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Writer's pictureAlexander aka KUBIK

CHORD DAVE

DAC • Preamp • Headphone Amplifier





DAVE is an acronym for "Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis"



This gave opportunities to further improve performance:

Improved time domain (transient timing accuracy)

Improved noise-shaper performance

DAVE has much more advanced analogue electronics


TIME DOMAIN

The primary purpose of a DAC is to reproduce the un-sampled continuous analogue waveform from sampled digital data

Conventional DACs do a poor job of reproducing the original continuous analogue signal, with timing errors on transients

Increasing tap-length of FIR filters gives better time domain accuracy in terms of the timing of transients

The ear/brain is extremely sensitive to very small timing errors

Timing accuracy upsets the perception of the start and stopping of notes

It also degrades the ability to perceive instrument timbre and power

It degrades soundstage precision


DAVE has a 164,000-tap WTA filter.

The noise-shaper takes the high-resolution 2048 FS data and converts it to 5 bits


20-element Pulse Array DAC.

Ultra-low-noise sub-milli-ohm power planes for Pulse Array element flip-flops.


MEASURED PERFORMANCE

Maximum output voltage 6V RMS – the reference voltage dBA, measured using APx 555

THD and noise at 5V RMS 1kHz -124 dBA A wt

THD and noise at 2.5V RMS 1kHz - 127 dBA A wt (-124 dBA into 33 ohms)

THD 1kHz 2.5V RMS 0.000015%

Dynamic Range at -60 dBFS 1kHz -127 dBA A wt

No measurable noise floor modulation, no anharmonic distortion

Analogue distortion characteristic – no distortion for small signals.


Technical Features:

Digital Inputs

4x 75Ω S/PDIF BNC Coax – 44.1kHz to 384kHz

1x AES XLR – 44.1kHz to 96kHz

2x Fibre Optic TOSLINK – 44.1kHz to 96kHz

1x USB Type B – 44.1kHz to 768kHz – PCM and DSD


Analog Outputs

1x Stereo Pair of Unbalanced RCA

1x Stereo Pair of Balanced XLR

1x 1/4" TRS Jack Headphone Output


Performance

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

Dimensions (including connectors)

333.5mm (W) x 71mm (H) x 154mm (D)

Weight

7kg (15.5 lbs)

Package Includes

  • 1.5m Type A to Type B USB Cable

  • 1.5m 10a IEC Mains Power Lead

  • Reference Dave Remote

  • Dave Owners Manual

  • 5-Year Warranty



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