Chord Electronics Qutest DAC - Official Thread

[nwavesailor]

If you want to improve sound try an Anker 5v battery, it makes a nice step up in sound quality.

Have others found the Anker 5 volt battery to be a step up from the OEM wall-wart PS?

 

[iFi audio]

do i need to connect a clean source of 5v power to the ifi idefender 3.0 when using it w qutest? @iFi audio

If a DAC is self-powered, you don't need to connect external 5V line, iDefender3.0 will work without it.

 

[ecwl]

I have the Qutest partnered with my Schiit Asgard 3 preamplifier which is connected to my Matrix Audio Mini-i Amp.

I have set the output to 1v but there is still too much gain. On the volume dial - 7pm is loud, 9pm too loud.

Am I doing something wrong?

Is my best option some Rothwell Attenuators? If yes - 10, 15 or 20db?

Sorry I have zero knowledge on how I should have partnered these electronics!

Hmmm. Isn’t there a low gain switch at the back of your Schiit?

 

[Triode User]

Hmmm. Isn’t there a low gain switch at the back of your Schiit?

the gain switch is on the front of the Asgard 3 preamp.

 

[ecwl]

the gain switch is on the front of the Asgard 3 preamp.

Haha. I was reading the product website’s specs page. I should have just looked at the photos which clearly shows the gain switch in front.

 

[officerdibble]

Hmmm. Isn’t there a low gain switch at the back of your Schiit?

Hi. Yeah I have it switched to low gain.

 

[Romi54]

When Dave has 100% sound quality.

How much does the Hugo TT2 have? - XXX %

How much the Qutest? - XXX %

 

[miketlse]

When Dave has 100% sound quality.

How much does the Hugo TT2 have? - XXX %

How much the Qutest? - XXX %

Try reading this post https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hug...official-thread.879425/page-543#post-15361642
Christer is a very demanding music lover, and he reckons the Qutest + MScaler beats the DAVE on its own.
Other owners rank the DAVE above all the other dacs.
You will not find a 100% consensus.

 

[norliss]

Hey @Rob Watts - I wonder if I could ask you a question?

Sources such as Squeezebox Touch or RPi 4 don't 'switch off' per se (unless you unplug them) and therefore their output signal to the DAC is constant regardless of whether music is playing. Would there be any adverse effects with respect to the longevity of the Qutest i.e. would it be advisable to switch over to an unused input source when not in use or does it make no difference?

 

[Rob Watts]

Don't worry, a dithered source makes no difference to reliability. And an SPDIF that is transmitting digital zero will also make no difference.

 

[norliss]

Don't worry, a dithered source makes no difference to reliability. And an SPDIF that is transmitting digital zero will also make no difference.

Thanks @Rob Watts for your reply. Do you anticipate the 'port hole' and source/filter lights on the Qutest having a long life?

 

[Richardhoos]

How subtle do most find the filter options?

I don’t hear any difference at all actually, and wondering if others feel the same? Perhaps my ears just aren’t discerning enough, which is certainly possible.

The other thing I thought of.. is it possible it has something to do with my other components for some reason? (streaming Qobuz from iPhone to Qutest, listening to ZMF Verite closed from Taurus amp).

I absolutely love the set up. By using the orange or red filter on the Qutest I was hoping to be able to inch up on volume as much as possible while minimizing the treble (a bit treble sensitive), but I don’t hear a difference as I said.

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[nwavesailor]

How subtle do most find the filter options?

I don’t hear any difference at all actually, and wondering if others feel the same? Perhaps my ears just aren’t discerning enough, which is certainly possible.

The other thing I thought of.. is it possible it has something to do with my other components for some reason? (streaming Qobuz from iPhone to Qutest, listening to ZMF Verite closed from Taurus amp).

I absolutely love the set up. By using the orange or red filter on the Qutest I was hoping to be able to inch up on volume as much as possible while minimizing the treble (a bit treble sensitive), but I don’t hear a difference as I said.

Thoughts? Thanks!

I'm with you on the 'filters', at least with my ears and Empy's!
I should have ZMF Verite open next week, but not expecting to hear much (or anything?) with the 4 Qutest filter options using a different hp.

I admit I DON'T have bat ears and am treble sensitive as well.
I really try to hear the various filters, but with no success, other than seeing the ball color change and 'hoping' it then sounds a hair warmer.

I have to think it is measurable, or it wouldn't be on the DAC, but not audible at least with my ears!

 

[211276]

The filters are subtle but I can detect differences. The optimum for my ears on my system is green. I find white slightly harsh and orange a bit dull. My Qutest is partnered with the Mscaler. Before connecting ferrite rings to the BNC cables I was using the orange filter. The green filter was operational before purchasing the Mscaler. It seems RF was causing some harshness. I believe Rob Watts has said somewhere that if the orange or red filters are required the rest of the system is on the bright side.

 

[Roybenz]

I hear tiny difference. On some songs i cant tell the difference at all. Also like the green best with the moon neo 430. And lcd 4.