CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[801evan]

Between the questyle, Feliks Elise, Releaf e3 (on Hugo tt 1), bakoon, (on Hugo 2), pro iDSD line out and hdvd8xx, me doing variable line out on the pro iDSD gave the 800s a sound that is in line with other totl multi kilo tier cans.

 

[eskamobob1]

Between the questyle, Feliks Elise, Releaf e3 (on Hugo tt 1), bakoon, (on Hugo 2), pro iDSD line out and hdvd8xx, me doing variable line out on the pro iDSD gave the 800s a sound that is in line with other totl multi kilo tier cans.

Well im glad you enjoyed it

 

[801evan]

Mostly an exercise in education and understanding how to get the most out of it and how that would sound like.

 

[Sampajanna]

Synergy is always most important in everything. This is why reviews of products as stand alone, i.e. insert here in the chain and this is what it does, can potentially be misleading. It is also why saying “I didn’t like X” should really be “I didnt like X with these other components and cables.” My speakers, for example, are smooth no matter what detail you add. They are the most magical speakers imho for this glory. So, the more detail and separation I throw at them, the better. For that reason, Dave is perfect in my system. Also, one thing i will mention having owned Chord amps in the past (not now), is that the new Ultima series are less clinical and more balanced. All in all, though, synergy, synergy and synergy is the name of the game. The same is true w headphones as well. My utopias used to fatigue me. I sold them for that reason. Then I heard them with the Cayin HA-300 at a dealer and wowza. I now have that combo and can listen all day and all night. Perfect match made in heaven. Sometimes even the same model when upgraded can lose this magic. I had a Vincent 237 amp in my office with LS50s and the match was perfect. I borrowed the MK2 version of this amazing bang for buck amp and it wasn’t bad, but didnt have anywhere near the magic. When I researched, I found they had changed the tube configuration and many capacitors etc. Never underestimate synergy…..

 

[801evan]

"Synergy" can be a catch-all term that is ambiguous at what steps to take moving forward. You can check my LCD 5 review which gives an example where speed seems to be what to look into in terms of matching and improved timing. All units are powered by the same and similar Ifi elite so it takes away the psu factor introducing sonic changes and bringing confusion to what is influencing what. With 7 to 10 combinations across 3 units and hearing the difference on how it is driving the LCD 5, I seemed to have isolated that 'synergy' aspect, and in this case it is the speed of the amp driving the HP diaphragm just fast enough for the diaphragm to keep up. That's my theory at least.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audeze-lcd-5-review-measurements-interview.959808/post-16790071

I've tried to make my chain as transparent as possible where it's not the other stuff that needs a 'synergy' factor so it now just comes down to amp and transducer speed pairing.

This may help explain why the mk2 of the Vincent amp didn't work out too well with the Utopia since usually updated models would be faster and it happens to be too fast for the Utopia driver to keep up and give good timing.

 

[Jawed]

No it's actually a useless way of doing it, as the ADC noise floor modulation is much bigger than my DACs. The only way of overcoming the ADC issue is to use a notch filter, and feed the ADC with just the residual noise, so the ADC just measures the distortion and noise, not the actual signal. The APx555 has a great way of doing this - one ADC covers the fundamental sine wave signal, another looks at the notched signal (it's notched via a low distortion analogue notch filter). Then the APx555 stitches the two results together in the digital domain. If the analogue notch filter is perfect, then ADC noise floor modulation is eliminated.

The downside to this is that only a single notch is employed, so you can only use a single tone sine wave input.

Presumably the ADC noise floor modulation problem would disappear with Davina?

 

[stemiki]

Well, I wanted to hold on to it. But I just don't like it. It's a clear decision for me. I probably liked it less on day 2 and today is day 3.

The differences in presentation between a May and a Dave is so significant, that I have realized I should stick to R2R in the future. I do want a second DAC to change up flavors. I have heard the T-Plus and it was nice but needed to try the Dave at home.

But I can respect it if you like it. The bass on the Dave is spectacular. As are the details.

I understand. Many times the synergies between various components do not bring a satisfactory result. I'm sorry!

 

[haweckO]

guys, I am considering to sell my TT2 and purchase brand new Dave, but I was thinking if Chord could release new flagship DAC anytime soon.
do you hear any rumors about it, please?

 

[eskamobob1]

guys, I am considering to sell my TT2 and purchase brand new Dave, but I was thinking if Chord could release new flagship DAC anytime soon.
do you hear any rumors about it, please?

There is lots of speculation but nothing concrete and not even my go to dealers have heard anything so I think you are safe

 

[Triode User]

Well, I wanted to hold on to it. But I just don't like it. It's a clear decision for me. I probably liked it less on day 2 and today is day 3.

The differences in presentation between a May and a Dave is so significant, that I have realized I should stick to R2R in the future. I do want a second DAC to change up flavors. I have heard the T-Plus and it was nice but needed to try the Dave at home.

But I can respect it if you like it. The bass on the Dave is spectacular. As are the details.

We are all allowed to buy and like what pleases us as individuals but for me, having owned a Holo May and compared it side by side with a Qutest, TT2 and Dave (both with and without the Mscaler) it was my decision that all three of the Chord DACs outclassed the May. This was with extended listening over a period of 3 weeks and unfortunately at no time during that was there any point where the May drew ahead. It was a clear decision for me and I did not want to keep the May, no matter what price it was. I was actually hoping it would replace the Qutest but that was not to be.

I have heard other R2R DACs in my system, some of them not too expensive such as the Ares 2 and others about the same price as the Dave but to my ears they all share similar aspects of sound quality and it is not one that I find very musical or accurate. A friend has reviewed and then bought a T Plus and he says he likes it very much (I guessed he does having bought it). The plan is for him to bring it over to me sometime over the next few weeks so I can hear it in my system and I guess that will be quite interesting.

I’m sorry that the Dave does not fit your tastes but this hobby is never a one solution fits all game. I was lucky and I sold on the May without losing money and I wish you well with your sale of the Dave and hope that you have a similar result.

 

[801evan]

Hans is lucky to spend good time on DAC he reviews. Unrushed and chose wisely.

 

[eskamobob1]

I’m sorry that the Dave does not fit your tastes but this hobby is never a one solution fits all game. I was lucky and I sold on the May without losing money and I wish you well with your sale of the Dave and hope that you have a similar result.

This is the real truth here. I like some real stank to be put on my music. Its what gets my foot thumping and my mood lifted. I am going to like extremely different gear than someone who prefers a more classically flat and clear presentation. That doesn't mean either of our gear is bad. It just means we don't like what the other does. Simple as that.

 

[eskamobob1]

Hans is lucky to spend good time on DAC he reviews. Unrushed and chose wisely.

The same can be said about heaps of reviewers. That doesn't stop them from basically being split down the middle on preference of may vs Dave.

 

[stemiki]

I too have decided to replace DAVE.

When DAVE2 is out!

And I look forward to Choral M Scaler .

 

[jlbrach]

I suspect it will be a long time before the dave itself will be replaced...we might see several iterations of the m-scaler before we see a new dave