Thank you for the clarification. Can you, or any one else, kindly suggest what I could do practically to ground the Qutest as suggested by Rob Watts (and/or the HMS if need be) to avoid the earth loop I seem to be experiencing? Thanks.

Thank you for the reply, Mr. watts. Obviously, I’m not very good at this. How do I earth the Qutest? Edit: I’ve tried using the SPDIF connection - same hum/buzz when nothing is playing. With an optical connection between the HMS and Qutest, no hum but, sadly, no 1M taps. I’m also noticing...

Hi all, Just received my new HMS on Monday. Love the sound but I’m having a similar hum issue to Uncle Monty. I’ve tried rearranging the cables but to no avail. Source is Auralic Aries via optical to HMS to Qutest direct to mono amps feeding monitor speakers and a sub. No hum at all if I...

Which is very strange since in the UK the HMS lists for 500 pounds sterling less than the TT2. From the Bluebird website: “The price for Hugo TT 2 and Etude is expected to be approximately $6,000 US and the Hugo M Scaler somewhere around $5,000. Based on our information at this time, these...

I think this might help: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/chord-electronics-qutest-dac-official-thread.869417/page-122#post-14389137 Plus the following couple of posts.

Thanks and my apologies for going off topic as well.

Are you sure? Here's what Darko said in his review of the LS50 wireless: “Purists should be made aware that all incoming analogue signals are instantly digitised to 24bit/192kHz PCM; how else would the signal be split and the left channel handed over to the other loudspeaker via Ethernet?”

Maybe I’m out to lunch, but since the wireless LS50s have built in DACs which as far as I know cannot be bypassed, won’t you just be listening to the DACs in the speakers instead of the Qutest?

It may be that it just needs more break-in time. Even What HiFi noted: "It takes quite a few hours of operation for the Qutest to lose its out-of-the-box midrange hardness." whathifi.com/chord/qutest/review#PsIImsl8rWhZF9cd.99. Mine sounded great out of the box but then turned quite rude for a...

+1000

      I've noticed that if I turn the volume control right down before powering up the TP unit I don't get that white light flash when I turn it on.  Curious to see if that works for you as well.   fc

Just in case someone's interested, here's a review of the LCD-X in The Absolute Sound by Arnie Nudell of Genesis speaker fame: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audeze-lcd-x-headphones/.  The amp he used for his review was the Aurium.

You might want to check this video out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcnjHTzHr7E .   I like the steelseries Ikari but it's unfortunately been dicontinued.