CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[Mython]

 

In what manner do you mean 'compatible with MQA'?

The ordinary sense the word - there's no conflict bewetween the two technologies: recordings made using one can be played back with the other. Hopefully, my question is clear.

 
 
Yes; in the sense of not actually conflicting with one another, they are compatible.
 
But, in the sense of fully utilising one another, they are not.
 
i.e. as I understand it, an MQA-encoded music file will play back just fine on one of Rob's DACs, but Rob's DACs (or any other non-MQA DAC on planet earth) will not perform the additional MQA-intended function of calibrating the DAC according to the unique configuration metadata embedded within an MQA file.
 
And, in turn, a music file created by Rob's DAVINA ADC (or any other non-MQA audio ADC on planet earth) will play back just fine on an MQA DAC, but will not contain any embedded configuration metadata with which to perform the additional MQA-intended function of calibrating the MQA DAC on a file-by-file basis, during playback.
 
 
.

 

[Crgreen]

It was really to that last paragraph hat my question was addressed, and although I'm no expert, I wonder whether it's entirely correct. Davina will be an ADC, resulting in (hopefully) a more accurate digital representation of the analogue signal. Like any digital file, surely whether that data is then MVQ encoded for transfer and playback purposes is a quite separate matter, down to engineers, producers, labels, artists etc. I'd assumed any digital sound file could be subjected to MVQ - in other words, Davina and MVQ address quite distinct issues: analogue to digital on the one hand, digital back to analogue on the other. I thought MVQ was not a form of ADC but was applied to digital data. That's certainly the impression given by a number of the articles I've read and musical examples contained in reviews. But, as is often the case, I might have got it entirely wrong

 

[Mython]

It was really to that last paragraph hat my question was addressed, and although I'm no expert, I wonder whether it's entirely correct. Davina will be an ADC, resulting in (hopefully) a more accurate digital representation of the analogue signal. Like any digital file, surely whether that data is then MVQ encoded for transfer and playback purposes is a quite separate matter, down to engineers, producers, labels, artists etc. I'd assumed any digital sound file could be subjected to MVQ - in other words, Davina and MVQ address quite distinct issues: analogue to digital on the one hand, digital back to analogue on the other. I thought MVQ was not a form of ADC but was applied to digital data. That's certainly the impression given by a number of the articles I've read and musical examples contained in reviews. But, as is often the case, I might have got it entirely wrong

 
 
Well, you make an interesting point, there. My remarks were holding the assumption of no-one interjecting anything further to the equation (jn-between ADC and DAC) than Rob / Chord, since Rob's DAC approach seemingly is a little at-odds with the DAC approach required by MQA (see Romaz's earlier remarks, for example), but I suppose what you propose might be possible. An MQA-motivated third-party might be able to use the raw PCM data from Rob's ADC to create MQA files for MQA-DACs.
 
 
I'm actually interested to hear Rob's thoughts on that one!
 
 
.

 

[AndrewOld]

Once Davina PCB layout is done, I will post some more about the project, and what I want to do technically with it.

Davina is really a technology proof of concept, as the pro audio market for a simple 2 ch. ADC is limited. If Davina works as hoped, then I will design an 8 ch interface (that's 8 ADC's and 8 DAC's in one unit) and this would then be the unit that the pro audio market would use.

I don't have an idea about how well the ADC tech will do commercially, and in one sense I don't care, as its more about achieving completely transparent performance than anything else. My overriding ambition is to be able to reproduce the sensation of depth accurately; I want to be able to reproduce a sound that was recorded 200 feet away, and it sounds exactly as if it was 200 feet away on reproduction. This ability to perceive space accurately is something that reproduced audio is clearly unable to do compared to real sounds in a real space.

I have no experience on recording; fortunately Chord has two guys that have a recording/pro audio background, and they have been providing advice for me on recording with simple two channel. Once the initial tests are done, then we have some pro audio specialists that will be working with us on evaluation and making their own recordings.

Another aspect that interests me is straightforward measurements - Dave already pushes the measurement envelope, so being able to do much better measurements from the ADC will be very useful.

Rob

Ever thought about active digital crossovers using your DAC designs? How much of your hard work is being lost in other people's analogue crossovers? I am sure a really good speaker manufacturer - ATC or PMC for example - would be happy to collaborate.

 

[Beolab]

@romaz

Can you give us an update on your impressions on the alu HF RCA box prototype and when its going to be able for ordering / price point?

 

[romaz]

@romaz

Can you give us an update on your impressions on the alu HF RCA box prototype and when its going to be able for ordering / price point?

I met with Rick Schultz at The High End Show in Newport, California two weekends ago and he is planning to definitely move forward with this device.  The prototype I have will be the entry-level device with a target price of $300 USD.  There will be an intermediate product for about $1,000 and a very high-end product for people like you for about $3,000.  As he develops these higher-end prototypes, I will have a chance to hear them and I will report back.  What I can say having lived with this prototype for a couple of months now is that it not only significantly improves clarity and detail but it also improves control.  As you have a Wells Headtrip, you understand that this kind of "muscle" amp tends to add a certain authority or grip, even at low listening levels and I am experiencing something very similar.  The DAVE now feels like a muscle amp in this sense and yet it retains all the finesse, nuance and texture that it has always had.
 
Right now, the target date to have a product to sell will be January 2017 and will probably be introduced at CES.  Rick is currently working on design of the chassis and it should be considerably be more attractive that the prototype that I have.
 
I brought the prototype I am testing with me to The High End Show in Newport the other week and it gave me a chance to allow other people to listen to it including @bacon333, people from Audeze as well as Woo Audio and the consensus was very favorable across the board.  I believe this will be an easy recommendation once it becomes commercially available.
 
Have you had a chance to try any of their other products yet?  The sound improvement should be very similar.

 

[Beolab]

Sounds Interesting!

Keep us updated !

Unfortunately not, i figure if i should sign up for distribute the brand here in Scandinavia maybe, but i need som testing samples first .

 

[106099]

For those in the states looking to buy a DAVE. You could get a large discount if Brexit pass later this month. The Pound can fall to 1.2 from the current 1.45

Paul

 

[Mython]

For those in the states looking to buy a DAVE. You could get a large discount if Brexit pass later this month. The Pound can fall to 1.2 from the current 1.45

Paul

 
I wouldn't hold your breath on that.

 

[yellowblue]

I just got my microRendu and installed it without problems and got it working with my Dave. I had the Sonicorbiter before and wondered if it was worth the uprgrade. Already after 15 minutes listening time I can say: it is worth the upgrade! Spacial depth is better, voices sounding more natural and real. Slightly more details as well. We will se how it sounds after some burn-in. 
 
I am powering the microRendu with an iPower. I have this MCRU power-supply (with some mods) on order
 
http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/power-supplies/1313-regulated-linear-power-supply-for-sonore-microrendu.html
 
and hope it will be an audible upgrade.

 

[rkt31]

micro rendition has it's own os ? can it play files own it's own ? does it require to be connected to a pc ? though not owning dave right now but may buy whenever have enough funds. how will it do with a windows tab with a good usb cable and audioquest jitterbug in between?

 

[rkt31]

rendition=rendu ( auto correction by cell phone )

 

[shuttlepod]

  I just got my microRendu and installed it without problems and got it working with my Dave. I had the Sonicorbiter before and wondered if it was worth the uprgrade. Already after 15 minutes listening time I can say: it is worth the upgrade! Spacial depth is much better, voices sounding more natural and real. Slightly more details as well. We will se how it sounds after some burn-in. 
 
I am powering the microRendu with an iPower. I have this MCRU power-supply (with some mods) on order
 
http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/power-supplies/1313-regulated-linear-power-supply-for-sonore-microrendu.html
 
and hope it will be an audible upgrade.

 
Yellowblue, please keep us posted on your adventures with the microRendu, particularly any sonic differences you experience with different power supplies. There are a few of us waiting to pull the trigger after others report on their experiences. What mode are you using with the microRendu and do you plan to experiment with different modes? Could you describe your signal chain to the DAVE? Thanks!

 

[yellowblue]

   
Yellowblue, please keep us posted on your adventures with the microRendu, particularly any sonic differences you experience with different power supplies. There are a few of us waiting to pull the trigger after others report on their experiences. What mode are you using with the microRendu and do you plan to experiment with different modes? Could you describe your signal chain to the DAVE? Thanks!

The signal chain is quiet simple. Home computer as Roon core via NAS > microRendu > JCat USB-cable > Dave > HD800 (with SD mod).
 
I will keep you informed how the MCRU sounds. It comes with a silver cable-mod and a fuse-mod.

 

[ecwl]

Hmmm. You guys are killing me with your talk of microRendu. I need to become a Luddite and not go online to Head-Fi and Computer Audiophile forums.

To replicate my current music renderer/server capabilities and UI, I would need to pay for microRendu (US$690), Roon (US$500), HQPlayer (Cdn$190) and spend the time to set everything up on my main desktop PC. Very tempting. Maybe I need to download Roon to play around with it on my desktop and headphone/Mojo rig to try things out before making the leap. And to think I just spent $20 to upgrade JRiver...


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