CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

users claim they hear a difference between DAC mode and Pre Amp mode so it is good to lay this one to rest.

That's why I always read people impressions with pinch of salt - or I should rather say bag not a pinch.
Same goes to these so called reviewers from all over the internet.

 

[Clive101]

Could it be, if using an external amp (with volume low) with Dave at volume high that Dave sounds better..... as Dave performs better at higher volume vs an external amp with high volume and Dave at low volume ?
In other words is Dave is better at "Volume Control" ?

 

[Malcyg]

one of those parodies that have a bit of truth

I had a mixture of indignation and humour when I read it. Mainly, quite funny though.

 

[SteveHulk]

I had a mixture of indignation and humour when I read it. Mainly, quite funny though.

I was wondering when the suggestion would come that you should wrap the m scalar in tinfoil connected separately to earth, and maybe the DAVE as well.

What's left of the tinfoil would make a nice hat.

 

[801evan]

Adding the SRC-DX this afternoon made a huge difference, so much so that it's not really worth bothering with the HPA4.

Add sorbothanes and it'll kick it up a new level.

 

[Articnoise]

Thanks for confirming. It seems to pop up on a regular basis that users claim they hear a difference between DAC mode and Pre Amp mode so it is good to lay this one to rest.

If you bypass the volume control, it will sounds better.

 

[adrianm]

Add sorbothanes and it'll kick it up a new level.

I just finished work and started testing again just to make sure i'm not crazy. I still think that the HPA4 is completely transparent, and has a very slightly bigger/deeper soundstage, but the delta is just too small to justify it with the Elites. I hope the Enleum or some higher end amps can provide a bigger uplift.
Where the hell do i get them and how do i use them ? You mean anti-vibration treatment below Dave/Src-DX i assume.

 

[801evan]

I just finished work and started testing again just to make sure i'm not crazy. I still think that the HPA4 is completely transparent, and has a very slightly bigger/deeper soundstage, but the delta is just too small to justify it with the Elites. I hope the Enleum or some higher end amps can provide a bigger uplift.
Where the hell do i get them and how do i use them ? You mean anti-vibration treatment below Dave/Src-DX i assume.

https://www.isolateit.com/products/...ere-rubber-bumper-non-skid-feet-with-adhesive

3x duro 30. I think this and Dave is better than without sorbo + hpa4. But I dunno how it'll be with sorbothanes + Dave + hp4.

While you're at it, get more for other components but u need to know the load to get the right sorbothane for it

 

[Triode User]

If you bypass the volume control, it will sounds better.

Will or might?

RW has explained the way he designed Dave digital volume control and I am pretty sure he made a case for why it does not affect sound quality.

And anyway, the whole point of this exchange is that merely putting the Dave into DAC Mode does not bypass the Dave volume control.

Or are you suggesting getting out your soldering iron and altering the Dave to achieve what you are suggesting?

 

[Articnoise]

Will or might?

RW has explained the way he designed Dave digital volume control and I am pretty sure he made a case for why it does not affect sound quality.

And anyway, the whole point of this exchange is that merely putting the Dave into DAC Mode does not bypass the Dave volume control.

Or are you suggesting getting out your soldering iron and altering the Dave to achieve what you are suggesting?

Will

 

[adrianm]

Will or might?

RW has explained the way he designed Dave digital volume control and I am pretty sure he made a case for why it does not affect sound quality.

And anyway, the whole point of this exchange is that merely putting the Dave into DAC Mode does not bypass the Dave volume control.

Or are you suggesting getting out your soldering iron and altering the Dave to achieve what you are suggesting?

Daniel Weiss also claims his digital volume control does not affect sound quality, and people who have heard his dac tends to disagree, including reviewers.

 

[adrianm]

https://www.isolateit.com/products/...ere-rubber-bumper-non-skid-feet-with-adhesive

3x duro 30. I think this and Dave is better than without sorbo + hpa4. But I dunno how it'll be with sorbothanes + Dave + hp4.

While you're at it, get more for other components but u need to know the load to get the right sorbothane for it

I'm pretty sure they don't deliver to Europe.

 

[adrianm]

Also , just want to put it out there that, while i was skeptical, the SRC-DX amazing

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I just finished work and started testing again just to make sure i'm not crazy. I still think that the HPA4 is completely transparent, and has a very slightly bigger/deeper soundstage, but the delta is just too small to justify it with the Elites. I hope the Enleum or some higher end amps can provide a bigger uplift.
Where the hell do i get them and how do i use them ? You mean anti-vibration treatment below Dave/Src-DX i assume.

Dave is the dac. You won't gain anything with additional amps. (If the headphones are properly driven)
Don't try to find something to match Dave. You won't. I think only hpa4 can. As you need just wire with gain nothing else.

 

[Lgn3]

Absolutely correct. DAC mode is completely identical to pre-amp mode - it's just fixed to -3dB. So setting pre-amp mode to -3dB will give absolutely identical performance to DAC mode.

If the two modes had been described as fixed volume (FVOL) and variable volume (VVOL) on the display I wonder if listeners would still have been convinced one sounded better than the other.