router. Great Bass and sweet treble. No going back.
Antipodes K50 Samsung SSD all in the same ball park EVO vs QVO had both ...but was recommended one SSD was better than two or more...so try.
Antipodes K50 to Dave or Mscaler BNC is my preferred connection.
Sorry for short post

 

[jlbrach]

I personally think that nobody should ever use the DAC mode for DAVE. It is not automatic so in theory you could be in DAC mode and have an HP plugged to the front jack and maybe damage the HP so I have never tried it. As long as your DAC is in Digital Pre mode, if the HP is plugged in, the sound only goes to HP. If there is no HP plugged in, the sound goes to the RCA and XLR at the same time. DAVE remembers a separate volume for HP & a separate volume for RCA+XLR.

My reasons for people to always keep the DAVE in Digital Pre mode are:
1) If you love DAC mode so much, you can just stay in Digital Pre mode and set the volume at -3dB. They’re identical
2) Many amplifiers clip at 2V or 1V instead of 3V. So you actually don’t want your DAVE to be in DAC mode putting out 3V if your amp is clipping at 1/2V
3) Most amplifiers with analog volume control (integrated amplifiers) have specific volumes where they perform their best, in terms of low-level linearity, SNR and channel balance. Usually, it’s around 12 o’clock on the dial. I think it’s better to just leave your analog volume control set specifically at that position and then use DAVE to adjust the volume, rather than set DAVE at 3V and then adjust your amp’s volume control if you want optimal sound.

I agree 100%, I always keep my dave in pre mode...when I use my external amp I can keep it at -3 or whatever I choose and when I go straight out of the dave with headphones it remembers my last setting...works like a charm

 

[Ciggavelli]

Hello All
Just caught up with the last 20 pages...
DC4 = DAVE on steroids
Grounding
Anyone who has has a DC4 just ground it with some 10 mm earth wire (fits into the DC4 grounding connection) to an earth rod. Hear the difference (note this is against NEC) then try a Russ Andrews Super Router. Great Bass and sweet treble. No going back.
Antipodes K50 Samsung SSD all in the same ball park EVO vs QVO had both ...but was recommended one SSD was better than two or more...so try.
Antipodes K50 to Dave or Mscaler BNC is my preferred connection.
Sorry for short post

I finally took the plunge and ordered the DC4s for my DAVE and M-Scaler

I also have a K50 coming in any day now. I have two 8tb Samsung QVO ssds to put in it (I have like 7tb of flac now, and that is before doing an PPGB remastering or anything like that).

 

[Sampajanna]

Congrats! I would love it if some people shared about teh difference of usb vs BNC into the Mscaler

 

[DJJEZ]

I finally took the plunge and ordered the DC4s for my DAVE and M-Scaler

I also have a K50 coming in any day now. I have two 8tb Samsung QVO ssds to put in it (I have like 7tb of flac now, and that is before doing an PPGB remastering or anything like that).

Congrats! Please let us know what you think after spending time with them.I've been considering the DC4's as well

 

[Triode User]

I finally took the plunge and ordered the DC4s for my DAVE and M-Scaler

I also have a K50 coming in any day now. I have two 8tb Samsung QVO ssds to put in it (I have like 7tb of flac now, and that is before doing an PPGB remastering or anything like that).

Amazing, you will not regret the DC4s. I am still in awe of the sound every time I use my Dave and Mscaler with their DC4s. You may well have seen the post by austinpop on AS reporting on his first listening impressions on an upgraded version of the DC4 called the ARC6 that will be available in a few months. Inevitably this will cost more but when it does come out it seems that you will be able to upgrade for merely the cost difference between the two versions so for anyone thinking of ordering a DC4 there is no reason to delay ordering, you will not lose out.

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/...uter-audio-streaming/?do=findComment&comment=

It is great also that you have a K50 coming. Do try the BNC output from the K50 to the MScaler and do also try the preloaded Squeezlite on the K50. It sounds as if you may have the K50 on load and if so see if you can hold onto it for a while because a new 3.1 version of the software is available at the end of July for the K50 which should enhance its already great sound. I think the new software includes Minimserver which some people are excited about. For PGGB files on the K50 I currently use miniDLNA on its server and MPD on its player and so far that is the best PGGB sound quality but perhaps Minimserver or the latest version of Squeezelite available with 3.1 will change that.

 

[Ciggavelli]

Amazing, you will not regret the DC4s. I am still in awe of the sound every time I use my Dave and Mscaler with their DC4s. You may well have seen the post by austinpop on AS reporting on his first listening impressions on an upgraded version of the DC4 called the ARC6 that will be available in a few months. Inevitably this will cost more but when it does come out it seems that you will be able to upgrade for merely the cost difference between the two versions so for anyone thinking of ordering a DC4 there is no reason to delay ordering, you will not lose out.

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/...uter-audio-streaming/?do=findComment&comment=

It is great also that you have a K50 coming. Do try the BNC output from the K50 to the MScaler and do also try the preloaded Squeezlite on the K50. It sounds as if you may have the K50 on load and if so see if you can hold onto it for a while because a new 3.1 version of the software is available at the end of July for the K50 which should enhance its already great sound. I think the new software includes Minimserver which some people are excited about. For PGGB files on the K50 I currently use miniDLNA on its server and MPD on its player and so far that is the best PGGB sound quality but perhaps Minimserver or the latest version of Squeezelite available with 3.1 will change that.

Thanks for the info.

I actually purchased the K50, and I look forward to listening to it and getting the 3.1 software. I’m excited for both these upgrades and can’t wait to hear them

 

[Sampajanna]

Amazing, you will not regret the DC4s. I am still in awe of the sound every time I use my Dave and Mscaler with their DC4s. You may well have seen the post by austinpop on AS reporting on his first listening impressions on an upgraded version of the DC4 called the ARC6 that will be available in a few months. Inevitably this will cost more but when it does come out it seems that you will be able to upgrade for merely the cost difference between the two versions so for anyone thinking of ordering a DC4 there is no reason to delay ordering, you will not lose out.

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/...uter-audio-streaming/?do=findComment&comment=

It is great also that you have a K50 coming. Do try the BNC output from the K50 to the MScaler and do also try the preloaded Squeezlite on the K50. It sounds as if you may have the K50 on load and if so see if you can hold onto it for a while because a new 3.1 version of the software is available at the end of July for the K50 which should enhance its already great sound. I think the new software includes Minimserver which some people are excited about. For PGGB files on the K50 I currently use miniDLNA on its server and MPD on its player and so far that is the best PGGB sound quality but perhaps Minimserver or the latest version of Squeezelite available with 3.1 will change that.

Nick, how would u describe the difference between bnc and usb to mscaler?

 

[griff500]

I look forward to your "TT2 for sale" thread.

Selling my TT2 if anyone is interested

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/chord-tt2-black-mint-condition.7894/

 

[TheAttorney]

.

 

[ecwl]

Nick, how would u describe the difference between bnc and usb to mscaler?

I know some people here would disagree strongly with me as they felt power cords/supplies/computer server design affects the sound a lot more.

USB to M-scaler is galvanically isolated whereas the BNC input to M-Scaler does not have galvanic isolation. Of course, Toslink would definitely be completely galvanically isolated which means no ground loop leakage current RF noise would leak into M-Scaler/DAVE. And since pulse array DACs have a totally different level of jitter immunity compared to other non-Chord DACs, you can easily get away with feeding Chord DACs Toslink without a loss in sound quality. However, no USB galvanic isolation is perfect (unless it’s optical?) so depending on your desktop and computer network system, you can still potentially get RF noise leaking through the USB.

So ultimately, once you ask the question how does BNC compared to USB, to me, you’re really asking, how does it compare in a specific system. If you’re playing off a battery-powered iPad/laptop via USB to M-Scaler, vs a battery-power laptop into a USB to BNC converter into M-Scaller, they should (and do in my system) sound identical because there is no RF noise leaking into DAVE to negatively affect the sound. But if you’re running a noisy desktop PC with switching power supply feeding USB to M-Scaler and comparing it with a high-end CD transport with linear power supply via BNC to M-Scaler, you’ll probably find the BNC to sound better because even without the galvanic isolation, there may be less RF noise leaking from the CD transport into DAVE vs the PC into M-Scaler. With this in mind, you can really complicate your power supplies and computer system/network setup to alter the amount and type of RF noise that leaks into the DAVE if you connect via USB (and BNC).

 

[DJJEZ]

Yup you called it. I knew within 2 mins of listening I was gonna buy a DAVE lol