Chord Dave and lInear power supply

@antigrunge2 

 

I agree with  your opinion that digital system is sensitive to power cable and supply.

Sean Jacobs DC4 also got favorable review, but I opeted for Farad and happy with improvement at modest cost.

 

Thomas

Had anyone installed Farad to your Dave?

 

If so, please chime in your impression.

 

As 5 weeks after initial installation, it is the best 3k$ spent on my digital system.

 

Dave + (with Farad) sounds fuller  with vivid sound.

 

Thomas

@carlsbad

 

Hi Jerry

 

The improveemnt brough by Farad linear power supply is day and night.

 

The installation is not that difficult as most people feared.

 

No soldering is requied.

Just simple change of board after loosening some screws.

 

They are not warm at all  with little power compsumption less than 40 watts.

 

Good luck!

 

Thomas

@carlsbad 

 

Now is the best time with high USD/vs Euro.

 

If Euro recovers, then coupon may not be of help.

 

😁

@lalitk 

 

I had been using Synergistic blue cable which made large improvement over stock cable.

 

But Farad power supply made much more improvement than Synergistic blue cable

Thomas

I bought a regular package since I can upgrade fuse later.

 

I found shortcoming of Dave and Mscaler when I compared it with ideon Absolute side by side at home.

 

Dave gave some sibilance and less decay than Ideon.

 

I do not have Absolute Ideon right now.

 

But with linear power supply, it seema to approach 90% of Ideon Absolute.

 

Thomas

@nkj 

 

I fully agree with your impression.

 

By the way linear supplies are also sensitive to power cables.

 

Thomas

@nkj 

 

Congratulation!

 

Please let me know how much improvement Syner Purple fuses have on Dave.

 

best

 

Thomas

@rshad0000

 

You wont regret your decision.

 

I used to use Margules tube pre after Dave to tame slightly thin sound.

 

https://margules.com/en/sf-220-30th/

 

But after having Farad power supplies, I can do without tube pre although I still favor the sound through pre.to small degree.

 

Thomas

After 4 weeks of burn in, Dave with Farad three power supplies, sounds more detailed and powerful but without slight sibilance which bothered me before.

 

I am happy with this mod and trying some power cables on three power supplies.

 

Although Dave with Farad will not reach level of Ideon Absolute yet, but it is close.

 

After attending Pacific Audio fest, I can not make decision what my next Dac upgrade will be.

 

Wadax sounds perfect but too expensive with 200k $ or more price tag.

 

Lampi Horizon and Ideon Absolute are pretty good for the money.

 

But after having been happy with modified Dave., I may not go for Horizon or Absolute since the improvement will be marginal.

 

Thomas

I am using Aurender N30 as source.

 

After happy home audition of N20, I pulled for N30 instead.

 

N20 is the best bang for the money.

 

But N30 give slightly better details and overall balance than N20.

 

Thomas

@nkj 

 

I had tried isolation transformer on Dave.

 

It improved the sound significantly.

 

But with it, I hear some ground hum since they are not grounded in the same earth.

 

Thus  I stopped using isolation transformer on Dave.

 

best

 

Thomas

 

I recorded this music with Pap C1 active crossover last night.

 

It sounds very lively and transparent.

 

if I use Accuphase F25, it sounds relaxed with slight loss of transparency.

 

I am taking turns between two different crossovers depending on my mood and music.

@rshad0000

 

It is good to hear your positive experience.

 

With three Farad power supplies, it is difficult to use expensive PCs.

 

But I found that even modestly priced PC make some improvement.

 

With more speed and clarity, the overall balance could sound slightly bright.

 

You may try more relaxed interconnect rather than super detailed one.

 

in my case I do use bi amping using acitve crossover( PapC1 and Accuphase F25 are taking turns)

 

Pap C1 give more lively sound while F25 give more relaxed sound.

 

Thus I lower the output of treble little bit.

 

But overalll Farad makes Dave much more dynamic and lively too.

 

Thus it sounds closer to Ideon Absolute which I had done home audition two months ago.

 

But I do not claim that Dave + is at the same level as Ideon Absolute yet.

 

Dave+ will be at the same level or slightly better in details than Ideon Ion.

 

Thomas

@carlsbad 

 

Congratulation for your positive result.

 

I am happy with Dave +.

 

This kind of details, separation and dynamics was not possible with unmodified Dave.

 

Thomas

@rshad0000

 

If you add tube pre after Dave, it will sound more balanced and organic.

 

I am happy with Margules Audio SF220.15 20th Anniversary Stereo Tube Preamplifier which I had bought after being impressed with it at Pacific Audiofest 2022.

 

Thomas

@cantorgale

 

Congratulation on good results with SJ power supply.

 

It is debated which is better between SJ and Farad at Headphone community.

 

But without regard to cost of 3K$, I am happy with result out of Farad

 

Thomas

@brandonhifi 

 

Congratulation!

 

Please keep us updated.

 

Thomas

@carlsbad 

 

I happened to install linear power supply(not Farad) to Mscaler  about two months ago.

 

It improved the sound.

 

Thus I had decided to install Farad kits on Dave.

 

You went the other way around.😀

 

Thomas

@carlsbad 

 

Mine also got tied up at US custom for a week.

 

But it was worth the wait.

 

Thomas

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832580085862.html?ug_edm_item_id=2251832580085862&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%21US%20%24100.00%21US%20%2460.00%21%21%21%21%21%40212b90ca16765464364812610d07ec%2112000030208856684%21edm&edm_log_data=edm-item-list-three-columns.store-product-log-link&tracelog=rowan&rowan_id1=post_arrive_20221027_1_en_US_2023-02-18&rowan_msg_id=5761816092504025%2471e29d13cd1e493d9a7bab208fb7641a&ck=in_edm_other&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

 

Farad LPs is still sensitive to EMI noise.

 

When I have above 60 $ unit in front of Farad, Dave’s sound got much fuller and cleaner.

 

It also works well with my Margules tube pre to similar effect.

 

Thomas

After having above unit just in front of Farad LPS, violin sounds sweeter with natural tone.