Chord DAVE DAC

@jackhifiguy 

Since your goal seems to be objective fidelity, I would put more stock in measurements than subjective listening impressions. Having said that, out of all the Chord DACs I've listened to over the years (DAVE - with and without M Scaler, Hugo2, Mojo, and Qutest), my favorite is actually the Qutest. It also happens to be the DAC that measures the best. Coincidence? Perhaps.

Audio aside, it may be best to spend the money on those new bathrooms for your family as another poster mentioned. They're much more important than gadgets and gear.

As for objective fidelity and measurements ASR, has recently trashed the Chord DAVE.

Objectively speaking, if you follow what's been going on in the forums it is clear to me that one doesn't have to spend more than the cost of the Holo May to get a taste of the best that digital has to offer.  I have done it for less, but I'm not in this thread to promote a brand.

IMO, though, Chord products are the most cheaply built (except for their cases), overpriced DACs on the market.  The DAVE has a very inexpensive to make switch-mode power supply and at the heart of its analog stage are two $1.50 TI chips.  I don't think a component can give more than what it is made of.  A very personal view. And not to mention that this $14,000 DAC needs a $5,650 accessory to sound its best.

Better remodel those bathrooms man, or it will cost you even more when the wife finds out. 

@melm 

IMO, though, Chord products are the most cheaply built (except for their cases), overpriced DACs on the market.  The DAVE has a very inexpensive to make switch-mode power supply and at the heart of its analog stage are two $1.50 TI chips.

Noteworthy.

Charles

i would have to say, in my own experience, the chord hugo tt2 with m scaler is one of my favorite sounding dacs i have experienced through my extensive dac journey since covid shut us in in early 2020, when i finally implemented music streaming, and thus have been running the gauntlet of dacs, priced high and low

certainly expensive, certainly well marketed, i don’t know too much about what goes on inside, maybe it contains some cheapo parts nestled within those sexy machined cases with colored baubles, but to me, this combo is one of the very small handful of best sounding dacs i heard, and one which i still choose to own - so to me, they did get something right, and maybe the most important thing