CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[Kamil21]

Thanks Kamil21 for this feed-back.

I also owe a HUGO, so how much of a GAP will you say DAVE offer compared to the HUGO ?   Is DAVE just a " much better HUGO" or a totally different Sound signature ?

Bmichels, Dave is in a totally different league to the Hugo, but what the Hugo does well, Dave does even better... And then goes further to take things to the 'state of the art'. I would dare anyone who owns and liked Hugo, to listen to Dave without withdrawal symptoms .

Sorry to put down the Hugo, but the difference is like moving from a BMW Sports to a Porsche. One is a great car and fits the wallet and all round needs of many, but if you are a serious driver, once you drive the Porsche, you will know why it is a Porsche. Both from Germany with the same breed, but the other with a no compromise objective to take things to the edge.

As for sound signature, it is going to come down to whether you chose your headphone to match the shortcomings of Hugo. For example, I felt that the Hugo sounded dull (less bright) tonally compared to DcS. But with the increased air/ambience of Dave, I realized that other dacs increased brightness was actually to overcome that lack of air.. makes sense?

I should mention that this is probably the production version of the Dave that was finally blessed by Watts for release. Sorry but a lot of Head fi'ers are going to feel much poorer for this. Especially due to the all in one headphone feature of Dave.

 

[Jiffi32]

Bmichels, Dave is in a totally different league to the Hugo, but what the Hugo does well, Dave does even better... And then goes further to take things to the 'state of the art'. I would dare anyone who owns and liked Hugo, to listen to Dave without withdrawal symptoms .

 
 
Totally agree about withdrawal after listening to DAVE and then going back to my HUGO!! Although the recent arrival of a Curious USB cable has helped a little bit

 

[bmichels]

Bmichels, Dave is in a totally different league to the Hugo, but what the Hugo does well, Dave does even better... And then goes further to take things to the 'state of the art'. I would dare anyone who owns and liked Hugo, to listen to Dave without withdrawal symptoms .

Sorry to put down the Hugo, but the difference is like moving from a BMW Sports to a Porsche. One is a great car and fits the wallet and all round needs of many, but if you are a serious driver, once you drive the Porsche, you will know why it is a Porsche. Both from Germany with the same breed, but the other with a no compromise objective to take things to the edge.

As for sound signature, it is going to come down to whether you chose your headphone to match the shortcomings of Hugo. For example, I felt that the Hugo sounded dull (less bright) tonally compared to DcS. But with the increased air/ambience of Dave, I realized that other dacs increased brightness was actually to overcome that lack of air.. makes sense?

I should mention that this is probably the production version of the Dave that was finally blessed by Watts for release. Sorry but a lot of Head fi'ers are going to feel much poorer for this. Especially due to the all in one headphone feature of Dave.

thanks for your comments

 

[Sonic77]

What would be a good headphone match for the Dave Dac? Any suggestions? I plan on buying the Sennheiser 800s. Are planer headphones a good match?

 

[Mavwong]

Depends on your pref, I would go with HEK!

 

[Sonic77]

Depends on your pref, I would go with HEK!

Excellent suggestion, I will seriously consider that headphone, thank you!

 

[lovethatsound]

What would be a good headphone match for the Dave Dac? Any suggestions? I plan on buying the Sennheiser 800s. Are planer headphones a good match?

I use the hd800s,and out all the headphones out their these will tell you what Dave is really like.The best thing to do is to demo Dave with the headphones you want.Let your own ears tell you.

 

[Sonic77]

I use the hd800s,and out all the headphones out their these will tell you what Dave is really like.The best thing to do is to demo Dave with the headphones you want.Let your own ears tell you.

That sounds like the smart thing to do, thanks.

 

[smial1966]

Just a small thread detour, but where did you purchase your HD800S from and when? As the `S' variant of the HD800 hasn't been released in the UK yet. Thanks. 

 
Realised that you were talking plurally about the HD800 and not the HD800S. Doh!  

  
 
Quote:

I use the hd800s,and out all the headphones out their these will tell you what Dave is really like.The best thing to do is to demo Dave with the headphones you want.Let your own ears tell you.

 

[highendhifi]

Quick review follow up.


One other consideration is that Dave does not have the analytical clarity of say, the DcS Scarlatti which many may prefer. What it does have is the feel of analog master tape (most of the recording samples were originally from tape anyway), or in my view real life sound.Through the Sennheisers listening to Roger Waters' , Amused to Death, I certainly had a feel that I was listening through a live feed of a 'dummy head' recording.

The DcS will give you a perspective of a recording from 'where the microphone is', but Dave will give you more of a 'listener' seating perspective. Almost like the difference between listening to a multitrack as opposed to a simply miked on location recording. Which one is the more accurate can only be validated in the studio. Also, the Dave has a very NOS kind of sound... which is surprising considering how the two technologies differ.

I did not have the opportunity to listen to the Dave through speakers, but the use of my own ie800 allowed me to do a more controlled comparison. As a Hugo owner, I was still feeling somewhat lacking compared to many top of the line DACs which I own and have owned. The Dave has bridged that gap for sure.

Many thanks for the feedback!

 

[DaveRedRef-III]

There are times in life when I am truly thankful for a special experience that touches my heart. Even as I am running this piece of equipment in I am already aware of its special way with music. It casts an emotional spell as soon as the music starts. It is not like anything I have experienced in digital hifi before. This is why I go to see live performances and now the same emotion is here in my listening room whenever I want. I feel privileged to be honest.

This is so special an audiophile moment for me that I have begun to record my thoughts during the burn in process, if only to mark the occasion. (I am already past 4 pages of notes.)

DAVE just connects you to the performance. The drama is almost humbling. All these great musicians pouring out their emotion into your room.

So far I have been having a 20 hour total Classical binge! This from someone who has hardly bothered with classical since digital arrived. With Dave the Violin is my new favourite instrument. My goodness Red Book sounds good through DAVE.

(I need sleep)

Thank you Rob Watts for your diligent work and ingenuity.

 

[highendhifi]

There are times in life when I am truly thankful for a special experience that touches my heart. Even as I am running this piece of equipment in I am already aware of its special way with music. It casts an emotional spell as soon as the music starts. It is not like anything I have experienced in digital hifi before. This is why I go to see live performances and now the same emotion is here in my listening room whenever I want. I feel privileged to be honest.

This is so special an audiophile moment for me that I have begun to record my thoughts during the burn in process, if only to mark the occasion. (I am already past 4 pages of notes.)

DAVE just connects you to the performance. The drama is almost humbling. All these great musicians pouring out their emotion into your room.

So far I have been having a 20 hour total Classical binge! This from someone who has hardly bothered with classical since digital arrived. With Dave the Violin is my new favourite instrument. My goodness Red Book sounds good through DAVE.

(I need sleep)

Thank you Rob Watts for your diligent work and ingenuity.

Wow, thanks DaveRRIII... Great initial thoughts and feedback-sounds like DAVE is what it promised to be and I'm very pleased to hear that it brings a new life to Red Book as that's my source material. Please keep us all updated on your experiences and thoughts, Dave!

 

[Mython]

 

My goodness Red Book sounds good through DAVE.

Wow, thanks DaveRRIII... Great initial thoughts and feedback-sounds like DAVE is what it promised to be and I'm very pleased to hear that it brings a new life to Red Book as that's my source material. Please keep us all updated on your experiences and thoughts, Dave!

 
 
I am not surprised to hear this, in light of the fact that, by far, one of the most notable aspects of the Hugo was, for me, it's remarkable ability to bring standard Red Book recordings to life. Even though I can't afford a DAVE at this point in my life, I am very keen to hear it.

 

[rkt31]

the most crucial test for any dac at even the highest price point is how musical and 'emotional' it is . I believe the Dave is just what it should be for a best dac. the more real is the reproduction of sound from digital bits the more emotional the experience is.

 

[rkt31]

right it is beyond by budget but I would always invest in an equipment like this instead of things
like automobile if given the choice.