Chord Electronics Qutest DAC - Official Thread

[Simple Man]

Hi Christer, did you get a chance to hear the Qutest w/ a real good PSU? I have two Qutests both using IFI Elite PSU and found it to be a significant improvement. Interested to hear what you think how this compares w/ Qutest w/ msacaler.

Here the Ifi as well. Big postive difference.

 

[Simple Man]

No. No buzz. No noise but more ‘music’.
It sounds more natural. More air and detail.
Imho.

 

[TechnoJazz]

Just to clarify, in most cases any buzz on speakers implies issues with grounding somewhere. I'm not sure how yours and your reseller's setup looked like, but in general, with iPower Elite one shouldn't hear any such noise when everything is grounded correctly. Thanks!

If that was the case, the issue would also exist with the standard Chord power supply and with the SBooster power supply and that does not happen, as I wrote before. So the issue was with the Ifi Elite. I do not have issues with any other component in my system.
Thanks!

 

[dnnaudio]

Have the Elite w/ Qutest on two speaker systems, no buzz. In both the Elite gave a quieter and more robust presentation vs stock. Both systems use Shunyata PLC, one a Denali and the other a Triton.

 

[Chop-Top]

I decided to try the SBooster and... no bzzz noise at all, dead silent and I notice a better performance than with the supplied power supply.

Do you people using the IFI Power Elite notice any bzzz noise when you are close to your speakers?

I also purchased the SBooster to go with my Chord Qutest. Excellent product! You're right... dead silent

 

[GuiltyRocker]

If you use a battery and use the Ifi Power X on the Qutest, the difference in sound is non-existent, which shows that the Ifi Power supply is fantastic. I left that on the Qutest, I tried the stock power supply and it sounds kind of foggy compared to the Ifi.

 

[flipper203]

I also purchased the SBooster to go with my Chord Qutest. Excellent product! You're right... dead silent

which model did you choose I don't see any with micro usb connection

 

[Chop-Top]

which model did you choose I don't see any with micro usb connection

SBooster BOTW P&P ECO MKII...

 

[flipper203]

thanks perfect I'll give it a try

 

[Backsplash7]

I'm thinking about picking up a qutest, and am trying to plan whereabouts I could place it within the room. I have looked, but can't find the answer so far, could anybody please tell me how long the cable is on the stock power supply adapter?

 

[Dave54321]

PS 2 I also turn off my simple little mobile phone at night to avoid any unwanted late night or early during my daily morning Yoga practice phone calls, and especially anoying sms bings.

Cheers Christer

Same. We've all been there.

 

[Christer]

Same. We've all been there.

Oops, with a blush I see my typo. Annoying.

 

[mchuckp]

I'm thinking about picking up a qutest, and am trying to plan whereabouts I could place it within the room. I have looked, but can't find the answer so far, could anybody please tell me how long the cable is on the stock power supply adapter?

Mine seems to be just shy of 6 feet. I didn’t unplug it so was a little awkward to measure but should be close.

 

[Backsplash7]

Mine seems to be just shy of 6 feet. I didn’t unplug it so was a little awkward to measure but should be close.

Thankyou!

 

[JazzAudioDog]

I’m using an Aurender N150 streamer into my Qutest. It’s USB only. The Aurender USB output is galvanically isolated. So I have a galvanically isolated USB output into the Qutest‘s galvanically isolated USB input.

Any thoughts on using a DDC to allow use of either optical or coax input to the Qutest? I recall previous posts discussing that Rob thought the optimum input was either optical or coax on the Qutest. Or was that because the quality of USB outputs were such a crapshoot over the past few years?