Chord Dave DAC
DAVE is the most advanced DAC we have ever made. It features the very best conversion technology available, using proprietary techniques never seen before, making DAVE the most advanced DAC/preamp amplifier in the world. DAVE stands for ‘Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis’, a moniker that best reflects the product’s capability; a device so advanced and with so few compromises, that it is truthful in the extreme.
DAVE, which is also a reference-level headphone amplifier and digital preamp, distils over twenty years of Chord Electronics’ research, development and advanced engineering into one device. At its heart lies the advanced Spartan 6 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with 1,000x the processing power of a traditional mass-produced chip DAC. DAVE’s FPGA is loaded with over a million lines of code to confront complex timing issues head-on, with speed and precision.
The FPGA’s extraordinary capability enables a number of key sonic benefits, including significantly improved timing and the best noise-shaper performance of any known DAC. DAVE’s technology delivers music with unmatched reality and musicality, with an unrivalled timing response. The device’s lossless digital volume control outputs the signal direct to your power amplifier for the purest experience.
DAVE has a large LC display, showing input, sample frequency, volume and set-up configurations options, within our famous porthole design. On its fascia, DAVE also features a rotary encoder with a large stainless steel controller and ball buttons, enabling direct interactivity in addition to the supplied remote control.
video DAC technology - please allow 10 secs to load
Reviews
- What Hi-Fi?
"One of the easiest ‘Outstanding Awards’ to decide on" Hi-Fi Pig
"The Chord Dave is a remarkable piece of design that quite probably sets the benchmark for just what a DAC is capable of at present. From the quality of its handcrafted casework to the sheer engineering prowess of the proprietary electronics inside this is quite simply an outstanding product" Hi-Fi World
"Quite simply, some kind of magnificent. In a way, it’s so good that the review effectively channels the late science-fiction author Sir Arthur C. Clarke, because the DAVE lives up to his maxim that, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Hi-Fi Plus
"Sound Quality – New Levels of Performance – “Incredible”
"My reference review system was now sounding incredible in just about every way possible within the constraints of its overall quality. Every attention to detail paid to every area seemed to all click into place with the DAVE’s resolving power at the centre allowing the overall system quality to flourish. What a rewarding and engaging listening experience."
"The speed, timing and transient clarity of the DAVE are exceptional, it presents musical layers, including very complex musical pieces broken clearly and cleanly across a wide and open sound stage. This level of clarity is totally engaging and the crispness of the leading edges of notes makes for a snappy and lively presentation that grabs and holds your attention. There is certainly no chance of falling asleep listening like this, the music communicates its message and emotion to the listener with real vigour. The DAVE has a surgical precision in how the music is layered and timed, its damn near perfect in this regard. There is no smearing of layers, there are no details lost there is outright precision to the musical performance most critically without losing the musicality. Perhaps beyond all other aspects of performance, what is so important about the Chord DAVE is that it represents a raising of the bar of what can be had from a digital device. It’s one of those rare products that throws down the gauntlet, both sonically and technologically. Yes, you can do a lot with an off-the-shelf variation on a theme of the application board that is supplied to digital engineers by the chip companies, but that only goes so far. Chord Electronics’ DAVE is one of the few devices that challenges that concept head on. And for that, I can put up with the electromorphising name. The DAVE gets the strongest recommendation we can muster!" Pursuit Perfect System
"Judging by the tremendous sound quality on offer the FPGA technology of Chord DACs really works. Having listened to some of the latest ESS Sabre DAC chipsets, admittedly in cheaper converters, this DAC is clearly in another league." The Ear
"It feels like conquering a mountain peak while listening to Dave, there’s a feeling of accomplishment, getting higher doses of dopamine once it starts playing. You need to hear to believe it how it handles double drums, fast solos and quick shifts in dynamics." Soundnews
Specifications
- DAC 164 TAP FPGA (see video above)
- Supports up to 768kHz, 512 (8x) Dsd
- Streamer: Bluetooth aptX HD ✅ Yes
- Digital inputs: 1x 768kHz USB-B, 4x 384kHz BNC Coax, 2 x AES/EBU, 2 x opt ✅
- Outputs RCA, XLR balanced, 1/4 headphone jack ✅ Yes
- Headphone Amp: Supports 8 - 800 Ohm, crossfeed ✅ Yes
- Variable Audio Out: Pre amp function ✅ Yes
- Roon tested ✅ Yes
- IR remote included ✅ Yes
- Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz +/- 0.1dB
- THD +N: -127.5dB (AWT)
- Channel Separation: >125dB @ 1kHz
- Dynamic Range: 127.5dB (AWT)
- Headphone Output: 1% THD 6.8v RMS with 300Ω (154mW) 1% THD 6.8v RMS with 33Ω (1.4w)
- Output Impedance: 0.055Ω (short circuit protected)
- Operating voltage: 90v AC – 250v AV auto switching 50Hz – 60Hz
- Power consumption: Full power – 40 W Standby – 10 W
- Dimensions (including connectors): 7.8cm (H) 33.5cm (W) 15.2cm (D)
- Weight: 5kg
- Warranty 5 years
