I interpret it as a voltage control, like TACT did with their digital amplifiers in the early aughts, but I would be happy to learn more.
CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE
- Thread starter magiccabbage
- Start date
sm60
100+ Head-Fier
Hmm… since I’ve owned Tact products, I assume this implies Dave is converting PCM bitstream to pulse-width modulation bitstreams and then generating voltages using a simple RC network at the output, the way Tact amplifiers did. In that case, yes, volume control by reducing power supply voltage will work, but it would be nice to have Rob confirm this.
sm60
100+ Head-Fier
Diversion: listening to The Beatles in Mono. On Vinyl. On a Garrard 301. Using a Miyajima Infinity Mono cartridge. Ah, bliss….
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Malcyg
500+ Head-Fier
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Mixed feelings today as I sold my Chord Dave. I’m not a forum poster and 99% of all my posting has been on this thread and the Blu II, although mainly going back quite a while now. Back in the day when Dave first came out followed by Blu II, it was great fun as a few of us were working out how to tame this magnificent beast that Rob had given us - felt like real pioneering days back then. Anyway, time moves on and I won’t be posting anymore as this is a thread for owners and lovers of Dave. I’m still a fan of Chord DAC’s though and have a MojoPoly and 2 H2Go’s in the house and will continue to watch whatever Rob gets up to next with interest.
Meanwhile, I will not be missing these clunkers which were/still are the best BNC interconnects I ever heard with BluDave. They are big, heavy and inflexible in operation but they sound fantastic with the Clear Audio Silverline Optimus Reference 75. My thanks again to the generosity of @marcmccalmont who sourced and sent me these ferrites all the way from Canada to the U.K. and wouldn’t accept a penny in recompense. That really reflects the spirit and nature of those early days imo.
Meanwhile, I will not be missing these clunkers which were/still are the best BNC interconnects I ever heard with BluDave. They are big, heavy and inflexible in operation but they sound fantastic with the Clear Audio Silverline Optimus Reference 75. My thanks again to the generosity of @marcmccalmont who sourced and sent me these ferrites all the way from Canada to the U.K. and wouldn’t accept a penny in recompense. That really reflects the spirit and nature of those early days imo.
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Sampajanna
100+ Head-Fier
What did you move on to?Mixed feelings today as I sold my Chord Dave. I’m not a forum poster and 99% of all my posting has been on this thread and the Blu II, although mainly going back quite a while now. Back in the day when Dave first came out followed by Blu II, it was great fun as a few of us were working out how to tame this magnificent beast that Rob had given us - felt like real pioneering days back then. Anyway, time moves on and I won’t be posting anymore as this is a thread for owners and lovers of Dave. I’m still a fan of Chord DAC’s though and have a MojoPoly and 2 H2Go’s in the house and will continue to watch whatever Rob gets up to next with interest.
Meanwhile, I will not be missing these clunkers which were/still are the best BNC interconnects I ever heard with BluDave. They are big, heavy and inflexible in operation but they sound fantastic with the Clear Audio Silverline Optimus Reference 75. My thanks again to the generosity of @marcmccalmont who sourced and sent me these ferrites all the way from Canada to the U.K. and wouldn’t accept a penny in recompense. That really reflects the spirit and nature of those early days imo.
It looks like it's too late...he's already gone...enjoying his Topping D90 as per previous advice.
How much did the chord Dave go up in price ? Location: USA
The MSRP is still $12,595 in the United States.
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MvRBE10
Member of the Trade: Farad Power Supplies
Its ready to rock and roll. Final version is ready for the dave lovers. Just finished listening a week to the final version. And some fool proof testing. Man this rocks. Did some smps to lps swaps back and forth but that’s a night and day difference, imaging, focus and placement of instruments is mental on this lps upgrade. Bass defenition etc its all been said but when you do a back to the old power unit and swap back its then when you notice immidialy what the gains are.
Added some photos i made for the install manual farad will add to there product packadge but here a heads up.
It even looks better than the original
Added some photos i made for the install manual farad will add to there product packadge but here a heads up.
It even looks better than the original
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Since last year? Two Independent dealers have told me that the price has gone up. I think it’s about $1k more. Is this right?
MvRBE10
Member of the Trade: Farad Power Supplies
In holland the price went to 11.500,- euro so your estimate could well be correct.
Icenine2
Headphoneus Supremus
What is the power cord consensus with DAVE? I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger.
MvRBE10
Member of the Trade: Farad Power Supplies
A good cord will help to eliminate some rf noise. When i did not have the lps upgrade i used a nock off aq dragon cable and it helped. But i also used two kemp sns and q filters in my powerblock. The rubbish the dave puts back in the net also influences the sound. So in short yes it helps. You can also take over my aq dragon power cord it is a chinese nock off but has exacly the same principles of shielding etc. Friend of mine compared it with the org (aq dragon) and could not hear much difference on his dave/focal mark levinson setup.
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I'm using the JPS Labs Digital AC-X Filtered AC Cord with my Dave. No complaints here
sm60
100+ Head-Fier
I’m using stock power cords and a vanilla $15 multiport outlet with my Blu 2 and Dave. Sounds just fine to my ears. I dare say you can tweak the sound by investing in megabuck external power supplies. But rather than going that route, I decided to invest in a Lampi tube based DAC that has a very different sound for my primary system. Even though I don’t use the Chord system in my primary listening room, which is now all SET tube-based, I’m not selling my Chord pieces. They do what they do exceptionally well and the form factor is hard to beat. In a world of boring black boxes, the Chord’s are different. There’s a great tradition in British hifi of compact form electronics, which the Chord units exemplify.
As a grad student in the 1980s, I used to own the classic Quad 34 preamp, FM4 tuner and 306 amplifier. They were cute, extraordinarily well built and just worked. Regrettably I sold that combo years later, but in a nostalgic binge recently, I ended up getting the even older Quad 33 preamp with the 303 amplifier. There’s a great story that Quad would have sold a lot more 33 preamps had Peter Walker changed its iconic orange and beige exterior. Walker, being the cantankerous designer he was, refused as he personally designed its quirky looks. I also own an all original Quad ESL 57 electrostatic loudspeaker, which is about 65 years old, works flawlessly and will give any modern loudspeaker a run for its money even today. You haven’t lived as an audiophile if you haven’t heard a 57. The Bahaus styling is also classic. In a world filled with boring speakers with as many drive units that can be stuffed into a box as possible at a huge surcharge and weigh a 1000 pounds (e.g., Magico made near my house for Silicon Valley billionaires), the 57s remain unique and timeless with their quirky room heater styling.
Similarly Chord digital is unique in its design and looks. I’m not a huge fan of the Dave display but hey, it’s different! I expect to keep my Chord pieces for a long time to come. I did have some issues with the Blu transport initially, but a trip to the Chord authorized service center fixed the problem and the Blu now functions flawlessly.
As a grad student in the 1980s, I used to own the classic Quad 34 preamp, FM4 tuner and 306 amplifier. They were cute, extraordinarily well built and just worked. Regrettably I sold that combo years later, but in a nostalgic binge recently, I ended up getting the even older Quad 33 preamp with the 303 amplifier. There’s a great story that Quad would have sold a lot more 33 preamps had Peter Walker changed its iconic orange and beige exterior. Walker, being the cantankerous designer he was, refused as he personally designed its quirky looks. I also own an all original Quad ESL 57 electrostatic loudspeaker, which is about 65 years old, works flawlessly and will give any modern loudspeaker a run for its money even today. You haven’t lived as an audiophile if you haven’t heard a 57. The Bahaus styling is also classic. In a world filled with boring speakers with as many drive units that can be stuffed into a box as possible at a huge surcharge and weigh a 1000 pounds (e.g., Magico made near my house for Silicon Valley billionaires), the 57s remain unique and timeless with their quirky room heater styling.
Similarly Chord digital is unique in its design and looks. I’m not a huge fan of the Dave display but hey, it’s different! I expect to keep my Chord pieces for a long time to come. I did have some issues with the Blu transport initially, but a trip to the Chord authorized service center fixed the problem and the Blu now functions flawlessly.
