Chord DAVE Measurements (With MScaler) by GoldenSound

[ribonucleic]

It doesn’t matter who is designing the thing (Rob Watts, Bruno Putzeys, God himself), £9000 is a idiotic amount of money to spend on a hifi component.

Can God design a hifi component with a noise floor so low that even He can't hear it?

 

[mocenigo]

More like 1/10, IMO.

But hey, first rule of manufacturing: Don't price your product according to what's fair. Set it as high as your customers are willing to pay.

According to capitalism, the price customers are willing to pay is the fair price.

 

[JSmith]

According to capitalism, the price customers are willing to pay is the fair price.

Good companies and businesses price their products reasonably... only those that wish excessive profit rip off their customers. From my experience in many cases this will be to their detriment eventually... short term gain, long term pain.


JSmith

 

[Galliardist]

Thanks. The Zen Stream I use for my signal source allegedly has ANC and noise isolation built into its USB output, and I feed it into a Topping D90se. My system is dead-quiet to me, although I lack any measurement instruments to verify objectively.

I’m not sure what Rob Watt’s motive is in raising this topic in his latest unsolicited lecture on Head-Fi, but many folks are slavishly expressing their gratitude to him for illuminating this insight. Some seem to be rushing to yank out their USB connections in favor of TOSLINK connections, and I just don’t get the need—I have many music sources with sampling frequencies above which TOSLINK can handle, and they sound terrific to me through USB. :/

Note that the connector between MScaler and DAC has to use two SPDIF cables, when a single USB would do. Rival software products to MScaler (isn't there another hardware product now?) all use USB. So I presume that

(a) this is not a new thing for Watts:

(b) he has a commercial interest in people not using USB connectors to DACs: and

(c) he has a problem with his previously avowed endgame now. which was to have a Mojo with a million taps for his phone: unless he is intending to develop a mobile with a TOSLINK output of course.

 

[mocenigo]

Good companies and businesses price their products reasonably... only those that wish excessive profit rip off their customers. From my experience in many cases this will be to their detriment eventually... short term gain, long term pain.

Note that what I wrote - even though it was meant as a criticism of capitalist mentality - does not contradict what you write. If the company sets their prices too high, at some point it may be that this fires back.

However, it seems to be perfect for the highest level snake oil vendors, they will always find some very rich and very stupid person paying ridiculous prices for bling and exclusivity.

 

[Blackice]

I also own a Chord Mscaler and my experience was absolutely Fantastic. I use USB input with Coaxial output mode and it brings a ton of detail, sound stage depth and space to my end results. I do believe results can differ depending on each sound system environment. I understand it increases noise floor depending on input mode and bypass mode, However in my case I am so pleased with the end results and if it takes 6k USD to increase the sound quality this much, then so be it.
Even my parents can hear the difference so I'm not the only one noticing the effect.
But then again to each their own.
Thank you Chord for an amazing product.

 

[NTK]

I also own a Chord Mscaler and my experience was absolutely Fantastic. I use USB input with Coaxial output mode and it brings a ton of detail, sound stage depth and space to my end results. I do believe results can differ depending on each sound system environment. I understand it increases noise floor depending on input mode and bypass mode, However in my case I am so pleased with the end results and if it takes 6k USD to increase the sound quality this much, then so be it.
Even my parents can hear the difference so I'm not the only one noticing the effect.
But then again to each their own.
Thank you Chord for an amazing product.

Uh-huh

 

[NiagaraPete]

I also own a Chord Mscaler and my experience was absolutely Fantastic. I use USB input with Coaxial output mode and it brings a ton of detail, sound stage depth and space to my end results. I do believe results can differ depending on each sound system environment. I understand it increases noise floor depending on input mode and bypass mode, However in my case I am so pleased with the end results and if it takes 6k USD to increase the sound quality this much, then so be it.
Even my parents can hear the difference so I'm not the only one noticing the effect.
But then again to each their own.
Thank you Chord for an amazing product.

Double un-huh. Even the parents.. wonder if golden ears runs in the family

 

[BDWoody]

I do believe...

 

[Mnyb]

Anoter one for the ignore list this tread is almost as good as the DAC sound signature tread

 

[Guettel]

I also own a Chord Mscaler and my experience was absolutely Fantastic. I use USB input with Coaxial output mode and it brings a ton of detail, sound stage depth and space to my end results. I do believe results can differ depending on each sound system environment. I understand it increases noise floor depending on input mode and bypass mode, However in my case I am so pleased with the end results and if it takes 6k USD to increase the sound quality this much, then so be it.
Even my parents can hear the difference so I'm not the only one noticing the effect.
But then again to each their own.
Thank you Chord for an amazing product.

Agreed. Listening to "Satch and Josh" on one right now and it's like I'm at the club sitting in the middle of the band. Surreal.

 

[Killingbeans]

Even my parents can hear the difference so I'm not the only one noticing the effect.

Sure... And you didn't give them any indication of that they should be noticing something?

Clever Hans - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ahofer]

I also own a Chord Mscaler and my experience was absolutely Fantastic. I use USB input with Coaxial output mode and it brings a ton of detail, sound stage depth and space to my end results. I do believe results can differ depending on each sound system environment. I understand it increases noise floor depending on input mode and bypass mode, However in my case I am so pleased with the end results and if it takes 6k USD to increase the sound quality this much, then so be it.
Even my parents can hear the difference so I'm not the only one noticing the effect.
But then again to each their own.
Thank you Chord for an amazing product.

That’s fine, and welcome to ASR.

Overwhelming odds are the difference you are perceiving is not due to the audio signal, unfortunately. Hence the skepticism. It’s not personal. I’m glad you are happy with your investment. However, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone until they go through the catalogue of blind tests here and consider how they might be wasting a lot of money.