Qutest, Hugo TT2, Mscaler

I’m also just curious, but partly out of my interest in comments about Innous SQ being better with USB connection than Ethernet.

Has anyone compared Dave+Hms->Etude/Ultima vs ND555~>552->500 for instrumental/vocal tones and textures? If, so what were your impressions?

It does - yes, however there are matching preamps to use with the Chord amps which I am told are very good and match well - and are fully balanced, and can input balanced and unbalanced sources.

An Étude would not be expensive, if you have a 282, Hicap and 250 to sell that should leave you in profit.

Hi Michael,
Almost. I have compared ND555 + single 555PS versus M Scaler & Dave into 552/500, with the Chord combo fed by Melco server direct via USB, plus DSC Network Bridge and Aries G2 streamers, using Roon with Nucleus+ and Innuos Statement.

I have also compared Chord Ultima Pre 2 and Ultima 6 with NAC52/SC/NAP135, both fed by our M Scaler & DAVE. The pre-amp is essential for us, as we still find vinyl to sound preferable to CD or streaming for 90% of our music.

In both cases, the Chord combos provide effortlessly greater insight into the subtle textures of notes that reveal the performer’s technique or the acoustic ambience of a room.

Does that make the performance sound more lifelike? Taking the perspective of resolution alone, yes.
However, that is never the whole story. Timing, tonal balance, dynamic range, imaging and absence of harshness all matter too.

The preferred balance of all these attributes is very personal to each of us.

I suspect that an interesting test of equivalence for a 552/500 would be a Chord Ultima Pre 2 and Ultima 5. I’m not sure which would be preferred.

I suspect that the respective performances of Naim’s 500 series and Chord’s Ultima series are sufficiently close that a back-to-back audition would be the only way to decide. Different, yes. Comparable, to these ears yes. Preference - down to personal taste.

Hope this helps, if only a little.

Best regards, BF

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But an Etude needs a preamp - whether discrete or inbuilt in your source … so an Etude is not equivalent to a 282.
The Chord functionality equivalent of the 282 is the Prima, Ultima Pre, Ultima Pre 2 or CPA 3000.

Though I traded my 552/250 system for a DAVE/Etude system - and it has been a big step further along the journey for me - but we all tread different paths… but I do have no analogue input preamp right now for my NAT03 FM tuner - and I miss it - so might be trialling a Prima at some point, but not a priority.

And the Naim NAC S1 equivalent to the Chord Ultima Pre - the Chord reference Preamp, though I note the Ultima Pre is only 30kg as opposed to the S1 61.5 kg I believe… assuming weight matters :slight_smile:

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Really interesting. I don’t need analogue inputs so I saved the cost of the chord preamp. Mines only an Ultima 6 but with the innuos and chord front end the system gets me to a level of performance that I just couldn’t afford had I stayed with Naim, or with chord for that matter had I needed their preamp. Different story if you have vinyl or an analogue tuner to connect up

Yes many of the Chord digital sources have very capable preamps built in (to the level of the source ) - but yes its digital input only. DAVE is one example of this - and of course is superbly impedance matched to the Chord amps.

Yes, but this was in reply to Ali who already has Dave, so he has that covered assuming no analogue sources (although…given his forum name, perhaps that’s one assumption too many.)

ahh ok - sorry I was not sure if Ali still had his DAVE - i might have missed it if in the thread

I had the impression he was taking Dave to his grave, but who knows?!

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I did see something about Signals fitting a Urika 2 (digital phono stage) and it connecting to a Dave. You do need to have a Linn DS of some sort for updates, but if you have a LP12 you COULD do without a Chord Preamp. I havent seen or heard how that experiment ended up, so don’t shoot the messenger if its not a viable solution. I dont understand the Linn ecosystem at all.

My Dave is indeed going to the grave !

I plan to use it till my last day on this earth

If I can still hear ok till then …

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…but the question is - will the Étude be coming to your funeral too?!

Not sure

Wish I could demo one …

There are other options too, besides Chord Dac into Chord amp.
I went with Nagra integrated, which is Mosfet power (250 Watts), balanced design integrated. I find it to be a great match to the Mscaler/TT2…and has analog inputs.
These units are a little harder to find however.:grinning:


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I’ve looked at a couple of reviews and the photos show the Etude has blue LEDs inside. I take it, as the Etude doesn’t have a ‘porthole’, that the glow is quite subtle through the vents holes and not too obtrusive ?

That’s correct, not too obtrusive.

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Multiple Chord products = Christmas tree :christmas_tree: all year around. A child‘s dream come true…

:rofl:

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I would say it’s pretty subtle, but still visible in low light through the vents on the front panel. Certainly not as bright as a green Naim logo, but I guess the colour wouldn’t match it too well.
Not a problem for me as I’d have to lie on the floor with my head at a weird angle to see it.

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