[JTbbb]

Does anybody know if I want to get either 2V or 4V output from the XLR of DAVE what dB should be set? “DAC” mode -3dB coming out 6V via XLR is too hot for my integrated which has input sensitivity of 4V.

Thanks in advance!

I culled this a long time ago, may be useful.


Dave voltage output.

So I have the following conjecture about why most of the time, RCA is technically superior to XLR from DAVE.
If you’re driving your amp directly, let’s say listening at a volume level of -19dB via XLR so you’re putting 1V via XLR into your amp. If you’re using RCA, your volume level would be -13dB to get 1V into your amp. But since the -19dB signal and the -13dB signal all come from the pulse array DAC which has a fixed noise floor, you’re actually going to get slightly better SNR from the -13dB compared to the -19dB signal. Because the way the XLR generates the 1V signal is to take a -19dB 0.5V signal from the pulse array DAC and then feed it through the inverting amplifier to give you the 1V. So with XLR, you’re starting off with a lower signal with slightly lower SNR and then adding an inverting amplifier which may affect transparency.

Of course, this is purely from the DAC end. Depending on the amp, the signal from DAVE could be attenuated, altered, via RCA/XLR which could also affect SNR or transparency.

To me, the interesting question is for people who normally hook up their integrated amp (or headphone amp with volume control) to DAVE. Because if you normally just set DAVE into DAC mode (-3dB), then RCA would output 3V and XLR would output 6V and you might just adjust the integrated/headphone amp volume control to balance the higher voltage from the XLR and you might prefer the XLR sound. But to me, then, the better comparison would be to use RCA and set DAVE at +3dB so that you’re getting 6V RCA into your amp and compare that to -3dB at 6V XLR into your amp. We are of course assuming that your amp’s volume control is not going to clip a 6V RCA signal. I suspect in that comparison, given the right circumstances, the RCA output of DAVE would likely sound better than XLR.

Bottomline is that there are a lot of factors that come into play once DAVE is feeding an amp or preamp via RCA vs XLR. Which is probably why ultimately, people just need to test this with their amps if they have the luxury to do So I made a chart for myself so I don’t forget. Left it on my Notes app in iCloud:
DAVE output voltages unbalanced
-3dB = 3V
-7dB = 2V
-13dB = 1V
Digital Clipping +4dB

balanced output impedance 33ohms

With M-Scaler voltages (technically 2.7dB reduction)
0dB = 3V
-4dB = 2V
-10dB = 1V
Digital Clipping +7dB

M-Scaler voltages with balanced output
-6dB =3V
-10dB = 2V
-16dB - 1V

 

[SteveHulk]

Does anybody know if I want to get either 2V or 4V output from the XLR of DAVE what dB should be set? “DAC” mode -3dB coming out 6V via XLR is too hot for my integrated which has input sensitivity of 4V.

Thanks in advance!

Unless you are using very long cable runs, I believe that rca is recommended in terms of sound quality. That would solve the over-volting problem as well.

If you must, for whatever reason, use xlr then you are stuck with the various somewhat unhappy solutions which involve fiddling with the two volume controls.

 

[Vyyy]

Quick question, when connecting from Dave to Etude, if connect at the same time both xlr outputs and rca towards etude? Which output from dave will take tue priority into Etude? Thanks?

 

[Hiyono]

Quick question, when connecting from Dave to Etude, if connect at the same time both xlr outputs and rca towards etude? Which output from dave will take tue priority into Etude? Thanks?

Outputs both at same time.

 

[Meridian7]

Quick question, when connecting from Dave to Etude, if connect at the same time both xlr outputs and rca towards etude? Which output from dave will take tue priority into Etude? Thanks?

From the manual p19.

 

[Exekuhtor]

Hey,
I originally wanted to get a Hugo TT2 + MScaler next year, when i spotted that absolutely ridiculously priced classified listing of the Dave + MScaler i went for it. And i got it.
My normal DAC is the Holo May KTE, which i upgraded to after i really liked the Spring 3 KTE for over a year. At that time i more or less build my chain for the 1266TC (my other main headphone was the OG Susvara, but that one always sounds amazing), the R2R goodness of the Spring / May was really enjoyable for those two.
But because i wanted an alteration, the Chord stuff draw my attention, for various reasons (for example, the jitter imunity is nice because my music is on a noisy gaming PC).
I won't be using the Daves headphone out. I never had a DAC in this price range, only the May that comes somewhat close (not really).

I went through ~250 pages and noteworthy posts consists of:

- Chesebert arguing with Goldensound, as is tradition.
- Farad power supply mod, which improves the sound, but it's three big boxes that independently feed the Dave (i won't do that).
- BNC 3/4 is better (i did that!).
- I really dislike the picture profil of the big ass spider (he stopped posting at some point).
- Some say Dave is at the end of its life because it's rather old, some say it's timeless.
- A lot of people waiting for that super M-Scaler (Choral) to release (i couldn't care less, lol).
- A lot of talk about the Grimm MU stuff, price is 10k+, people say it's better than the MScaler (well duh, i hope so at its price).
- Some very good advice from @ecwl like: Optimal sound for 44.1kHz is to have the HF filter turned off. Anything 48kHz or above the HF filter should be turned on. But he also said that with MScaler things change (so, do i want HF on or off with 705 upscaling???).
- Some stuff like crossfeed etc are for speaker / headphone out only, so i don't care for them (or do i?).
- Really nice comparison from @SoupRKnowva of the Dave vs Rockna Wavedream.

So, the devices arrived and first impressions are:
- No driver nesseccary with Windows 11, or do i need one? It just works! (like Raytracing, yeah, we know Jensen.)
- I am thankfull that the gaming / video button is present on the MScaler, with normal music it's no big deal, but the delay is really problematic otherwise.
- You can't turn the MScaler off. I think that's the most audiophile device thing there is. "IT MUST BE ON THE WHOLE TIME". Yeah ok. Well, i will just disconnect the power supply, even if it only consumes ~10W or so.
- Dave alone, which i only listened to very briefly: Big soundstage, Good separation and clarity, but zero sharpness / roughness, good dynamics.
- If i use the MScaler to sample from the standard 44.1 to 705, the improvement is super noticable.
- I'm really excited to play some games with the mDave.

Let's dig deeper what i hear:
The separation and soundstage get a very big upgrade, but the MScaler also seems to add musicality, which i find interesting. Every single instrument is so distinctly separated, it's nuts. No instruments bleeds anymore into another one. This is most noticable with the bass. Before, the bass was a slam / rumble below the music (and covered when other things were playing, so it got weaker), but with the MScaler, it is its own entity, separated from the music, it is just better, the dynamics increased noticably. In fact, every instrument / voice becomes it's own entity, it's like if you imagine that only one particular instrument or voice is present, you get that exact clarity in the biggest chaos. This effect is way more noticable in very busy songs, the simpler a song is, the less you notice it. If there is only a singer and a guitar, the difference is minor. In terms of dynamics, soundstage, separation, the m-scaled Dave is a level ahead of the May. But it's not as analogue sounding and smooth, the May sounds more analogue and life-like. Because if you think about it, there is no way you can distinct each instrument so clearly like with the Dave + MScaler. It's really fun, i don't know if it will get fatiguing over time. I think the May is better at midrange timbre, while the Dave is better at bass timbre. I think i also prefer the smoothness of the May in the treble and think it's more natural. Anyway, May will 100% stay and still be my #1 DAC for the 1266TC. I'm not sure when it comes to the Immanis, since this pure clarity and detail-packed freakshow the Dave brings, is just jaw-dropping with the Immanis, but the May also helps with its midrange. I will most likely prefer my Valkyria with the Dave, i don't know about the Susvara Unveiled yet. I pre-ordered a CFA3, so i can completely mix & match those two DAC's and amps when it arrives.

I have to state one thing: The May is way more forgiving when it comes to not that great recorded music, which i have a lot of. The May just eliminates some sharpness that appears, the Dave is brutally honest. Maybe not the best for a long listening session with bad recorded metal, i think it may get fatiguing. But each single guitar riff is so clear and present, it's truly fascinating - the amount of black space between instruments is too, holy damn.
I can also totally see why people think it's sounding too digital and not musical enough, but let me tell you, as someone who owned a Spring 3 and then a May, this thing is on the completely other side of the spectrum and i really like the variety (at least now, lol). I do not think this would be my one and only DAC forever, but i also think that's because of the music i listen most to is metal. The Dave is not sharp per se, but it is sharper than the May. I think "crisp" is the perfect description.

I am so happy that i got this stupidly good deal!

Oh, and please tell me if you prefer HF on or off and if need an additional driver.


Update:
I want to add that this is NOS versus oversampling, this is the difference, not strictly the DAC's. Check out this post and its links, in my opinion May and Dave sound identical when fed the exact same material and using the May in non-NOS.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/chord-electronics-dave.766517/page-1765#post-18518934

 

[Jawed]

Sounds like you're having fun!

Oh, and please tell me if you prefer HF on or off and if need an additional driver.

The driver shouldn't make a difference.

If your PC doesn't have an optical output, it's worth trying a USB to optical convertor. These usually use the USB cable's power connection, so there's no need for an extra power plug. It should cost a few 10s of Euros at most and there's a decent chance you'll get an upgrade in "refinement". If you hear a benefit, then ferrites covering the full length of DAVE's power cable are worth trying next No more than about 100 Euros of tweaks.

 

[Exekuhtor]

If your PC doesn't have an optical output, it's worth trying a USB to optical convertor. These usually use the USB cable's power connection, so there's no need for an extra power plug. It should cost a few 10s of Euros at most and there's a decent chance you'll get an upgrade in "refinement". If you hear a benefit, then ferrites covering the full length of DAVE's power cable are worth trying next No more than about 100 Euros of tweaks.

Maybe i'll test that later.
What more could you ask for if the signal is galvanically isolated and the jitter performance is really good?
I already have a nice power conditioner alongside nice big fat isolated power cables.

 

[Reactcore]

But because i wanted an alteration, the Chord stuff draw my attention, for various reasons (for example, the jitter imunity is nice because my music is on a noisy gaming PC).

Welcome and enjoy!
Dave is capable of alot more when properly modified vs stock

Be sure to try a good DDC with toslink out to HMS to filter the PC's noise out. Also try Wave's coax cables or OptoDX solution between HMS and Dave.

Curious to how Immanis fares on it.

 

[Jawed]

What more could you ask for if the signal is galvanically isolated and the jitter performance is really good?

That's what I thought when I used DAVE from PC via USB... Optical was a revelation. This was years ago.

In theory HMS is doing some additional filtering, but it's well known now that HMS still allows a lot of noise through to the connected DAC. That's why Rob Watts's Quartet Scaler (coming soon) has completely revised filtering.

 

[Exekuhtor]

That's what I thought when I used DAVE from PC via USB... Optical was a revelation. This was years ago.

In theory HMS is doing some additional filtering, but it's well known now that HMS still allows a lot of noise through to the connected DAC. That's why Rob Watts's Quartet Scaler (coming soon) has completely revised filtering.

Hmm, Singxer SU-6 seems like a really good DDC. I could then route one signal to the May and the other to the HMS. What's the best input for HMS? Does it matter at that point? There are even more options for the May at this point (AES + I²S on top of the HMS inputs).

 

[Reactcore]

Hmm, Singxer SU-6 seems like a really good DDC. I could then route one signal to the May and the other to the HMS. What's the best input for HMS? Does it matter at that point? There are even more options for the May at this point (AES + I²S on top of the HMS inputs).

Use one of HMS's toslinks in to not allow noise to sneak in (or actually HMS own generated 2ghz noise passing via your pc then via the mains back into Dave)

 

[musicinmymind]

- Farad power supply mod, which improves the sound, but it's three big boxes that independently feed the Dave (i won't do that).
-

Farad is very good upgrade, after getting one I am no long using mscaler, as it not making noticeable difference now.

 

[harris4crna]

Hey,
I originally wanted to get a Hugo TT2 + MScaler next year, when i spotted that absolutely ridiculously priced classified listing of the Dave + MScaler i went for it. And i got it.
My normal DAC is the Holo May KTE, which i upgraded to after i really liked the Spring 3 KTE for over a year. At that time i more or less build my chain for the 1266TC (my other main headphone was the OG Susvara, but that one always sounds amazing), the R2R goodness of the Spring / May was really enjoyable for those two.
But because i wanted an alteration, the Chord stuff draw my attention, for various reasons (for example, the jitter imunity is nice because my music is on a noisy gaming PC).
I won't be using the Daves headphone out. I never had a DAC in this price range, only the May that comes somewhat close (not really).

I went through ~250 pages and noteworthy posts consists of:

- Chesebert arguing with Goldensound, as is tradition.
- Farad power supply mod, which improves the sound, but it's three big boxes that independently feed the Dave (i won't do that).
- BNC 3/4 is better (i did that!).
- I really dislike the picture profil of the big ass spider (he stopped posting at some point).
- Some say Dave is at the end of its life because it's rather old, some say it's timeless.
- A lot of people waiting for that super M-Scaler (Choral) to release (i couldn't care less, lol).
- A lot of talk about the Grimm MU stuff, price is 10k+, people say it's better than the MScaler (well duh, i hope so at its price).
- Some very good advice from @ecwl like: Optimal sound for 44.1kHz is to have the HF filter turned off. Anything 48kHz or above the HF filter should be turned on. But he also said that with MScaler things change (so, do i want HF on or off with 705 upscaling???).
- Some stuff like crossfeed etc are for speaker / headphone out only, so i don't care for them (or do i?).
- Really nice comparison from @SoupRKnowva of the Dave vs Rockna Wavedream.

So, the devices arrived and first impressions are:
- No driver nesseccary with Windows 11, or do i need one? It just works! (like Raytracing, yeah, we know Jensen.)
- I am thankfull that the gaming / video button is present on the MScaler, with normal music it's no big deal, but the delay is really problematic otherwise.
- You can't turn the MScaler off. I think that's the most audiophile device thing there is. "IT MUST BE ON THE WHOLE TIME". Yeah ok. Well, i will just disconnect the power supply, even if it only consumes ~10W or so.
- Dave alone, which i only listened to very briefly: Big soundstage, Good separation and clarity, but zero sharpness / roughness, good dynamics.
- If i use the MScaler to sample from the standard 44.1 to 705, the improvement is super noticable.
- I'm really excited to play some games with the mDave.

Let's dig deeper what i hear:
The separation and soundstage get a very big upgrade, but the MScaler also seems to add musicality, which i find interesting. Every single instrument is so distinctly separated, it's nuts. No instruments bleeds anymore into another one. This is most noticable with the bass. Before, the bass was a slam / rumble below the music (and covered when other things were playing, so it got weaker), but with the MScaler, it is its own entity, separated from the music, it is just better, the dynamics increased noticably. In fact, every instrument / voice becomes it's own entity, it's like if you imagine that only one particular instrument or voice is present, you get that exact clarity in the biggest chaos. This effect is way more noticable in very busy songs, the simpler a song is, the less you notice it. If there is only a singer and a guitar, the difference is minor. In terms of dynamics, soundstage, separation, the m-scaled Dave is league ahead of the May. But it's not as analogue sounding and smooth, the May sounds more analogue and life-like. Because if you think about it, there is no way you can distinct each instrument so clearly like with the Dave + MScaler. It's really fun, i don't know if it will get fatiguing over time. I think the May is better at midrange timbre, while the Dave is better at bass timbre. I think i also prefer the smoothness of the May in the treble and think it's more natural. Anyway, May will 100% stay and still be my #1 DAC for the 1266TC. I'm not sure when it comes to the Immanis, since this pure clarity and detail-packed freakshow the Dave brings, is just jaw-dropping with the Immanis, but the May also helps with its midrange. I will most likely prefer my Valkyria with the Dave, i don't know about the Susvara Unveiled yet. I pre-ordered a CFA3, so i can completely mix & match those two DAC's and amps when it arrives.

I have to state one thing: The May is way more forgiving when it comes to not that great recorded music, which i have a lot of. The May just eliminates some sharpness that appears, the Dave is brutally honest. Maybe not the best for a long listening session with bad recorded metal, i think it may get fatiguing. But each single guitar riff is so clear and present, it's truly fascinating - the amount of black space between instruments is too, holy damn.
I can also totally see why people think it's sounding too digital and not musical enough, but let me tell you, as someone who owned a Spring 3 and then a May, this thing is on the completely other side of the spectrum and i really like the variety (at least now, lol). I do not think this would be my one and only DAC forever, but i also think that's because of the music i listen most to (metal). The Dave is not sharp per se, but it is sharper than the May. I think "crisp" is the perfect description.

I am so happy that i got this stupidly good deal!

Oh, and please tell me if you prefer HF on or off and if need an additional driver.

Liked your comments between the Dave and May. Sounds like they can complement each other. Do you use the Mscaler with the May?

 

[nwavesailor]

I'm thrilled you went Dave / M scaler @Exekuhtor and found a screaming good deal. I liked the TT a lot and love the Dave!