CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[559938]

What is the best power cable to use with the DAVE. Any recommendations?

Over time I’ve become a fan of complete cable looms from one manufacturer. Power, USB, digital interconnect, analogue interconnect and speaker cables, headphone cables. All from the same level, using the same fundamental designs. If they make a powerboard all the better. Cardas, Chord Co, Audience, Nordost…
I’ve lived with a full loom of Cardas Clear and now Nordost Heimdall 2. Both much more cohesive than any mix and match loom I managed to put together myself, even at a higher price (but that could be my ineptitude).

 

[Jxnkz]

What headphones pairs well with DAVE? I am currently using Focal Utopia 22 and the combo is a bit too analytical. Has anyone tried the ZMF Caldera withe the DAVE?

 

[Jxnkz]

Another question is there any alternative to the Wave Storm Reference cables? Basically BNC cables with ferrites

 

[SteveHulk]

If you are anywhere near @Reactcore you could ask him if he would install his mscaler --> dave optical link for you.

I have it and it works brilliantly.

 

[Red Rd Wolf]

What headphones pairs well with DAVE? I am currently using Focal Utopia 22 and the combo is a bit too analytical. Has anyone tried the ZMF Caldera withe the DAVE?

I have the Yamaha

YH-5000SE and love them​

 

[GuiltyRocker]

i agree with the above that it's a tough question to answer and not many have had a opportunity to make a comparison of any number of cables. for me, my dealer suggested i try a audioquest hurricane and it was absolutely fantastic -- it was immediately clear that it made a significant benefit. however with a list price of around $3k, even discounted i couldn't bring myself to do it. my several hundred dollar silver resolution power cord from signal cable was close to the hurricane so that's what i'm using throughout my system.

That is just ridiculous for a power cable, there is also the placebo effect. No way would I ever pay that amount of money for a power cable.

 

[iamoneagain]

What headphones pairs well with DAVE? I am currently using Focal Utopia 22 and the combo is a bit too analytical. Has anyone tried the ZMF Caldera withe the DAVE?

I had the Dave mscaler with the original Utopia and sounded great with the HF filter on. Less analytical. I eventually traded down for the Naim HE and thought that paired nicer with the Utopia as far as a more fun sound. Eventually sold Utopia for the Caldera open and sounds pretty good on the Naim HE as well.

Got to try them on the Dave at CanJam and wasn’t that impressed. Not dynamic enough for my taste with enough bass slam. I recently acquired a ZMF Aegis and it’s the best I’ve heard my Caldera. Still using the Naim HE as the source. But I’d imagine using the Dave mscaler could be even better. One of the ZMF employees has this setup and loves it.

 

[jcn3]

That is just ridiculous for a power cable, there is also the placebo effect. No way would I ever pay that amount of money for a power cable.

Sorry you don't agree. You seem to have some bias based on price, though.

 

[theveterans]

That is just ridiculous for a power cable, there is also the placebo effect. No way would I ever pay that amount of money for a power cable.

True. I think for that kind of money I could use it to overhaul DAVE’s stock power filtering through Sean Jacobs ARC6/DC4 upgrade for a way, way more improvement in sound than just a power cord alone.

My opinion on power cord is that its biggest effect on the sound is actually on the wall to conditioner/power distribution system rather than direct to DAVE’s IEC port

 

[naynay]

Another question is there any alternative to the Wave Storm Reference cables? Basically BNC cables with ferrites

If you are OK with a little soldering why not make your own like I have.
All the parts needed I have put on the chord headfi forum. Just check on the MScaler headfi forum.

 

[Jxnkz]

If you are OK with a little soldering why not make your own like I have.
All the parts needed I have put on the chord headfi forum. Just check on the MScaler headfi forum.

Nice thank you, they look incredible!

 

[jcn3]

True. I think for that kind of money I could use it to overhaul DAVE’s stock power filtering through Sean Jacobs ARC6/DC4 upgrade for a way, way more improvement in sound than just a power cord alone.

My opinion on power cord is that its biggest effect on the sound is actually on the wall to conditioner/power distribution system rather than direct to DAVE’s IEC port

i'm sure that the sean jacobs solution is a great one. for us all, there is a price point for everything where we say "nah, not worth it". hopefully, i'll get the opportunity to hear the sean jacobs upgrade at some point to see which side of the price/value continuum it falls for me.

the hurricane power cable did make a positive difference on the dave -- there's not a doubt. however, i couldn't justify the price, particularly since i had a power cable that was nearly as good for a lot less. funny enough, i tried the cable between my niagara and the wall and between the niagara and the dave. more benefit was realized between the niagara and the dave (which was a surprise). besides my signal cable silver resolution cable (that i'm using) and the hurricane, i also test an audioquest thunder, two other signal cable power cables, and the factory cable. the hurricane was great, my silver resolution was right behind it, and the others were significantly behind.

 

[ZappaMan]

I reconfigured my rig a bit. Using the new lyrion version of Logitech media server
https://lyrion.org/

And using my inuous zen as squeezelite end point, via matrix spdif to mscaler via optical.

With just the change in software, the music sounded clearer, maybe more 3d I suppose. Listening to Neil Young on Toast, amazing feeling of connection with the softer songs.

I'm also noticing that I can turn the volume up for my headphones on most tracks and it's not uncomfortable.

Previously I had been using the zen in experimental mode, where it's both roon server and squeezelite end point. I've been using it either via matrix spdif2 or direct via usb to mscaler.

 

[Jxnkz]

Is the DAVE with the Farad LPS more musical and not as bright as the stock DAVE? or what improvements do you get?

 

[musicinmymind]

Is the DAVE with the Farad LPS more musical and not as bright as the stock DAVE? or what improvements do you get?

With the Farad LPS, the DAVE exhibits improved speed, dynamics, and soundstage, elevating its performance to an entirely new level. As for brightness, I didn’t notice a significant change in that aspect.