Chord Electronics Qutest DAC - Official Thread

[DJW50]

Unfortunately I wouldn’t call HQPlayer simple. It is one if those pieces of software where reading the manual helps but the forums have some guidance on suggested settings. And it works best with Roon so if you don’t use Roon, that may sway your opinion negatively.

Thanks, I'll give it a miss then and wait and save for the next M Scaler.
Currently going through some of my favourite HDCD's and it really does sound very good indeed, may look into power supply later.

 

[DJW50]

How do you turn it off?

 

[ardbeg1975]

You don’t (short of unplugging it).

 

[uzi2]

How do you turn it off?

The simplest way is to get an inline switch. Best place to look is the Raspberry Pi suppliers, but their current models use USB-C, so make sure you get the older version.
This would do the trick.

 

[DJW50]

Thanks for the replies, I guess if Chord designed it to stay on there shouldn't be an issue but the plug looks a better alternative.
Great DAC I have to say.

 

[JaquesGelee]

How do you turn it off?

The Qutest is meant to be an always on device. But it is up to you what you are doing with your unit.

 

[LegionofDoom]

After a lot of research and personal reflection I am down to either the Qutest or a Gungnir (mb). My amp is Burson GT and cans are ZMF vc. I have endeavored to pin myself down on just how much detail I want. I do like detail, but ultimately my primary musical taste is rock/pop so the genre itself does not offer perhaps what jazz or classical would for "ruthlessly revealing" content to experience in most listening sessions. As such, bass and musical "groove" are important to me. If I had one litmus test above all others, it would be which one makes you tap your toes, nod your head to the beat, and say "gee, this sounds great"? The Burson GT nails this for me at the amp stage and I could not be happier with the ZMFs..

I plan to run a Pro-ject Stream Box Ultra over USB as the source (via Roon). I mentally favor XLR outs from the DAC to the amp---but if the Qutest is a better fit I won't be hung up on interconnections. Words of wisdom and experience are welcomed!

 

[DJW50]

After a lot of research and personal reflection I am down to either the Qutest or a Gungnir (mb). My amp is Burson GT and cans are ZMF vc. I have endeavored to pin myself down on just how much detail I want. I do like detail, but ultimately my primary musical taste is rock/pop so the genre itself does not offer perhaps what jazz or classical would for content to benefit most listening sessions. As such, bass and musical "groove" are important to. If I had one litmus test above all others, it would be which one makes you tap your toes, nod your head to the beat, and say "gee, this sounds great"? The Burson GT names this for me at the amp stage and I could not be happier with the ZMFs..

I plan to run a Pro-ject Stream Box Ultra over USB as the source (via Roon). I mentally favor XLR outs from the DAC to the amp---but if the Qutest is a better fit I won't be hung up on interconnections. Words of wisdom and experience are welcomed!

You've just described my experience with the Qutest, it is very 'musical' I always play Texas Flood by SRV as a test because my band used to play it and I know the bass line note for note and it's all there to hear. My Pathos has XLR's and I would have favoured that option but I have some decent Chord interconnects so I'm happy with that. The acoustic guitar intro to Wishbone Ash's Time Was is so crisp and clear too. But I do find myself getting lost in the rhythm with the Qutest plus there is the bonus at some time of adding the M Scaler if you wish.
All in all I'm very pleased with all aspects of the Qutest, but it's all down to personal taste best try one if you can, I did and bought one.

 

[Reactcore]

I do like detail, but ultimately my primary musical taste is rock/pop so the genre itself does not offer perhaps what jazz or classical would for "ruthlessly revealing" content to experience in most listening sessions. As such, bass and musical "groove" are important to me.

Make no mistake.. Qutest can make rock/pop shine too.. Chord Dac's retrieve details and sphere from real instrument and voice recordings best.

So if a rock song is played and mic recorded/mixed or better in a live setting.. your mind can be blown.

Its with totally electronic generated music it wont scale extra compared to other brands imo.. maybe just a bit less fatiqueing in long listening sessions.

In a word.. the details must be there to be able to processed and heard

 

[DJW50]

After a lot of research and personal reflection I am down to either the Qutest or a Gungnir (mb). My amp is Burson GT and cans are ZMF vc. I have endeavored to pin myself down on just how much detail I want. I do like detail, but ultimately my primary musical taste is rock/pop so the genre itself does not offer perhaps what jazz or classical would for "ruthlessly revealing" content to experience in most listening sessions. As such, bass and musical "groove" are important to me. If I had one litmus test above all others, it would be which one makes you tap your toes, nod your head to the beat, and say "gee, this sounds great"? The Burson GT nails this for me at the amp stage and I could not be happier with the ZMFs..

I plan to run a Pro-ject Stream Box Ultra over USB as the source (via Roon). I mentally favor XLR outs from the DAC to the amp---but if the Qutest is a better fit I won't be hung up on interconnections. Words of wisdom and experience are welcomed!

Just to add to my previous thoughts about the Qutest, having had it for a couple of weeks now and assume that both the unit and the interconnects have settled in I'm still very impressed with the sound. As I mentioned being a bass player in my past I suppose I'm always listening out for any bass related parts of the music I listen to for any kind of reference as to the true and accurate reproduction of the instrument. Having listened to some early Yes material I can report that the distinctive tone characteristics of the Rickenbacker Bass they used are absolutely spot on. One other musical point having seen Buddy Guy live a few times he has often struck a note and the combination of feedback and sustain made women in the audience scream and me to almost pass out. This is reproduced on the tribute to SRV CD's with such gusto it was like being there again. I like the Qutest.

 

[LegionofDoom]

Does anyone have thoughts on when Chord might "update" the Qutest? Given the 2018 introduction, are we on some sort of timeline where a product refresh/upgrade would make sense? Does Chord have a cadence for these things? Granted parts availability means a whole different set of challenges to historical cadences!

Just curious as I am considering a purchase.

 

[Reactcore]

Does anyone have thoughts on when Chord might "update" the Qutest? Given the 2018 introduction, are we on some sort of timeline where a product refresh/upgrade would made sense? Does Chord have a cadence for these things? Granted parts availability means a whole different set of challenges to historical cadences!

Just curious as I am considering a purchase.

I recently read Rob hasnt started working on a sucessor.. i guess u wont be confronted with a new release soon

 

[DJW50]

Does anyone have thoughts on when Chord might "update" the Qutest? Given the 2018 introduction, are we on some sort of timeline where a product refresh/upgrade would make sense? Does Chord have a cadence for these things? Granted parts availability means a whole different set of challenges to historical cadences!

Just curious as I am considering a purchase.

My thoughts were that for my purpose using it as the DAC for my Pathos it will probably be long term, I intend to add an M Scaler at some stage when finance permits. I do wonder if the M Scaler is due a new model though.

 

[Triode User]

My thoughts were that for my purpose using it as the DAC for my Pathos it will probably be long term, I intend to add an M Scaler at some stage when finance permits. I do wonder if the M Scaler is due a new model though.

There is another Mscaler due at the end of this year but it will not replace the existing one. The new one will be in the Choral range to match the Dave and guessing will be in a similar price range to Dave.

 

[The Jester]

Bonus may be those with a Dave and MScaler may well upgrade and provide the market with some S/H Hugo Mscalers ?