Chord Electronics Qutest DAC - Official Thread

[Triode User]

If that's the case, what type of situation would determine whether to set it to 1V, 2V, or 3V?

Try each different voltage output and select the one which gives the most useful volume range on your amplifier. I selected the one which gave me my usual listening level at about 40% of the volume adjustment on the amplifier. But try for yourself and just select what works for you.

 

[trollchu]

Thank you both, I'll play around with that when it arrives. If I'm understanding correctly, I should be viewing it as if I'm adjusting the gain level from the DAC, but with questionably large jumps between intervals, correct?

 

[elira]

Thank you both, I'll play around with that when it arrives. If I'm understanding correctly, I should be viewing it as if I'm adjusting the gain level from the DAC, but with questionably large jumps between intervals, correct?

You just set the one that works best for you when you set up the system. It's not designed to be changed frequently.

 

[miketlse]

Thank you both, I'll play around with that when it arrives. If I'm understanding correctly, I should be viewing it as if I'm adjusting the gain level from the DAC, but with questionably large jumps between intervals, correct?

Just to add to what everyone else has posted - 2V became a semi-official standard once CD players were released in the 1980s. Since then some valve amps are happy with 3V+, but some do like only 1V.
The Qutest does allow the owner to experiment with a 'trial and error approach' until they find the best output level for their own amp/system.
Please experiment, and post your return on experience, to help other undecided Qutest owners.

 

[trollchu]

Just to add to what everyone else has posted - 2V became a semi-official standard once CD players were released in the 1980s. Since then some valve amps are happy with 3V+, but some do like only 1V.
The Qutest does allow the owner to experiment with a 'trial and error approach' until they find the best output level for their own amp/system.
Please experiment, and post your return on experience, to help other undecided Qutest owners.

If 2V is a common standard for CD players, I would not be surprised if that's what I settle on, but sure, sounds amusing. The Qutest will be the last of four DAC fed into my chain by a VS-4X, so I'll test it on each of my amps individually and take notes. I own a CTH, an MZ2, a THR-1, and outside the chain, a Burson Lycan.

 

[miketlse]

If 2V is a common standard for CD players, I would not be surprised if that's what I settle on, but sure, sounds amusing. The Qutest will be the last of four DAC fed into my chain by a VS-4X, so I'll test it on each of my amps individually and take notes. I own a CTH, an MZ2, a THR-1, and outside the chain, a Burson Lycan.

That is the correct approach. You do see posts from owners complaining that the set the Qutest to 3V, and then don't like the resulting sound signature (because of clipping).
Half an hour of trial and error can quickly prevent other downstream issues/complaints.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

That is the correct approach. You do see posts from owners complaining that the set the Qutest to 3V, and then don't like the resulting sound signature (because of clipping).
Half an hour of trial and error can quickly prevent other downstream issues/complaints.

Prior to having the M Scaler the Qutest sounded better to me on my system in 2 volts. After getting the M Scaler, 3 volts sounds better to me. I guess it may be because the M Scaler lowers the volume by 3db in order not to clip the digital signal as it oversamples.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

I am also noticing the warm filter in the Qutest is more pronounced with the M Scaler, I am not sure what is going on but with the M Scaler in place in my system the warm filter sounds much more natural than the other filters. Crazy.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

@Rob Watts When the M Scaler is connected to the Qutest and the Warm filter is selected my understanding is that we are bypassing the WTA 256FS and the WTA 1 of the M Scaler overrides the WTA 1 of the Qutest, what about the 1024 upsampling that happens in the Qutest, is that bypassed as well?

 

[Rob Watts]

@Rob Watts When the M Scaler is connected to the Qutest and the Warm filter is selected my understanding is that we are bypassing the WTA 256FS and the WTA 1 of the M Scaler overrides the WTA 1 of the Qutest, what about the 1024 upsampling that happens in the Qutest, is that bypassed as well?

Correct - orange or red filters bypass the WTA2 filter (16FS input to 256FS output), and the 256FS to 2048FS filters become 16FS to 2048FS. Apart from accepting 16FS rather than 256FS, these filters are identical to when the WTA2 is used (white and green), so they are definitely not bypassed - that would ruin the performance. The difference between white to green and orange to red is just the time constant of these filters - green/orange removes more HF noise and distortion above 50kHz.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Any suggestions on a good headphone amp under $1k to pair with the Qutest?

I have a pair of highly sensitive Focal Clear MGs.

I should be getting Topping A90 discreet this week, but I did not like their D90LE DAC due to its pronounced digital sound signature.

This is why I am already pessimistic on A90, but could be proved wrong, of course.

A90D is quite different compare to A90. Yes both try to strike neutrality, kind of dry and raw. However A90D "pronounce" warmer character, more rounded notes, more weight for each notes. Treble has more polite bite while remain the neutrality. Soundstage depth definitely improve from A90.

Singxer SA-1, as the same discrete topology with also superb measurement, deliver warmer presentation than A90, but, not quite as warm as A90D. I prefer Singxer for better transparency, micro detail, and even more spacious soundstage than A90D. I prefer A90D for warmer and fuller body, with a little drier notes.

I prefer Soloist 3XP compared to these 3 excellent measured amps though, albeit with higher price tag as well.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

Correct - orange or red filters bypass the WTA2 filter (16FS input to 256FS output), and the 256FS to 2048FS filters become 16FS to 2048FS. Apart from accepting 16FS rather than 256FS, these filters are identical to when the WTA2 is used (white and green), so they are definitely not bypassed - that would ruin the performance. The difference between white to green and orange to red is just the time constant of these filters - green/orange removes more HF noise and distortion above 50kHz.

Thanks Rob. I definitely hear a stronger effect of the warm filter with the M Scaler on.

 

[elira]

Any suggestions on a good headphone amp under $1k to pair with the Qutest?

I have a pair of highly sensitive Focal Clear MGs.

I should be getting Topping A90 discreet this week, but I did not like their D90LE DAC due to its pronounced digital sound signature.

This is why I am already pessimistic on A90, but could be proved wrong, of course.

The Gilmore Lite mk2 is a nice amp.

 

[Nostoi]

Any suggestions on a good headphone amp under $1k to pair with the Qutest?

I have a pair of highly sensitive Focal Clear MGs.

I should be getting Topping A90 discreet this week, but I did not like their D90LE DAC due to its pronounced digital sound signature.

This is why I am already pessimistic on A90, but could be proved wrong, of course.

The original Rupert Never amp is within your budget; that's a nice little amp that would likely pair well with Qutest: https://www.thomann.de/at/rupert_ne...Wm_JeQBRXkIF03gfkHhd6YuZeJR-HdEhoCyQMQAvD_BwE

 

[Reactcore]

Any suggestions on a good headphone amp under $1k to pair with the Qutest?

I have a pair of highly sensitive Focal Clear MGs.

I should be getting Topping A90 discreet this week, but I did not like their D90LE DAC due to its pronounced digital sound signature.

This is why I am already pessimistic on A90, but could be proved wrong, of course.

You could try a Questyle CMA 600i..

Its specially good for chord DAC's cause it uses single ended input but makes out a full balanced AMP stage.

If youre handy you might can modify a CMA400i like i did. See my signature
It has stunning result