Chord Dave Replacement


I'm looking for suggestions on DACs I should listen to as possible replacement of my Chord Dave. I'm looking for suggestions between $10K - $12K.
ricred1
That statement makes sense in an analog paradigm. But digital, potentially, can change things.

Think of video. Upscaling an image (well) can most certainly improve the quality. That’s not to say that algorithms can restore *the same* detail that was originally present but lost in the lower-resolution digital capture. However, it can appear to be more like the original to our perception.

This is because scaling is now more sophisticated that merely "averaging new dots between the old" (what used to happen). Sony has had AI tools analyze millions of images in high resolution, and compare with the low-resolution rendering. Based on patterns, the AI learns to "restore" back detail in the low resolution images that appears to our senses to be real detail. It technically isn’t 100% accurate to the detail that was there in real-life, but it’s "more accurate", or at least it appears to be so to our vision, than the low resolution signal. And what’s especially impressive is that they can do all of this on an affordable chip, and in real-time, in their higher-end TVs and projectors.

Upscaling (and potentially upsampling) audio signals is exactly the same. There’s no reason why good AI couldn’t be trained with pattern recognition over time to perceptively restore natural detail into low-resolution digital audio the same way. 
"I’m not sure if there are algorithms that can add high-frequency information that wasn’t captured in the original sampled result"

This is the most important statement , I believe upscaling or upsampling whatever you choose to call it is not more than a voodoo.
You can't add information that is not exist at the original recording it's not more than a manipulation process that might degrade the sound. 
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I’d imagine that upscaling refers to increasing bit-depth (like from 16 to 24 bits) which adds "vertical" resolution to the waveform... in theory, improving amplitude resolution... making subtle low-level detail more natural and audible (among other things) if done correctly.

Whereas upsampling likely refers to increasing sampling rate (like from 44.1 to 88.2 kHz) which also adds resolution but in the time-domain (or horizontal resolution of the waveform). I’m not sure if there are algorithms that can add high-frequency information that wasn’t captured in the original sampled result... but who knows... maybe so as AI and pattern-recognition software improves.

Also, in conjunction with upscaling, having more sample points could also serve to increase resolution because a bit-word needs to be calculated and saved for each new sample... and the upsampler/scaler might do a more accurate job of this than the typical "oversampling" filter in most DACs. Some DACs may also sound better in terms of being less affected by jitter if they are converting higher sampling rates. I’m just throwing out various ways that adding new samples could improve, or at least change, the perceived sound quality we hear.
@timo62 Can you tell me the difference between upscaling and upsampling?  Thanks.
Not sure why you would spend so much on a DAC when the Crane Song Solaris is available at $1,949. I've had many world class DACS in my studio over the years and the Crane Song is as good as any no matter the cost. They're very back ordered and are a pro unit with balanced only outputs and no remote but oh my do they sound spectacular. 
Actually the Chord Hugo M Scaler and the Blu Mk. 2 are upscalers , not upsamplers.

Currently using The Chord Hugo M Scaler with the Qutest DAC and really enjoy the combo.
I don't like Dave with or without upsampler but I do like Auralic G2 with their upsampler and clock. 
Everyone hears differently...I heard the Dave with the Blu and I prefer it without it. 
The best upgrade for Dave... easy. Tellurium Silver Diamond USB and Chord Blu. It will kick your ass. I was upgrading it in this order and still could not believe every time it sounded better. I still did not found better audio source. It is worth every penny. And yes, you can improve it more by adding nice power source and cable.
The other thing I've learned about the Chord Dave is it can sound very different depending on the interconnect and/or power cord used.
hgeifman,
I don't know if your question is directed to me or not? If so, I've never directly compared the two; therefore it would be unfair to answer your question.
How does the PS Audio DirectStream DAC compare to the Chord DAC?   They both use FPGA for their decoding.  Thanks. 
nitewulf,
No, not anymore. I listened to a couple other DACs and decided to keep what I have.
It doesn’t get too hot to touch. I can leave my hand on it as long as I want to.
Steve,
Sorry anytime I read statements like, " The PCM DAC that buries them all and has the best technology for volume control.", I just stay away from. There are no absolutes in audio, only preferences.
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Get a Lampi Golden Gate Dac and match it with the RK5u4g rectifier and PX25 DHTs or the RK242 DHT. After that you are GOLDEN. Thank me later...LoL
There are a lot of people that absolutely love the M-scaler. I've tried it in my system and I don't like it. To my ears it makes music sound unnatural. 
What makes you want to upgrade from DAVE? Like others said, I'd try first an MScaler with DAVE. I'd also look at the Mola-Mola Tambaqui and the new dCS Bartok.
I've owned a PS Audio Directstream, Bricasti M1, Jeff Rowland Aeris, Chord Dave, and today I auditioned the Rockna Wavedream Edition DAC. Out of all of the DACs I've heard, I could easily live with the Aeris, Dave, or Wavedream. The Wavedream only has a couple hours on it, but from the first note it sounds like a more transparent Chord Dave to my ears. My wife said it sounds just like the Dave. It's my understanding that the Wavedream only has 20 hours on it. Like a true audiophile with "issues", I'm saying to myself, if at $8300 list the Rockna Wavedream Edition sounds this good, how good does their $16K Signature DAC sound? More to follow.
toetapaudio,

I sent you a PM. I'm also looking into the Hugo M Scaler and Blu mk2 as possible upgrades. 
@ricred1, I would like to suggest you take a look at the Mola Mola Tambaqui when it arrives later this month I understand. Going by the performance of the Mola Mola Makua (pre with dac module) it will be extremely good. Price £9k in the U.K.

Not sure if you are aware but there is a comparison between Dave and Makua in the Computer Audiophile Forum which might be worth reading.


I have had Dave in my system. Great Dac but for me a NOS DAC (Metrum Adagio) won the contest over all the others Dacs I have tried so far. 

Saved me also 3K in direct comparison with the save and even more on the MSB.  

I would recommend in general to try some NOS dacs .
Mayby you already don so.
Look also below your budget range and not at the Usual Suspects. 

The DENAFRIPS Terminator was not around yet when I bought my new Dac. It does NOS , OS and DSD. The Rockna Wavedream does the same. 

I have no need to change the Metrum it’s already at the level I can live with for many years to come. But those two Dacs would be on my list of options for shure. 












Thanks for the responses.

frozentundra,
I do use Roon and I'll try the linear warm filter.
Use Roon 
run the upsample filter- linear warm
upsample to double DSD , then listen to Dave

My thoughts

ps: I’m a sacd fan

You already have a very top tier DAC. You might want to consider adding one of Chord's Upscalers, either  Hugo M scaler , or the Blu Mk. 2. This would help to take your digital playback up a few levels.