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Estimated price (community-sourced)
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
The DAVE (Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis) is a digital-to-analogue converter with preamplifier and headphone-amplifier functionality. It uses Chord Electronics' FPGA-based DAC architecture with a 164,000-tap WTA filter and provides balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analogue outputs, plus a front-panel ¼-inch headphone output. Digital connections include USB Type B, four BNC coaxial inputs, AES and two optical inputs; supported sample rates depend on the input, with USB supporting PCM up to 768 kHz and native DSD up to DSD512.
DAC capabilities and digital audio processing
Analog signal output specifications
Input and output connections
Size, weight, and appearance
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions
Components that show up alongside the DAVE in real systems. A verdict means the pair has been checked for compatibility and headroom — open it to see how the two get along.
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The Formula xHD Rev. 2's bit depth is 24-bit against the DAVE's 16-bit, its output impedance 10Ω against 0.055Ω, and its output voltage 3.8V RMS against 6.8V RMS. Both share max sample rate (768 kHz).
Both turn up in the same documented systems.
The Nyquist II's bit depth is 24-bit against the DAVE's 16-bit, its max sample rate 384 kHz against 768 kHz, its signal-to-noise 100 dB against 90 dB, and its thd 0.010% against 1.000%.
Both turn up in the same documented systems.
The JS1 MkV's bit depth is 24-bit against the DAVE's 16-bit, its max sample rate 384 kHz against 768 kHz, its signal-to-noise 100 dB against 90 dB, and its output voltage 2.5V RMS against 6.8V RMS.
The Hugo TT2's signal-to-noise is 127 dB against the DAVE's 90 dB and its thd 0.000% against 1.000%. Both share bit depth (16-bit) and max sample rate (768 kHz).
Both turn up in the same documented systems.
APL Hi-Fi DSD-MR SE
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