Chord Electronics Qutest DAC - Official Thread

[bmfmarius]

2. You need to spend a lot of time, money and experience to computer audio to overperform CD transport sound quality (even of average transport).

So sad, so true!

 

[Christer]

I am using a 12" Macbook for hi-res files and have a dedicated CD player with optical out to the Qutest.

I must say now after a week of thoroughly running it.. its a major improvement on the Chord Mojo

Ecxcuse my ignorance but I need to ask this question . If I connect my Cd player via optical out from the player into optical on my Qutest will that result in Qutest actually playing the disc from the player even if it as in my case has its own inbuilt dac?
One of my old Cd players a Zindak SCD 2 SACD player has optical out.
Or will it only work from a transport only cd drive ?
Cheers Christer

 

[bmfmarius]

The CD player will act as the transport and Qutest as dac

 

[dawktah2]

Mmm, I wonder did I keep my Nakamichi from the 90's

 

[miketlse]

Ecxcuse my ignorance but I need to ask this question . If I connect my Cd player via optical out from the player into optical on my Qutest will that resusult in Qutest actually playing the disc from the player even if it as in my case has its own inbuilt dac?
One of my old Cd players a Zindak SCD 2 SACD player has optical out.
Or will it only work from a transport only cd drive ?
Cheers Christer

It should work ok as a transport. If you have the user manual, does it indicate if the optical output is 192khz or limited to say 96khz?

 

[AlexB73]

I tried to connect my old CD Cary 303 to 2Qute by optical cable QED Reference versus coaxial vintage Belkin Pro (blue).
Coaxial cable sounded much more natural. Optical cable sounded cold and glassy in comparison.

In contrast, Mojo sounded more detailed with QED Reference optical cable.
Maybe it was, because lusher and more muddy Mojo sound.
But 2Qute didn't benefit from optical cable, it sounds transparent and detailed enough with coaxial.

 

[bmfmarius]

Coaxial cable sounded much more natural. Optical cable sounded cold and glassy in comparison.

Yes coax is better! But a good cable is mandatory, and matching impedance

 

[OG10]

Yep, using my Marantz CD6006 UKE as the transport.

 

[Rob Watts]

Thanks for quick reply. I bought some music that was 44.1/24 just wondering if I should have gotten 96/24

You have two issues here - the sample rate conversion from 96k to 44.1, and that fact it is a lower sample rate. I am not bothered too much by the lower sample rate, so long as it is binary multiples, but I am bothered by sample rate conversion, which adds lots of distortion and noise and degrades transient timing. So my rule of thumb is if it is a 96k original, buy that rather than the 44.1 version.

 

[dac64]

I tried to connect my old CD Cary 303 to 2Qute by optical cable QED Reference versus coaxial vintage Belkin Pro (blue).
Coaxial cable sounded much more natural. Optical cable sounded cold and glassy in comparison.

Qutest is different story, l believe!

 

[dawktah2]

You have two issues here - the sample rate conversion from 96k to 44.1, and that fact it is a lower sample rate. I am not bothered too much by the lower sample rate, so long as it is binary multiples, but I am bothered by sample rate conversion, which adds lots of distortion and noise and degrades transient timing. So my rule of thumb is if it is a 96k original, buy that rather than the 44.1 version.

Thanks so much, is there a source of "original" sample rates for source materials? I don't think HDtracks or Acoustic Sounds tells you.

--Chris

 

[rhern213]

Looks like I posted the same question as dawktah2 above.

 

[Rob Watts]

I think for rock/pop it is very difficult to download original recordings - much of the time I can only get MP3 as downloads, which I refuse to buy.

99% of my purchases are classical, and I get them from Chandos website, and Presto classical. Both generally offer options to buy the original master recording, normally 96k. I will always buy the 96 in preference to the 44.1, mainly because of the sample rate conversion issue.

 

[azabu]

@Rob Watts

Rob, would you have any estimated release dates for the m scaler for either H2 or Qutest?

Could we expect something later this year or in 2019?

 

[Rob Watts]

Sorry, but I can't discuss future Chord product release dates... You will have to wait for the official Chord Electronics product launch.