By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. It would be absolute suicide for an audio distributor to For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. and the MSB Select II has a huge advantage over other dacs with its modularity and in-house development which promotes, in a very timely way, keeping the product at the very tip top cutting edge of digital interface developments. Mind you, I have chipless DSD with 1 bit processing, so the bar is set VERY high for me. Didn't like it at all. What makes you want to upgrade from DAVE? First I want to say that I fully agree that the hobby is There seemed to be a little more separation of instruments in the mix of whatever I was listening to than with the LAB12 DAC and Pre in the signal path and a slightly leaner edge to the music more clearly etched, perhaps? Moving away from the actual sound of the music, one of my main takeaways from listening to the Discrete was the sense of timing it brought to music. I don't want to waste hifi shops time too much knowing I'll be going second hand either. for instance, the Select II is modular (customers can easily change modules in seconds)so it has the ability to quickly modify its inputs to allow for optimization of various interfaces. While were committed to long lasting products that hold their value, we realize audio systems are always evolving. Australian Business Number 38 650 151 296, Digital Sources, DACs, and Computer Audio, Chord Dave vs Mola Mola Makua/Tambaqui vs Emm Labs Dac2x vs Rockna Wavedream. How does it compare? Thats not allthe CNC unibody aluminum chassis provides the discrete power supply with optimal thermal performance and an elegant design aesthetic. Digital Audio Forum: DAC, Transports, Digital Processing Forum, 4x20A circuits | Audioquest Niagara 3000 | Paul Hynes SR4T + HDPlex HD500 PSUs -> Music PC w/JCAT XE nic, HQPlayer, Roon, Tidal / Qobuz | HDPlex HD100 PSU -> OCX clock + EtherRegen | Aqua Acoustic Quality LinQ streamer | Aqua Acoustic Quality Formula xHD Rev. I don't think any of us have heard the Dave, and we don't have any interest. Unfortunately not, I'm going the second hand route as I've done with most of my setup. Yeah, im thinking a post lock-down GTG is in order. If you send me a dave i will happily be your 4th friend who also owns a dave. Too objective for subjectivists; too subjective for objectivsts. You already have a very top tier DAC. And this is what separates the very good from the excellent piece of audio equipment. Does anyone have formula for that? The DAVE is very resolving, but thinner tonally in comparison to the EMM Labs. DAVE stands for 'Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis', a moniker that best reflects the product's . Personally, I think that both these standpoints have their merits and its going to be a case of you paying your money and you taking your choice. Bespoke Audio Ultimate Silver TVC passive preamp, Totaldac xlr version D1-Drivers x2, Eisteddfod 340 & 840 amps, Magico S5 speaker, MSB Select DAC, MSB Select Transport, Nakamichi 700 XLE cassette deck, Taiko Audio Extreme Server, Tripoint Troy Signature NG groundbox, PLiXiR Elite 1500 isolation transformers. The Pro USB was developed to offer a multi part USB solution that features complete electrical isolation and all the performance of MSBs proprietary Pro ISL input. I could not so, after 2 years of trying, I bought it. Did you audition all of them in the same place with the same system? in this forum and they are all very good dacs. johndoe21ro We have what I consider to be a pretty resolving system, but we also listen to music a fair old bit for pure pleasure and so theres a valve amp currently feeding our chosen reference loudspeakers though thats not to say this system isnt highly resolving in its own right. I've yet to see a system with direct connections eliminating the preamp which wasn't improved by a adding a good preamp back into the mix! What else should one expect? so these are less preferred. Roon/Jriver 22 -> Ayre QX-5 Twenty -> Ayre AX-5 Twenty -> B&W N802D (Transparent Cables). Elegant design. the Select II pushes the analog to be its best. The lo-res display also makes menu ]set-up fiddly because it doesn't have enough space to display words. Cheers @Stereophilus By You absolutely can say that you prefer other DAC's to the Berkeley Alpha Reference. Funny how Rob Watts drones on and on about noise modulation, and then we see his product performing like this.. now one might not exactly call this noise modulation, but it definitely something to avoid, especially given the price tag. Additionally, MSBs robust in-house design enables the finest quality playback of PCM and native DSD, while our low impedance circuitry drives your amplification directly without adding coloration or buffering noise. We can operate our current DAC modules at up to 6 MHz for PCM and up to 50 MHz for DSD. The DAC has two modes; multi-bit PCM and single-bit discrete DSD mode. However, its also very nice to listen to in this system, though I would say it is more accurate/true to the original DAC than our LAB12 DAC or perhaps our Lampizator BIG 7. The modular nature of the Discrete and other MSB DACs is very clever and I assume this goes a good way towards giving it such a neutral and detailed sound, where no one part is interfering with what the other is doing. An FPGA does not have analog output, in the Chord DACs, the FPGA handles digital processing only, not conversion from digital to analog. You might want to consider adding one of Chord's Upscalers, either Hugo M scaler , or the Blu Mk. However, Id argue that there is sort of two trains of thought on this subject; one where theres absolute fidelity to the source material at all costs, and another that sounds great though to the listener but perhaps not absolutely true to the original source and I dont think its unfair to say that both these positions have their place in the world of playing tunes at home. It is not hard to audition these DACs in Melbourneand this is your best way to work out your own preference. The Discrete DAC uses two of these modules per unit. There hasn't been any direct comparison of them with Select II, Trinity DAC, CH D1/C1, Totaldac D12 etc in Hong Kong yet. what Im saying is that comparing dacs also must take into account of all the interface advantages of each particular dac. The good DS (delta sigma) dacs that aren't hard or harsh, are a bit of a yawn, and lack bringing out the life (boogie factor) of the music, but in a . Congratulations on the upgrade and enjoy it in good health. ), Chord Hugo 2 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp), DAC Noise Modulation: Chord DAVE vs Topping DX7 Pro+, Digital To Analog (DAC) Reviews and Discussion, Amplifiers, Phono preamp, and Analog Audio Review. I hope you understand. The MSB DAC comes with one external PSU as standard. Then just stay with the basic Premier unit, and the power supply that comes with it. How does the PS Audio DirectStream DAC compare to the Chord DAC? JavaScript is disabled. We are Right now my favorite DACs in my system are the Pacific Microsonics Model 2 (for PCM), Phasure NOS1a (for PCM), Meridian Ultra (for MQA), and the Playback Designs MPS5 (for DSD128). I have personally not observed this - with either the DAVE or my Mojo. More to follow. and as I said earlier there is no "best" when it comes to dacs or And I make Best DAC Quality Ranking list. Cs | Critical Mass CS2s -> components, Isoacoustics -> speakers + subs | Adona Eris II rack on Herbie's titanium footers | Fully treated and dedicated 2 channel room. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. The evolution of the original irreverent and irrelevant and non-authoritative site for headphone measurements, i.e. Its headphone amplifier is good but no match for higher powered units. It has the option for two PSUs and once you hear with both it becomes a necessity to have both. I can leave my hand on it as long as I want to. Complete electrical isolation If you take a look at their website you will see that the machining shop is a fully equipped facility designed to meet the needs of a company producing high-quality cases in which the electronics will be fitted no off the shelf or cheap bent metal cases here! Chord Dave Black New The Prime DAC With two prime DACs, MSB yields an unprecedented level of detail, reproducing the musicality, soundstage, and texture of an original performance, bringing the artist to you Ps Audio Directstream Dac Vs Auralic Vega Founded in 2004, Games for Change is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers game creators and . Hope to try different formats on both DACs to see what works best in my system. Who knows ?! Even at very low listening levels, it was clear that the MSB was delivering a clean analogue output to the ampand Im aware that sounds a bit vague. Gbel High End [Divin Noblesse], [Divin Marquis], ([Epoque Aeon Fine]). There ain't no Coupe deVille hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box. Once complete there are measurements and functional tests before the final products are inspected, cleaned, and packed up ready to be shipped, but not before a white glove inspection by either Jonathan or Daniel. as far as direct comparison with other dacs the closest Ive done is listening to the Select II at shows and then listening to other top dacs in other systems at shows. Is this what passes for high end? From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates. Its weighty, it feels perfect, its not overly ostentatious and its perfect! Like the Lab12. Get a Lampi Golden Gate Dac and match it with the RK5u4g rectifier and PX25 DHTs or the RK242 DHT. Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers, A healthy approach to understanding measurements, After being asked for the 308th time, Merv lists top 5 headphones, $1000 to the first to design a headamp using discrete components with better measurements than Magni 3+, http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/chord-dave-29757/#post579518, (You must log in or sign up to reply here.). This DAC is 11,000 and as such, it is a considerable investment to make, but I would suggest that this is not stupid money for the kind of transparency and clarity it brings. A fully balanced, ultra-high precision, discrete ladder DAC architecture ensures each note tells a story. Of course your opinion on sound quality is your own, and valid, but to suggest that the reason for the difference is because the Chord is an "FPGA DAC" is technically incorrect. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Hifi Pig and Big Pig Media with appropriate and specific direction (link) to the original content. If I want to build a complicated system, I won't consider DAVE because for the position of DAC, I can choose from other brands (Totaldac, NADAC, Rockna, Prismsound 8XR etc) at the same price. The DAVE DAC does not perform anywhere near where it should. I'm doing this off the top of my head. With two prime DACs, the MSB Discrete yields an unprecedented level of detail that reproduces the musicality, soundstage and texture of an original performance, bringing the artist to you. its that good. And what streamer are you using to feed the DAC? Like a true audiophile with "issues", I'm saying to myself, if at $8300 - MQA decoding. Digital: Sonore opticalModule > Uptone EtherRegen > Shunyata Sigma Ethernet >Antipodes K30> Shunyata Omega USB> Gustard X26pro DAC < Mutec REF10 SE120, Amp& Speakers: Spectral DMA-150mk2 >Aerial 10T, Foundation: Stillpoints Ultra,ShunyataDenali v1 andTyphon power conditioners,Shunyata Delta v2 and QSA Lanedri Gamma power cords, QSA Lanedri GammaRevelationinterconnect,Shunyata SigmaEthernet,MIT Matrix HD60speaker cables, ASC isothermal tube traps, Stillpoints Aperture panels. @yyzsantabarbara, your dealer quote is interesting, I suspected that the Mola Mola was that good. The other thing I've learned about the Chord Dave is it can sound very different depending on the interconnect and/or power cord used. Mola Mola is another well built great sounding DAVE is the most advanced DAC Chord Electronics has ever made. It is bested easily by DACs at $150. I had the DAVE for 3years, it is an amazing DAC. What didn't you like about the Dave? Thanks for the interesting reply, cmarin. Directstream, Bricasti M1, Jeff Rowland Aeris, Chord Dave, and today I If you have a turntable, for instance, the Discrete will have to act as a standalone DAC and go into a preamplifier/integrated amplifier which will then add its own flavour to the mix. I'm looking for suggestions between $10K - $12K. The Hugo TT2 is intended to bridge the gap between the range topping DAVE and budget Qutest rack mounted offerings. Ultimately, reducing noise in a system or improving room acoustics can have a bigger effect. @astewart8944--two years ago in Feb of 17 i did audition the original Formula dac in my system directly compared to the Lampizator GG 1.5 and the Nagra HD and preferred the Formula for its greater space, lower noise, and more neutral and fast presentation. If I had been responsible for coding that display I would never tell anyone. But of course, I love window shopping and perusing top tier systems including illustrious more familiar gear like Lampi, TD, MSB, Ares Cerat, Aqua. I'll take a look, however I've heard they're on the warm side? There are some tonal differences too, but what you prefer will depend on your other equipment and the music you like. turns out that with the Extreme USB slightly pulls ahead of the Ethernet with the Renderer, then adding the Pro USB there is now a significant step up over the Renderer. It's too damn expensive, full stop. I agree price is necessarily indicative of quality or performance. None, despite working back as I always do if theres an issue! There are a lot of people that absolutely love the M-scaler. When a dealer post something you have to take it with a enormous grain of salt. With the MSB there has been a great deal of attention paid to ensuring the signal stays as pure as possible and is not affected by other parts of the DAC or outside sources; modular construction, dual power supplies, isolation of USB etc. At this kind of price, it puts Chord DAVE as being direct competition and I said that DAVE was the best DAC Id heard back in 2018. Yes, you read that right, the Select DAC is the best part of 121,000! Were constantly improving digital input modules to stay at the forefront of the high-end audio industry, ensuring youre always equipped with the most current digital file formats and interfaces. MSBs top-level DAC is 121K and there are other brands out there offering very expensive options, but the truth is that the vast majority of people will never feel the need to spend that kind of money (even if they could) to eek out that last-minute bit of detail. They both use FPGA for their decoding. Thank you for posting! As I said, its an odd one to describe but you do hear it as it brings a sense of rightness to rhythm tracks. This is a review, detailed measurements and listening tests of CHORD DAVE combination DAC and headphone amplifier. Bespoke Audio Ultimate Silver TVC passive preamp, Totaldac xlr version D1-Drivers x2, Eisteddfod 340 & 840 amps, Magico S5 speaker, MSB Select DAC, MSB Select Transport, Nakamichi 700 XLE cassette deck, Taiko Audio Extreme Server, Tripoint Troy Signature NG groundbox, PLiXiR Elite 1500 isolation transformers. MSB thrives off the innovation required to meet consumer demands. IMHO an audio recommendation in a forum is just an advice on what is worth listening and the reason why we think so. The MSB simply sounded more real to my ears and offered a more convincing soundstage and tonality and all the tiny informations in the music where integrated in the musical flow whereas the DAVE simply sounded flat and not realistic to my ears and even lacked those tiny informations. Anyway, I switched out the valve power amplifier and put in its place the Krell KST100 (all fully fettled and brought up to a better than new spec by Krell in the States) with my intention being to see what effect was the DAC and what was down to the amp basically isolating the effect to a component. comes down to knowing what you are actually trying to achieve in a high end The video cannot be shown. I think people buy what they like. November 11, 2020 in Digital Sources, DACs, and Computer Audio. Rori is definitely welcome. Up to 4X DSD Aurender N10 is still not a USB only dedicated streamer so you will not hear what USB audio is fully capable off through Ms/Dave. more might come to mind and I will add them. Powered by Invision Community. JavaScript is disabled. I can only comment on the Emm labs, if u can get a DA2 I think you will be happy "An audiophile is only done when they go to the great brick and mortar store in the sky" Ron Resnick 1 - MSB Discrete 2 - dCS Bartok 3 - Mola Mola Tambaqui 4 - Chord DAVE (add the M Scaler later) 5 - Keep my Ayre QX-5 Twenty, do nothing Thanks! It may not display this or other websites correctly. Up to 32 bit 768kHz What I do know is that the MSB brings an excellent level of performance by way of neutrality to a system that allows other parts of the system to do their thing its sort of the digital equivalent of a very (very) good cartridge. You must log in or register to reply here.