CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[STR-1]

Hi Rob,
After a good two-week loan experience I have now ordered a Dave for use initially as a headphone-only system - AK380/Dave/HE1000 most of the time but I also have HD800 and will shortly be getting a MacBook Pro. I am pleased by all the posts commenting on how unnecessary expensive interconnect cables will be with Dave but I am not sure if that includes mains cables and mains conditioners. Do you have any advice to offer on whether mains cables and conditioners can affect the sound quality of Dave? Thanks in advance

 

[bmichels]

Just placed an order for Dave. ...The only question is whether I'll settle on Dave>HE1000 or Dave>Blue Hawaii>SR009

 
That's a very good question.  
 
Indeed, I have HE-X already and have also BHSE on order (looong wait), so I wonder:  IF I get a DAVE, will I still need a BHSE + SR009 ? 

 

[rgs9200m]

Thanks once again Rob!

 

[pompom]

   
Rob, does this mean that when using the BLU with DAVE, this "BLU upgrade" won't make any SQ difference since all the up-sampling can be done in the DAVE anyway ?  
 
In other way, if I have DAVE, can I already buy the "old" BLU without having later to upgrade to the "new" PCB ?

 
This is a good question !   
 
I owe a BLU and wonder if it will be useful to upgrade it (new PCB) if I get a DAVE also.   Rob ?

 

[JaZZ]

 

Just placed an order for Dave. ...The only question is whether I'll settle on Dave>HE1000 or Dave>Blue Hawaii>SR009

 
That's a very good question.  
 
Indeed, I have HE-X already and have also BHSE on order (looong wait), so I wonder:  IF I get a DAVE, will I still need a BHSE + SR009 ? 

 
Since I only have the HE1000 and no BHSE/SR-009, I can't really answer your question. After all I have a comparable planar and two electrostats among my top four headphones which get regular use.
 
I still haven't heard the SR-009, but somehow don't really have the urge to audition it – my two electrostats sound so good with DAVE and Stax SRM-727 II. From an extensive comparison I know that I even prefer(red) them to the HE 90, although the latter seemed to have better detail (that was with the SRM-T1, though). The main advantage is from the angled drivers – which the SR-009 doesn't offer either.
 
As impressive soundstage, resolution and detail from the electrostats are, the HE1000 driven by DAVE sounds more realistic and at least as detailed. In my experience part of the hyper resolution of electrostats is fake (caused by reflections on and the air acceleration provoked by the electrodes, as I see it). That's why when it comes to the reproduction of sonic colors, the subtle nuances of overtones, the direct-driven HE1000 is far superior in my book.
 
Thursday night I was attending a classical concert – first row. When I closed my eyes it sounded like the HE1000 at home, plus larger soundstage. For me the HE1000 driven by DAVE – with a Silver Dragon cable and equalized! – is the ne plus ultra in terms of music reproduction through headphones to date.
 
Now that doesn't answer your question, I know. But you have already ordered the BHSE and probably like the SR-009 idea anyway...

 

 

[Rob Watts]

The benefit of the Blu upsampler is that I now will have two powerful FPGA's to do the WTA processing function, not one with Dave.
 
But a word of caution - will this result in better sound - I think it will, but until I do the listening tests I do not know, nor by how much. We will not release the upgrade unless it gives a worthwhile benefit.
 
Rob

 

[bmichels]

 
Now that doesn't answer your question, I know. But you have already ordered the BHSE and probably like the SR-009 idea anyway...

 

 
You are right, I have been looking at this BHSE & SR009 since so many years that I MUST get one now that I can afford it. It is some sort of pilgrimage. I have no choice ....

 

 

[Sonic77]

   
You are right, I have been looking at this BHSE & SR009 since so many years that I MUST get one now that I can afford it. It is some sort of pilgrimage. I have no choice ....

 

The Dave is also a pilgrimage

 

[lovethatsound]

The benefit of the Blu upsampler is that I now will have two powerful FPGA's to do the WTA processing function, not one with Dave.

But a word of caution - will this result in better sound - I think it will, but until I do the listening tests I do not know, nor by how much. We will not release the upgrade unless it gives a worthwhile benefit.

Rob

Tell me guys what other designer of a dac would come on here and tell you the brutal truth about what might happen with their equipment in the future,absolutely outstanding Rob/Chord 10 out of 10☺

 

[rgs9200m]

   
You are right, I have been looking at this BHSE & SR009 since so many years that I MUST get one now that I can afford it. It is some sort of pilgrimage. I have no choice ....

 

Try the SR007 first.

 

[bmichels]

  Try the SR007 first.

Why do you suggest this ?
 
 I tried booth on the same BHSE during the last CanJam in London, and I definitively prefered the 009...

 

[Beolab]

It is great and i highly regard Rob for it, but it is good PR and Chord sell DACs like never before because of all hype in the diffrent HeadFi Chord threads, so it is also a Win-Win situation for everyone!

The customer get brooke, but the in change one of the the best sounding products on the market today , and Chord get rich and healthy as a company, and can develop even more advanced products in the future.

Win-win for everyone!

 

[rgs9200m]

  Why do you suggest this ?
 
 I tried booth on the same BHSE during the last CanJam in London, and I definitively prefered the 009...

OK, if you heard them, that's different. I happen to prefer my SR007 from an overall perspective, that's all.
 
(The SR007 is more focused and intimate and the images seem larger and fuller than the SR009, but the 009 is clearer with some more detail,
but can be harder to take with shriller or hot recordings, and I like older popular music.)
 
As a side note there is a definite synergy with my Hugo TT (and my Hugo before that) with my Grado PS1000e, which is somehow up with the best headphone sound I ever heard, FWIW.
I'm thinking the Chord sound goes well with this Grado. I'd love for someone to try it with the Dave as a favor to Grado fans.
 
If pressed and water-boarded and forced to choose, I'd say PS1000e > SR007 > SR009, but they all have their individual strengths and they all float my boat. 

 

[esimms86]

  OK, if you heard them, that's different. I happen to prefer my SR007 from an overall perspective, that's all.
 
(The SR007 is more focused and intimate and the images seem larger and fuller than the SR009, but the 009 is clearer with some more detail,
but can be harder to take with shriller or hot recordings, and I like older popular music.)
 
As a side note there is a definite synergy with my Hugo TT (and my Hugo before that) with my Grado PS1000e, which is somehow up with the best headphone sound I ever heard, FWIW.
I'm thinking the Chord sound goes well with this Grado. I'd love for someone to try it with the Dave as a favor to Grado fans.
 
If pressed and water-boarded and forced to choose, I'd say PS1000e > SR007 > SR009, but they all have their individual strengths and they all float my boat. 

 
 
I'm not enamored of the Grado "company sound," though I've never heard the PS1000e. I had an SR007MkI and ended up selling it(to Jude) as I greatly preferred the SR009. I can't speak to the SR007Mk2 as I've never heard one. I bought the SR009 about a year ago so mine may (or may not) be a different build from the previous models. I have one of the few Justin built BH's, not a BHSE. It's based on the same circuit but has some parts that were no longer available, leading to the development of the BHSE. I also own a StefanArt modded HD800 and non-fazor LCD3. BTW, I had a Silver Dragon cable on the LCD3 but sold it(the cable) as I found it lovely sounding but microphonic. The HD800 is my go to headphone when listening on the road(i.e., when away from home but not actually in transit) through a Geek Out V2 or, more recently, Chord Mojo.In truth, the current generation of electronics is an embarrassment of riches such that I could easily live the rest of my life with a Chord Mojo and a pair of Etymotics through a MacBook Pro or iPhone. That's a combo well within the reach of most budgets in this crazy headphone audiophile world and the sound is to die for. Dave, of course, is a quantum leap better at the very least, and people buy it if they can afford to because it's there and because we only live once.
 
Romaz's DHC cable is very tempting but I'm hoping that once I hear my stock HE1000 through Dave I will be cured of upgradeitis forever(yes, I can hear you now). Then there's also the notion of spending 2800 dollars on a headphone that already costs 3000 dollars in an effort to squeeze out that last few per cent of sound improvement.

 

[hifuguy]

This is an incredible thread, with all of you guys + Rob. I just got a Mojo a couple of weeks ago and I can't believe how good it is. When you realize that it doesn't need expensive USB cables, power cords, high-end music player SW, sounds amazing as a portable rig and at-home (speakers), you soon realize that a Mojo is practically free (and perfectly named)! My only worry is that a Mojo is like a gateway drug to more Rob magic. Reading this thread doesn't help, but I can't stop myself!