CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[Crgreen]

I've tried se and balanced into a preamp that both connections (linn klimax preamp)

Similar cables

Se is better hands down. The bass is more defined and articulated.

Is the Klimax a balanced preamp? I've found that as a general rule, balanced tends to work better into a balanced circuit, SE into a SE circuit, but not invariably so. Like everything, it depends on how it's implemented.

 

[Sonic77]

It says at the bottom of screen that a separate WTA M scaler for Dave is under development for other sources, can someone give me an example of other sources? And how that could be implemented. Thank you.

 

[lovethatsound]

It says at the bottom of screen that a separate WTA M scaler for Dave is under development for other sources, can someone give me an example of other sources? And how that could be implemented. Thank you.

Laptop,streaming,anything really,that has a digital output on it.Buy the way if you got a blu 2 transport I'm sure you can use any of the above through the blu 2☺

 

[a1uc]

I have a Audio Researh Ref 6 and it feeding
a pair of SE ended tube monoblocks , but I'm
using a pair of nice transformers between the Ref 6 and
SE Monoblocks to convert the signal

I can hook both SE and Bal from dave to the Ref 6 and
at a flip of a switch compare , I'll have to do this .
I just remember hearing SE is driven different than bal
In the Dave and SE sounded best

 

[DaveRedRef-III]

i can imagine many many major studios taking delivery of the Dave + Blu II combination for testing mixes and final mastering results. Having then experienced the best, I can also imagine an orderly queue forming for the Davina when ready because who would not want that tech on the analogue conversion side of the process?

The future is very bright for Chord. Time for bigger premises I think!

 

[Crgreen]

I wonder whether that might be a rather optimistic view of how the rest of the world regards the importance of sound quality. As a matter of interest, how many studios currently employ a DAVE to test sound quality?

 

[DaveRedRef-III]

[COLOR=FF00AA][/COLOR]

I wonder whether that might be a rather optimistic view of how the rest of the world regards the importance of sound quality. As a matter of interest, how many studios currently employ a DAVE to test sound quality?

I don't know but I do know Chord amps are used widely by studios. As for being optimistic about how the rest of the world regards the importance of sound quality, it is true that some studios do appear to lack a fastidious attention to achieving class leading sound quality but it is also true that many care very much about the best sound quality. Particularly those doing mastering services.

 

[DaveRedRef-III]

Abbey Road use Chord products btw

 

[analogmusic]

Nice to know that Rob Watts achieved the dream of a million taps.
 
But I am very curious HOW DOES IT SOUND ?????

 

[Crgreen]

I've no idea how many studios (if any) use a DAVE, but it strikes me that if they haven't talready invested in one, they're unlikely to do so because of the new CD transport. Of course, in the absence of any concrete evidence, all such matters are taking place in our imaginations.

 

[Music Alchemist]

@Rob Watts: I have a few questions for ya.
 
(This thread moves so quickly I haven't kept up with the latest updates, so I apologize if these questions were already answered. If you and any others with answers would be so kind as to quote me to be sure I see the reply, it would be appreciated.)
 
Edit: Thanks to @romaz for addressing these questions.
 
First, a silly one, but I wanted to make sure: Is it possible to play digital files (on a PC or music server) with the Blu Mk. 2 connected to the DAVE, or do you have to play CDs with it? (It looks like the only input is BNC S/PDIF, so at the least, it would appear a converter would be needed.)
 
If you can play digital files with it, would you still get the million+ taps?
 
Can you share what your plans (if any) are for a DAC (no external CD transport required) with ultimate performance? Will there be an add-on for the DAVE that will enable it to reach over one million taps, but at a much lower price than the Blu Mk. 2? Or do you think you would simply design an entirely new DAC for this? (I'd rather not have to buy the Blu Mk. 2 in addition to the DAVE to get the best performance, as I mainly use digital files.)
 
Is the sound quality of the Blu Mk. 2 superior to the DAVE in every way? (If so, some may be more likely to get the former before or instead of the latter.)
 
Is the NightHawk still your favorite headphone? (I have one coming in today, actually.) Do you have any impressions of it vs some of the most expensive headphones? I read your post about liking it more than other headphones, but you didn't go into much detail, and I'm assuming you've heard many ultra-high-end models.
 
P.S. I also bought the Mojo.

(It'll be awhile until I can afford the DAVE...)

 

[romaz]

I spent a good part of yesterday in the Chord room at CES. It was a wonderful several hours spent with Rob and John with enlightening conversation and, of course, listening to DAVE with Blu Mk2. I will be back in the Chord room today to give Hugo 2 and Poly a listen. Obviously, these are exciting times for Chord and for many of us.

As I've already previously posted, the SPDIF/BNC input on Blu 2 is run through the M-scaler and so 1 million TAPS is not just limited to CD playback.

As I've also previously posted, the next Chord component to incorporate the M-scaler will be Davina. This will be both ADC and DDC and will have the same digital inputs as DAVE. The PCB for Davina will be completed in a few days and from there, testing will ensue. Rob isn't sure when it will be ready, maybe by summer but ultimately, "it will be ready when it's ready." Is there a reason to wait for Davina if all you are interested in is the M-scaler? According to Rob, not really. Even if you prefer a USB source (as I do), you could use a USB to SPDIF converter. While the Audiophilleo converter I recently tried didn't sound as good to my ears as USB direct to DAVE, Rob believes this difference will disappear with the SPDIF input on Blu as the signal will be completely regenerated by his M-scaler before it is passed off to DAVE.

As for those of us who no longer spin CDs (like myself) but who really want the benefits of a million TAPS and the vastly improved WTA filters Rob has come up with, then consider the CD transport as a free bonus because Blu 2 and Davina are expected to cost the same. If you feel you might benefit from the ADC in Davina and insist on having multiple digital inputs, then wait for Davina. If the appeal of spinning CDs is there for you (even occasionally), then there's no reason to wait as the M-scaler implementation in Blu 2 will be equivalent to Davina.

To answer the questions posed by some, will there be an upgrade path for original Blu owners? Unfortunately, no. Should original Blu owners consider the upgrade even if you don't own a DAVE? If SQ is your goal, absolutely, yes!

Can you combine Blu 2 with a Mojo, Hugo 2 or even a non-Chord dac like a Schiit Yggy or MSB Select II and will the M-scaler benefit those DACs? Yes, you can and yes, it will. The M-scaler will effectively bring those DACs up to 500 million TAPS but according to Rob, those 500 million TAPS still won't sound as good as the same 500 million TAPS on DAVE because of a certain synergy that will exist between Blu 2/Davina and DAVE and of course, with DAVE, it will be 1 million TAPS.

Will 1 million TAPS benefit 16/44 more than high-res files? According to Rob, more TAPS will benefit all resolutions equally. Rob was also quick to point out that it's not just about the number of TAPS but how those TAPS are used and he believes with his new filters, these TAPS are being used more effectively and to greater musicality than ever before.

As far as power consumption, yes, the M-scaler requires 10 amps but at 1 volt and so it only consumes 10 watts. Nonetheless, a 10A supply in the DAVE would be very polluting and so there was never a consideration to incorporate the M-scaler and DAVE in the same chassis.

Are there plans to incorporate M-scaler + built-in streamer? Not at this time.

Can the new Poly be used on the DAVE? Rob had nothing to do with the design of Poly but he looked at this possibility for the first time yesterday and it would appear that the Poly can be accommodated for the DAVE very easily.

Could Poly be looked at as being similar to a battery operated microRendu? Yes. The functionality and feature set will be similar. Poly also has the advantage of incorporating wifi. Poly is expected to receive Roon certification shortly.

As for SQ improvements, I will preface my initial comments by saying that when Hugo first came out, I was impressed by it but not overly enamored by it. When DAVE came out, I thought the SQ difference was enormous. The ratio of TAPS from Hugo to DAVE is about the same as DAVE to the M-scaler which is about 6:1 and so I was expecting roughly the same jump in SQ. Rob allowed me the privilege of directly comparing CD playback without the M-scaler vs CD playback at 500 million TAPS and finally at 1 million TAPS. I will provide more in-depth comments at a later time but the SQ difference is instantly evident from the standpoint of depth and clarity using both headphones (LCD-4) and speakers. While 500 million TAPS sounded very very good, 1 million TAPS was just simply that much more amazing. There was not this sense of diminishing return and the leap from DAVE to a full million TAPS is more impressive to my ears than the leap I recall hearing from Hugo to DAVE. I have never before found the DAVE to sound "pedestrian" when compared against any DAC but compared to DAVE + M-scaler, it does. I have placed my order for a Blu 2.

 

[miketlse]

[Deleted]

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Look at the picture in post #6558 (the last line especially).
Presumably this confirms that the davina project will come to fruition in the coming months, and allow non-CD sources to be used as well. Maybe this will be a CES 2018 launch.
Answered better by @Romaz

 
Yeah, and according to him, you can still use digital files with the Blu Mk. 2, and if you don't need an ADC, the Davina may not be preferable if they cost the same.

 

[miketlse]

   
Yeah, and according to him, you can still use digital files with the Blu Mk. 2, and if you don't need an ADC, the Davina may not be preferable if they cost the same.

 
I think that there will be many owners of rare records that were never released on CD, who will be interested in the concept of the Davina.