The Chord DAVE ranks #18 out of 43 total DAC and Headphone Amp Combos for sound quality. See all Headphone Amps and DACs rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Chord
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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#18 Chord DAVE: $14,900.00 Audio46 eBay
Pros: Audio Science Review measured a SINAD of 110 dB, so noise and distortion stay clean for nearly all listening. Chord rates it at 1,400 mW into 33 ohms, enough for most planar magnetic headphones, and it doubles as a full DAC preamp with USB, four coaxial, two optical and AES/EBU inputs plus RCA and XLR outputs. A remote and digital volume control make it easy to run as the hub of a desktop or speaker system.
Cons: It costs vastly more than the Fosi Audio ZH3, which rates higher and measured cleaner in Audio Science Review’s tests. Its only headphone jack is a single 6.35 mm socket with no balanced headphone output, and at 5 kg it is a large desktop unit.
| Balanced Output | Yes (XLR line out) |
|---|---|
| DAC Chip | Custom FPGA (Xilinx Spartan 6) |
| Device Type | DAC and headphone amp |
| Dimensions | 13.2” x 3.1” x 6” (335 x 78 x 152 mm) |
| Headphone Outputs | 6.35 mm |
| Inputs | USB-B, 4 x coaxial (BNC), 2 x optical, AES/EBU |
| Output Power (300 ohms) | 154 mW (manufacturer rated) |
| Output Power (32 ohms) | 1,400 mW into 33 ohms (manufacturer rated) |
| Outputs | RCA, XLR |
| SINAD | 110 dB (measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Volume Control | Digital (rotary encoder, remote) |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
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