Chord Electronics Qutest DAC - Official Thread

[BoogieWoogie]

https://www.bluebirdmusic.com/edit/...ctronics/hfc_436_chord_qutest_reprint-low.pdf

 

[dac64]

The latest edition of HiFi Choice, is their Stereo Stars edition, (or their 'best of'). The Qutest DAC takes an award or Editor's Choice, on page 62-63. It looks like they have included the whole review. If you want to catch that review, then edition 445 is what you want.

I am not sure if HiFi Coice have put their review online yet. However after some digging I found the PDF of their review linked by some other audio website.

google HiFi Choice Stereo Stars edition Qutest DAC

 

[nephilim32]

Merry Christmas all!!

May all your ears be filled with joyful sonics through one of the very best DACS around.

 

[Jon L]

https://www.bluebirdmusic.com/edit/...ctronics/hfc_436_chord_qutest_reprint-low.pdf

Thanks for the link.
"The Verdict" section describes the sound as "Beautifully etched, liquid sound," which I quite agree with. I hate "digital" sounding DAC's and also hate "analogue" sounding DAC's, and Qutest somehow walks both aisles.

What is curious to me is why Chord uses 50 Ohm BNC input jacks and not 75 Ohm BNC jacks. I've noticed this trend in many audiophile digital gear and must wonder why..? Technically, 75 Ohm connection is widely considered superior for digital signal transmission with least attenuation and capacitance. Moreover, most audiophile BNC cables do feature 75 Ohm BNC connectors, which creates signal reflections and loss when connected to mismatched 50 Ohm BNC jacks.

 

[Zzt231gr]

Thanks for the link.
"The Verdict" section describes the sound as "Beautifully etched, liquid sound," which I quite agree with. I hate "digital" sounding DAC's and also hate "analogue" sounding DAC's, and Qutest somehow walks both aisles.

What is curious to me is why Chord uses 50 Ohm BNC input jacks and not 75 Ohm BNC jacks. I've noticed this trend in many audiophile digital gear and must wonder why..? Technically, 75 Ohm connection is widely considered superior for digital signal transmission with least attenuation and capacitance. Moreover, most audiophile BNC cables do feature 75 Ohm BNC connectors, which creates signal reflections and loss when connected to mismatched 50 Ohm BNC jacks.

I am pretty sure it's 75Ω.

The weird thing about this review,is the point where it says that the stock PSU is optimized to work perfectly like 2qute;isn't 2qute always benefitted from aftermarket PSUs?

 

[Jon L]

They are definitely 50 Ohm connectors. Even Chord MScaler uses 50 Ohm BNC connectors. So if I had Chord DAC and Mscaler, I would make sure I use 50 Ohm BNC cables with 50 Ohm connectors, not 75 Ohm cables, between them to avoid signal reflections.

75vs50Ohm by drjlo2, on Flickr

ChordQutestBack by drjlo2, on Flickr


MscalerBack by drjlo2, on Flickr

 

[odessamarin]

@Jon L

You atre right.. intresting. Here is mine TT - 50, Bryston - 75.
Is there any way to identify/measure COAX cabel..is it 50 or 75..?

 

[Zzt231gr]

They are definitely 50 Ohm connectors. Even Chord MScaler uses 50 Ohm BNC connectors. So if I had Chord DAC and Mscaler, I would make sure I use 50 Ohm BNC cables with 50 Ohm connectors, not 75 Ohm cables, between them to avoid signal reflections.

75vs50Ohm by drjlo2, on Flickr

ChordQutestBack by drjlo2, on Flickr


MscalerBack by drjlo2, on Flickr

Then why does my Canare 75Ω plug fits?

 

[Northern Light]

Merry Christmas everyone!

I wondered whether the USB or S/PDIF input of the Qutest allowed the best sound quality — any wisdom here?

Many thanks!!

N

 

[Christer]

I am pretty sure it's 75Ω.

The weird thing about this review,is the point where it says that the stock PSU is optimized to work perfectly like 2qute;isn't 2qute always benefitted from aftermarket PSUs?

I have been using a battery powered linear PSU with Qutest and with M scaler in the chain as well for more than a week now.
I have to say once again,that to me and my ears and with full dynamic range classical hi res tracks in particular, like the ones from BIS where there can sometimes be such low level ppp- pppp sections in the music that are almost bordering on inaudible at times as in for example some of Osmo Vänskä's Sibelius symphonies recordings for BIS,the noise floor and "grunge" for lack of a better word, is audibly lower with the battery pack than the supplied PSU for my Qutest.
With the supplied PSU it is more difficult to hear what is really going on musicallly in this almost verging on silence,borderline region.

And as far as digital and noise floor is concerned in general, I have yet to hear a completely quiet no hf zzzz at all, from any digital I have heard so far.
And if someone might think I prefer vinyl for that reason? Rest assured. NO I don't, it is even noisier than digital and rarely exceeds 55-60dB SNR.
But even with the battery powered PSU there is slight noise which is only audible with very low level music running.
At times I suspect it is inherent noise in the recording chain itself. And other times it seems to be connected with which PSU I have connected.
My recent discoveries with wall powered switching PSU as the one supplied, and linear battery powered as the one I am using, has made me interested in looking deeper into this.

There seems to be a lot of discussion around these things going on over at Computer Audiophile, where the owner of Uptone Audio has been posting things and mentioned that "all switching PSUs are sending noise back into the dac".
Correct me if I have misquoted him as I obviously misquoted Rob recently.
It is not my intention to misquote people at all.
But the subject of best possible PSU is now something I am interested in knowing more about, that is all I have to say on the subject for the time being.
Cheers Controversial Christer

 

[odessamarin]

@Christer

What is your source USB or SPDIF?
Please try SPDIF.. you will be surprised from your description, I see you a ready to hear the differance very well.
Let us know.

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[Christer]

@Christer

What is your source USB or SPDIF?
Please try SPDIF.. you will be surprised from your description, I see you a ready to hear the differance very well.
Let us know.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hi ,
mbp via USB connection.
I have tried optical with my cd players and Qutest on its own back home, but they both sounded different.
Via laptop I don't think you can do optical without compromises.
If that is what you mean with SPDIF?
I had a Hegel dac that I connected via SPDIF and an adapter to the USB port of my mbp a few years ago. But Qutest/M Scaler via USB and battery PSU is in a completely different league altogether.
Basically the only things I have heard outside of recording sessions and raw mic feed and sounding better are DAVE /BLU2 or TT2 /M Scaler.
I have reasons to suspect M Scaler and the best Chord dacs are about as good as digital currently gets.
Cheers Controversial Christer

 

[Arniesb]

Hi ,
mbp via USB connection.
I have tried optical with my cd players and Qutest on its own back home, but they both sounded different.
Via laptop I don't think you can do optical without compromises.
If that is what you mean with SPDIF?
I had a Hegel dac that I connected via SPDIF and an adapter to the USB port of my mbp a few years ago. But Qutest/M Scaler via USB and battery PSU is in a completely different league altogether.
Basically the only things I have heard outside of recording sessions and raw mic feed and sounding better are DAVE /BLU2 or TT2 /M Scaler.
I have reasons to suspect M Scaler and the best Chord dacs are about as good as digital currently gets.
Cheers Controversial Christer

Nah, Chord usb implementations is far from perfect. Not even Dave have anything close to perfect usb implementation...
Many audiophiles listen with mac so usb isnt that huge deal...
You should take a look at Auralic Vega G2 now that is pefect usb implementation.

 

[Triode User]

Nah, Chord usb implementations is far from perfect. Not even Dave have anything close to perfect usb implementation...
Many audiophiles listen with mac so usb isnt that huge deal...
You should take a look at Auralic Vega G2 now that is pefect usb implementation.

A few sweeping statements there tossed into the ether. Do your comments come from personal experience and what have you noticed about how the Vega G2 is different to the Dave?

 

[Arniesb]

A few sweeping statements there tossed into the ether. Do your comments come from personal experience and what have you noticed about how the Vega G2 is different to the Dave?

I tried great usb cables, and Ifi nano usb on 2qute... both largely improve sound. That is a reason why people dont like Chord amps. Very transparent yes, but if 1 would run cheap usb cables with no usb cleaner very transparent amp like Chord one will let you hear noise and other artifacts in its full glory.
Very few manufacturers have good usb implementations and they cost big money.