Music, I wish you could take both home and listen for a few weeks. The OSDE/SE I used to use throws a bigger stage than the DAVE. It's the largest soundstage I've ever heard in a DAC regardless of cost. There is a HUGE thread about the DAC shootout that my friend started. He has had everything in his system other than the QX since it's so new. I chose the Empirical because of Matt's thread. I've gotten to know most of the bigger posters on that thread and we are in constant contact, so I like to believe I have a decent idea of how the DAC's all sound. Just because I like one, doesn't mean that you or anyone else will. T'hjat's the fun of audio, lol.
When someone hears the Ayre initially, they may feel that another DAC throws a bigger stage or that another one is more resolving, however I found out, as I said above, this is not even close to being the case. The Ayre is giving you so much micro and macro detail, that you don't even notice it until you are days or even weeks into it. The reason for me is that I just melt into the music. If I had the funds, the only other DAC I'd get over it MAY be the Total DAC, but I also have found the 'digital hub' so easy and fun to use that I probably would still lean towards the Ayre, however I'm also a bit cheap, lol.
What seems to set the Ayre apart is the fact that it uses what may be the best clock you can get in a device. Go check out the interview that Michael Lavorgna did with Charlie of Ayre. They discuss the clock they use and how expensive it is etc... That's one reason I believe it sounds so great with anything I've fed it. I use a rebuilt Mac Mini server that was built and used by Steve Nugent of Empirical audio at all his shows. He rebuilt the board, cut out anything that wasn't audio related and it uses an external Paul Hynes LPS. HE hand built the solid silver connecting cable to the Mac too. All my music is well recorded stuff for shows and much is hi rez up to 192. I have had this server up against nearly everything and it just sounds better. I also feed the Frontier cable box to the Ayre and it makes it sound the best I've ever heard and I used to use a reclocker on everything when I had the Empirical so I wasn't feeding it crap. Even the Marantz Blue Ray sounds excellent when I decide to play CD's through it.
Unlike most, it gets the timbre of the music right. When I listen to my Basis TT, Benz cartridge and Rhea phono pre, running balanced through my AX5/20, with AQ Water cable, I relax into the music. I get the same feeling with the Ayre QX5/20. I think it's the clock and I also feel strongly that you get the macro and micro detail because of the low noise floor. They build the Ayre power filtration device directly into the DAC along with the double diamond circuits. Charlie Hansen, to me, is as good as a designer as we have in the business today. Some DAC's have great analog filtering and others have great digital filtering. Charlie has the funds and got the right folks in place to do both great. This is one area that he excels over the smaller companies. Chord is also great at this, but like I said, the biggest place the Ayre beats the Chord and by a fair amount it the quality and depth of the bass. I know I"m not the only one who feels this way. Owners of course will argue with me about this, but I promise you that when you go head to head, it's obvious.
I have no dog in the fight and I've tried to share the differences as I and some others I listen with at time have heard between these two units. There is another thread on here about the QX5 where some folks have chosen the Ayre over the Dave and I know of two of the guys how have had both in their house to listen to and they said the Ayre just grew on them. Many products sound GREAT in the showroom or in your home as they do one or two things really great (or so it seems). I feel that one of the most difficult things that any component does is soundstage size. Some always throw a huge stage and to my ears , this is what Dave does. The problem arises when the stage wasn't recorded as big as what's being heard. That's all components and not just the DAC. Ayre seems to get the scale correct. I didn't have a recording available where I was there when it was produced, but I have spoken to someone who has done this test with numerous DAC's from Total to Ayre to EMM to Bricasti to DCS to Trinity to Berkley and the list goes on. He's pro reviewer and knows many producers. He said that Ayre just gets this part spot on and he owns Ayre amps because of this.
Again, this isn't an ad for Ayre, lol. Some folks want other DAC's for many reasons and you may too, but I know it's not difficult to get a QX5 into your house to listen to. I do know there are a few Chord dealers around so it will depend on where you live.
The other thing I personally won't do it buy a used DAC. Too many problems there potentially. I too want a new warrantee from a larger company who most probably will be around and who will have engineers who can always fix the product, unlike a smaller company where the owner can retire and you are screwed in 5 or more years. I've seen that way too often in this business. Chord isn't going to have that problem as they too are a good size company and not reliant on a staff of one or two.
I do like buying products from US based companies when I can, because I live here and it's easier to get repairs done if needed. Yes, I've needed warrantee repairs on products from time to time. The other thing that I love about Ayre and why I own their AX5/20 and QX5/20 is because they upgrade their products and only charge minimal fees for upgrades depending on what they do. Their lifespan per product is at least 7 years (Vandersteen is similar in this regard) and to me, that's important.
Well, that's way too much info and it's personal stuff for MY EAR's, lol. I also LOVE using Ayre link as I can use my universal remote control and it totally controls both Ayre components along with my blue ray, TV, Apple TV, Cable box etc.... YEs, I live with my wife and the kids visit and I need to have my system user friendly, plus I can also log in from wifi anywhere in the world to control the system (yes I've done this when my daughter was dog sitting for a week).
You have chosen two of the best products in their price ranges. Both punch above their costs and offer totally different functionality and sound. You won't go wrong either way.
