CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[Triode User]

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.

Caution is always good but in many integrated amps putting the volume pot to max effectively takes it out of the circuit. You are not going to get clipping because you will be feeding a low signal in from the Dave. Clipping happens when too high a signal is fed into the amp from the DAC. (Ok, granted that output clipping can happen when you are driving a low powered amp too hard into low sensitivity speakers but that is not what were are talking about here). If an amp is unstable when the volume is at max with no or low input then maybe it is time to get a better designed amp.

As I have said, I have done this many times and with all sorts of kit over about 45 years but the usual health warning apply that I am only reporting my own experiences.

 

[Crgreen]

Caution is always good but in many integrated amps putting the volume pot to max effectively takes it out of the circuit. You are not going to get clipping because you will be feeding a low signal in from the Dave. Clipping happens when too high a signal is fed into the amp from the DAC. (Ok, granted that output clipping can happen when you are driving a low powered amp too hard into low sensitivity speakers but that is not what were are talking about here). If an amp is unstable when the volume is at max with no or low input then maybe it is time to get a better designed amp.

As I have said, I have done this many times and with all sorts of kit over about 45 years but the usual health warning apply that I am only reporting my own experiences.

Well, damaging your existing amp is one way of having to get a better amp, but should you really be advising someone to take that kind of risk?

Personally, I’d check with your amplifier manufacturer first before trying that. I’m not sure preamps and integrated amps are designed to be run at full output for sustained periods, however low the input signal. And there’s likely to a lot of additional noise. Passive preamps, such as Audio Innovations preamps and those from Music First might be a different matter.

 

[JaZZ]

Amplifiers always run at «full power» (fixed gain), volume is regulated at their input – or alternatively by a source with (digital) volume control.

[Edit: I changed «power amps» to «amplifiers», because preamps are no different.]

 

[Crgreen]

Amplifiers always run at «full power» (fixed gain), volume is regulated at their input – or alternatively by a source with (digital) volume control.

[Edit: I changed «power amps» to «amplifiers», because preamps are no different.]

And with volume set to maximum, if you were to switch inputs, inadvertently, to a non-variable source, what might happen to your loudspeakers?

 

[JaZZ]

You know the answer. But at least the amp will easily survive.

 

[Triode User]

And with volume set to maximum, if you were to switch inputs, inadvertently, to a non-variable source, what might happen to your loudspeakers?

OK, yes, guys, make sure you turn the volume back to zero again before changing sources but that applies anyway with any amplifier.

Colin we can tell you are not keen but as jaZZ says, the amplifier part always runs at maximum anyway, the volume pot only controls the input signal that is fed to the amplifier. All that is suggested to use Daves wonderful digital volume control instead of the analogue volume circuitry.

Really, I am sorry I mentioned this. I did not think it was a big deal. So if people are happy that you know what you are doing have a go. For all others do not do it.

’m not sure preamps and integrated amps are designed to be run at full output for sustained periods, however low the input signal. And there’s likely to a lot of additional noise. Passive preamps, such as Audio Innovations preamps and those from Music First might be a different matter.

But if one is using a separate pre amp, whether passive or active, then it means that one is also using a power amp as well in which case my advice is to try taking the preamp out of the system and feed the Dave direct into the poweramp. That is quite normal advice with Dave and a power amp

 

[Crgreen]

You know the answer. But at least the amp will easily survive.

Some good news then.

 

[AndrewOld]

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

I’ve been happy with the deals my dealer gave me when trading up from Hugo to Hugo TT to DAVE. Maybe I could have got more selling privately and pushing for a discount, but the deals I was offered saved hassle and delay, But the Hugo and the TT were current when I traded them in, and I was trading up; things might well be different if you are wanting to trade an item that is no longer sold. No harm in asking a dealer or two, make it clear you are serious, they know the market, no reason why you shouldn’t get a fair deal. But remember, VAT is about 20% of the price of a product (in Europe at least), and your dealer needs to eat and stay in business and make some money, so don’t have unrealistic expectations (especially if you are wanting to sell a Blu2)

 

[Crgreen]

OK, yes, guys, make sure you turn the volume back to zero again before changing sources but that applies anyway with any amplifier.

Colin we can tell you are not keen but as jaZZ says, the amplifier part always runs at maximum anyway, the volume pot only controls the input signal that is fed to the amplifier. All that is suggested to use Daves wonderful digital volume control instead of the analogue volume circuitry.

Really, I am sorry I mentioned this. I did not think it was a big deal. So if people are happy that you know what you are doing have a go. For all others do not do it.



But if one is using a separate pre amp, whether passive or active, then it means that one is also using a power amp as well in which case my advice is to try taking the preamp out of the system and feed the Dave direct into the poweramp. That is quite normal advice with Dave and a power amp

I don’t have a problem with trying Dave in Digital pre mode into a power amp. Of course, make very sure that you’ve switched from fixed to pre and set the volume as low as it can go before making the connection. In fact, inadvertently switching digital pre to DAC mode when going straight into a power amp has always worried me. I meant to switch from PCM to DSD using Chord’s “ingenious’ and totally forgettable manual controls and woops, there go my speakers. Maybe I’m just the kind of person to whom such stuff can happen.

 

[Triode User]

your dealer needs to eat and stay in business and make some money, so don’t have unrealistic expectations (especially if you are wanting to sell a Blu2)

But many or most of us with Blu2 would not sell it anyway. After all a CD played on Blu2 and MScaler is unbeaten in sound quality.

 

[marcmccalmont]

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 replaced a Spectral DMC 30 SS II with great success!

 

[doraymon]

@Rob Watts can you let us know which speakers have you tried with Dave + Etude?
And which one did you enjoy better?

 

[marcmccalmont]

OK, yes, guys, make sure you turn the volume back to zero again before changing sources but that applies anyway with any amplifier.

Colin we can tell you are not keen but as jaZZ says, the amplifier part always runs at maximum anyway, the volume pot only controls the input signal that is fed to the amplifier. All that is suggested to use Daves wonderful digital volume control instead of the analogue volume circuitry.

Really, I am sorry I mentioned this. I did not think it was a big deal. So if people are happy that you know what you are doing have a go. For all others do not do it.



But if one is using a separate pre amp, whether passive or active, then it means that one is also using a power amp as well in which case my advice is to try taking the preamp out of the system and feed the Dave direct into the poweramp. That is quite normal advice with Dave and a power amp

And a very good reason to buy a Chord DAC thus eliminating the need for a preamp in an all digital system

 

[JaZZ]

Not to forget the need for a headphone amp.

 

[burbster]

I have recently ordered a Dave and pre ordered an M<scaler, I currently have the chord integrated 2650 amp, but reading the last few posts just wondering would I be better off trading in my amp for a dedicated power amp and using the preamp built in to the dave? Would the preamp section within my 2650 be better than that in the Dave?