[theveterans]

Dave uses state of the art components costing thousands of dollars of R&D while Audio GD uses cheaper parts and less R&D hence the cheaper price

 

[raypin]

Mmm...here's an idea: if you brilliant guys who think can make a better product than the Dave at a fraction of the price of the Dave, make one. You will be multi millionaires in no time. I dare you.

 

[JaZZ]

Honestly, I never thought the DAVE to be overpriced. Now I even think it's a bargain. The best DAC in the world (probably) for a fraction of what you had to pay for the best DAC in the world one or two years ago...
 
Well, I belong to the lucky ones who can afford it (although I'm not rich by any means), and I can reproduce the frustration of those who are far from that. But I also understand that Chord Electronics doesn't produce such a fine piece of advanced electronics just for making people happy – they're in a business and the main goal is profit. A good product is a welcome side effect; that's no different than in other branches. But a good product with commercial success will motivate the manufacturer to bring other good and even more advanced products to the market – to the benefit of us audiophile consumers. So buying the DAVE is in fact a good thing, provided it fits your sonic ideals.

 

 

[Audiolic]

Mmm...here's an idea: if you brilliant guys who think can make a better product than the Dave at a fraction of the price of the Dave, make one. You will be multi millionaires in no time. I dare you.

no need i'll wait for other companies to do it should be soon enough..

 

[Toolman]

Just don't understand...you don't go to a supercar show and bitch about the price of a Pagani/Ferrari/Lambo etc against your Hyundai/Honda/Toyota because of how you perceived value with a certain subject.

Is DAVE expensive? relatively speaking, Yes!

Is it over-priced? Maybe/maybe not, depending on how much that extra % of SQ meant to you.

Personally I would say there are many other silly way to spend your money but who are you to judge when its not coming from your pocket? I work hard for my money and I derived the satisfaction of owning the best gear that I can afford. If that's not your priority, or within your means then let it be. Don't be a sour grape and push your perception of value onto others who might have worked hard to afford what they so desired. Who are you to pass judgement on what they should or should not buy?

If you don't value the extra nth % of sound quality, then stay away from this section of the forum and you'll be the happier

 

[miketlse]

  yes i know in the end only the SQ is important but i'm not that inclined on giving 9/10 of the price of a 12 000$ product to the company owners..  but hey go for it if you dont mind the donation =) .. personnaly i'll wait for a hugo 2 in the 2000$ range or ill buy elsewhere.

 
I don't own a DAVE, and i don't work for chord, but I have spent 12 years as a cost engineering specialist in the aerospace industry, so i have a good understanding of many contributors to the retail cost of a product - but it is clear that you do not, if you think that 90% of the retail price disappears into John Franks pocket.
 
It is probably true that the initial raw components and case, probably only account for only 5% of the final retail price, but if you work backwards from the retail price, you will get a breakdown similar to:
 
retail price
- dealers slice
- international distributors slice
- customs duties
- transportation costs
= the chord wholesale price
- marketing department costs
- legal costs
- human resources department costs
- design team costs
- future product R&D costs
- testing costs
- procurement team (including setting up the international supply chain) costs
- customer support team (including website development and maintenance) costs
- product assembly costs
- initial component costs
- building lease and related costs
- local business rates
- corporate taxes
= the final chord profit (which may reach John Franks)
 
I am sure that John Franks may quibble that I have forgotten some of the costs. 

My aim is just to explain to all the posters who have no training in costing, that there are a lot of elements to the breakdown of the retail cost of hifi equipment.
This breakdown applies just as much to a $2000 dac, but obviously the percentage spent on the initial components will be similar.

 

[adyc]

Think about this way. DAVE is the culmination of 20+ years R&D. It is worth every single penny. I can't speak the same for other expensive brand DACs.

 

[rgs9200m]

Yeah, I 2nd what xRelicx said. I think the moderators should keep an eye on things when this stuff goes on too long and/or gets overheated as it often does.
If you listen to some component and think it's not worth it, just say so and leave it at that. Don't go off on tangents about audio prices in general, it's not right to spread clutter like that.
 
But seriously, just to help the person who wants to spend less, head over the Life After Yggy thread and check out the favorable comments for the PS Audio Directstream JR., which seems to be a bargain according to the listeners (I have not heard it; it's $3K).
 
Here, I'll help you:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/804153/life-after-yggdrasil/525#post_12730063
 
Just one request, please don't clutter up that thread, which is a good one by a fine member (Torq) who makes great contributions.
Just read it and you'll learn a lot. Good luck.

 

[GryphonGuy]

After my Metronome DAC’s left channel died without warning and has been in the repairers for over 4 months now with the manufacturer not being overly contactable or expedient in helping out the distributor to get it repaired, I decided to seek an updated alternative DAC. In my discovery, I noticed that the Chord DAVE was getting a mention as a TOTL offering. So I read as many reviews as possible on the DAVE. I approached the local hi-fi shop in here Malaysia and pulled the trigger on the DAVE about one month ago now. I was told at that time that it would be one month back-order time but I am happy to wait, at most, another month. The reason I am going blind on the DAVE is firstly no dealer in Malaysia has the capital to spend on a such an expensive demo model so I cannot hear it first and also because the professional reviews (and even the in-depth quality reviews by amateurs) have been worded with superlatives and absolute terms like “being there” and so forth. I consider that all reviews of a product containing such superlatives will undoubtedly be a good product. The variances will only be coloured by those reviewers’ own historical journey through the HiFi world. So I am confident it is a worthy SOTA DAC of audiophile and mastering quality. At half the price of my broken Metronome DAC, I consider the Chord DAVE to be a bargain.
 
Having been without a quality DAC for 4 months now, I am craving quality music reproduction again. I am hopeful that the DAVE will satisfy my craving by arriving soon.
 
GG

 

[Toolman]

@GryphonGuy  There are several audio shops with demo unit over in Singapore, where you could spend several quality hours auditioning the DAVE  

 

[raypin]

After my Metronome DAC’s left channel died without warning and has been in the repairers for over 4 months now with the manufacturer not being overly contactable or expedient in helping out the distributor to get it repaired, I decided to seek an updated alternative DAC. In my discovery, I noticed that the Chord DAVE was getting a mention as a TOTL offering. So I read as many reviews as possible on the DAVE. I approached the local hi-fi shop in here Malaysia and pulled the trigger on the DAVE about one month ago now. I was told at that time that it would be one month back-order time but I am happy to wait, at most, another month. The reason I am going blind on the DAVE is firstly no dealer in Malaysia has the capital to spend on a such an expensive demo model so I cannot hear it first and also because the professional reviews (and even the in-depth quality reviews by amateurs) have been worded with superlatives and absolute terms like “being there” and so forth. I consider that all reviews of a product containing such superlatives will undoubtedly be a good product. The variances will only be coloured by those reviewers’ own historical journey through the HiFi world. So I am confident it is a worthy SOTA DAC of audiophile and mastering quality. At half the price of my broken Metronome DAC, I consider the Chord DAVE to be a bargain.

Having been without a quality DAC for 4 months now, I am craving quality music reproduction again. I am hopeful that the DAVE will satisfy my craving by arriving soon.

GG

Mmm.....I bet my Dave that you will be satisfied. Your cravings will be satiated.


----------------

Just to put an end to this endless, pointless debate about price and value, the price of the Chord Dave is well-known already. It is old news. Get over the sticker shock. If you can't afford it, Chord Electronics has the Chord TT, the Chord Hugo and the very popular Chord Mojo. There's a Chord to fit everyone's budget for this hobby. If you can afford it and find the Chord Dave overpriced, congratulations. You have more money to take to your grave. In both cases, move on and PLEASE stop posting in this thread. IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

P.S. and if you feel compelled to pass judgment on the Chord Dave even though you have not seen, touched or listened to the Chord Dave, you are a f...... idiot.

 

[analogmusic]

Why all the tough love?
 
I mean Mojo does a great job at 400 GBP? Just buy one or a Hugo and enjoy the music.
 
I am listening to my Hugo, sounds very musical.... Wonderful, just wonderfully musical.... If the Dave didn't exist, and this was my last DAC purchase, I could be happy with Mojo or Hugo, but the problem is that the DAVE does exist, and is (much) better !
 
So save up for a Dave, and in the meantime, if you want to re-discover your music collection all over again and hear them the way they really were meant to be heard (yes that old audiophile cliche, but now finally true), get a Mojo and/or a Hugo.
 
I don't work for Chord, just to clarify.

 

[Mojo ideas]

the honda cost a lot more to test, make, produce than a chord dave all on one board mostly no analog pieces with good algorithm and design solution..

i'm not denying the work and SQ of chord dave here.. just facts that's its overpriced... even at 6000 it would be overpriced from a creation cost perspective point of view.

it's not about priorities or hobbies..

an audiogd master 7 or master 11 cost 5 time or more to produce than chord dave and cost 10 time less.  

just open the chord dave case and compare the inside to this



yes i know in the end only the SQ is important but i'm not that inclined on giving 9/10 of the price of a 12 000$ product to the company owners..  but hey go for it if you dont mind the donation =) .. personnaly i'll wait for a hugo 2 in the 2000$ range or ill buy elsewhere.

Yes I can see what your saying as I love pretty electronics too! However I'd like you to all understand the following. Yes we could have packed a big case full of electronics which I very much like the look of too, but in truth It could not perform like Dave can no matter how lovely it looks. So Instead we chose to happily pay a truly brilliant consultant designer millions of pounds to work for eight years proving testing and refining a truly innovative, ultimately advanced design that wipes the floor with virtually any other Dac on the planet. But of course if you want a box of outdated electronic delights to gaze at well that's your choice!

 

[Audiolic]

P.S. and if you feel compelled to pass judgment on the Chord Dave even though you have not seen, touched or listened to the Chord Dave, you are a f...... idiot.

 
why would i go listen to it and crave it afterwards when i know ill never will be able to afford it in my lifetime.  
 
and sorry chord.. i wasn't bashing SQ of dave and no problem if you pay your employees millions and ask 10000 for your products so that only the rich select few can have that innovative perfect sound. 
 
i'll wait for a hugo 2 or mojo 2 or buy a mojo used or go elsewhere. 

 

[Mavwong]

It's worth the wait. If not just come to Singapore, AV1 was quick in delivering my DAVE back then.
 
Quote:

  After my Metronome DAC’s left channel died without warning and has been in the repairers for over 4 months now with the manufacturer not being overly contactable or expedient in helping out the distributor to get it repaired, I decided to seek an updated alternative DAC. In my discovery, I noticed that the Chord DAVE was getting a mention as a TOTL offering. So I read as many reviews as possible on the DAVE. I approached the local hi-fi shop in here Malaysia and pulled the trigger on the DAVE about one month ago now. I was told at that time that it would be one month back-order time but I am happy to wait, at most, another month. The reason I am going blind on the DAVE is firstly no dealer in Malaysia has the capital to spend on a such an expensive demo model so I cannot hear it first and also because the professional reviews (and even the in-depth quality reviews by amateurs) have been worded with superlatives and absolute terms like “being there” and so forth. I consider that all reviews of a product containing such superlatives will undoubtedly be a good product. The variances will only be coloured by those reviewers’ own historical journey through the HiFi world. So I am confident it is a worthy SOTA DAC of audiophile and mastering quality. At half the price of my broken Metronome DAC, I consider the Chord DAVE to be a bargain.
 
Having been without a quality DAC for 4 months now, I am craving quality music reproduction again. I am hopeful that the DAVE will satisfy my craving by arriving soon.
 
GG