Chord Electronics DAVE DAC, Preamplifier and Headphone Amplifier at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The Chord DAVE (Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis) is a reference-grade DAC, digital preamplifier, and headphone amplifier from Chord Electronics (Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Designed by Rob Watts and handbuilt in Great Britain, the DAVE is built around a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA running a 164,000-tap Watts Transient Aligned (WTA) filter, achieving a dynamic range of 127.5 dB and a THD+N of -127.5 dB — figures with no known peer in consumer digital audio. Roon Tested certified and capable of native DSD512 and 768kHz PCM playback, the Chord DAVE is not merely a DAC but a complete reference digital hub for the most demanding audiophile system.

FPGA Architecture and the Watts Transient Aligned Filter

Where the vast majority of digital-to-analogue converters rely on off-the-shelf OEM conversion chips, the Chord DAVE is built around a Xilinx Spartan-6 LX75 FPGA loaded with over one million lines of proprietary code, delivering approximately 1,000 times the processing power of a conventional chip-based DAC. This FPGA runs Rob Watts' Watts Transient Aligned (WTA) reconstruction filter at 164,000 taps, a figure that dwarfs the tap counts achievable by any standard DAC chipset. The WTA filter corrects the timing errors and transient inaccuracies that propagate through conventional reconstruction filters, restoring the original waveform with a precision that is audible as improved stereo imaging, more natural decay, and greater low-level detail retrieval. The noise shaper operating within the FPGA achieves 350 dB of dynamic range in the audioband, equivalent to 50-bit resolution, providing a noise floor that is entirely inaudible under any real-world listening condition. Frequency response is held within plus or minus 0.1 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with the HF filter disabled, and channel separation exceeds 125 dB at 1 kHz.

Three Reference-Grade Devices in One Chassis

The Chord DAVE performs simultaneously as a standalone reference DAC, a fully lossless digital preamplifier, and a high-current headphone amplifier. Its lossless digital volume control outputs the signal at variable level directly to a power amplifier via the balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA outputs, with no passive attenuation stage and no measurable performance penalty at any volume setting. This eliminates the need for a separate analogue preamplifier in many reference systems, including those built around the Chord Electronics ULTIMA power amplifier range. The headphone amplifier stage outputs 6.8V RMS into both 300 ohms (154mW) and 33 ohms (1.4W), supports headphone impedances up to 800 ohms, and includes configurable crossfeed for a more natural stereo presentation on headphones. Connectivity is comprehensive: a galvanically isolated USB Type-B input supports PCM up to 768kHz and native DSD512, four BNC coaxial inputs support S/PDIF up to 768kHz, two AES/EBU XLR inputs and two TosLink optical inputs cover standard high-resolution formats, and expandable DXD inputs provide a path for future source expansion.

Key Features

• 164,000-Tap FPGA WTA Filter: Rob Watts' proprietary Watts Transient Aligned reconstruction filter, running on a Xilinx Spartan-6 LX75 FPGA with over one million lines of code, corrects timing errors at a level no standard DAC chip can approach.
• 127.5 dB Dynamic Range and THD+N: Measures 127.5 dB dynamic range and -127.5 dB THD+N (AWT), representing the highest published figures of any consumer digital audio converter at the time of its introduction.
• Native DSD512 and 768kHz PCM via USB: The galvanically isolated USB Type-B input supports PCM from 44.1 kHz to 768kHz in 16 to 32-bit, plus native DSD64 through DSD512 and DoP on all inputs.
• Lossless Digital Volume Control: The DAVE's digital volume control introduces no measurable performance penalty at any setting, allowing direct connection to a power amplifier without a separate preamplifier stage.
• High-Current Headphone Amplifier: Outputs 6.8V RMS into 300 ohms (154mW) and 6.8V RMS into 33 ohms (1.4W), supporting headphone impedances up to 800 ohms with configurable crossfeed.
• Balanced XLR and Unbalanced RCA Outputs: Both fully balanced and single-ended analogue outputs are provided, with an output impedance of just 0.055 ohms (short-circuit protected).
• Galvanically Isolated USB Input: Complete electrical isolation of the USB input prevents computer-borne noise from entering the audio signal path.
• Four BNC Coaxial Inputs: Support S/PDIF up to 768kHz, accommodating high-bandwidth digital sources including CD transports, network streamers, and disc players.
• Roon Tested Certified: Full compatibility with Roon playback software up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512 via the USB input.
• Expandable DXD Inputs: Provision for future source expansion beyond the standard input complement.
• Handbuilt in Great Britain: Every DAVE is assembled by hand at Chord Electronics' facility in Maidstone, Kent, UK, to exacting quality standards.
• Universal Auto-Switching Power Supply: Operates across 90 to 250V AC at 50 to 60 Hz, with full compatibility across North American and international mains standards.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 1 x USB Type-B input (galvanically isolated, up to 768kHz PCM / DSD512)
• 4 x BNC Coaxial inputs (S/PDIF, up to 768kHz)
• 2 x AES/EBU inputs (XLR, up to 96kHz)
• 2 x Optical inputs (TosLink, up to 96kHz)
• Expandable DXD inputs
• 1 x Balanced XLR analogue output
• 1 x Unbalanced RCA analogue output
• 1 x 1/4" headphone output (6.8V RMS, up to 800 ohms)

Awards and Critical Recognition

• "The Chord Dave is a remarkable piece of design that quite probably sets the benchmark for just what a DAC is capable of at present." — Hi-Fi World
• "DAVE went in our reference system and has sat there ever since." — Linette Smith
• "The DAVE gets the strongest recommendation we can muster!" — Alan Sircom, Pursuit Perfect System
• Gold Award — Sandu Vitalie: "The best D/A converter I tried so far."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Chord Electronics DAVE?

The Chord DAVE (Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis) is a reference-grade DAC, digital preamplifier, and headphone amplifier from Chord Electronics, handbuilt in Great Britain. It is built around a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA running Rob Watts' 164,000-tap Watts Transient Aligned filter, achieving 127.5 dB dynamic range and -127.5 dB THD+N. It supports PCM up to 768kHz and native DSD up to DSD512 via its galvanically isolated USB input, is Roon Tested certified, and functions simultaneously as a complete digital preamplifier with lossless volume control and a headphone amplifier supporting impedances up to 800 ohms.

How does the Chord DAVE compare to the Chord Hugo TT 2 or Qutest?

The Chord DAVE sits at the top of Chord Electronics' DAC range, above both the Hugo TT 2 and Qutest. Compared to the Hugo TT 2, the DAVE uses a more powerful FPGA implementation with a 164,000-tap WTA filter versus 98,304 taps in the TT 2, achieving a higher dynamic range (127.5 dB versus 126 dB), a lower output impedance of 0.055 ohms, balanced XLR outputs, and a more powerful headphone stage. The Qutest is a DAC-only unit without preamplifier or headphone amplifier functionality, positioned as an entry point into Chord's proprietary FPGA DAC range. Audiophiles seeking the ultimate expression of Chord's FPGA conversion technology in a three-function reference device will find no higher level of performance within the Chord Electronics lineup than the DAVE.

What makes the Chord DAVE different from chip-based DACs?

The Chord DAVE uses a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA loaded with over one million lines of proprietary code rather than an off-the-shelf DAC chip, giving it approximately 1,000 times the processing power of a conventional chip-based converter. This enables the 164,000-tap WTA reconstruction filter, which corrects the timing errors and transient inaccuracies inherent in standard DAC reconstruction filters. The result is a noise shaper with 350 dB of dynamic range in the audioband, equivalent to 50-bit resolution, and a THD+N of -127.5 dB that no OEM chip-based design can match. Competing reference DACs such as the dCS Bartók or Luxman DA-07X use proprietary ring DAC or discrete R-2R ladder implementations respectively, but neither achieves the tap count or noise shaper depth of the Chord DAVE's FPGA approach.

Can the Chord DAVE be used as a standalone preamplifier?

Yes, the Chord DAVE functions as a fully lossless digital preamplifier. Its digital volume control outputs a variable-level signal via the balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA analogue outputs, connecting directly to any power amplifier without a separate analogue preamplifier stage. The digital volume control introduces no measurable performance penalty at any setting, preserving the complete integrity of the original recording. This makes the DAVE an ideal direct partner for Chord Electronics ULTIMA power amplifiers including the ULTIMA 5 and ULTIMA 6, as well as power amplifiers from other manufacturers.

What headphones are compatible with the Chord DAVE?

The Chord DAVE's headphone amplifier supports impedances up to 800 ohms and outputs 6.8V RMS into both 300-ohm (154mW) and 33-ohm (1.4W) loads, making it compatible with virtually all full-size headphones on the market. It pairs naturally with high-impedance designs from Beyerdynamic (T1, DT 1990 Pro), Sennheiser (HD 800 S, HD 660S2), HiFiMan (Susvara, Arya), Audeze (LCD-4, LCD-5), and ZMF, among others. Configurable crossfeed is also included for listeners who prefer a more natural speaker-like stereo presentation through headphones.

Does the Chord DAVE support Roon and high-resolution streaming?

Yes, the Chord DAVE is Roon Tested certified and connects to a Roon-enabled source via its galvanically isolated USB Type-B input. It supports all Roon audio formats including PCM up to 768kHz in 32-bit and native DSD up to DSD512. The galvanic isolation of the USB input prevents noise from computer or streamer power supplies from entering the audio signal path, ensuring that high-resolution streaming performance is not degraded by the source device's electrical environment.

Where can I buy the Chord DAVE in Toronto or Canada?

The Chord Electronics DAVE DAC, preamplifier, and headphone amplifier is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorised Chord Electronics dealer located in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound offers expert in-store demonstrations of the DAVE within complete Chord Electronics reference systems, professional advice on system integration, and full manufacturer warranty support for Canadian customers across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.