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Chord Dave

It won't be for everyone. I'm not saying it's the best. I've owned several DACs and after owning the Dave for a couple of weeks all I can say is WOW! This is the closest to hearing a night and day difference between components that I've experienced. The Dave differentiates between recording venues better than anything I've owned. Detail, soundstage, air, vocals, attack and dynamics are truly outstanding. I'm saying all of this and I'm using the standard power cord. If you're looking for a new DAC, give the Dave a listen.  
ricred1
ricred1 OP
2,001 posts
 
skanda,
I've tried the Dave direct and prefer the Dave with a preamp. In my system it's not close, but every system is different.
dguitarnut
136 posts
 
Yeah....much better with preamp. IMHO the best dac I have heard or owned.
rhljazz
1,253 posts
 
Ricred, did you give the volume control stage sufficient time to break in like 50 plus hours or just perform a quick AB comparison?  I would expect the Dave to sound very competitive direct.
I would love to hear the Dave as I,m still in love with my original Hugo.
blackbierd
7 posts
 
Hi guys i have chord qutest ,i want an advice i can afford chord dave but donno what better upgrade? chord dave or qutest with m scaler
my dealer told me he will take back the qutest to an make me buying the dave so what is ur opinion guys?!?

dguitarnut
136 posts
 
Actually In my audition of the M-scaler with my Dave I was undecided. The m-scaler presentation to my ears was a little too smooth and lost a little of the dynamics. But that was in my present system with tube amp and preamp which I had gone to from solid state because of the lack of smoothness. Perhaps with solid state or transistor system I would have preferred the inclusion of the m-scaler.
   I would recommend getting the Dave and going from there. It is an amazing Dac to my ears.  The resolution is amazing without being overwhelming now in my setup.
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