CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[chordguy]

Rob   .......  raised a short post, no. 861, about how Dave would be implemented in a home cinema environment to use the Dave dac to decode movie and TV soundtracks   .......   but the post seems to have been missed.
 
I'd appreciate if you could answer this one please.

 

[Beolab]

Rob   .......  raised a short post, no. 861, about how Dave would be implemented in a home cinema environment to use the Dave dac to decode movie and TV soundtracks   .......   but the post seems to have been missed.

I'd appreciate if you could answer this one please.

I cant see why you have get stuck by this ?

You don't need a HDMI input on your DAC to listen to a DVD / SACD / Blu-Ray / DVD-A because ., 99% of the discs have a 2.0 channel mix , so its no problem to connect the DAVE through Optical Toslink or Coax S/pidf.

But if you want to listen from a Oppo 105 with higher resolution than 16/48 khz you need to go through the HDMI HDCP , thats true, if you dont have modifyed your player so it have the ability to put out high resolution through opt / Coax.

And Digital Set top boxes have also this feature to take the 2.0 channel downmix digital signal and output it though digital opt / coax

 

[Beolab]

The RCA output is connected to the headphone - but via different relays. When Dave sees the headphone socket being used, it goes into headphone mode - shuts down the RCA and XLR, and restores the original volume setting when headphones were used last. Also cross-feed is enabled. The headphone sockets we use are as good as the RCA.

Rob

So it should not be any difference if you take the signal through the RCA outputs or the
6,3 mm jack for your balanced headphones then Rob ?

 

[Christer]

Thanks for the rapid response Rob.
I am looking forward to auditioning DAVE either here in KL or in Singapore this winter.
PS your  : too many audiophiles listen with their wallets rather than their ears...  rings very true in my experience too.
Chris still enjoying HUGO for its excellent  transparency and resolution on a daily basis.

 

[chordguy]

I cant see why you have get stuck by this ?

You don't need a HDMI input on your DAC to listen to a DVD / SACD / Blu-Ray / DVD-A because ., 99% of the discs have a 2.0 channel mix , so its no problem to connect the DAVE through Optical Toslink or Coax S/pidf.

But if you want to listen from a Oppo 105 with higher resolution than 16/48 khz you need to go through the HDMI HDCP , thats true, if you dont have modifyed your player so it have the ability to put out high resolution through opt / Coax.

And Digital Set top boxes have also this feature to take the 2.0 channel downmix digital signal and output it though digital opt / coax

With Rob quoting that Dave could be used for movies, tv soundtracks etc, I was curious to see how this was done.​
I enjoy both music and movies and have a combined music and home cinema system.
From your explanation it looks like Dave can only be used for stereo soundtracks, no multi channel, so movies with 5.1, 7.1 and Atmos soundtracks are out.

 

[rkt31]

obviously Dave will play 2 channel downmix. lot many people like me use stereo set up for movies too due to space limitations or WAF. I use Hugo for movies feeding 2 channel downmix lpcm from a bdp. I never felt the need of multi channel even though bdp output 2 channel lpcm only at 16 bit due to hdcp copy protection protocol. only thing is that dialogues become a bit distant in two channel downmix and some times you need the help of subtitles.

 

[ecwl]

obviously Dave will play 2 channel downmix. lot many people like me use stereo set up for movies too due to space limitations or WAF. I use Hugo for movies feeding 2 channel downmix lpcm from a bdp. I never felt the need of multi channel even though bdp output 2 channel lpcm only at 16 bit due to hdcp copy protection protocol. only thing is that dialogues become a bit distant in two channel downmix and some times you need the help of subtitles.

Usually when the dialog is too faint in the stereo downmix, it's because the speaker separation is too great or there is insufficient toe-in of the speakers. Many audiophiles separate their speakers too far because you get wonderful audiophile effects of a super wide soundstage and can pinpoint every instrument but in reality, the sound is a little too thin and unnatural, especially with vocals. The concomitant effect is movie dialogs being faint. By moving the speakers closer or toeing in the speakers more, you get a warmer sound with music and better centre channel dialog clarity with movies. It's worth a try.

 

[Beolab]

@Rob Watts

Rob; can you tell us the story about the switched power supply ? Is it as good as battery power like in the Hugo TT for example ?
And if you dont have the ability to use a grounded connection in the wall socket, how bad is it for the sound then?

Second: Is it the left or right pin in on DAVEs power input that is the hot one ?

 

[Mavwong]

I respect Rob that he stick by his philosophy but we have right to voice our preference.
 
I do have more question coming up my mind. If the xlr out would destroy whatever benefit that Dave should provide why in the first place putting an XLR output on DAVE? I am referring to the suggestion by Rob that do not use an external amp after Dave and since single ended is superior. I already make clear to Rob during the show I prefer XLR especially my main speaker system.
 
During the show I did bring up the possibility of driving HEK directly from the XLR out of DAVE, Rob don't suggest it but I specifically ask whether there's will be harm which he agree there's no harm. Ok, may be there's misunderstanding and now Rob already make it clear that we shouldn't do it. I will accept it and move on.

 

[Samuel Snoopy]

Found a intrest test/review on Dave (prototype?):

http://www.renaissens.com/fr/blog/185-le-test-du-dac-chord-electronics-dave

 

[highendhifi]

I believe that Chord have at least 30 more orders than the 100 cases they have ready hence the waiting time for deliveries. I'm ordering mine in the New year, once my wife has calmed down from the MB2SE's....
But order I shall!

 

[DaveRedRef-III]

That's another positive impression from the French reviewers Samuel. Thanks for posting
 
Some excerpts (sorry for the limited translation):
 
From the earliest moments, we are surprised by the beauty of this record. The viola da gamba is "in flesh and bone", more real, more alive than with a Chord Hugo TT, who however had already set the bar very high. The instrument breathes in this church, and the acoustics of the place is palpable.
 
Every inflection, every nuance is rendered with a truth, a surprising natural. These are the harmonics that make the timbre of the instrument and they are restored to perfection.
 
Towards the end of the piece, from 1'40 '' Jordi Savall gives shots of bows on strings that resonate on the instrument itself and of course in the collegiate church. The opening of the sound image is permanent and with Dave you are sitting in the first row.
 
Lots of body and comparison A - B the Dave seems more articulate, more nuanced, means better plucked strings and once again the instrument seems fairer, more so even than with our previous reference, the TT. The silence of this device is certainly no stranger to our note.
 
From 50 "the voice of Diana illuminates the auditorium of its light while remaining perfectly focused. Bravo!
 
 In any case, a piece full of energy with a frenzied pace that Dave renders us with perfect timing. One of the great qualities of this device is indeed to keep pace with very rigorously. Dave sticks to 100% to the artist's work. Bravo!
 
The piano is present here, sharper and more energetic than to the usual. The voice of actress Caroline Wildi, who has played in one of the Harry Potter, detaches completely from the accompaniment and takes on a dimension that it did not know him, it becomes physically present. Dave would be it l'oiseau rare that we all seek?
 
Here everything perfectly is mastery of the bass to the treble and you can leave your network drive chain with 3 beach which bears the name of the album. No intermodulation between the players, everyone plays together and air flows permanently around the musicians. Bravo again.
 
When fluidity, when joint, what balance! Everything is there. The quality of stamps, the timing, the holding of the notes of the bass to the treble, the opening of the stereo image. This headphone has a warm, nuanced sound and listening is to delight!

 

[highendhifi]

That's another positive impression from the French reviewers Samuel. Thanks for posting

Some excerpts (sorry for the limited translation):

[COLOR=0000FF]From the earliest moments, we are surprised by the beauty of this record. The viola da gamba is "in flesh and bone", more real, more alive than with a Chord Hugo TT, who however had already set the bar very high. The instrument breathes in this church, and the acoustics of the place is palpable.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]Every inflection, every nuance is rendered with a truth, a surprising natural. These are the harmonics that make the timbre of the instrument and they are restored to perfection.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]Towards the end of the piece, from 1'40 '' Jordi Savall gives shots of bows on strings that resonate on the instrument itself and of course in the collegiate church. The opening of the sound image is permanent and with Dave you are sitting in the first row.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]Lots of body and comparison A - B the Dave seems more articulate, more nuanced, means better plucked strings and once again the instrument seems fairer, more so even than with our previous reference, the TT. The silence of this device is certainly no stranger to our note.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]From 50 "the voice of Diana illuminates the auditorium of its light while remaining perfectly focused. Bravo![/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF] In any case, a piece full of energy with a frenzied pace that Dave renders us with perfect timing. One of the great qualities of this device is indeed to keep pace with very rigorously. Dave sticks to 100% to the artist's work. Bravo![/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]The piano is present here, sharper and more energetic than to the usual. The voice of actress Caroline Wildi, who has played in one of the Harry Potter, detaches completely from the accompaniment and takes on a dimension that it did not know him, it becomes physically present. Dave would be it l'oiseau rare that we all seek?[/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]Here everything perfectly is mastery of the bass to the treble and you can leave your network drive chain with 3 beach which bears the name of the album. No intermodulation between the players, everyone plays together and air flows permanently around the musicians. Bravo again.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]When fluidity, when joint, what balance! Everything is there. The quality of stamps, the timing, the holding of the notes of the bass to the treble, the opening of the stereo image. This headphone has a warm, nuanced sound and listening is to delight![/COLOR]

Thanks for the quick translate, Dave. Gives us the tenor of the review at least.

 

[DaveRedRef-III]

My other half will find this rather humourous when she reads it, as she is half French and a school teacher to boot. I can see my google translation getting a "Could do better" remark.

 

[Mython]

  My other half will find this rather humourous when she reads it, as she is half French and a school teacher to boot. I can see my google translation getting a "Could do better" remark.

 
 
Yikes, I hope she isn't Parisian!