CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[Light - Man]

I just did a marathon 8 hour listening session to TT2 and DAVE with and without MScaler on all kinds of music and top end headphones at a dealer, and to me the DAVE + MScaler killed everything else so badly I couldn't really listen to any other combination. Which was kinda depressing given the full price of the combo. But it's truly insanely good. Leaving detaily-y stuff of this guitar pick shining or that cymbal attack out of it, everything in the music comes together into one coherent very moving whole so powerful I couldn't stop listening.

But I'll have to dream, because the combo's way beyond my price range.

Guys, have you ever thought of listening to other brands of gear. It sounds to me that the Chord gear sounds flawed without the mscaler........................makes me wonder.....................

I am presently in a kind of audio blissfulness without having to pay...........................................

 

[FunkyBassMan]

Guys, have you ever thought of listening to other brands of gear. It sounds to me that the Chord gear sounds flawed without the mscaler........................makes me wonder.....................

I am presently in a kind of audio blissfulness without having to pay...........................................

Well in pro audio I've heard all kinds of stuff, most impressed with the Apogee line.

I got roped in to Chord by hearing the Hugo2 and loving it, realizing I could bring it on my trips. I liked it so much it got me listening in detail to the high-end stuff. Now I wish I hadn't lol.

But Stereophile says some Meridian is as good as a Dave because it does MQA and sounds better on certain instruments. So I guess there are other alternatives out there.

 

[FunkyBassMan]

When I auditioned the TT2 (with mScaler), I was eager to have it be good enough to trade out my DAVE (just to have the flexibility of more power output). Took all of 30 seconds to realize (alas) my DAVE wasn't going anywhere.

I agree. I did a ton of A/B with the TT2 and it wasn't even close to the Dave (to my ears). Sure, it has nice clean transients, smooth even reverbs, wide soundstage and all that. But I'm a musician so I'm not too interested in the more technical audio elements like that (except to the extent that they're clearly lacking in a deficient unit, which is obviously not the case with either). Probably a lot of the classical listeners are into that stuff, so more power to them. But I'm more into whether the music as reproduced hits me with the power and emotion I feel like the producer/player/composer was going for, and in that regard it felt like it has 1/4-1/3 the musicality of the Dave.

To note, this was paired up with M-Scaler on both it and the TT2. I wasn't interested in either unit alone, really. Maybe there's less of a difference heard that way, dunno.

But of course that's only one opinion among thousands, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[Triode User]

I agree. I did a ton of A/B with the TT2 and it wasn't even close to the Dave (to my ears). Sure, it has nice clean transients, smooth even reverbs, wide soundstage and all that. But I'm a musician so I'm not too interested in the more technical audio elements like that (except to the extent that they're clearly lacking in a deficient unit, which is obviously not the case with either). Probably a lot of the classical listeners are into that stuff, so more power to them. But I'm more into whether the music as reproduced hits me with the power and emotion I feel like the producer/player/composer was going for, and in that regard it felt like it has 1/4-1/3 the musicality of the Dave.

To note, this was paired up with M-Scaler on both it and the TT2. I wasn't interested in either unit alone, really. Maybe there's less of a difference heard that way, dunno.

But of course that's only one opinion among thousands, so take it for what it's worth.

It’s ok, there are plenty of us who have also listened extensively to both TT2 and Dave and provided Dave is within budget limits then there is no question that Dave is miles better and worth getting.

 

[Amberlamps]

I just did a marathon 8 hour listening session to TT2 and DAVE with and without MScaler on all kinds of music and top end headphones at a dealer, and to me the DAVE + MScaler killed everything else so badly I couldn't really listen to any other combination. Which was kinda depressing given the full price of the combo. But it's truly insanely good. Leaving detaily-y stuff of this guitar pick shining or that cymbal attack out of it, everything in the music comes together into one coherent very moving whole so powerful I couldn't stop listening.

But I'll have to dream, because the combo's way beyond my price range.

I'm so close to buying one it's nuts, I'm £1k short, I just have to get that and then I'm upgrading. I don't work now so £1k isn't the easiest thing in the world to conjur up without either getting a loan or taking Dave out on credit, which is not happening as I have 7/8ths of the money already. I will have the last of the cash needed soon and Dave will be mine.

I hate not being able to work nowadays, as it interferes with everything, especially when it comes to buying new toys.

 

[iDesign]

I just did a marathon 8 hour listening session to TT2 and DAVE with and without MScaler on all kinds of music and top end headphones at a dealer, and to me the DAVE + MScaler killed everything else so badly I couldn't really listen to any other combination. Which was kinda depressing given the full price of the combo. But it's truly insanely good. Leaving detaily-y stuff of this guitar pick shining or that cymbal attack out of it, everything in the music comes together into one coherent very moving whole so powerful I couldn't stop listening.

But I'll have to dream, because the combo's way beyond my price range.

And if you listen with the Blu Mk II, you will be even further impressed because it removes all of the issues with computer-based USB audio. Two nights ago I did A/B comparisons between a CD and the same album in TIDAL and the difference isn't even close. In fact, the difference is so significant that I have completely written off and given up on USB audio for now. There is no amount of gadgets like the ZENith, NUC, Audiolinux, Stylus, JitterBug, clocks, OCXO, TCXO, SoTM, Paul Hynes, etc. that will ever fix all the issues with USB audio. The DAVE + Blu Mk II is the ultimate.

 

[musickid]

I was planning to trade in my H2 to get a TT2 to use with my HMS. Would going for a solo dave be a big mistake here? (trading in my HMS and H2 and paying the difference). It has been said that it is possible to live without dave's transparency but not the musicality of the TT2/HMS. If i went for a solo dave it would be at least a year or more till i could add an mscaler. I have listened to solo dave and the TT2/HMS and appreciate the differences more transparent vs a warmer musical but 'heavier sound'. Appreciate advice as i don't have much time to make a decision.

 

[Triode User]

And if you listen with the Blu Mk II, you will be even further impressed because it removes all of the issues with computer-based USB audio. Two nights ago I did A/B comparisons between a CD and the same album in TIDAL and the difference isn't even close. In fact, the difference is so significant that I have completely written off and given up on USB audio for now. There is no amount of gadgets like the ZENith, NUC, Audiolinux, Stylus, JitterBug, clocks, OCXO, TCXO, SoTM, Paul Hynes, etc. that will ever fix all the issues with USB audio. The DAVE + Blu Mk II is the ultimate.

I totally agree with you. For evaluation purposes and development of cables I have Dave, TT2, Blu2 and HMS and often when just listening for pleasure my preferred kit is a CD on Blu2 to Dave.

 

[naynay]

In fact, the difference is so significant that I have completely written off and given up on USB audio for now.

There is still hope.
Rip a cd album to SSD and play it through the CX-EX.

 

[musickid]

Very nice simple chain nay.

 

[iDesign]

There is still hope.
Rip a cd album to SSD and play it through the CX-EX.

No thanks, hold my beer while I put another CD in my Blu Mk II.

 

[ZappaMan]

No thanks, hold my beer while I put another CD in my Blu Mk II.

At least your dealing with some constants, all this stuff about linear power network switches etc, where does it end.

 

[musickid]

It doesn't end that's the point...

 

[Pastwa]

Come on, let's be serious, if someone wants the ultimate 'pc mode' experience with DAVE then something like Aurender W20 or similar quality digital transport would be required in the chain, not the cheap toys mentioned above (JitterBug, etc.).

 

[Amberlamps]

Come on, let's be serious, if someone wants the ultimate 'pc mode' experience with DAVE then something like Aurender W20 or similar quality digital transport would be required in the chain, not the cheap toys mentioned above (JitterBug, etc.).

£16.5k for a streamer, yeah, not a chance I would buy something like that. Not only because I can't afford it, but because I'm sure that other much cheaper products would be just as good.

You can buy a decent little car for £16.5k