Meet the Team
Rob Watts
Rob Watts is one of the foremost digital-audio designers of his generation, with more than four decades of experience in analogue electronics, digital signal processing, DAC architecture, digital filtering, FPGA design, psychoacoustics and semiconductor engineering.
Beginning his career in the early 1980s, Rob initially worked in analogue electronics before turning his attention to digital audio and the fundamental challenges of accurately reconstructing an analogue waveform. His work led to the development of the Pulse Array DAC and WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filtering, technologies that have become hallmarks of Chord Electronics' digital products.
Rob's expertise extends to silicon and semiconductor design, having worked with chip manufacturers on the development of audio integrated circuits and digital-audio intellectual property. This rare combination of analogue, digital, DSP, FPGA and silicon-level experience gives him an unusually complete understanding of the audio signal chain—from the underlying mathematics and semiconductor architecture through to the final analogue output.
Daniel Watts
A graduate of the University of Surrey's Tonmeister degree, Daniel combines professional experience in an international recording studio with a strong understanding of the requirements of modern audio professionals.
His work spans product design, PCB design, advanced mathematical modelling, digital signal analysis and binaural audio rendering. Daniel has developed highly precise measurement techniques for digital filtering, alongside designing and conducting extensive test recordings used to evaluate audio hardware and signal-processing systems.
Daniel's experience in both recording and engineering allows him to approach product development from the perspective of both the engineer and the end user, with a particular focus on objective measurement, practical performance and accurate reproduction.