CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[GuiltyRocker]

Yea some folks go really deep on the DAVE, I personally like the way it sounds out of the box and don't feel a need to tinker with it more, but hey if it makes them happy to tinker by all means go ahead

 

[Slim1970]

Yea some folks go really deep on the DAVE, I personally like the way it sounds out of the box and don't feel a need to tinker with it more, but hey if it makes them happy to tinker by all means go ahead

I’m in the same camp as you. The DAVE is stellar in stock form. However, I am curious about the improvements a power supply upgrade would bring.

 

[FunkyBassMan]

Yea some folks go really deep on the DAVE, I personally like the way it sounds out of the box and don't feel a need to tinker with it more, but hey if it makes them happy to tinker by all means go ahead

Exactly.

After reading here, I worried about buying a DAVE because it seemed like so many people were going through such measures to make it what they want for their systems. But now after hearing the gem it is (with the MScaler) out of the box, I now have the impression that it's actually because the DAVE is so otherworldly that people have the passion for it to do the tweaks.

 

[Triode User]

Exactly.

After reading here, I worried about buying a DAVE because it seemed like so many people were going through such measures to make it what they want for their systems. But now after hearing the gem it is (with the MScaler) out of the box, I now have the impression that it's actually because the DAVE is so otherworldly that people have the passion for it to do the tweaks.

This is indeed EXACTLY right and well put. I reverted my Dave to factory spec about 3 months ago and loaned it to a friend to try in his system. No tweaks and no pimping. After a week he brought it back and told me he had ordered one from his dealer and he has been insanely happy with his new one ever since.

I think it is testament to the underlying design and quality of the Dave (and Mscaler) that they can respond so well to tweaking. It is not a matter of fixing something that is broken but rather taking a superb product and allowing it to flex its muscles.

 

[audio_1]

This is indeed EXACTLY right and well put. I reverted my Dave to factory spec about 3 months ago and loaned it to a friend to try in his system. No tweaks and no pimping. After a week he brought it back and told me he had ordered one from his dealer and he has been insanely happy with his new one ever since.

I think it is testament to the underlying design and quality of the Dave (and Mscaler) that they can respond so well to tweaking. It is not a matter of fixing something that is broken but rather taking a superb product and allowing it to flex its muscles.

I hope from all we have learnt from the Dave, TT2 and Mscaler forums and the experience of owning them that the Dave 2 and Mscaler X will not require any tweaking. Hopefully they will show their full potential out of the box.

 

[JTbbb]

I’m in the same camp as you. The DAVE is stellar in stock form. However, I am curious about the improvements a power supply upgrade would bring.

Curiosity killed the cat! Although in this company, will empty your wallet .

 

[FunkyBassMan]

I hope from all we have learnt from the Dave, TT2 and Mscaler forums and the experience of owning them that the Dave 2 and Mscaler X will not require any tweaking. Hopefully they will show their full potential out of the box.

I think you (or at least your language) miss the key point. The Dave, TT2 and MScaler don't by any means require tweaking, they inspire it.

And there's never been a piece of gear made that's not improvable if someone is willing to spend enough time and money.

 

[Slim1970]

Curiosity killed the cat! Although in this company, will empty your wallet .

Haha, right

 

[ZappaMan]

Really think my cdt, Audiolab 6000, mscaled, is really bringing improvements.
Listening to arcade fire - funeral, I’ve never heard it like this, picking up lots more lyrics and drum details. This also encourages extra singalong ability lol.
It is an honest to god improvement, for £400, sure, you can’t beat it.

Listening to the national, high violet, I have ether 2 turned up to -15, after listening happily at the normal volume (-25 to -35) - re: my comment above. It seems to like the volume going up.

Timbre of drums is incredible, elbow, mirrorball.

 

[Reactcore]

And there's never been a piece of gear made that's not improvable if someone is willing to spend enough time and money.

It doesnt always need to cost much..

If one has some soldering skills and warranty is no issue (perhaps expired) ..the buffer cap mod makes a huge difference to Dave's amp for as little as €25

Now i know what users meant by saying Dave sounds thin vs using it with a external amp..
Boy its direct output can be enormously energetic and impactful once its feeded rock stable voltage.

I wish i could let others hear this increddible full sounding change compared to stock.

How instruments and voices got more body and like i already mentioned the (sub)bass is a lot stronger.. it rumbles and shakes my headphones which i even feel in my toes on some tracks.. with untouched transparency

One downside could be that if bass is over EQ'ed in the recording... one will easily hear this.. something bassheads will really like.

 

[thePhones]

For those who are still trying to decide whether they should start with an investment in the Dave or start with a Hugo 2(or TT2)/Mscaler combo I would like to ad another impression/opinion on this topic.
Rob Watts is calling the M scaler essential at this point and I also think I don’t want to miss it anymore, but if one would have to go and only one could stay I would call the Dave essential. This amazing transparency is the one thing I can not listen without anymore. Currawong said in a video that he had a physical reaction to the pure sound coming out of the dave and feel the same. I enjoy Dave solo a lot more than Hugo 2 with M Scaler.
The M Scaler is like a turbo charger to the ablities of each Chord dac. Because the Dave is so transparent and can show so much variation in timbre the capabilities of the M Scaler show a lot more. So both are almost essential to me but if I had to choose I would absolutely start with Dave solo. Also love the “submarine equipment-look” It’s so awesome!

Happy Christmas everyone!

 

[Reactcore]

Ive seen this old review has got a update.
(added Mscaler)

https://www.hear.audio/2016/07/30/chord-dave-review/

 

[FunkyBassMan]

Ive seen this old review has got a update.
(added Mscaler)

https://www.hear.audio/2016/07/30/chord-dave-review/

Hadn't seen that one - thanks.

Love this line: "Disable the MScaler mid-track and everything becomes, in a word, more pixelated."

That's exactly how I hear it. The Dave is remarkably clear and spacious all by itself. But add the MScaler and the sound goes from digital to analog. Or extremely close to it.

 

[thePhones]

Ive seen this old review has got a update.
(added Mscaler)

https://www.hear.audio/2016/07/30/chord-dave-review/

Thanks, I really enjoyed to read it. I like the choice of words, like he is always painting a picture.

 

[Reactcore]

Hadn't seen that one - thanks.

Love this line: "Disable the MScaler mid-track and everything becomes, in a word, more pixelated."

That's exactly how I hear it. The Dave is remarkably clear and spacious all by itself. But add the MScaler and the sound goes from digital to analog. Or extremely close to it.

For me it was the last line that i read multible times in different reviews:
"If only the headphone amplifier had the drive of the TT2"

This i made true with my cap modification