Chord DAVE Review (DAC & HP Amp)

[DSJR]

In short, I suspect you mean the Linn-Naim "axis" vs the BBC-derived (or at least influenced) mainstream.

We've come a loooong way since those times - thank the lord!

 

[AudioSceptic]

I think that traditional BBC sound is because they brickwalled everything at 15khz?

I would love to own a fancy British loudspeaker but something like harbeth is Just out of my price range considering the performance, even if it's made in the UK.

Not a fan of chord. I hate the design.. never seen anything that ugly.

I'm not sure about that. Although there was effectively a 15 kHz cut-off because of the need to remove the 19 kHz pilot tone on FM stereo radio, I doubt that most people with the money to buy "proper" speakers can hear past 15 kHz anyway. The difference in sound is mainly well below that, such as the "BBC dip".

 

[DanielT]

.. Although there was effectively a 15 kHz cut-off because of the need to remove the 19 kHz pilot tone on FM stereo radio, I doubt that most people with the money to buy "proper" speakers can hear past 15 kHz anyway.

Same principle for FM radio in Sweden, also in Germany according to Tomtoo.
Is it perhaps some world standard, cut-off at 15 kHz? That 19kHz pilot tone should be the same, I'd guess.

 

[DSJR]

I'm not sure about that. Although there was effectively a 15 kHz cut-off because of the need to remove the 19 kHz pilot tone on FM stereo radio, I doubt that most people with the money to buy "proper" speakers can hear past 15 kHz anyway. The difference in sound is mainly well below that, such as the "BBC dip".

The Spendor BC1 and basic follow-on sibling LS3/6 from 1973 or so, used the 'super tweeter' to allow engineers to better hear line whistle and so on.

Interesting that the BBC bought far more BC1's - a few hundred pairs I gather and only a tiny number of their official version, which was similar but with the Celestion HF2000 'super tweeter' and a level matching auto-transformer on the input, which further increased the bass distortion and lost even more amp control (used domestically, vinyl sources of the time plus more powerful amps were a death-threat to the frail original bass drivers which were very easily 'popped').

P.S. The BC1 (and LS5/5 as I've read it) DID NOT have the so-called BBC Dip, the BC1 actually measuring quite flat in the lower kHz region. My BC2's with larger diameter voice coil (no pole extension on this basic driver, used in the SA2 and as mid driver in the BC3) do go a bit awry at 1.5 to 2 kHz due to phase issues without the longer pole extension added in the subsequent SP1 driver derivative. HiFi Choice measured many BC1 samples during the 70's and 80's and the main difference as time went on was improvements in power handling and low bass distortion

The 4kHz dip (quite bad in the top plot on tweeter axis) disappears five degrees above axis as you can see and this is perfect when using the low trolley stands that most were sold with. I should add that in the late 60's and early 70's, the BBC did much work on dispersion patterns, but not sure how much of this is relevant today as things have moved on so much with CAD to help and so on.

Sincere apologies for this thread drift. I suspect all thoughts on the Dave are now exhausted.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Same principle for FM radio in Sweden, also in Germany according to Tomtoo.
Is it perhaps some world standard, cut-off at 15 kHz? That 19kHz pilot tone should be the same, I'd guess.

Yes, I think so.

 

[AudioSceptic]

The Spendor BC1 and basic follow-on sibling LS3/6 from 1973 or so, used the 'super tweeter' to allow engineers to better hear line whistle and so on.

Interesting that the BBC bought far more BC1's - a few hundred pairs I gather and only a tiny number of their official version, which was similar but with the Celestion HF2000 'super tweeter' and a level matching auto-transformer on the input, which further increased the bass distortion and lost even more amp control (used domestically, vinyl sources of the time plus more powerful amps were a death-threat to the frail original bass drivers which were very easily 'popped').

P.S. The BC1 (and LS5/5 as I've read it) DID NOT have the so-called BBC Dip, the BC1 actually measuring quite flat in the lower kHz region. My BC2's with larger diameter voice coil (no pole extension on this basic driver, used in the SA2 and as mid driver in the BC3) do go a bit awry at 1.5 to 2 kHz due to phase issues without the longer pole extension added in the subsequent SP1 driver derivative. HiFi Choice measured many BC1 samples during the 70's and 80's and the main difference as time went on was improvements in power handling and low bass distortion

View attachment 279805
The 4kHz dip (quite bad in the top plot on tweeter axis) disappears five degrees above axis as you can see and this is perfect when using the low trolley stands that most were sold with. I should add that in the late 60's and early 70's, the BBC did much work on dispersion patterns, but not sure how much of this is relevant today as things have moved on so much with CAD to help and so on.

Sincere apologies for this thread drift. I suspect all thoughts on the Dave are now exhausted.

Just one more OT reply? The other version of the story is that by having 3 drivers the BC1 could be sold as "professional" and avoid Purchase Tax. (I still have my BC1s, bought in 1976.)