Chord Dave vs. DAC-V1

Um. From memory (and that's more sieve-like by the day) it was: DAC mode, Filter off and Phase positive defaults. I have it set to Pre-Amp mode (volume set to -13db - better integration with the rest of the inputs to the 552), Filter on, Phase positive (though in the case of the last two the difference was probably in my head).

Hi Gary, interesting that you have the Dave set to Pre-Amp, I have mine set to DAC-Mode in order to avoid having to preamp at the same signal path, I would have thought that with the NAC552 on your rack you wouldn't want anything else messing with the audio before it.... Can yo elaborate more on the better integration with the rest of the 552 inputs that you mentioned in your post?

Thanks

thijazi posted:

 Can yo elaborate more ............... ?

Thanks

The signal path is the same.

the volume control is  digitally controlled in dave

very advanced and involves changing the noise shaping of the Dac, well beyond anything by all other competitors, yes even DCS

thijazi posted:

Hi Gary, interesting that you have the Dave set to Pre-Amp, I have mine set to DAC-Mode in order to avoid having to preamp at the same signal path, I would have thought that with the NAC552 on your rack you wouldn't want anything else messing with the audio before it.... Can yo elaborate more on the better integration with the rest of the 552 inputs that you mentioned in your post?

Thanks

As Ali says, this mode doesn't have any negative effect. In fact, balancing the input volume sounds better to me than DAC mode, which is much higher than CD, NAT01 etc., levels. See also Hugo.

So by balancing the input volume you are setting the dave into "Digital-Pre" mode and the volume at -13db? What do you base the volume level setting on to determine if it was correctly balanced? I will try this out today. I read somewhere that having two volume controls in the signal path is detrimental to sound quality so naturally assumed as the 552 was a superior pre that it would handle volume in a better way to... You learn something new every day with this hobby!

I match by ear to the CD555, NAT01 and TV, which all come out at pretty much the same level. 

Well what do you know, the NAC552 is dead again (or half dead!), I got it back after having to send it to the UK to be fixed for the muted right channel only for it to work fine for less than a week and then tonight again, same issue, right channel is dead... I understood that the last time there was a fault in one of the mute-relays, seems the problem is bigger than that...

Pretty disappointing knowing the amount of money this box commands, I would have expected a bit more on the reliability side.

Now I have to arrange to have it sent back to the UK again and wait another month and a half before I can get it back...

Grrrrrrr.........

Keep us in the loop.... it may be back at base for a long time in order to replicate the fault....

That is one big dissapointment

a 20k amp that is not a new product going back and forth to uk!

if Naim have a good customer care they will exchange it with a new one pronto and take back the problematic unit

this level of customer care is part of 20k invoice when you fail twice

thijazi posted:

What I found interesting is that the Dave is always louder than the DAC-V1 (I set both to use the NAC volume control bypassing the DAC's own volume control)..

Cheers,

And this alone, in the opinion of many who see things (also) from a scientific point of view, would be enough to justify your impression that the Dave is somehow 'better'. Higher sound pressure always manages to convey an impression of quality.

Try to find a way to have better matching volumes. Just a suggestion.

Cheers.

Sorry, I hadn't read about the 552 failure.

CD

Well Naim do have good customer care, they just confirmed they will be replacing my unit... 

I knew they would take care of the customer, a company that is so obsessed and passionate with quality, I am confident they always stand by their products.