So I have received my unit and hooked it up! The Qutest sits on top much better than I thought it would... very
Qute!
Note that because I am using the Qutest, the input signal is RCA and so my points below my change if it was XLR input instead, particularly surrounding noise floors.
First impressions : This thing is SOLID. Build quality is immaculate, and the volume knob is excellent!!! Feels very analogue and I am a huge fan.
Sound : Compared to my Burson Soloist 3X GT + Supercharger, something definitely sounds
different. Whether this is a good change or not is still too soon for me to decide. However, it feels as if it resolves a bit better, but that could also purely be placebo at this point.
Volume & Modes : BTL is supposed to be a big decibel jump but that seems to only happen on High Impedance, from loudest to quietest, where BTL > Parallel > Normal > Active.G.
On all 3 Low Impedance settings, from loudest to quietest, Parallel > BTL > Normal > Active. G. Note that there is barely any difference between BTL & Normal that I want to just put the same volume.
Noise floor is where it gets interesting.
With Meze Elites via XLR :
On High Impedance (most powerful setting), BTL has very very slight noise floor, almost inaudible but I can still notice it. Inaudible during actual listening though as to be expected. On Low Impedance 1-3, BTL is dead silent.
Every other mode (Parallel, Active. G, Normal) all have audible noise floors regardless of what impedance setting I use, generally speaking this is all inaudible during listening.
As such, I will primarily doing my listening using Low Impedance 1 & BTL mode with the Elites.
With V16 Divinity via 6.35 SE (Extremely sensitive IEM) :
On High Impedance, every setting has an significantly audible noise floor, while drastically less on all 3 low impedance settings. Reaching Low Impedance 3 on the normal mode (since using SE means that there is only normal and parallel while BTL and Active.G become normal), the noise floor becomes the lowest and is not very noticeable anymore. I will test this again when I get my 4.4 cable in and can cycle the balanced modes.
My only concern in this case is how are the impedance settings implemented and do they mess with the output impedance? If so, IEMs can easily have their frequency responses altered right?