Don't take this as an attack, but as a Chord dealer, I'm fascinated by what they build, and the DAVE blows me away on a good 2.1 channel setup. With my Atohm GT-1's really helped me discover my speakers. Had the pleasure to listen to Focal Diablos with Classé audio dual mono's (Headquarter is a 5 min walk from my house), and it's supremely impressive from a transparency/immediacy standpoint.
Unfortunately, with headphones, I find it not only to be overkill... but unfortunately a bit diffuse and lacking a lifelike sound. I actually prefer the Holo KTE LVL3 even with a THX AAA 789 to Dave's output; and that's my secondary amp. It's important to remember synergy and the intended use of a product. Chord Dave is a marvel of a dac, but you sure as heck better be plugging it into similar priced speakers and electronics to really experience what it's intended for
I just got my HE1000se upgrade, and am addicted as they're the best headphones I've owned yet - and I actually prefer it to the Utopia/Empyrean/Susvara personally. But even so, as close as it is tonally to Senn HE1's by memory, it's not close to some of the stereos I've heard.