I am using the Qutest with a Leema cd. Which colour is best to use with a cd. I have tried white and green so far but don’t notice much difference. Thanks.
Chord Electronics Qutest DAC - Official Thread
- Thread starter ChordElectronics
- Start date
Is it a good decision to buy Chord Qutest now as it's already in market since last 5 years ?
Nostoi
Headphoneus Supremus
No, it suddenly passed its expiry date and no longer sounds good, I'm afraid. As is widely known, DAC sound quality has a 1 to 2 month lifespan. After that, the sound tends to decay.
Totally, mine even smells a bit rancid.
Nostoi
Headphoneus Supremus
This can often be the case if the DAC is not stored safely in a fridge when not in use. Please remember to practice good DAC hygiene from hereon.
*Disclaimer: do not store your DAC in a fridge*
Or to put it another way...
The Qutest is still the best DAC you can buy at that price point and there isn't a new model in the works anytime soon.
The Qutest is still the best DAC you can buy at that price point and there isn't a new model in the works anytime soon.
I agree and I have tried other DAC's some nearly six times the price of the Qutest and all have gone back for a refund. I'm saving up for a DAVE as it seems the only replacement for the Qutest.
Nostoi
Headphoneus Supremus
Also agreed. I had the Qutest once sold it before buying more expensive DACs (including TT2) and then returned to Qutest. DAVE would probably be the only DAC I replaced it with (notwithstanding the recent kerfuffle), even though I expect the improvement to be incremental. In terms of price-performance ratio, Qutest hits the mark.
Thank you for your guidance guys !! Instantly ordered Chord Qutest with Allo Shanti psu.
Triode User
Member of the Trade: WAVE High Fidelity
The Allo Shanti is a great psu in my opinion and having tested it with my Qutest but I think it is let down by its not great factory dc output leads. For my friend I took his Allo Shanti apart and installed some better quality and shorter leads and the sound of the Qutest improved considerably. It is a faff to take apart but if nothing else I would suggest shortening the factory dc output leads by perhaps a half.
Do the BNC to Coax adapters degrade sound quality at all? I’m curious to try the Qutest in the future but the lack of a digital coax input was always an issue for me. Would the optical input be better than using a BNC/Coax adapter? Source is a Node 2i. Thanks!
You can also buy a cable with BNC on one side and RCA on the other to avoid the adapter.
Triode User
Member of the Trade: WAVE High Fidelity
The connection with the adapters can be a bit dodgy and also they sometimes start seeming as if they are ok and then the connection often seems to degrade over time. As has been suggested, most cable firms make cables with BNC one end and RCA the other and that is by far a better solution rather than using an adapter.
PS, I used the Node2i RCA out and then BNC into a Qutest and it sounded very good. If you are tempted it is also a great upgrade to install one of the power interface boards in the 2i so that you can use a LPS (Allo Shanti etc) for the 2i.
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Good to know. How has the LPS improved the sound of the Node? I’ve got a Cullen power cable that I’ve had for a while and been happy with it always looking at ways to improve things
For about two years, I used a Nordost Blue Heaven with adapters on the Qtest side very happily. I didn’t perceive any degradation.
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