NDS vs, Chord Dave anyone ?

I think there was a whole thread on this recently. The answer seemed to be no, but it went on for many pages.

Sorry - just checked - it was in the hifi room comparing the Dave and the DAC V1.

Thanks Dozey.

I compared the NDS+555PS DR to a Metronome C8+ the other day, using the streaming portion of the NDS as the streamerfor the dac, and they were overall on par; I must admit that I slightly prefer the C8+ especially when set to tube output.

Having heard many good things about the Dave I am interested in understanding how it relates to the NDS. 

Dave is a DAC/pre (innit?) so you won't get a peep out of it without a transport or NDS-type device upstream.

yes, I am aware... but for the time being I'm interested in understanding how it compares

sbilotta posted:

yes, I am aware... but for the time being I'm interested in understanding how it compares

hificritic had made a review of the dave. Martin Colloms have nds/555dr and naim amps. He found the dave more tube like, a little more beautiful sound quality vs the nds. But he said the nds is more dynamic and have more prat. The advantage of the dave, for me, is it usb imput, so you can link a high end server/nas as melco or aurender. ( dave with aurender s10 is the same price as nds/555 dr).

you have hificritic review of the dave , the dave is more tube like sounding and the nds is more dynamic and has more prat.

Actually MC uses a Naim 500 power amp and a Townshend Allegri pre amp. Very interesting as I use an NDS and Allegri preamp myself, but have not heard the DAVE.

500DR, not 500

Keler Pierre posted:

sbilotta posted:

yes, I am aware... but for the time being I'm interested in understanding how it compares

hificritic had made a review of the dave. Martin Colloms have nds/555dr and naim amps. He found the dave more tube like, a little more beautiful sound quality vs the nds. But he said the nds is more dynamic and have more prat. The advantage of the dave, for me, is it usb imput, so you can link a high end server/nas as melco or aurender. ( dave with aurender s10 is the same price as nds/555 dr).

Thanks Pierre

Keler Pierre posted:

sbilotta posted:

yes, I am aware... but for the time being I'm interested in understanding how it compares

hificritic had made a review of the dave. Martin Colloms have nds/555dr and naim amps. He found the dave more tube like, a little more beautiful sound quality vs the nds. But he said the nds is more dynamic and have more prat. The advantage of the dave, for me, is it usb imput, so you can link a high end server/nas as melco or aurender. ( dave with aurender s10 is the same price as nds/555 dr).

I wouldn't then put too much importance on this review. No disrespect to Martin Colloms, then he isn't really listening to a full Naim amplifier with a Townshend Allegri passive preamp, so we are bound to hear things differently.

I found the opposite when comparing Dave to a CD555 on a 552/500 Naim amp which is a complete Naim amp, not what he listens to.

CD555 has more highlighted midrange - if this is what people call Tube like.

Dave is more fluid, more graceful, more neutral, and just sounds more like real music.

Prat - well about the same, not much in it at all.

The Dave however, has a subtle way with emotions, and made me forget about buying more Vinyl for my turntable... It really is a digital source that has "analogue" like flow of music.

Analog like sound isn't just about having nice high's like many top sources can render (a certain 16,000 Gbp one box streamer example), but it is also about flow.....  It isn't also about PRAT either.

When is the last time anyone went to concert and noticed the PRAT of any show? or the PRAT of the amps or speakers?

It is about the combination beautiful high's, flow, emotions from the music, PRAT, 3D soundstage, instruments which leave the speakers, and that is what Dave does.

Hi are there any more views from forum members....in the way of an update....