[miketlse]

Thanks for the clarification.
I also tried to understand how much power this will put into 8 Ohm Nominal impedance speakers (either B&W CM9 or 705 S2) but could find only the information for 4 Ohm speakers (150W).
The purpose is to understand if the Etude can drive these speakers easily or I should be looking at something more powerful.

Sorry for the OT but there is no dedicated thread for this amp...

I wouldn't expect the Etude thread to appear, until much closer to the start of shipping.
@OK-Guy will be able to add it to his list of topics to highlight to Matt, when he returns from hols.

 

[doraymon]

Most loudspeaker do not have anything like a flat response this mean that at different audio frequencies

Yes indeed, I don’t have the impedance/freq graph for the speakers, they declare nominal impedance as above and minimum impedance 30 Ohm for the CM9 and 37 Ohm for the 705.

Etude will drive right down to a single Ohm for long period burst music tones so please make sure you audition one as soon as they become available around September.

I will audition it for sure as soon as it’s available but to make it a significant test I should bring it home and hook it up to my DAC (Dave) and loudspeakers (CM9). I have yet to find a single dealer willing to loan me such an expensive piece of gear so I don’t see this happening.

I was looking for clues based on the amp’s and speaker’s specs to determine if it would work before buying.

 

[simorag]

For those using the DAVE with an headphone amp or integrated amp: do you prefer the DAVE in digital preamp mode or DAC mode, and why?

 

[Triode User]

For those using the DAVE with an headphone amp or integrated amp: do you prefer the DAVE in digital preamp mode or DAC mode, and why?

The only difference is that one (DAC mode) is a fixed output (-3dB) and the other is variable. The signal and sound quality is the same apart from the output voltage. If -3dB suits your amp for volume and it doesn't clip into your amp then use that otherwise try the variable output volume and select the output that suits your amp.

Out of interest, you could try setting your amplifier to maximum volume and using the Dave as the volume control. I never found that better with tube amps but I do find it better with solid state amps because it effectively takes their analogue volume control out of the circuit and uses Dave's much better digital volume control instead.

 

[jacc]

The only difference is that one (DAC mode) is a fixed output (-3dB) and the other is variable. The signal and sound quality is the same apart from the output voltage. If -3dB suits your amp for volume and it doesn't clip into your amp then use that otherwise try the variable output volume and select the output that suits your amp.

Out of interest, you could try setting your amplifier to maximum volume and using the Dave as the volume control. I never found that better with tube amps but I do find it better with solid state amps because it effectively takes their analogue volume control out of the circuit and uses Dave's much better digital volume control instead.

I don't really understand why but my DAVE sounds the best at DAC mode (ie. balance out at 6V). Sounds smoother and a tag warmer compared with lower output level as a standalone preamp.

 

[Crgreen]

I couldn't mate,my Rel sub is connected to the stereo outputs of the left and right speakers for purist sound,with that neutronc socket lol can't spell it.Mate it doesn't have balanced connections on the Arcam

I don't really understand why but my DAVE sounds the best at DAC mode (ie. balance out at 6V). Sounds smoother and a tag warmer compared with lower output level as a standalone preamp.

And if you increase the volume in preamp mode to -3db, the same as fixed output, they should sound the same. It was the same with the Hugo: there was a particular volume setting that sounded best into my preamp, a magic spot as it were. I don’t think it has anything to do with preamp vs fixed output, just the volume settings.

 

[simorag]

The only difference is that one (DAC mode) is a fixed output (-3dB) and the other is variable. The signal and sound quality is the same apart from the output voltage. If -3dB suits your amp for volume and it doesn't clip into your amp then use that otherwise try the variable output volume and select the output that suits your amp.

I don't really understand why but my DAVE sounds the best at DAC mode (ie. balance out at 6V). Sounds smoother and a tag warmer compared with lower output level as a standalone preamp.

And if you increase the volume in preamp mode to -3db, the same as fixed output, they should sound the same. It was the same with the Hugo: there was a particular volume setting that sounded best into my preamp, a magic spot as it were. I don’t think it has anything to do with preamp vs fixed output, just the volume settings.

I made some A/B tests over the last couple of days, by setting DAVE at -3dB, then levelling my amp volume so that there is a match between the Digital Pre and DAC mode, and I feel like @jacc writes above. A slightly warmer / fuller sound with DAC mode, with no obvious loss of transparency to my ears.

Out of interest, you could try setting your amplifier to maximum volume and using the Dave as the volume control. I never found that better with tube amps but I do find it better with solid state amps because it effectively takes their analogue volume control out of the circuit and uses Dave's much better digital volume control instead.

Nice hint, I will try this as well, thanks!​

 

[Crgreen]

I made some A/B tests over the last couple of days, by setting DAVE at -3dB, then levelling my amp volume so that there is a match between the Digital Pre and DAC mode, and I feel like @jacc writes above. A slightly warmer / fuller sound with DAC mode, with no obvious loss of transparency to my ears.

Nice hint, I will try this as well, thanks!​

There might well be a difference, as I said. The volume settings will be different in digital preamp and DAC mode, and you adjust your preamp volume to accommodate the difference. The point I was making is that if your digital preamp and DAC volume settings are the same (-3db) you should get the same result. What you’ve discovered is that a particular volume setting with the Dave best suits your preamp, which by the sound of it is -3db. I’m not sure it says anything about the Dave as such, just how it’s internal volume settings interface with your preamp.

 

[Rob Watts]

Just to confirm, DAC mode is absolutely no difference in the signal path at all; it's just the control function that is changed, in that the volume is set to -3dB and volume change is disabled.

 

[MacedonianHero]

For those using the DAVE with an headphone amp or integrated amp: do you prefer the DAVE in digital preamp mode or DAC mode, and why?

I really only use the GS-X Mk2 with my DAVE with harder to drive headphones like the Abyss Phi or LCD-4. Everything else that isn't power hungry, I prefer just the DAVE.

 

[rgs9200m]

Has anyone had experience trading older Chord equipment for newer models with a Chord dealer?
Is it much better to sell privately?

 

[Triode User]

Has anyone had experience trading older Chord equipment for newer models with a Chord dealer?
Is it much better to sell privately?

You probably need to do the sums yourself based on trade in values that you have been offered. Also take into account that you ought to be able to negotiate a cash (ie no trade in) discount. When I sell second hand kit I always price a kit low to make sure it sells quickly. A good rule of thumb in teh UK is to start at half new retail for the trade in / second hand value and then modify it based on whether the item is newish or slightly older.

I have done both trade in and selling privately depending on how the mood takes me.

 

[simorag]

Just to confirm, DAC mode is absolutely no difference in the signal path at all; it's just the control function that is changed, in that the volume is set to -3dB and volume change is disabled.

Thanks for the confirmation, at this point I tend to believe that in my A/B testing I fooled myself thinking I was hearing a difference, since the DAVE output has always been kept at -3dB, and the amp volume was also fixed when I was switching between DAC and Pre Amp mode

As @Triode User was saying, perhaps by setting DAVE as Digital Pre and the amp to max output and thus bypassing its analog volume control there could actually be a difference this time. I am going to try that as well

 

[Crgreen]

Thanks for the confirmation, at this point I tend to believe that in my A/B testing I fooled myself thinking I was hearing a difference, since the DAVE output has always been kept at -3dB, and the amp volume was also fixed when I was switching between DAC and Pre Amp mode

As @Triode User was saying, perhaps by setting DAVE as Digital Pre and the amp to max output and thus bypassing its analog volume control there could actually be a difference this time. I am going to try that as well

Actually, I’d be cautious in doing that. Try putting Dave into a power amp using digital pre by all means, but I’d be wary about putting digital pre into an amp with it’s own volume control, or that of a pre-amp, set to maximum and using didgital pre alone to control volume. Not only could you get clipping, it it might affect the stability of your equipment.

 

[STR-1]

Has anyone had experience trading older Chord equipment for newer models with a Chord dealer?
Is it much better to sell privately?

I think if you’ve got a good relationship with your dealer and a track record of buying from them, you will probably get a better deal there assuming that the item is in very good condition. They will after all want you to keep coming back for each and every upgrade.

In recent months I have seen some on the forums comment on their inability to get a good private sale price for their Chord Blu 2. Yet I got an unbelievably good trade-in offer from my dealer for mine, mainly I guess because they know me as a return customer (also bought my DAVE, a Hugo 2 and a Mojo there) who takes exceptionally good care of the kit I am trading in.

Private buyers generally won’t be prepared to pay as much unless they know you and/or can be certain that an active warranty is transferable.