CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[ecwl]

I normally listen to my DAVE with the Focal Utopia at volume settings between -20dB to -35dB depending on the music material. I had the pleasure of listening to the LCD4 with my DAVE at one of my local Head-Fi meets and I found myself setting the DAVE at -10dB to -20dB. However, I've found at these meets (and at my local stereo dealer) that I generally listen to music at 5-15dB quieter than most people. In fact, I think I met somebody at the local Head-Fi meet who clearly listens to music at 20dB louder than I do. Since DAVE clips at a volume setting of +4dB, I guess whether DAVE is loud enough for LCD4 would depend on your listening level. Everything was plugged into the headphone jack.

That said, at the Head-Fi meets, even with more efficient headphones, it was clear that some people just prefer having a headphone amp instead of direct out through DAVE. I never notice the issue being DAVE can't drive those headphones. I think different people just prefer different sound signatures (or distortions if I were less polite or more controversial). Prior to DAVE, I had the Benchmark DAC1 amp/DAC so I'd say the headphone amplification signatures are very similar and very neutral even though obviously the DAC in DAVE is in a completely different league.

 

[Jawed]

I think you will find met DACs have an output impedance around this figure. For example the benchmark:
https://benchmarkmedia.com/products/benchmark-dac3-hgc-digital-to-analog-audio-converter

which is 60 ohms. Genrally they say you need a factor of 10, so 50 ohms out, 500 ohms input impedance minimum.

"<0.11 ohms" is the quoted output impedance for the headphone socket.

 

[rgs9200m]

If I listen to 10 different amps, they will all sound different and I will like some (much) better than others. The internal amp of my DAVE is one amp, so there is no reason to believe that I will always prefer that particular one.
And that has proven true for me.

I do get the feeling that some amps veer to the "straight wire with gain" camp, such as the Headamp GSX2. I feel the DAVE internal amp is in that camp.
For whatever reason, I had the GSX2 but moved on from it. I wanted a thicker atmosphere, if that makes sense to anyone out there.

And yes, it (wire with gain) is a very transparent sound. But I like things such as the Apex Pinnacle, Ray Samuels B52, and the Rudistor RP010B. I chose these amps after 20 years of experimentation (and tube rolling and cable swapping).

It's a cliche, but the music with these amps just seems to fall out of the headphones and the images are plump and juicy and bloomy.
I don't know exactly why I like it but I do and wouldn't have it any other way. It seems more relaxing with no glare, but somehow I feel there is nothing lacking in the highs or in definition.
Subjective, sure, but I can't accept the idea of objectivity here. That just seems too dogmatic for me.

And this is no slight on Chord or the DAVE, which is a 100% awesome DAC to me. Pure magic.
It achieves the holy grail of being liquid/defined/unfatiguing all at once. It combines the best of analog and digital in one remarkable synthesis.

(I will also put in a good word for the Hugo TT which preceded my DAVE and gave me many happy hours of listening.)

 

[draytonklammer]

Well, RIP wallet.
Officially bought a Chord DAVE with the cradle.

 

[JaZZ]

You could have bought a second car instead. But congratulations nonetheless!

 

[x RELIC x]

Well, RIP wallet.
Officially bought a Chord DAVE with the cradle.

Congrats!

Silver or black?

 

[draytonklammer]

Congrats!

Silver or black?

It had to be black!

 

[etnt]

Well, RIP wallet.
Officially bought a Chord DAVE with the cradle.

Enjoy your Dave while you revive the wallet to prep for the purchase of Blu

 

[tunes]

I have a couple friends that are very happy with Omega Compact Alnico Monitors + Hugo2 in a near field or near near field configuration, and they are currently running without a sub. They're both looking at getting something modest like the Monoprice THX select subs ($500) as a bridge to wherever they go next, but the CAMs will definitely have a more limited low end than the XRS's.

I found the CAMs + Hugo2 to be extremely satisfying at reasonable volume levels, with occasional sound stage blurring with the BluHugo2 during more complex and aggressive passages (large scale orchestral works, etc). The blurring was more prominent with BluHugo2 (very difficult to pick out with Hugo2 alone), mainly because the details and holographic qualities of the soundstage with BluHugo2 are so striking; it is easier to hear limits when your starting point is at that level. My hypothesis (e.g., wild ass guess) is that this is due more to the differences in the power supplies between the Hugo2 (battery) and DAVE (table top) than the 1W vs 2W output power, but that is a theory that will require a Qutest or (in the future) Hugo2TT to test.

I have not yet had a chance to hear the Omega XRS's (just the Super Alnico Moniors and the Compact Alnico Monitors), so I can't comment on how the Hugo2 will drive them direct. From the sensitivity spec that Louis has published, it seems like it would be in the same ballpark as the CAMs and SAMs.

How can a sub be used with the HUGO2 and Omega Alnico XRS??

I know the DAVE has an output for the sub but the HUGO 2 only has RCA out.

 

[draytonklammer]

Enjoy your Dave while you revive the wallet to prep for the purchase of Blu

Thanks, haha.

Hoping it'll be a nice step up from my Yggy.

 

[Triode User]

Thanks, haha.

Hoping it'll be a nice step up from my Yggy.

Of course by getting the stand you have depleted the 'cash for blu2' fund! And also made the Blu2 more expensive because you will want a stand for that as well.

 

[DaveRedRef-III]

Of course by getting the stand you have depleted the 'cash for blu2' fund! And also made the Blu2 more expensive because you will want a stand for that as well.

But at least he will hear Dave as it was designed to be heard; without the haze of cabinet vibration. Though horses for courses,
it would not be as noticeably beneficial for those using tubes...the ultimate vibration machines.

 

[draytonklammer]

But at least he will hear Dave as it was designed to be heard; without the haze of cabinet vibration. Though horses for courses,
it would not be as noticeably beneficial for those using tubes...the ultimate vibration machines.

I'm thinking about using my headphones directly from the Dave.

 

[Triode User]

But at least he will hear Dave as it was designed to be heard; without the haze of cabinet vibration. Though horses for courses,
it would not be as noticeably beneficial for those using tubes...the ultimate vibration machines.

I take that in the spirit of fun which I think was intended!

Just on a serious note though, I don't think the stand for Dave or Blu2 has ever been flouted as a vibration reducing device. I can see no mention of anything like that on the Chord specification for the stand. It is pure bling.

Indeed, to quote Chord themselves, "Precision machined from a solid block of aircraft grade aluminium, a work of art on its own, the Ensemble Stand is irrefutably the most satisfying way to display your Choral system components or stack."

 

[draytonklammer]

I take that in the spirit of fun which I think was intended!

Just on a serious note though, I don't think the stand for Dave or Blu2 has ever been flouted as a vibration reducing device. I can see no mention of anything like that on the Chord specification for the stand. It is pure bling.

Indeed, to quote Chord themselves, "Precision machined from a solid block of aircraft grade aluminium, a work of art on its own, the Ensemble Stand is irrefutably the most satisfying way to display your Choral system components or stack."

I couldn't tell if he was poking fun either, but I've heard more than a few times that the cradle was meant to reduce vibrations to the Dave.