CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[ZappaMan]

what is cdt?

 

[801evan]

what is cdt?

CD transport.

 

[Ards]

End of the day, CDT with a good psu will trump Hi-Res file.

There's clearly a race condition here. All things being equal, high resolution should sound better than 44.1. Problems with 44.1 are well understood; problems that higher resolutions solve. But when things aren't equal (eg degradation in either delivery chain) then one can leapfrog the other.

A local source, such as a CD transport is a great sanity check for the streaming side of any system. If the CD sounds better, it suggests there's more work to be done on the streaming side.

 

[Triode User]

A local source, such as a CD transport is a great sanity check for the streaming side of any system. If the CD sounds better, it suggests there's more work to be done on the streaming side.

Yes to this and Rob Watts always suggested using the Blu mk2 as a test against streamed or ripped files to judge how good that system was against a low noise CD player.

 

[ZappaMan]

Yes to this and Rob Watts always suggested using the Blu mk2 as a test against streamed or ripped files to judge how good that system was against a low noise CD player.

Are there any suggestions for “cheap” CD player components, and cheap meaning, as cheap as possible. Would a £50 Walkman style CD player on batteries be good?

Cambridge audio cxc seems good.

 

[801evan]

Are there any suggestions for “cheap” CD player components, and cheap meaning, as cheap as possible. Would a £50 Walkman style CD player on batteries be good?

No. Poor clock. And reliance on battery is also bad.

 

[zen87192]

Yes! Now we're talking! Farad Super 3's installed in to DAVE. Very enjoyable job it was too!
What does it sound like? Absolutely awesome! I was toying with the idea of EQ'ing my LCD-5's but no need... everything is now brilliant and and can only get better after several hundred hours of use. The synergy of my audio equipment must also have something to do with it as well. It's exactly what I want to hear without any overbearing Trebles or Bass. Spot on for for mid range as well... it's as though it was meant to be.... in my system anyway.... and for my hearing. Can't believe my luck with the coincidental upgrade of this power supply and the 'gelling' of my LCD-5's. Perfect.
The install was a breeze. Removal and replacement of the internals proved to be simple. Also gave me the chance to remove some dust under the DAVE's glass display which was there from new! Working methodically I don't think anyone will have a problem with this upgrade installation of which I highly recommend DAVE owners to obtain. No doubt owners of the SJ ARC6 DC4 will state its superior.... probably is.... but for my money... which doesn't stretch as far as the ARC6.... this is a stunner of an upgrade!

 

[SteveHulk]

Yes! Now we're talking! Farad Super 3's installed in to DAVE. Very enjoyable job it was too!
What does it sound like? Absolutely awesome! I was toying with the idea of EQ'ing my LCD-5's but no need... everything is now brilliant and and can only get better after several hundred hours of use. The synergy of my audio equipment must also have something to do with it as well. It's exactly what I want to hear without any overbearing Trebles or Bass. Spot on for for mid range as well... it's as though it was meant to be.... in my system anyway.... and for my hearing. Can't believe my luck with the coincidental upgrade of this power supply and the 'gelling' of my LCD-5's. Perfect.
The install was a breeze. Removal and replacement of the internals proved to be simple. Also gave me the chance to remove some dust under the DAVE's glass display which was there from new! Working methodically I don't think anyone will have a problem with this upgrade installation of which I highly recommend DAVE owners to obtain. No doubt owners of the SJ ARC6 will DC4 will state its superior.... probably is.... but for my money... which doesn't stretch as far as the ARC6.... this is a stunner of an upgrade!

Good job mate Even better result

Also good to see you don't have any bad caps there!

 

[dusty.ro]

Yes! Now we're talking! Farad Super 3's installed in to DAVE. Very enjoyable job it was too!
What does it sound like? Absolutely awesome! I was toying with the idea of EQ'ing my LCD-5's but no need... everything is now brilliant and and can only get better after several hundred hours of use. The synergy of my audio equipment must also have something to do with it as well. It's exactly what I want to hear without any overbearing Trebles or Bass. Spot on for for mid range as well... it's as though it was meant to be.... in my system anyway.... and for my hearing. Can't believe my luck with the coincidental upgrade of this power supply and the 'gelling' of my LCD-5's. Perfect.
The install was a breeze. Removal and replacement of the internals proved to be simple. Also gave me the chance to remove some dust under the DAVE's glass display which was there from new! Working methodically I don't think anyone will have a problem with this upgrade installation of which I highly recommend DAVE owners to obtain. No doubt owners of the SJ ARC6 DC4 will state its superior.... probably is.... but for my money... which doesn't stretch as far as the ARC6.... this is a stunner of an upgrade!

Excelent stuff! Congrats on the install and thank you for the step by step pictures.

 

[Paul Bjernklo]

Are there any suggestions for “cheap” CD player components, and cheap meaning, as cheap as possible. Would a £50 Walkman style CD player on batteries be good?

Cambridge audio cxc seems good.

Are there any suggestions for “cheap” CD player components, and cheap meaning, as cheap as possible. Would a £50 Walkman style CD player on batteries be good?

Cambridge audio cxc seems good.

CD Transport quality makes a significant difference. For “budget” CDTs, Audiolab 6000CDT at £400 seems hard to beat and I have read on par or better than Cambridge Audio CXC at around £549 in the UK. There are of course better but more expensive ones, but based on hi-fi reviews these are the top proper “budget” contenders I have seen so would recommend to have a listen to either if available in your country

 

[Triode User]

No doubt owners of the SJ ARC6 DC4 will state its superior.... probably is.... but for my money... which doesn't stretch as far as the ARC6.... this is a stunner of an upgrade!

I am pleased you are enjoying the LPS. As I have said before, my only experience is comparing the Farad with the Qutest and then it was pretty much on a par with the Sean Jacobs DC3 which is possibly a fair bit cheaper. The Dc4 was quite an advance over the Farad but I did not compare the ARC6 which is some way beyond the DC4.

One day we will all be able to get in the same room with this kit and have some fun comparing it. Until then, keep enjoying the music.

 

[zen87192]

Deleted.

 

[nwavesailor]

Yes! Now we're talking! Farad Super 3's installed in to DAVE. Very enjoyable job it was too!
What does it sound like? Absolutely awesome! I was toying with the idea of EQ'ing my LCD-5's but no need... everything is now brilliant and and can only get better after several hundred hours of use. The synergy of my audio equipment must also have something to do with it as well. It's exactly what I want to hear without any overbearing Trebles or Bass. Spot on for for mid range as well... it's as though it was meant to be.... in my system anyway.... and for my hearing. Can't believe my luck with the coincidental upgrade of this power supply and the 'gelling' of my LCD-5's. Perfect.
The install was a breeze. Removal and replacement of the internals proved to be simple. Also gave me the chance to remove some dust under the DAVE's glass display which was there from new! Working methodically I don't think anyone will have a problem with this upgrade installation of which I highly recommend DAVE owners to obtain. No doubt owners of the SJ ARC6 DC4 will state its superior.... probably is.... but for my money... which doesn't stretch as far as the ARC6.... this is a stunner of an upgrade!

I am not questioning that the Farad is a very nice step up for the Dave.

What I am not excited about is adding 3 more boxes and cords to my 24" x 24" table with the Dave, M Scaler, Bigger Ben or Envy amp. I understand the different voltages and seperate PS just not wanting a stack of 3 more chassis.

 

[Reactcore]

Yes! Now we're talking! Farad Super 3's installed in to DAVE.

Congrats mate! Many happy listening hours comin

Im still patiently awaiting the arrival of the components to make my supercap precharger

It will test my theory that its the SJ and Farad current reserves in their caps that give the performance boost. Not so much net RF filtering

 

[adrianm]

It will test my theory that its the SJ and Farad current reserves in their caps that give the performance boost. Not so much net RF filtering

As someone who uses a mains filter + a power regenerator plugged into it and has seen massive performance gains from them, both in separation, and cumulatively, I would disagree. That said, I'm sure the extra current reserves would help as well.

I am not questioning that the Farad is a very nice step up for the Dave.

What I am not excited about is adding 3 more boxes and cords to my 24" x 24" table with the Dave, M Scaler, Bigger Ben or Envy amp. I understand the different voltages and seperate PS just not wanting a stack of 3 more chassis.

Same boat, I care what it sounds like up to a point, after that, I care what it looks like more. Did you get to buy the Envy amp? I'm also considering it. Curious what it's like with Dave