CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[jlbrach]

   
The point is that the skeptics (at least the ones I'm talking about) will only accept a controlled (and documented) listening test as objective proof of someone being able to tell two DACs apart. Once someone does that, they won't be able to make claims like "all DACs sound the same" anymore, because we can simply link them to the proof that they do in fact sound different.
 
...But I suppose you're not willing to participate in such a test...

I find it takes time and repeated serious listening to truly appreciate one DAC or HF or Loudspeaker etc...I could not and would not pass judgment on any product in a short term a/b type comparison....I find myself constantly hearing new things in music i listen to and discovering new things in the music on a regular and ongoing basis.....

 

[Music Alchemist]

  I find it takes time and repeated serious listening to truly appreciate one DAC or HF or Loudspeaker etc...I could not and would not pass judgment on any product in a short term a/b type comparison....I find myself constantly hearing new things in music i listen to and discovering new things in the music on a regular and ongoing basis.....

 
Just so you know, that's not how the test would be done. It would not be a random song to see whether you could tell them apart then; it would be with a song you already easily perceive a difference with. But it's perfectly fine if you don't want to do it.

 

[Hubert H]

As far as I'm aware, Chord have already created a DAC with 2 different DAC chips, the DSC 1500e I think. The two different DAC chips could be swapped on the fly and the sound difference was noticable from reports. It also had the benefit of using the same PSU, cables etc. It was the model before Rob started meddling with the Chord DACs...
 
Maybe John can build a Dave with a similar setup

 
H.

 

[ecwl]

I see the new issue of HiFi Critic has a review of Chord DAVE. Anyone read it yet? Too bad they don't have an online version for me to purchase and read right away.

 

[Beolab]

I would imagine that the Dave has quality clock system and shouldn't need any femto re clockers.

Reminds me of that Hans fellow on YouTube saying that mojo benefited from a reclocker even though it's immune to jitter...

I think it's got to a point where people have bought the stuff they really like but don't like the idea of not having to buy anything else so they search for absolutely anything to try and make "improvements" most audiophiles say they are searching for endgame but don't like it when they get there, the chase is over. Just my opinion.

I see it from another perspective, i want to give my DAVE the absolute purest jitter & RF free signal i can possibly give it, so it can perform at its best, and have a easy life.

The Remedy does not only clean up the signal to 0 jitter, but it does also taking care of the RF noise, where the DAVE have a harder time to take care of, witch give you even more 3D depth and atmosphere, it is subtle but there is a slight difference for the better, i have concluded after a couple of thousand hours listening and comparing.

 

[Mojo ideas]

FWIW, I don't actually disagree with you, but differences in viewpoint have existed since time immemorial, and will continue to, long after you and I become dust.


Rob has diligently sought to educate the community on factors in digital design affecting sound quality, and been generous in describing many aspects of his own design approach, as well as relating some interesting discoveries he's made along the way, some of which surprised even his depth of theoretical understanding.


I'm not really convinced that you will ever find enough theoretical data or measurement data to change the minds of those who are certain of the validity of their skepticism, but I wish you good luck in your quest

keep it light John it'll soon be Christmas

 

[Rob Watts]

 

I would imagine that the Dave has quality clock system and shouldn't need any femto re clockers.

Reminds me of that Hans fellow on YouTube saying that mojo benefited from a reclocker even though it's immune to jitter...

I think it's got to a point where people have bought the stuff they really like but don't like the idea of not having to buy anything else so they search for absolutely anything to try and make "improvements" most audiophiles say they are searching for endgame but don't like it when they get there, the chase is over. Just my opinion.

I see it from another perspective, i want to give my DAVE the absolute purest jitter & RF free signal i can possibly give it, so it can perform at its best, and have a easy life.

The Remedy does not only clean up the signal to 0 jitter, but it does also taking care of the RF noise, where the DAVE have a harder time to take care of, witch give you even more 3D depth and atmosphere, it is subtle but there is a slight difference for the better, i have concluded after a couple of thousand hours listening and comparing.

The remedy uses a cheap TI sample rate converter chip SRC, so its categorically NOT bit perfect. Conventional SRC process adds a lot of THD and noise, plus has considerable slew rate dependent noise floor modulation. Additionally, the poor interpolation filters degrade timing performance too.
 
Possibly the fastest way to destroy the sound of Mojo or Dave IMHO...
 
Rob

 

[rkt31]

already a very big fan of opus 3 records label. check this recording. Bob Barnard & The Swedish Jazz Kings – A tribute to young Louis. this is one of the cleanest and most natural recording imho and very good for showcasing the talent of chord dacs ,specially the depth perception.

 

[Music Alchemist]

Has anyone been able to compare the DAVE to the Linn Klimax DSM with the new Katalyst DAC architecture?
 
Someone told me the Linn is the only DAC that he likes more than the DAVE and I was curious if others had heard it as well. (Only the Katalyst version.)

 

[Beolab]

The remedy uses a cheap TI sample rate converter chip SRC, so its categorically NOT bit perfect. Conventional SRC process adds a lot of THD and noise, plus has considerable slew rate dependent noise floor modulation. Additionally, the poor interpolation filters degrade timing performance too.

Possibly the fastest way to destroy the sound of Mojo or Dave IMHO...

Rob

Hi Rob!

Actually they are using the Crystek CCHD-957 chipset i checked under the "hood" this evening, but i do think it is helping my streamer to performe better on all kinds of DACś i have tried, but i have my DAVE connected in many diffrent ways , so i can toggle btw Toslink straight from the streamer , and on Tos 2 input i got the Remedy in between.
The same line up in the Coax Spdif inputs.
Then i am using using the USB input also, but from a diffrent source.

I like the sound of the Toslink input generates, it feels slight more rich / vivid / lifelike vs USB and Spdif , where the Spdif feels rich but a little to dark sounding vs USB and Toslink, but the USB got the upper hand when it comes to timing and separation , but it feels a slightly to analytical for my taste.

So with that said, i know how it sounds straight from the streamer without the Remedy clock, and i think it is very subtle, but the synergy with the my streamer + clock + DAVE or Mojo is a very nice combo, because the sound on most tracks with depht got a slight added life and adds little more depht , if it is artificial or mesurment vice more worse, i still think it adds a golden touch for the sound that i like.

Another input is that many streamers / cd-players got these typ of uppsamling clocks integrated in the design, take the Ultra High End brand Vitus Audio for example that upsamples all data to 192khz, like it or not.

Right or wrong, it is your ears / brain / taste who have to decide


Merry Christmas! :santa_tone2:

 

[analogmusic]

  Has anyone been able to compare the DAVE to the Linn Klimax DSM with the new Katalyst DAC architecture?
 
Someone told me the Linn is the only DAC that he likes more than the DAVE and I was curious if others had heard it as well. (Only the Katalyst version.)

 
 
I am curious too 

 

[rkt31]

there are no distortion and S/N specs for linn klimax.

 

[halloweenman]

The remedy uses a cheap TI sample rate converter chip SRC, so its categorically NOT bit perfect. Conventional SRC process adds a lot of THD and noise, plus has considerable slew rate dependent noise floor modulation. Additionally, the poor interpolation filters degrade timing performance too.

Possibly the fastest way to destroy the sound of Mojo or Dave IMHO...

Rob

Rob, thank you for your valuable contributions to this and other forums. It's so refreshing to read your posts and helpful for music lovers like myself that just want to listen to music with the best possible sound quality. Reading your posts and using your products has given my system a quantum leap in sound quality and most probably saved me a lot of money wasting time trying various bits and bobs.

Have a very merry Christmas!

 

[gnomen]

Yes Rob, second what he said!

 

[JaZZ]

I second that as well. A big thank you, Rob, for your highly appreciated contribution, your dedication and patience! And of course for Hugo, DAVE & Co.