Hello (Chord) Dave, You're My Wife Now!

[karlsushi]

Have a look at the DAC/streamer I use, which I preferred to a Dave; the Bricasti M3MDx+N. If you're close enough to tne Lincolnshire coast, you'd be welcome to take a listen in my system at some stage. There is also a version which is a DAc/pre, without the network card. No mucking about with power supplies, either!

Thank you @simon g. I will certainly take a look at those.

The Lincolnshire coast isn't a million miles away, so I may just take you up on that offer at some point 👌

 

[DomT]

Thanks for your hospitality as ever Ian. It was great to hear DAVE in the system. It has been said before about DAVE, but I was even more amazed at how incredibly analogue everything sounded. The synergy with the valve amplification and the Falcons was really end game stuff.

I thought it was especially nice of Sarah Vaughan to pop over and sing for us in your living room, not even letting her death 30 years ago put her off. Seriously though, talk about 'in your room' realism. Stunning.

It may be time for a Falcon purchase for me...

Ian’s system is relatively modest compared to some but it really makes great music. For many it would be an end game system as I have said before.

 

[Kubs]

Did the DAC bake off ever happen? Apologies I may have missed it if a new thread was started ....

 

[karlsushi]

Did the DAC bake off ever happen? Apologies I may have missed it if a new thread was started ....

No, not in the end. It was largely scuppered by the fact that Fourlegs is no longer on the Wam (less said the better there I would say!).

I have however been talking to @Psilonaught about taking my Dave down to him at some point though, to try against his Soekris-based Acuhorn DAC, but I believe that is now in for repair. He has however since got hold of a new contender in the form of an Audio-GD R7HE, so that would still be an interesting comparison.

Plus there was the Meitner.

And the plan was ideally to bring in a dCs into the mix.

PS Audio's recent release of a mkii DirectStream would surely be another for the list.

And I've been reading great things about the Rockna WaveDream and also the Sonnet Pasithea.

So many DACs, so little time...

 

[Psilonaught]

I'm happy to host a DAC bake off for high-end DACs. Chord Dave definitely on my shopping list, as is a lightly used Lampizator Pacific, but I doubt anyone here has one of those.

My R7HE and possibly Acuhorn will be available. AES, RCA and BNC spdif available from my Aqua LinQ (don't ask me why they didn't implement USB, it must be an Italian thing).

 

[Kubs]

I'm happy to host a DAC bake off for high-end DACs. Chord Dave definitely on my shopping list, as is a lightly used Lampizator Pacific, but I doubt anyone here has one of those.

My R7HE and possibly Acuhorn will be available. AES, RCA and BNC spdif available from my Aqua LinQ (don't ask me why they didn't implement USB, it must be an Italian thing).

Looks like I've missed lots. I liked fourlegs (not that I knew him personally) - always had something interesting to say.

Hope there wasn't a falling out .... After all, it's only hi fi .....

 

[eddie-baby]

Chord Dave definitely on my shopping list

Haven't you seen the unbiased review yet ? 😊

I'll get my coat !

 

[bencat]

Well that seemed a very slanted review anyone would think he had family connections to another DAC company which of course could not be true .

 

[eddie-baby]

Six and half big ones used, it would have to put the musicians in the room with me. I have listened to the DAVE a few times and enjoyed it though (unlike other Chord DACs), would like to spend some time with it to see if there really is any magic, but even at the used prices, it wont be happening. And AMIR said theres no magic in it, I'd want everyone who listens to it to like it for 6 Gs

 

[ziggy]

The Chord room with the Dave was the worst sounding I visited at the Bristol show and I am a very contented Qutest/Mscaler owner.

 

[Tristan]

A had a very similar moment of clarity recently and ditched a Naim preamp (and the necessary power supplies) and replaced them with a Hugo TT. A very worthwhile venture.

 

[bencat]

While I would dearly love to be able to get one in my system and give it a good listen too because of the comments by owners I have to say that the Chord room at last years Northern HiFi show was less than stellar for sound quality .

 

[Psilonaught]

I'll try and get a demo loaner from a local dealer at some point for a longer term listen. Only a fool would discount what is easily the most positively discussed DAC amongst real forum users. The Dave I need to hear. Whether it beats the AGD R7HE remains to be seen however.

 

[Camverton]

The Chord room with the Dave was the worst sounding I visited at the Bristol show and I am a very contented Qutest/Mscaler owner.

I was put off Chord by their salesman at the Bristol Show before lockdown, fortunately I forgot about him and like you am now a contented owner. Perhaps they are so successful they are trying not to build up too large a backlog of orders.

 

[ziggy]

I was put off Chord by their salesman at the Bristol Show before lockdown, fortunately I forgot about him and like you am now a contented owner. Perhaps they are so successful they are trying not to build up too large a backlog of orders.

Could well be something to this. The terrible choice of music contributed to it being the worst sounding room. There was no salesman, but I did not stay for long.