Enough is Enough

deep_333,

Thanks for the information. I already sent AcousticFields an email.

hgeifman and mikhailark,

Thanks for the response to my post. I guess it’s unreasonable to expect an Audio dealer to actually help a customer without insulting what they have.

moonwatcher,

I don't know everything, but I don't expect or need a dealer to tell me my system is fine. I'm simply asking a dealer to recommend a replacement for my Chord Dave DAC. 

deep_333,

You can't see my other sub, but I have two subs. The subs were set-up by the dealer using a mic/REW and several hours of listening,

Thanks to everyone that took the time to be part of my thread. I just wanted to share my experience with other's in this crazy hobby. 

Thanks to the nice comments about my system!

We all have our own journey. Individually we decided how much we want to spend on a component and the sound we prefer.

Some have commented that I don't need a new DAC, but I'll tell the story of how I got to this point. I do have a good dealer(3ma Audio) and I try to purchase from them when possible. For over a year I listened to several speakers in my price range. I never heard speakers within my price range that made me want to sell my speakers. 3ma Audio recommended subwoofers and they brought them to my house. My wife thinks adding the REL No. 32 subwoofers was a great decision. I did the same thing with my amplifier and preamp. I sold my old amplifier and purchased Jeff Rowland 735 mono-amps. My next focus was on my source(music server and DAC). I was grateful to be able to get a home audition of the Antipodes Oladra music server. I don't want to exaggerate, but the Oladra simply took my system to the next level. Many said the DAC had more impact than the music server, so I got a home auditions of the Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC, DCS Bartok(non-APEX), and DCS Rossini APEX. The Tambaqui was very similar to the Dave. In my system the Bartok lacked detail. The Rossini did everything better than any DAC that I've ever heard in my system. The soundstage was bigger, better spacing, and more detail. Unfortunately, in my system the overall tonality was too forward/bright. My experience with the Rossini made me want to pursue changing from my Chord Dave. I would love to find a DAC that does everything the DCS Rossini APEX does, that isn't as forward/bright. 

I've had some great experiences with really good dealers. My most recent experience seems to be a more common theme with several people. How does this hobby grow, if dealers refuse to meet potential customers were they are? Everyone can't spend or doesn't want to spend over $50K for a component. 

carlsbad2, 

Thanks for the invite, but I live in Texas. For some reason I decided to stay away from tube based DACs. I will drive to Dallas before the new year and directly compare the Dave to the Ideon ION DAC. Although it will be different from my system, it should allow me to identify discernible differences between the two.

rubicon15,

He is the owner. I believe in humanity and try really hard to treat people the way I want to be treated. Some dealers have no use for people that only want to spend $20K on a DAC. 

bubba12,

Thanks.

terenthia,

In my opinion Youtubers are worse than dealers. I've heard a Youtuber belittle people by stating that a poster is jealous of them or doesn't have the money to purchase the same level of equipment. I have a friend that owns a 2 million dollar home that's paid for, but doesn't own a super expensive audio system. He has the money to purchase what ever he wants, but chooses to save his money or spends it on other things he values more. The same Youtuber says you can't comment on equipment you don't own, but wants followers to make comments on what they're hearing over Youtube? Sorry, but for me Youtubers are for entertainment purposes only.

Sorry for any misunderstanding, but I didn’t ask for the dealers opinion about my system. I let my wife’s ears(she hears better than me and is honest about what she hears), my ears, and how much I want to spend determine what to purchase. I usually listen to components in my system, but the dealer I usually buy from only carries DCS and Chord. DCS doesn’t work in my system, based on my preference. A friend recommended I try to get a home audition for the Ideon ION DAC. That’s why I reached out to this particular dealer.

I won’t post the dealers name, because there’s no value in it to me. I honestly posted my experience to highlight how some dealers behave. My hope is "we" all learn to use our own ears to decide what to purchase and not be shamed for not owning what some dealer says we should own.

audiojacks,

I currently use a Chord Dave DAC. Prior to the Dave I had a PS Audio Directstream, Bricasti M1 SE, Jeff Rowland Aeris, and a Rockna Signature DAC. I prefer the Dave to the aforementioned DACs. Hearing the DCS Rossini APEX in my system made me want to pursue changing DACs.

I had a JR 625 S2, but currently use JR 735s with the Corus preamp. I'm considering changing my DAC and nothing else.

Of course dealers are in the business to make money. In sales your learn A,B,C(always be closing)...I taught Professional Selling Skills many years ago. I told my trainees to be honest with people,  always perpetuate, think longterm, and treat people like you want to be treated. People's financial situations often change over time. When you treated people right they usually become long term customers. When you mistreat customers, not only do you loose a sell, you loose future sells.

terenthia,

Listening to the DCS Rossini Apex made me realize that there are DACs that do things that I prefer over the Dave. Like I’ve stated, unfortunately the Rossini Apex was too bright in my system, but the soundstage, retrieval of details, and a more 3-dimensional soundstage could easily be heard between the Dave and Rossini Apex. I'm not talking night and day differences, but easily discernible differences. I don’t know what I don’t know, so I try to listen to different components in my system to understand what a particular component is doing vs something else. I have zero desire to change any other component in my system and honestly can live happily with the Dave.

sns,

I understand your post. I don't feel the need to prove anything to a dealer or anyone about my system. I know the dealer never heard my system. Even if he did and didn't like it, it's no big deal to me. Building an audio "system' is personal and very subjective. To be honest, when I first started in this hobby, I was concerned about what others thought about my system. I wanted to own certain components for the wrong reasons. As I grew in this hobby I've learned to trust my own ears. My wife has a lot of input about what I purchase. She hears better than I do and is usually right with her analysis. 

deep_333,

I have a phone appointment with them today.

I decided to keep my Chord Dave DAC and leave my 2-channel as is, but I did order a Trinnov Altitude 16. I want to improve my HT  and be done with it all! 

mahgister,

I agree with your comments regarding the room. I'm working on improving my room acoustics and HT system. 

drmuso,

"From what I've heard from several YouTube reviewers I respect, the Chord Dave is a very detailed DAC." I think we have to remember it's a system. In my system the Chord Dave isn't as detailed as the DCS Rossini APEX. Every song sounds different in my system based on how it was recorded...some songs sound detailed, some sound laid back, and some sound fantastic. Depending on the system, a DAC or any component can sound very different.

audioman58,

My system is listed under my profile on Audiogon.

I'm not a fan of the Chord MScaler. I tried one in my system and to my ears it made everything sound artificial.

I’m not saying I don’t like my Dave DAC. Unfortunately the nature of this hobby is to want to go to the next level. If I can find a DAC in my price range that's a little more 3-dimensional and has wider soundstage I would be happy.