FREE SHIPPING OVER $199 
Chord DAVE DAC Preamp and Headphone Amplifier
$21,000.00
Product Details
Chord DAVE DAC, Preamp & Headphone Amplifier — Reference FPGA Digital Audio
Available at Vinyl Sound, Toronto's specialist hi-fi retailer, the Chord DAVE (Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis) is the flagship DAC, digital preamplifier, and headphone amplifier from Chord Electronics — handbuilt in Great Britain. Distilling over two decades of proprietary FPGA research by designer Rob Watts, DAVE represents the absolute state of the art in digital audio conversion: a 164,000-tap filter, a 127.5 dB dynamic range, THD+N of −127.5 dB, and an output impedance of just 0.055Ω. It is not merely a DAC — it is a complete reference-grade digital hub for the most demanding audiophile system.
FPGA technology: a different class of DAC
Where most DACs rely on off-the-shelf conversion chips from OEM manufacturers, the DAVE is built around a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA loaded with over one million lines of proprietary code — delivering 1,000 times the processing power of a conventional chip DAC. This FPGA runs Chord's Watts Transient Aligned (WTA) filter at 164,000 taps, correcting the timing errors that conventional DACs cannot address. The result is a noise shaper with an extraordinary 350 dB of dynamic range in the audioband, equivalent to 50-bit resolution — a figure with no known peer in consumer digital audio.
Three devices in one
The DAVE functions simultaneously as a reference DAC, a fully lossless digital preamplifier with variable output, and a high-current headphone amplifier capable of driving headphones up to 800Ω. Its lossless digital volume control outputs signal directly to a power amplifier with no passive attenuation stage — preserving every bit of the original recording.
Inputs, outputs & connectivity
- USB Type-B — up to 768kHz PCM (16–32 bit) and native DSD512; galvanically isolated
- 4x BNC Coaxial — up to 768kHz S/PDIF
- 2x AES/EBU (XLR) — up to 96kHz
- 2x Optical (TosLink) — up to 96kHz
- Expandable DXD inputs — for future source expansion
- 1x Balanced XLR output — fully balanced analogue out
- 1x Unbalanced RCA output
- 1x ¼" headphone output — 6.8V RMS into 300Ω (154mW) / 6.8V RMS into 33Ω (1.4W)
- Supports headphones up to 800Ω with configurable crossfeed
- Roon Tested certified
Technical specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| DAC technology | 164,000-tap FPGA (Xilinx Spartan-6 LX75) with WTA filter |
| Sample frequencies | 44.1kHz – 768kHz (16–32bit) PCM; DSD64–DSD512 native + DoP |
| Frequency response | 20Hz – 20kHz ±0.1dB (HF filter off) |
| THD+N | −127.5dB (AWT) |
| Dynamic range | 127.5dB (AWT) |
| Channel separation | >125dB @ 1kHz |
| Output impedance | 0.055Ω (short-circuit protected) |
| Headphone output | 6.8V RMS @ 300Ω (154mW) / 6.8V RMS @ 33Ω (1.4W) at 1% THD |
| Max headphone impedance | 800Ω |
| Operating voltage | 90–250V AC auto-switching, 50–60Hz |
| Dimensions | 335mm W × 78mm H × 152mm D (incl. connectors) |
| Weight | 5kg |
| Finish options | Silver, Black |
| Origin | Handbuilt in Great Britain |
What the press says
"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. From the quality of its handcrafted casework to the sheer engineering prowess of the proprietary electronics inside this is quite simply an outstanding product."
— Hi-Fi World
"Pop DAVE into a great system and you will be rewarded with what I consider to be the best DAC I have ever heard... 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
"This was the best D/A converter I tried so far and it is my pleasure awarding it with our highest, Gold Award!"
— Sandu Vitalie
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chord DAVE?
The Chord DAVE (Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis) is a reference-grade DAC, digital preamplifier, and headphone amplifier built around a 164,000-tap FPGA running proprietary conversion code. It supports PCM up to 768kHz and DSD up to 512x (DSD512), achieves 127.5dB dynamic range and THD+N of −127.5dB, and is handbuilt in Great Britain by Chord Electronics.
What makes the Chord DAVE different from chip-based DACs?
Rather than using an off-the-shelf DAC chip, the DAVE uses a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA running over one million lines of proprietary code — giving it 1,000 times the processing power of a conventional chip DAC. This enables a 164,000-tap WTA reconstruction filter that corrects timing errors at a level no standard DAC chip can approach, delivering superior transient accuracy and a far lower noise floor.
Can the Chord DAVE be used as a standalone preamplifier?
Yes. The DAVE features a fully lossless digital volume control and can output directly to a power amplifier via its balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA outputs, eliminating the need for a separate analogue preamplifier. The digital volume control introduces no measurable performance penalty at any setting.
What headphones work with the Chord DAVE?
The DAVE's headphone amplifier supports impedances up to 800Ω and outputs 6.8V RMS into both 300Ω (154mW) and 33Ω (1.4W) loads. It includes configurable crossfeed for a more natural stereo presentation through headphones. It is compatible with virtually all full-size headphones from manufacturers including Sennheiser, Audeze, HiFiMan, Beyerdynamic, and others.
Does the Chord DAVE support DSD and high-resolution audio?
Yes. Via USB, the DAVE supports native DSD up to DSD512 (8x) as well as PCM up to 768kHz in 32-bit. It also accepts DoP (DSD over PCM) on all inputs. BNC Coaxial inputs support PCM up to 768kHz; AES/EBU and Optical inputs support PCM up to 96kHz.
Is the Chord DAVE Roon compatible?
Yes, the Chord DAVE is Roon Tested certified. It connects to a Roon-enabled source via its galvanically isolated USB Type-B input and supports all Roon audio formats up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512.
How does the Chord DAVE compare to the Chord Hugo TT 2 or Qutest?
The DAVE sits above both the Hugo TT 2 and Qutest in Chord's range. Compared to the Hugo TT 2, the DAVE uses a more powerful FPGA with a 164,000-tap filter (vs 98,304 taps in the TT 2), achieving a higher dynamic range (127.5dB vs 126dB) and lower output impedance. It also adds balanced XLR outputs and a more powerful headphone stage. The Qutest is a DAC-only unit without preamp or headphone functionality.
Where can I buy the Chord DAVE in Toronto, Canada?
The Chord DAVE DAC, preamp, and headphone amplifier is available at Vinyl Sound, Toronto's dedicated hi-fi audio retailer (Richmond Hill, ON). Shop online at vinylsound.ca or visit in store for a full system demonstration.
Similar items
