CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[JaZZ]

The main reason why analogue equalizers are avoided nowadays (and rightly so) isn't phase distortion in the first place, but the bunch of electronics components in the signal path that all imprint themselves on the signal (likely in the form of harmonic distortion and modulation noise) – as Rob Watts sais: Every single electronics component reduces transparency, even cables and solder joints. Phase distortion is an inevitable by-product of any frequency-response distortion, and that also applies to existing nonlinearities e.g. in sound tranducers. So a perfectly inverse frequency-response distortion will recreate a perfectly linear phase response in addition to a linear amplitude response.
 
It's clear that parametric equalizers offer the better precondition than graphical equalizers for an equalization as perfect as possible, but the phase distortions produced by the latter are only half as harmful considering their still existing phase-response compensation capability. And BTW, once you see the real-world (acoustic!) phase response of a sound transducer, particularly headphone, you may ask yourself if it's worth caring about phase distortions of a magnitude as in (graphic) equalizers at all. The phase distortions produced by an unequalized headphone are much larger. Add to this that the audibility of phase distortions per se is disputed.
 
I for one can absolutely live with the octave equalizer in my FiiO X5 II and the ⅓-octave xnor/foobar equalizer for my DAVE for now. Does anybody know of a good parametric equalizer for foobar2000?

 

[DaveRedRef-III]

At least somebody is flying the flag then MA.

 

[JaZZ]

Dave, could you explain? I don't understand a word (non-native speaker here).

 

[Music Alchemist]

Does anybody know of a good parametric equalizer for foobar2000?

 
You can use Electri-Q in foobar2000, but you'll need to install a VST plugin first. (Just Google it.) Equalizer APO can also apply EQ to everything on the computer.

 

[rkt31]

http://www.furutech.com/2015/03/10/10672/ I got 1.5m cord made from this furutech bulk cable. this cable supposedly beats even the most expensive power cables on earth. I used it with my benchmark ahb2 power amp and there were definite improvements specially the headroom and air, music had much more natural flow. this can be a very good option for Dave as Dave does not need very thick cables.

 

[hrq12345]

But... Dave - > Goldmund = two DACS... , may be not the best match...

Just used the amp part of Goldmund. I don't think it was doing anything from the DAC part. Don't know why so many people are arguing about this.

 

[WoSoLoo]

  I currently have an Auralic Vega DAC and SimAudio 430HA amp and using them with Focal Utopia headphones.  I keep on reading a lot about how great the DAVE is with the Utopia.  Does anyone have first-hand experience that can compare how the sound would change if I replaced the Vega with the DAVE?  Would I need the 430HA?
 

 
I have 800s  and Utopia, Utopia + dave is great 

 
Bass from Utopia with Dave is deep strong and very detail you cannot imagine the sound come from a headphone

 

[Nik]

Just used the amp part of Goldmund. I don't think it was doing anything from the DAC part. Don't know why so many people are arguing about this.

As I said before, the rca input on the Goldmund goes to the internal DAC, no way to use the Goldmund as others headphones amplifier...
So you give analogical signal that goes to the DAC that convert another time on analogical signal... So better if you use the digital input in the Goldmund...

 

[hrq12345]

As I said before, the rca input on the Goldmund goes to the internal DAC, no way to use the Goldmund as others headphones amplifier...
So you give analogical signal that goes to the DAC that convert another time on analogical signal... So better if you use the digital input in the Goldmund...

Okay now I get what you guys are talking about. I think I probably remembered wrongly and the goldmund was just connecting to a digital source. Dave was just happened to be turned on at the same time. But I did listen to Dave itself drive Utopia and I still think it's good, just not that good. Sorry about the confusion.

 

[miketlse]

Okay now I get what you guys are talking about. I think I probably remembered wrongly and the goldmund was just connecting to a digital source. Dave was just happened to be turned on at the same time. But I did listen to Dave itself drive Utopia and I still think it's good, just not that good. Sorry about the confusion.

 
Not a problem.
 
In your original post http://www.head-fi.org/t/766517/chord-electronics-dave/6300#post_13114065 you were sure of the facts, but now you are not confident what was connected to what.
 
People weren't trying to 'have a go' at you, but were just trying to understand your 'experience' which was different to many other members experiences.
 
Bon Noel

 

[Music Alchemist]

this cable supposedly beats even the most expensive power cables on earth.

 
Can you link me to the comparisons you know of? I'd especially like to see which specific cables were involved to make such a strong statement.
 
I know @romaz uses the High Fidelity Cables Professional Series Power Cable (which is $20,900 and up) with his DAVE and said it made a world of difference.
 
I don't even plan on touching expensive cables until everything else is taken care of...but it would be a shame if I spent five figures on them just to find an affordable cable that sounded better.

 

[EVOLVIST]

So, for all DAVE owners, when plugging right into the DAVE with your headphones, what volume range does the DAVE read and with which headphones are you using?

I'm trying to get as many answers as possible, as this came up in the Focal Utopia thread.

Thank much! Happy holidays!

 

[WoSoLoo]

So, for all DAVE owners, when plugging right into the DAVE with your headphones, what volume range does the DAVE read and with which headphones are you using?

I'm trying to get as many answers as possible, as this came up in the Focal Utopia thread.

Thank much! Happy holidays!

For 800s -20dB ~ -5dB
For Utopia -28dB ~ 15dB
I like to listen a little bit louder 

 

[EVOLVIST]

For 800s -20dB ~ -5dB
For Utopia -28dB ~ 15dB
I like to listen a little bit louder 

What is your transport?

 

[WoSoLoo]

What is your transport?

CD  Chord Red3 ~optical,
CAS Aurrender X100L ~USB