CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[jarnopp]

I've never used a DAVE, I would be buying blindly as I have no way to audition them.

To be honest though, I buy all of my gear blindly.

Blindly is ok, as long as you listen first.

 

[bigfatpaulie]

What does the looks have to do with it?  Shouldn't the sound matter more 

 
Buying blind wouldn't bother me.  Buying deaf on the other hand... 

 

[tunes]

Sounds like the McIntosh MHA-100. I went and auditioned one of those and I couldn't even tell how good the headphone amp was because the DAC was so poor.
Not quite. The 430HA is a very neutral, transparent, and powerful amp. For users with hard to drive headphones or have uses for the amp's other features, the 430HA would be top the choice for any Chord DAC. When I used the 430HAD with the DAVE and Mojo, the coloration and loss of transparency was minimal.


I heard the DAVE driving the HEKv2 without an amp at then NYC Canjam and it seemed to be more than powerful enough to give a dynamic performance with headroom to spare at even high listening levels. However, I did not listen with another amp using the Chord output to compare. The McIntosh MHA-100 is also reviewed as an excellent pairing with the HEKv2 and also can drive efficient loudspeakers as an advantage. Is there a huge difference in SQ between these two pairings (Dave alone vs McIntosh and built in DAC) to justify a cost about 3 x as much? And if you do need a dedicated high end headphone amp with the Dave to power an inefficient headphone like HEK planars, then it could cost even more for the best high end digitally playback system for headphones.

 

[jlbrach]

Sounds like the McIntosh MHA-100. I went and auditioned one of those and I couldn't even tell how good the headphone amp was because the DAC was so poor.
Not quite. The 430HA is a very neutral, transparent, and powerful amp. For users with hard to drive headphones or have uses for the amp's other features, the 430HA would be top the choice for any Chord DAC. When I used the 430HAD with the DAVE and Mojo, the coloration and loss of transparency was minimal.


I heard the DAVE driving the HEKv2 without an amp at then NYC Canjam and it seemed to be more than powerful enough to give a dynamic performance with headroom to spare at even high listening levels. However, I did not listen with another amp using the Chord output to compare. The McIntosh MHA-100 is also reviewed as an excellent pairing with the HEKv2 and also can drive efficient loudspeakers as an advantage. Is there a huge difference in SQ between these two pairings (Dave alone vs McIntosh and built in DAC) to justify a cost about 3 x as much? And if you do need a dedicated high end headphone amp with the Dave to power an inefficient headphone like HEK planars, then it could cost even more for the best high end digitally playback system for headphones.

MHA-100 and dave are worlds apart....no comparison...the dave alone easily drives the HE1000 v2

 

[jlbrach]

   
 
 
Yes, lovethatsound is right. The M-Scaler (Blu²) is just switched between your traditional source and the DAVE.

right now I use an ak100 and connect it optically to my dave...if i was to get a blu-2 would i still be able to connect the ak100 to the dave or do i have to connect to the blu-2 and thus only a usb connection?

 

[JaZZ]

 

  Yes, lovethatsound is right. The M-Scaler (Blu²) is just switched between your traditional source and the DAVE.

 
right now I use an ak100 and connect it optically to my dave...if i was to get a blu-2 would i still be able to connect the ak100 to the dave or do i have to connect to the blu-2 and thus only a usb connection?

 
I'm not familiar with the AK100. If it doesn't have a USB output beside Toslink (and it seems there's none), you would have to look for a Toslink-to-S/PDIF (BNC) converter.

 

[lovethatsound]

right now I use an ak100 and connect it optically to my dave...if i was to get a blu-2 would i still be able to connect the ak100 to the dave or do i have to connect to the blu-2 and thus only a usb connection?

If you get the blu 2 you would connect the blu 2,to the Dave by 2 bnc coaxial cables for the best sound quality.If you wanted to get the best sound quality from your ak100,you would need to connect it to the blu 2 usb inputIf for some reason you don't,or can't find a way to connect your ak100 to the blu 2,just connect it to your Dave as your doing now.I hope this helps you out

 

[jlbrach]

If you get the blu 2 you would connect the blu 2,to the Dave by 2 bnc coaxial cables for the best sound quality.If you wanted to get the best sound quality from your ak100,you would need to connect it to the blu 2 usb inputIf for some reason you don't,or can't find a way to connect your ak100 to the blu 2,just connect it to your Dave as your doing now.I hope this helps you out

I am already connecting my ak100 to my dave right now.....if i understand correctly if i was to add the blu 2 i would no longer be able to connect to the Dave and would have to use converters to connect to the blu 2 which is connected to the dave?is that correct?...thanks

 

[draytonklammer]

So, I finally determined how I could come up with the money to fund the DAVE.
 
I am just trying to decide without hearing it if it's truly worth it -- and if I can include my Moon in the sale for example and just get a 4-pin to SE adapter for all of my custom cables.
 
Tough decision considering the price of this is worth more or less both of my TOTL headphones.

 

[miketlse]

I am already connecting my ak100 to my dave right now.....if i understand correctly if i was to add the blu 2 i would no longer be able to connect to the Dave and would have to use converters to connect to the blu 2 which is connected to the dave?is that correct?...thanks

It simplifies things if you think in terms of the M - Scalar (which is the key future technology).

So Blu 2 is the M - Scalar with a CD transport added. You would connect your AK 100 to the M - Scalar, and the output of the M - Scalar to the DAVE.

Posters have been asking for a lower cost unit, which is just the M - Scaler, but the system AK 100 > M - Scaler > DAVE would be the same.

Rob Watts has been working on the Davina, which is the M - Scaler plus an ADC, but again the AK 100 > M - Scalar > DAVE routing would be the same.

The issue for you becomes does the M - Scalar element, have the correct input ports for you.

 

[jlbrach]

apparently the m-scaler blu 2 does not have an optical connection which would as i understand it make connecting the ak100 or anything that only has an optical out impossible...is this correct?...i very much appreciate the help

 

[EVOLVIST]

apparently the m-scaler blu 2 does not have an optical connection which would as i understand it make connecting the ak100 or anything that only has an optical out impossible...is this correct?...i very much appreciate the help

You would have to have an optical to USB converter inputting to the USB input of the Blu2

 

[HeeBroG]

Hi Romaz.
I know this is an old post but I'm playing catchup after reading this entire thread before recently getting a DAVE/ Utopia.
I particularly enjoy your informative posts.
We have similar tastes in music.
I'm new to headfi.
May I send you a personal message regarding the HFC products as they are intriguing but I don't want to interfere in a Chord Dave thread.

Cheers

 

[JaZZ]

 

apparently the m-scaler blu 2 does not have an optical connection which would as i understand it make connecting the ak100 or anything that only has an optical out impossible...is this correct?...i very much appreciate the help

You would have to have an optical to USB converter inputting to the USB input of the Blu2

 
Or – maybe more logical and less expensive – an optical-to-coaxial converter.

 

[lovethatsound]

I am already connecting my ak100 to my dave right now.....if i understand correctly if i was to add the blu 2 i would no longer be able to connect to the Dave and would have to use converters to connect to the blu 2 which is connected to the dave?is that correct?...thanks

Yes that is correct