CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[hattrick15]

I currently have an Auralic Vega DAC and SimAudio 430HA amp and using them with Focal Utopia headphones.  I keep on reading a lot about how great the DAVE is with the Utopia.  Does anyone have first-hand experience that can compare how the sound would change if I replaced the Vega with the DAVE?  Would I need the 430HA?

 

[x RELIC x]

...and merry Christmas to all – especially Craig and Fredrik!     

Back at you Marcel! All the best for the new year! Looks like we'll need to save some pennies for the new announcements at CES!

 

[hrq12345]

  I currently have an Auralic Vega DAC and SimAudio 430HA amp and using them with Focal Utopia headphones.  I keep on reading a lot about how great the DAVE is with the Utopia.  Does anyone have first-hand experience that can compare how the sound would change if I replaced the Vega with the DAVE?  Would I need the 430HA?

 
You definitely need the 430HA. I just heard the DAVE+Utopia yesterday and DAVE itself can't drive Utopia very well, but is superb when paired with a decent amplifier. (The amp I heard was Goldmund Telos THA-2)

 

[bmichels]

May I wish a merry Christmas to all .....
 

 

[WoSoLoo]

Just want to say thank you for DAVE production team, not only it is a best DAC, but also a best Headphone amp.
During the days my amplifiers is sent back for upgrade, I can listen headphones.
For enjoy my time I setup a wonderful system: Sennheiser HD 800S & Focal Utopia Headphones with Chord Electronics DAVE.
Personally I like Utopia + DAVE

 
Greetings, Merry Chirstmas ^^
 

 

[x RELIC x]

You definitely need the 430HA. I just heard the DAVE+Utopia yesterday and DAVE itself can't drive Utopia very well, but is superb when paired with a decent amplifier. (The amp I heard was Goldmund Telos THA-2)

Rubbish, I would disagree with this 1000%. The DAVE can easily drive the Utopia, and also drives it very well, and within the lower range of available volume. I have the Cavalli Liquid Gold amp as well and the only thing it brings to the table is it's own flavour with the Utopia. Owning all three components I much prefer the Utopia paired directly from the DAVE.

 

[Nik]

Hard to believe that Dave can't drive perfectly the Utopia... May be not the very best for the Abyss... But for the Utopia... YES!!!

 

[ubs28]

   
You definitely need the 430HA. I just heard the DAVE+Utopia yesterday and DAVE itself can't drive Utopia very well, but is superb when paired with a decent amplifier. (The amp I heard was Goldmund Telos THA-2)

Probably it's colour what you heard rather than the Chord Dave underpowering the Focal Utopia's.

 

[Nik]

You definitely need the 430HA. I just heard the DAVE+Utopia yesterday and DAVE itself can't drive Utopia very well, but is superb when paired with a decent amplifier. (The amp I heard was Goldmund Telos THA-2)

But... Dave - > Goldmund = two DACS... , may be not the best match...

 

[x RELIC x]

But... Dave - > Goldmund = two DACS... , may be not the best match...

Had to have used the analogue in on the Goldmund as the DAVE doesn't have digital out (not standard anyway).

 

[Nik]

Analog in on the Goldmund goes to the internal DAC, same as the digital in... No way to use the THA2 as amplifier...
(Dave has BNC digital output)

 

[miketlse]

Analog in on the Goldmund goes to the internal DAC, same as the digital in... No way to use the THA2 as amplifier...

So the Goldmund would route the analogue input, through an ADC then through a DAC, in order to get analogue out?
 
 
I know that the Devialet does the same, in order to amplify/equalize the inputs from turntables, but the Goldmund is being used for a different use case.

 

[Nik]

Yes, all the Goldmund inputs goes to the internal DSP and DAC... So, it is better to use the digital input (one step less)...

 

[Mython]

Why is this even being discussed in the DAVE thread?

   It's the antithesis of what DAVE is about!
 
Merry Christmas, everyone

 

[Nik]

Why antithesis? They are two different digital headphones amplifiers, with different sound... Goldmund has DSP, DAC and discrete amplifier, Dave no internal amplifer, but headphone output as the Goldmund has...