CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[tunes]

I've got Shunyata Sigma Digital cable connected to the DAVE and Shunyata Sigma Analog to my Moon 430HA. These cables are great. I was able to hear improvement immediately at first listening session with these power cables. You can PM me, if you have more questions. I'm also considering sale of both cables, because I'm thinking about some better power conditioning solution for my whole rig, but for sure I will come back to Shunyata again in the future.

What were the immediate changes in sound that you could perceive? With the noise floor so low already with the DAVE, it is surprising that there was a big difference with just a cleaner mains supply.

 

[Triode User]

I've got Shunyata Sigma Digital cable connected to the DAVE and Shunyata Sigma Analog to my Moon 430HA. These cables are great. I was able to hear improvement immediately at first listening session with these power cables. You can PM me, if you have more questions. I'm also considering sale of both cables, because I'm thinking about some better power conditioning solution for my whole rig, but for sure I will come back to Shunyata again in the future.

I have got a bone to pick with you guys who mention Shunyata Sigma digital power cables.

The pictures intrigued me so I looked up the technical stuff on their website.

Now my wife has told me in no uncertain terms that if I don’t clean up all the coffee from the table where I spluttered and spat it out whilst reading that stuff then there is going to be no funny stuff going on in the bedroom for several days.

See what you have done?

For heavens sake, please think of others when you do those posts.

 

[erik701]

I have got a bone to pick with you guys who mention Shunyata Sigma digital power cables.

The pictures intrigued me so I looked up the technical stuff on their website.

Now my wife has told me in no uncertain terms that if I don’t clean up all the coffee from the table where I splutted it out whilst reading that stuff then there is going to be no funny stuff going on in the bedroom for several days.

See what you have done?

For heavens sake, please think of others when you do those posts.

Haha, I will keep that in my mind for the future

 

[erik701]

What were the immediate changes in sound that you could perceive? With the noise floor so low already with the DAVE, it is surprising that there was a big difference with just a cleaner mains supply.

I think it depends on many factors, how big improvement it will be with better power cables and cleaner power source in your case. I live in small flat, next to the my rig I have big TV and all my Home entertainment equipment, so maybe that was the reason, why Shunyata cables made so big difference in my rig. Before I used WireWorld power cables, the cheapest ones with not very good shielding. I like WireWorld original approach to design of their power cables, but Shunyata Sigma series is different league.

If you are asking what exactly changes, in terms of sound quality... I immediately noticed that lows are tighter and instrument separation is better. I'm not used to make A/B comparison. If I have some better component, I'm starting to use immediately and benefit from it asap. I don't wanna waste my time (which some weeks I have problem to find for sufficient listening session) to spend with worse cable (like in this case) if I already have better one at home.

 

[WilliamWykeham]

Off-topic from cables, a few more impressions from a new DAVE owner -- I realized in my prior post comparing the Yggy to DAVE that it wasn't really fair to either because I was using a V281 with the Yggy and plugging in direct to the Dave, when I should have been comparing both plugged into the V281. So I did that, over several hours of A/B testing using an HE-1000 and Sliver Dragon cable. As mentioned earlier it was immediately clear to me that for any acoustic or classical music the Dave was my preference (improved details, smooth neutral sound, sense of presence and air, and on), so I restricted my comparisons to pop music, listening to Rhye, The Beatles, Big Star, Okkervil River, Why?, Jens Lekman, Ariel Pink, The Pixies, Fiery Furnaces, D'Angelo, and Joni Mitchell. For most albums my preference was the DAVE, but for a few (Jens Lekman, Why?, D'Angelo), I actually preferred the Yggy, A/Bing each DAC up to 10 times to make sure, with the Yggy really getting my foot tapping for these. What I think might have been going on with these few albums is that the DAVE was just so revealing it was almost difficult to sense a cohesive sound, like all the various parts couldn't quite sum up. However I can also point to an album like Rhye's first where the DAVE really excelled in bringing out a much more fleshed out, natural sound. After all this I concluded that despite the few cases in pop music where I had a preference for the Yggy I could be comfortable in my decision to sell it.

Secondly on the topic of plugging in direct to the DAVE vs using another amp, I've read a lot of really spirited posts here, and after extensive A/B testing I have a strong preference for going direct with classical and acoustic, whereas for heavily mastered pop albums I really need the added punch and authoritative sound that a separate amp provides and am willing to trade some transparency to get that. For instance I tried Kelela's "Take Me Apart" and had an instant preference for the boosted bass, and greater slam provided by the V281.

Now I can finally stop testing and sit back and enjoy!

... Two other observations: I strongly prefer the Utopia over the HE-1000 with DAVE, and in my one test I was not really able to tell a difference in the same recording as a hi-resolution PCM vs 16/44.1 on DAVE (whereas I could with the Yggy).

 

[statfi]

better power conditioning solution

Sorry to sound like a broken record, but I am an analogphile. For power I suggest you consider 3 things.
1) power your rig off a dedicated line from your circuit breaker box. I put this off for years because its such a pain, and regret that I did so. Its a nuisance, but for me it is *the most cost effective tweak* I have done for power.
2) Use lotsa ferrites on all your power chords.
3) I have been impressed by Anticables power cables. I have not commercial or financial connection to Anticables. They are reasonably priced. They are NOT so flexible. In my system with my power they beat out a handful of alternatives in ABAB... testing. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/headamp-blue-hawaii-special-edition.439657/page-597#post-13552445

 

[Cobold]

Would you please give some details about the ferrites behind the link.

 

[tunes]

So hopefully I can come to some reasonable combination of USB cable, power cord replacement and power regenerator versus conditioner without costing me half of what I paid for the DAVE.....

I got vertigo reading this review:

https://audiobacon.net/2016/04/15/chord-dave-review-project-evad-evaluation-dave/

Has anyone found a reasonable synergistic combination that they are very satisfied without constant A-B listening?

PerfectWave P3 Power Plant ?
vs AC Conditioner

vs stock power cord replacement like a Shunyta Sigma Digital Cable? Anticables??


Vs Wireworld Platinum 7 USB cable ?

Vs 199 clamp on ferrite cores alternating every frequency type and brand ?

Is there no end to this $$$$ sucking Hobby?

Thanks

 

[statfi]

Is there no end to this $$$$ sucking Hobby?

No. Duh.

 

[Hifi Boy]

Hey, it just dawned on me to ask this question!

I know I've read alot here about directly connecting Dave to speakers. But has anyone tried using RCA outputs to directly connect Dave to your headphones?

 

[seeteeyou]

@Beolab already did that with 2Qute so obviously it's gonna work with DAVE as well

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/chord-electronics-2qute-dac-announced.749582/page-59#post-13080667

A late night recommendation:

Connected different sensitive headphones direct to the RCA outlets on the 2Qute, and used my streamer with bit perfect digital vol, and it sounds very good!

However, both 6.3-mm and RCA outputs are essentially coming from the same output stage anyways. I wonder if single-ended dual-mono (i.e. RCA) were sounding any better than single-ended stereo (i.e. 6.3-mm) by any chance?

For instance, someone actually did something like this with Fostex HP-A8 and it turned out to be an improvement

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/acl...without-a-battery.745081/page-2#post-11850822

 

[Hifi Boy]

Thanks, looks goods. I'm assuming that connecting something like HEK will work as well. I'm just afraid of something going wrong i.e. exploding in my face!

 

[tunes]

I know this has been discussed before but don’t remember Rob ever commenting on the ultimate sound quality improvement with an expensive power cord replacement, AC regenerators, power conditioners, dedicated mains AC lines, more expensive Wall AC receptacles and expensive USB cables with or without snap on ferrite cores. I am using an Aurender 100N dedicated server that claims to have low noise USB. I don’t have the time or patience to buy expensive options for comparison and shipping back what doesn’t change anything. Does it make sense to hire an electrician for a dedicated 20 amp line, buy a Shunyata power cord, PS3 or AC regenerator, and a Wireworld platinum USB cable with 20+ ferrite cores versus stock cords? I suppose one could spend as much on peripherals as the DAC itself! I doubt I have the hearing sensitivity to really notice dramatic changes in SQ. Sorry to repeat this inquiry again but hope to hear from Rob who does have sensitive hearing.

 

[minibox]

So hopefully I can come to some reasonable combination of USB cable, power cord replacement and power regenerator versus conditioner without costing me half of what I paid for the DAVE.....

I got vertigo reading this review:

https://audiobacon.net/2016/04/15/chord-dave-review-project-evad-evaluation-dave/

Has anyone found a reasonable synergistic combination that they are very satisfied without constant A-B listening?

PerfectWave P3 Power Plant ?
vs AC Conditioner

vs stock power cord replacement like a Shunyta Sigma Digital Cable? Anticables??


Vs Wireworld Platinum 7 USB cable ?

Vs 199 clamp on ferrite cores alternating every frequency type and brand ?

Is there no end to this $$$$ sucking Hobby?

Thanks

I have used an audioquest Carbon usb, transparent usb and a wireworld platinum 7 usb. All three sounded different with the wireworld being more open, detailed and airy. I don’t know why usb cables sound different but it is clear that they do. I consider the wireworld to be one of my best non component investments.

 

[miketlse]

I have used an audioquest Carbon usb, transparent usb and a wireworld platinum 7 usb. All three sounded different with the wireworld being more open, detailed and airy. I don’t know why usb cables sound different but it is clear that they do. I consider the wireworld to be one of my best non component investments.

I would hope that the wireworld sounded great at that price. https://www.son-video.com/article/cables-usb/wireworld/platinium-starlight-7-usb-2-0-a-b-0-5-m