[JWahl]

You could sell your Mojo and some headphones (either the HD 650 or Elear; whichever you like less; I think the Elear lives up to its "super HD 650" reputation) to more easily afford it.

Ha, that's actually exactly what I'm doing. I just sold my T3, I'm putting up my Elear soon and keeping the HD-650. Then I'll sell the Mojo. I've ordered an iFi Micro iCan SE in the meantime to hold me over for amplification. Then later on I can upgrade my headphones and amp again.

 

[PanusKatus]

I really admire you guy, 31 pages and not a single opinion regarding how this DAC sound.
It is not a criticism, just an observation; I'm interested in Qutest too.
The hype is high and I look forward to hear more about this DAC.

It doesn’t come out until next month, even here in the UK.

 

[Music Alchemist]

It doesn’t come out until next month, even here in the UK.

So dealers like this one let you audition it but not purchase it?

 

[PanusKatus]

So dealers like this one let you audition it but not purchase it?

I don’t know. Have you asked them?

 

[Music Alchemist]

I don’t know. Have you asked them?

The point is, they have it for demonstration in their store, so it would be odd if they didn't let anyone purchase it yet. And I think I've seen other UK dealers that stock and sell it.

 

[PanusKatus]

The point is, they have it for demonstration in their store, so it would be odd if they didn't let anyone purchase it yet. And I think I've seen other UK dealers that stock and sell it.

Being able to purchase one and actually walk out of the store with one are not the same things. I bought mine 11th January from my local store but I won’t get it until it comes out next month.

 

[Yippedidou]

When I looked at the Future Shop UK site thursday, It was marked available.

 

[Music Alchemist]

When I looked at the Future Shop UK site thursday, It was marked available.

Yep, and it also says it usually ships within 7-10 days. (But, as covered earlier, not to the US.)

 

[PanusKatus]

Well if a British head-fi member has got one then we’ll get an impression soon enough, won’t we? Again, being marked as “available” does not necessarily mean you can simply walk in, pay and walk out with a shiny new Qutest. As far as I know, members of the British public won’t get their hands on one until they come out next month. Of course, I could be wrong and those reviews and first impressions will come flooding in any second not. Sorry, I meant “now”.

 

[gintamafans]

TBH, I truly hope chord can do something with bluebird, because I believe in north america we are paying more than anywhere in the world for chord products. AND extremely expensive in canada seriously. (just to put it in perspective, a friend of mine was able to get a new chord dave in china for as little as under 7k usd brand new, which if i were to buy in canada the price after tax can get me as close as to buying TWO dave in china. Or for 2qute, as of today you can get it as low as under $680 usd brand new in china. So now you can imagine how much of a markup bluebird is making. To me that is far more than VAT imo which makes no sense at all. If qutest came out like super expensive in NA, in which could be enough a thousand dollar more than china, I think I will possibly just grap one on my next vacation then, because I saved more money on buying a ticket for the trip. LOL

 

[Music Alchemist]

TBH, I truly hope chord can do something with bluebird, because I believe in north america we are paying more than anywhere in the world for chord products. AND extremely expensive in canada seriously. (just to put it in perspective, a friend of mine was able to get a new chord dave in china for as little as under 7k usd brand new, which if i were to buy in canada the price after tax can get me as close as to buying TWO dave in china. Or for 2qute, as of today you can get it as low as under $680 usd brand new in china. So now you can imagine how much of a markup bluebird is making. To me that is far more than VAT imo which makes no sense at all. If qutest came out like super expensive in NA, in which could be enough a thousand dollar more than china, I think I will possibly just grap one on my next vacation then, because I saved more money on buying a ticket for the trip. LOL

I know what you mean...but are you sure those were authorized dealers in China?

 

[gintamafans]

I know what you mean...but are you sure those were authorized dealers in China?

Not only sure and I can say there were way too many of them, from local to online offers similar prices to each other. Authorized dealer as well. The friend of mine who bought the dave from sold at least a few in a month lol, and thats was just one that he knows of that was close to him which has both online and local shop. Since this is a successor of 2Qute thread, I would also like the mention something I found ridiculous. As before the launch of Qutest, I was actually trying to buy a used 2Qute, and have contacted quite a few on this forum or else where platform in north america. However I got pretty much no luck of even close to the price of how dealers in china which offers at least 30% less than those used but are new, though I couldnt buy it as they only use the chinese platform for sale for security reasons. However, they would likely to offer even better deal if i were to buy them in person. (which I would have saved more even including the ticket to china LOL)

 

[Music Alchemist]

Not only sure and I can say there were way too many of them, from local to online offers similar prices to each other. Authorized dealer as well. The friend of mine who bought the dave from sold at least a few in a month lol, and thats was just one that he knows of that was close to him which has both online and local shop. Since this is a successor of 2Qute thread, I would also like the mention something I found ridiculous. As before the launch of Qutest, I was actually trying to buy a used 2Qute, and have contacted quite a few on this forum or else where platform in north america. However I got pretty much no luck of even close to the price of how dealers in china which offers at least 30% less than those used but are new, though I couldnt buy it as they only use the chinese platform for sale for security reasons. However, they would likely to offer even better deal if i were to buy them in person. (which I would have saved more even including the ticket to china LOL)

The UK price (including VAT) for the DAVE is £8,499. That's about $12,043 USD.

Even without VAT, that's like $10K, not $7K.

In other words, customers in China are getting far lower prices than customers in the UK despite Chord themselves being in the UK.

Sure, they don't have to worry about the 20% VAT in China, but they still have to deal with the costs of importing everything (and possibly other factors), so how is it under $7K instead of over $10K?

I smell something fishy.

 

[gintamafans]

The UK price (including VAT) for the DAVE is £8,499. That's about $12,043 USD.

Even without VAT, that's like $10K, not $7K.

In other words, customers in China are getting far lower prices than customers in the UK despite Chord themselves being in the UK.

Sure, they don't have to worry about the 20% VAT in China, but they still have to deal with the costs of importing everything (and possibly other factors), so how is it under $7K instead of over $10K?

I smell something fishy.

Well then that fishy smell is something on the bluebird side. Because from what my friend told me, the distributor(there is only one in china I believe) he is super friendly and nice person.

 

[Music Alchemist]

Well then that fishy smell is something on the bluebird side. Because from what my friend told me, the distributor(there is only one in china I believe) he is super friendly and nice person.

No, this has nothing to do with Bluebird or the US, nor does it have anything to do with how friendly and nice someone is.

I am talking about the fact that the DAVE is over $12K in the UK with VAT and ~$10K without VAT...so how is it under $7K in China? Surely if they were authorized dealers, this would not be allowed. If anyone has an answer, let me know. (And this applies to all Chord products. I just used the DAVE as an example.)