801evan
Headphoneus Supremus
Yea on a cold start the susvara sounds undynamic,slow and small sounstage. Around 4 hours it's a bit bright/airy.
I will not have noticed this because I have my Dave fully powered up 24/7.A number of people (Rob included) have said in the past that DAVE requires no warm-up time (or even burn-in time). I've found this not to be the case.
All my hifi is put into standby overnight. From "cold" immediately after standby, I find that DAVE sounds a touch dark, which helpfully hides a multitude of HF sins, which is not unpleasant, but it also hides a level of fine detail. Over the next hour it swings into a slight over-brightness and then gradually settles down. There are other variables when listening over a long period, but I'm satisfied that I can hear no further improvement after around 5-8 hours. This effect is more subtle than other hifi components I've owned, but it's enough IMO to unbalance a well-balanced system.
Did you know to drive a headphone or any driver you need current and voltage. Voltage is plenty with dave and current is decided by output impedance. Lower the output impedance more current it is able to supply on demand. And I don't need to tell about the output impedance of dave. In fact as rob watts say dave drives your headphones correctly because of extremely low output impedance. It is not affected by the passages requiring more current for which impedance dips. What more planars don't have variable impedance anyway. So it's a myth that dave doesn't drive susvara or any other planar. Since headphone are driven correctly so they sound fast and lean to which some people think not properly driven.
I've searched both the site and the web for Rob Watts + Susvara with no relevant response. @Rob Watts I believe it would be helpful to have your response to this discussion?It's already been said that Rob Watts has said it doesn't drive the Susvara properly. I really don't understand the stubbornness on this topic. If you try them with and without a dedicated amp it is clearly underpowered. If people like listening to their gear sub-optimally, I guess that's fine. But again, just seems like quite a waste of money.
2016 flashbackI've searched both the site and the web for Rob Watts + Susvara with no relevant response. @Rob Watts I believe it would be helpful to have your response to this discussion?
Yeah, it's been a topic since 2017 without a direct quote from Rob, as far as I could find. Regardless of his answer, it'll not change anyone's take on the matter.2016 flashback
I can't recall a posting on the Susvara for Dave, as my position on it is nuanced in that it depends on the listener. Dave can drive it to 92 dB SPL, which for me would be (just) fine; I normally run my headphones at a max of 90dB SPL. But to many listeners 92dB would not be enough, so it really depends upon the listener. From a current drive POV the Susvara is easy for Dave, it's just voltage limited above 92dB SPL.I've searched both the site and the web for Rob Watts + Susvara with no relevant response. @Rob Watts I believe it would be helpful to have your response to this discussion?
FWIW, @mrspeakers had a similar position regarding Dave and Stealth, which is almost as inefficient. But then again, you guys are BFFS so if people don't trust you on this, they won't trust himI can't recall a posting on the Susvara for Dave, as my position on it is nuanced in that it depends on the listener. Dave can drive it to 92 dB SPL, which for me would be (just) fine; I normally run my headphones at a max of 90dB SPL. But to many listeners 92dB would not be enough, so it really depends upon the listener. From a current drive POV the Susvara is easy for Dave, it's just voltage limited above 92dB SPL.
To summarise - if you are using solo Dave, you can run to +4 on the volume control for 0dBFS sources; with an M scaler it's +7. So if volume levels on loud tracks are less than this then Dave can drive it perfectly; if with this volume you prefer an amp, then you are preferring distortion, colouration or lack of transparency.
Stealth with Dave would be an ear damaging 100dB SPL - some 8dB more than Susvara.FWIW, @mrspeakers had a similar position regarding Dave and Stealth, which is almost as inefficient. But then again, you guys are BFFS so if people don't trust you on this, they won't trust him
Hey chaps- I am thinking of ordering a DCA Stealth for use with my DAVE+Mscaler.
@NYanakiev straight from the boss.Stealth with Dave would be an ear damaging 100dB SPL - some 8dB more than Susvara.