CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[TheAttorney]

Hmm, you're one of those very rare people who's tried AES on DAVE.

I'm using AES because that's the best output from my Grimm MU1 server.
Dave easily handles 192kHz at this input (double the conservative spec) and sounds great. But the quality of the AES cable greatly influences SQ, as it did when I used BNC or USB in the past. It would save me a lot of money if this wasn't so.

I just checked the Dave crossfeed and it is on setting 3. tried 0 and the bass impact is substantially less. seems airier up top with 0 though, but the relative lack of low end made me swap back to 3 quite fast.

Yes, you get a bass boost of almost 2dB at CF=3, but the primary benefit should be a more realistic soundstage, which is more obvious with headphones with a wide soundstage, as in my HEKse. I do feel you lose a bit of transparency though with CF (as with any DSP) so that may explain the slight loss of airiness. Most choices have pros and cons and on this occasion I think the pros outweigh the cons. I find CF=2 gives a better balance for my tastes, apart from classical music where the correct soundstage seems to be more important.

 

[rgs9200m]

When using my DAVE via its own amplifier with Jriver on Windows for a music source, is there any way to coax some finer volume level adjustments into the system?
I use both Jriver's internal volume control along with Dave's volume control.

I tend to set the Dave a little above my preferred listening level with the Jriver volume at 100%, then move the Jriver control down step or 2. But even the Jriver steps (of 0.5 dB each) are a little too much for me.

Would I be better off using a higher Dave initial level?
Is there any finer-adjustment Windows volume control app?
Does any Jriver alternative have a finer volume control?

Some extra info:

I rarely use Jriver EQ or any other Jriver DSP things. I keep the DSP system off mostly. It sounds better to me like this, especially in the bass.

I am also using an Mscaler (with just the stock Bnc cables for now; I don't think this affects volume granularity, but it was just a thought).

Headphones in main use: Focal Utopia, Meze Empyrean, ZMF Verite Closed, Sony Z1R, Audeze LCD4. Grado PS2000e.

Other things: Audioquest Diamond USB cable (a few years old), Telwire C004 power cord, also a few years old. (These cables sound good to me after some experimentation.)

The sound quality I am getting is great for me, I just would like to get a finer volume level adjustment if possible.

Thank you for any advice or for any similar experience you have in this area..

 

[Reactcore]

Its byebye Qutest..Hello Dave! today i joined the elite.. i can't believe this comin from my HD800's.. Simply stunning.. no sleep for me tonight

 

[ufospls2]

Its byebye Qutest..Hello Dave! today i joined the elite.. i can't believe this comin from my HD800's.. Simply stunning.. no sleep for me tonight

Enjoy! See you for your next post of enjoyment at 5:00AM. lol.

 

[Sampajanna]

The new podcast with Darko and Rob Watts is worth a listen. Such a genius! Learn a lot every time I hear him (interview and music through my Dave). So grateful! He also hints at some amazing new research—not anything specifically but he alludes to benefits we may see some day! I loved it. Best bow, Rob.

 

[alekc]

The new podcast with Darko and Rob Watts is worth a listen. Such a genius! Learn a lot every time I hear him (interview and music through my Dave). So grateful! He also hints at some amazing new research—not anything specifically but he alludes to benefits we may see some day! I loved it. Best bow, Rob.

Indeed. I really like reading and listening to Rob Watts. It is great that he takes his time to share all those details and know-how with us. The podcast would have been even better IMHO if only Rob Watts would do the talking. Darko ignorance (like in EQ and DSP areas for example) is hard to bear, especially when he is talking with a real engineer and this comes from a guy who tells you his job is to peak apart all the differences in sound and tell you whats best for your ears. The only reason I've listen to podcast was Rob Watts in the very first place. I've stopped watching/reading/listening Darko content after his arguments about coffee and mineral water. The life is much more complex than 2 bottles of mineral water and coffee shop around the corner.

 

[NYanakiev]

I have a quick question about ethernet cables as I saw this mentioned earlier on.

My chain is as follows:
Sonore opticalRendu+opticalModule Deluxe->Audiowise SRC-DX->1X WAVE STORM->Chord M Scaler->2X WAVE STORM->Chord DAVE

The ethernet cable currently goes from the router through the living room and into the Optical Rendu. I am planning on replacing that with an ethernet cable that takes a very indirect path via the curves of the ceiling around my flat. Total cable length needs to be around 25 metres- will this lead to any signal deterioration at all?

 

[Progisus]

I have a quick question about ethernet cables as I saw this mentioned earlier on.

My chain is as follows:
Sonore opticalRendu+opticalModule Deluxe->Audiowise SRC-DX->1X WAVE STORM->Chord M Scaler->2X WAVE STORM->Chord DAVE

The ethernet cable currently goes from the router through the living room and into the Optical Rendu. I am planning on replacing that with an ethernet cable that takes a very indirect path via the curves of the ceiling around my flat. Total cable length needs to be around 25 metres- will this lead to any signal deterioration at all?

That should not be a problem. Did you consider fibre?

 

[NYanakiev]

That should not be a problem. Did you consider fibre?

Nope. Looks quite a bit less flexible than the ethernet cable I got.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

Fiber optic cable should be smaller/narrower and much more flexible than ethernet.

 

[zen87192]

Is it OK to drive Headphones from the Balanced out of the DAVE? I ask to see if there is any benefit being increased Bass perhaps?

 

[Ciggavelli]

Is it OK to drive Headphones from the Balanced out of the DAVE? I ask to see if there is any benefit being increased Bass perhaps?

It’s “fake” balanced just so people with XLR ICs can use the DAVE. The RCA and XLR are basically the same thing. The XLRs aren’t “true” balanced XLR outputs. There’s a Rob post somewhere here about that

 

[marcmccalmont]

Is it OK to drive Headphones from the Balanced out of the DAVE? I ask to see if there is any benefit being increased Bass perhaps?

Not as much current (drive) capability with the balanced output I’ve tried it, single ended is much better

 

[jlbrach]

It’s “fake” balanced just so people with XLR ICs can use the DAVE. The RCA and XLR are basically the same thing. The XLRs aren’t “true” balanced XLR outputs. There’s a Rob post somewhere here about that

it is a bit louder out of the dave xlr....at least to my ears

 

[nwavesailor]

it is a bit louder out of the dave xlr....at least to my ears

Is this using the 2, 3 pin male XLR's to a 4 pin female XLR adapter like some use on the TT2?