Chord Dave
The Chord Electronics DAVE, Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis, is the most advanced DAC Chord has ever produced, and one of the most technically accomplished digital-to-analog converters ever made by any manufacturer. At its heart is a Spartan 6 FPGA loaded with over a million lines of code, running a 164,000-tap WTA filter for a level of timing accuracy and noise-shaping performance that has no peer. Made in the UK.
Type and Technology
Reference DAC, digital preamplifier, and headphone amplifier, solid-state. Spartan 6 FPGA with 1,000x the processing power of a conventional DAC chip. 164,000-tap WTA filter. Industry-leading noise shaper performance. Lossless digital volume control for direct connection to power amplifiers. PCM support: 44.1kHz to 768kHz, 16-32bit. DSD64 to DSD512 native and via DoP. Digital inputs: 4x coaxial BNC (up to 384kHz), 1x AES XLR (up to 96kHz), 2x optical TOSLINK (up to 96kHz), 1x USB Type B (up to 768kHz, PCM and DSD). Stereo balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs. One 6.35mm headphone output. Remote control and large LC display. Made in the UK.
Sound Character
The DAVE presents digital recordings with a sense of timing accuracy, three-dimensional space, and low-level resolution that is genuinely unprecedented in the category, even at multiples of its price. The 164,000-tap filter recovers timing information from PCM with accuracy that brings recordings to life in ways listeners describe as transformative. The headphone amplifier section is reference-quality in its own right, with 0.055 ohm output impedance and sufficient output current for virtually any transducer.
Build and Finish
Precision-machined aircraft-grade aluminium with the characteristic DAVE porthole design. Large LC display showing input, sample frequency, volume, and configuration. Remote control and rotary encoder with stainless steel controller. Available in Silver or Jett Black.
Best For
The most serious audiophiles who want the finest digital source Chord Electronics makes, and the last DAC they will ever need to buy.
What's in the Box
- Chord DAVE DAC/preamp/headphone amp
- Remote control
- Power cable
- Documentation
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Reference DAC, digital preamplifier, and headphone amplifier |
| FPGA | Xilinx Spartan 6, 164,000-tap WTA filter |
| THD+N | -127.5 dB (A-weighted) |
| Dynamic range | 127.5 dB (A-weighted) |
| Channel separation | Greater than 125 dB at 1kHz |
| PCM support | 44.1kHz - 768kHz, 16-32bit |
| DSD support | DSD64 - DSD512 |
| Digital inputs | 4x BNC coax, 1x AES XLR, 2x optical, 1x USB Type-B |
| Outputs | Balanced XLR, unbalanced RCA, 6.35mm headphone |
| Headphone output impedance | 0.055 ohms |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 78 x 335 x 152 mm |
| Weight | 5 kg |