This DAC changed my understanding of digital audio! Chord Qutest review 

Hi Jeff - wow! So glad you found it so helpful. Thanks for letting me know!!

@@PassionforSound You're so welcome! :D

Thanks Carlos. You're welcome!

How is this complete? he didn't take any measurements, blind test or even bother to use it for that long?

Thanks Trent

Thanks Gregorio!! I'm glad you found it helpful

Glad you liked the review. Hope you love the Qutest!

You're very welcome! 🙂

Thanks for sharing your experiences and the models you tried!

Hi. What usb cable do you use. I presently use a Supra.

I'm assuming your asking Larry?

Awesome! Glad you're enjoying it as much as I do!

What does the usb cable do to improve the sound ?.

Dave G I didn’t think that much till I tried a curious usb. It gave the sound more air. Added more detail. It was an improvement over the stock cable they give you.

Thanks for subbing. Glad you like the channel. I totally agree about the marvellous qualities of the Qutest too. Happy listening!

Thanks Younglp!

​@Passion for Sound would the V5i Opamp pair well with the Hifiman HE1000 V2 ?

I think it would pair well with anything because it doesn't overdo anything. It's a very dynamic sounding op-amp but it's not overly bright or anything. Personally, I think the Sparkos op-amp is better, but it's a bit pricier too I think so depends on your budget.

@@PassionforSound Ok for my soundblaster zxr what will I need? dual, single , pro or a combo and if a combo how many of each etc?

Thanks James! The dual BNCs are for use with the Chord M-Scaler. I'm hoping to review that one day (and own it too). The Qutest is great, and very upgradeable thanks to the M-Scaler option.

The Mojo is pretty brilliant too, isn't it? Glad you found the review helpful!

Glad you liked the review and that you're enjoying your Qutest!

You're in for a treat. Money well spent! So glad my review was helpful. 🙂🙂

@@PassionforSound Arrived today. Best money I've ever spent. Mind blown. 👍

Yay! That's great news. I'm so glad you're enjoying it. 🙂🙂

Hi James, great point about the second hand market for these. I rarely see current models for sale. Thanks for the compliment on the review. I'm glad you liked it! 🙂

Thank you! There's no doubt in my mind that other DACs out there are excellent, but I'm definitely a convert to the Chord way (i.e. Rob Watts' way)

I've never heard any recording that sounds like a live violin. Does this come close?

@@dialecticalmonist3405 that is tough to answer, I am not a musician nor do I have extensive experience w live violin music. What I can say is that my Chord DAC seems to reproduce music without coloration and with a pace to music that is like the attack and dynamics of live music. You cannot reproduce the scale and depth of live music but good equipment will mimic live music but on a difference scale. Plucking of strings has a quick sharp attack with subtle intonations from what I’ve heard live and while the Chord DAC are excellent, you just can capture all that subtly of live music. Compared to others I’ve heard these are better than most.

As someone who played violin, viola and piano for many years, the Chord DACs definitely come as close as anything I've heard at reproducing the balance of bow texture, attack and resonance that make stringed instruments hard to capture effectively

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it!

Hi John, thanks for watching and commenting. While it's true that a DAC can produce no sound on its own without an amp and some kind of driver, all DACs do convey some types of characteristics to the sound the analog signal they reconstruct. This can come from the analog output stage, the filtering used, noise and distortion, etc. The interview with Rob Watts here on this channel discusses many of these factors and Rob can explain it far better than me!

Hi Alex, great to hear! I'm a total convert now too and the TT2 + M-Scaler is firmly on the top of my audio wishlist. Thanks for subscribing!!

I have 2qute and had Qutest a short amount of time, just to realize that old series are better sounding devices with more life and dinamic.

That's an interesting take. I've not heard the 2Qute so can't really comment

@@PassionforSound It was strange. I went for Qutest to get Chord sound because of the 2Qute, and to get more of everything with stronger brain, ..but didn't expected that they are completely different. Like two different companies with different sound politics. Qutest with wide and lead back soundstage with more high and sub freq, but bland , and 2Qute with more life, realism , no obvious freq characteristics , more dynamic and inner detail..more analogue.

That's really interesting

Thank you, DE!

I think you'll be very happy! Have you tried any MQA on the D90. That will give you an approximation of the Qutest's sound, but the Qutest will still be better.

I don't specifically know the Niimbus amp, but the Qutest would be a greatatch for any amp IMO

Such a great DAC!

@@PassionforSound in your experience what you would you say is a total upgrade from the Qutest that ranges in the $3500 to $5000 dollar price tag? I honestly don’t know. ;)

The TT2 is really the best next step from the Qutest IMO. As a bonus, you're also getting an excellent headphone amp built in. 🙂 Nothing else really comes close I think. The Schiit Yggy could be another option, but I've never compared them side-by-side to know for sure. One final thought is the Holo Audio May KTE.

@@PassionforSound wonderful post. I really agree with you. I don’t think nothing at 3500$ is going to get you an entirely huge upgrade in SQ above the Qutest. You really need that 5,000$ price bracket to get you at least 10% more. I think the Holo may KTE version is getting incredibly huge attention and some are saying it punches in the DAVE’s weight class. ;) Love what you do, My friend. Nice talking to you. Also I hope you’ll get to review the FINAL AUDIO D-8000’s someday. That is an interesting headphone and one that is not getting the attention it deserves. Same with the T+A Solitaire PSE.

The May is a good comparison with the TT2 (without M-Scaler), but I can't see it really competing with the Dave. As for the D8000, I've now got a relationship with Final and hope to have more of their products for review soon, including the D8000. I'm yet to get a response from T+A.

Haha. Thanks Mika - you're always welcome! The Qutest is brilliant and not at all snake oil. I also think it would pair wonderfully with something like the Rebel or SA-1. It'll be great with A90 too of course. Hope you can get yourself some Qutest action soon 🙂

Thank you!

Hi Jim, thanks for sharing - that's always great to hear news like that when a good product outperforms a more expensive one

Thanks H Pol, I totally agree - Rob is a lovely guy an extremely knowledgeable and skilled with DACs. His approach to filtering seems to be quite unique and I believe it pays off.

The chord qutest measures very well, but there are a lot better out there now for far less money and more features.

@@r423sdex could you list some examples?

Thanks! Both, actually. I've got some solid RCA splitters (i.e. solid metal, not cable) that send the output to both the 789 and Mainline

Good question. Yes, the Gumby's balanced outs are definitely better, but I still slightly prefer the Qutest. It's really close though. If balanced is important or you need multiple outputs, I'd take the Gumby, but otherwise the Qutest edges it out

Great question, Anton, but I'm yet to dive into the world of streamers so I'm not qualified to respond - sorry!

Hi Michael, I use the Digi+ Pro board from HiFiBerry which can has BNC and SPDIF capability (can't recall if I added the BNC socket myself or if it came with it). I found no significant difference between the USB and RPi BNC connection so the Allo should work fine I expect.

Passion for Sound Legend. Thanks for the prompt response. That makes sense.

You're welcome!

Hi Alfred, I haven't compared to the Burson DACs, but in would definitely expect a smoother sound (not necessarily warmer). The Qutest produces a very clean and refined treble that's less etched than most other chip-based DACs. Some people like the perceived clarity that brings. Sorry I can't give you a specific answer.

Sounds good. Thanks for your comments. I’ve always heard wonderful things regarding Chord. 👍

Hi Ari, I'm always surprised when I hear people say that Chord DACs sound clinical. My listening experience with the Qutest has been nothing but organic. The emphasis of Rob Watts' design is on overall accuracy and particularly accuracy of transients so there's no additional brightness or "clarity" bring added. I haven't heard the Rega gear you've got, but I'd definitely say to anyone that the Qutest itself will not produce a clinical sound. If a system sounds clinical with the addition of the Qutest, it tells me the old DAC was overly warm/thick sounding and that the rest of the system was already overly clinical (i.e. each part was compensating for the other). I hope that all makes sense.

@@PassionforSound thanks, makes sense. From what I understand in order to get dsd 128 or more playback, I would hook up my streamer to the bnc (with rca converter) input or laptop to usb input? Will the rca converter plug degrade the sound or limit it to only dsd64 or pcm 192 for e.g?

Hi Gireesh. In speaking to Rob Watts (possibly in the interviews here on the channel) he prefers optical inputs most of all so I'd say to try that first. I haven't played around much with the RPi since getting the Qutest because the USB audio is already so good.

@@PassionforSound thank you for your response. Is currently set to optical. Is awesome especially on green filter setting. So.pleased with the purchase. Might try usb later.. or may be never😀. Thanks again

Thanks Midori. The Gumby is an excellent DAC and achieves about 97-98% of the Qutest's performance while also being balanced (if that's important). It's a very good DAC that is incredibly hard to beat for the price.

Hi Hardstuff, it definitely won't be pointless, particularly because the amp in the TT2 is incredible for transparency, but I do sometimes miss the Qutest. Not because it's better or anything - I just liked it's simplicity and it tended to have me listening with different amps which bring their own distinct sounds. The TT2 almost makes things too easy because it sounds the best on its own (i.e. using it as DAC and amp) in most cases. It IS nice having RCA and XLR outs plus easy control over output levels, crossfeed, etc. though. This response probably isn't helping you make up your mind, but hopefully it provides some insight into life with both.

Thank you for your reply. 😊

My pleasure! 🙂

Thanks Jay. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts versus the McIntosh. You should notice a significant improvement from the 2qute based on the greater number of taps, etc. in the Qutest

Passion for Sound hello, so I decided to cancel my Qutest order and ordered the TT2. It has been 4 days now using the tt2. What can I say, it’s quite an amp/Dac. So beautiful, sweet, soulful, with lots of punches, so powerful, so rich sounding. It’s too early to have a definitive idea about the McIntosh against the tt2. I do love them both. The McIntosh is slightly more relaxed, the tt2 is very forward, everything on your face. It’s tough.....I don’t think I can pick one over the other at this time. But the tt2 Dac is more resolving than the McIntosh. The tt2 soulful sounding is quite something else. Happy new year! 🎆

Jay Bizz I would say that the Hugo TT2 has more resolution the the McIntosh. The McIntosh is great but a bit warmer, its down to what people like. I own the Hugo TT2 as well, I also own the Hugo 2, both are amazing! ❤️

Thanks both for sharing your experiences!!!

Glad you're liking the vids! Depending on your budget, I'd look at the Singxer SA-1, Burson Soloist 3XP, Schiit Lyr+, Schiit Jotunheim 2 and the upcoming Geshelli Labs A3 Pro (review coming as soon as possible). The Schiit amps I mentioned can't quite match the others here and the Qutest will reward you all the way up to the Soloist or A3 Pro and above, but these will all work really well.

@@PassionforSound Also, if you have any other brand recommendations at an entry-level price point, I would love to hear them too!

​@@PassionforSound I did some more research on your channel and checked out your Recommended Products List, and I've decided to go with the Supra EFF-ISL 1M cable and Supra USB 2.0 A-B cable. I'm really excited to try them out once everything arrives later this week! Thank you again for your help and for all the awesome content on your RU-vid channel

At the entry level, I'd look at the Schiit Asgard 3, Schiit Magni+, Geshelli Labs Archel 2.5, and Topping L50 or L30 II (I put the Toppings last because they won't represent the layering and depth in the soundstage as well as the others)

No word, sorry. I have asked the local supplier, but with no luck.

Hi Viper, what other sound quality info are you after? I bought the Qutest and it's in my system right now so happy to answer any questions. As for the optical/toslink, I haven't actually tried it as I don't have a suitable source, but I know Rob Watts (the designer) considers toslink to be the optimal connection so it will be AS good as the USB or even better.

@@PassionforSound Sorry, I was wrong, you'r review of Qutest has been very detailed! Anyway, i was just looking for sound on Optical toslink performance, keep in mind that usb on Qutest is on Standard usb 2.0 certified, as great as with Audioquest Diamond 100% pure silver, maybe not that 100% great, but there it is :) I have no information if that would be also with Optical Cables, i guess not.. But I have Cheap toslink, cheap 280 glass strands toslink, Atlas Mavros (180€) 280 Strands glass, and i was given on loan an Audioquest Diamond by a Dear England friend 310 ultra-pure quartz glass strands. I was AMAZED with sound quality of diamond even compared to Atlas mavros, even with my cheap D50 Dac and thx 789, tried with Lcd-3 back then. So, really do Wonder if toslink cables on Qutest are all the same like usb, but i guess not, wonder if you can test it for me, only if you have high end optical. Because i will use it only on Optical with Playstation 3 fat and Ps4 Pro, yes, i am a gamer but i do love great sound. So, uhm, i even would like to you to review Topping D90 in a near future if you can! And a slight comparison to Qutest would be awesome, not only for me, lot of (Mostly measurements nuts) guys recently are looking to D90 dac! I do wonder what should i buy, i don't like those huge light of Qutest because i would use a very dark enviroment. As i use ONLY optical toslink connection, I should just look for sound quality out of it, D90 uses AK4118 spdif receiver, which i know is the latest and greatest, i'm not informe about spdif receivers but i guess there pass the Toslink audio performance, jitter etc. So yeah, if you keep Qutest as you like it more than Gumby, maybe if you get D90 to test it, even against to your reference, would be really a great favour for me if you can do a fast comparison between the two on optical connection, even with cheap cable vs expensive (I suggest you Audioquest diamond optical, it is really magical, it restores the dynamics, i was impressed) You're my favourite audio reviewer on Yt for me, really fair reviews, but when you reviewed the Sp200 at the start of the video and you said it was kinda like thx 789 for cheaper price, i was like: wow, even him racing about this amplifier that is not that good!? But then in the whole review you said 789 is a little better (To me more than little) . To me, i tried both, 789 is much better than Sp200, mids clarity, details, soundstage, imaging are that much better, even on SE. I find 100€ jds atom amp to beat sp200 on accuracy and detail :S Sorry for the long message :)

Passion for Sound if you use usb the clock in the dac does the timing. With toslink or rca the source controls the timing.

No point to a fancy usb cable, just get a short as possible one. It won’t perform any better if it’s made of silver,gold, copper or kryptonite .

Hi Stewart, check out my review on the Burson Soloist 3X (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ep8DbB9PTqU.html) as a great option and also the upcoming review of the Schiit Jotunheim 2 (which can also have an onboard phono card). The Soloist is still the best amp I've heard outside of the TT2 which is not to say it's the best thing on the planet, but it's very good for the money. The Jotunheim 2 comes close and is much cheaper, but you are sacrificing some resolution and soundstage.

@@PassionforSound Thanks. So would you say the headphone section in the Burston is better that in the Cord TT2 I only need the headphone section of the Burston for vinyl listening on headphones - the TT 2 would be used as a Dac for the rest of my system and maybe the TT2 headphone section for CD playback on headphone listening . Obviously if I go for the Qutest then Burston is the obvious option

The TT2 still wins out on overall realism and transparency. The Soloist is great, especially for the price, but the TT2 does have it beaten. From what you're saying, the Qutest / Soloist combo sounds like a good option because you're using vinyl too. Adding the M-Scaler to the Qutest is a great upgrade you could also consider

I wouldn't go in expecting a drastic change, but definitely a good upgrade. It will take the sound you're used to from the Qutest and just improve it in refinement, tonal accuracy, and soundstage depth and separation

I haven't heard the MDAC specifically, but the fact that it uses a standard DAC chip compared to Chord's FPGA approach tells me that the Qutest will sound better.

Thank You. The upscaling makes perfect sense. The Watts paper is interesting.

Hi ohnonate, I'd recommend the Qutest to pretty much anyone, but it has no pre-amp function to control the volume to your actives. You'd need to insert some kind of preamp in the chain or get the Hugo 2 which uses the same DAC, but with variable outputs, etc.

@@PassionforSound Really appreciate the feedback. I think i will look into the RME ADI-2 DAC FS. At lease i will have volume control and a remote for volume control. Thank you.

You're welcome. Enjoy your new DAC!

Thanks Corky. There's no doubt it would improve the sound compared to a cheaper DAC, but I'm not sure you'll really be getting the most out of it if your source music is all compressed. The reason I say it will be better is that it will still better reconstruct the available information compared to other DACs, but it can never make up for the data that's thrown away in the compression process (although 320kbps is generally still pretty good)

@@PassionforSound Yea thats kinda what I was thinking too. At the very least I still have access to some of my music in tidal which I'd be benefiting in a greater capacity from a dac like this.

Hi nusman, did you post a similar comment on a different thread? I think I just replied to you at length over there, but I can't recall the name to know if it was you. Can you let me know?

@@PassionforSound yes I did! But I didn’t get a notification that you responded. Weird! Thanks for the reply, I’ll have a read :)

No problems

Hi Ang, I think you might have mis-heard me. Rob Watts said that upgraded cables should make no difference, but my experience is that they definitely do. You should hear good results with the Carbon USB. Try it with and without the Jitterbug to see which you prefer. I've read mixed reports on the effect of the Jitterbug and while I own two, I can't decide if they improve the sound of just change it. Best that you decide on that for yourself 🙂

@@PassionforSound Oh, you mentioned it at 21:35 to 22:02 of the video. Thanks for the advice on the AQ carbon usb and jitterbug combo, am looking forward to hearing some improvements!

You're right! My apologies! I'm shocked that I heard no difference because I definitely hear a difference with the TT2. I really hope I didn't succumb to expectation bias with the Qutest!! I think you'll hear a difference.

@@PassionforSound I tried the AQ jitterbug>AQ Carbon>Qutest. You are spot on. The Jitterbug changed the sound but didn't improve it. It became a little ethereal sounding, that robs the vocals of its original timbre and intimacy. Vocals is smoothed over, slightly softer and a little further away. For the Qutest, the Jitterbug didn't work. The AQ Carbon usb cable is great, I can hear the higher resolution sound over the stock usb cable. (So Rob's claim is not accurate). Happy with the Qutest. Wonderful sounding DAC! Sounds even slightly better when used with the iFi iPower over the stock wallwart. Can't wait to pair it with the Burson Audio Soloist 3XP that is on the way!

Hi Ang, thanks for letting me know about the Jitterbug! Glad the upgrade cable is worthwhile for you. The Carbon is an excellent cable. You're in for a treat when the 3XP arrives!

Hi Ben, congrats on a great headphone choice! For DACs, I'd look at the Schiit Bifrost 2 or Chord Qutest depending on budget as they both offer an excellent combination of resolution, soundstage and tonal accuracy (Qutest is better, but both are great). In terms of amps, I'd go with any of the following depending on budget: Schiit Asgard 3 or Jotunheim 2, Singxer SA-1, Burson Soloist 3X or Auris Audio Euterpe. The Bottlehead S.E.X. or Mainline would also be great options if a DIY tube amp is of interest. All these recommendations are based on my preferences for a smooth, but detailed sound with good soundstage width and depth.

@@PassionforSound Thanks!

I Ordered a singxer(on its way) to replace the asgard, didnt like it with the clear, I skipped the jotenheim cause ive heard it sound like the asgard, could be the dac, ive tried 3 so idk, hopefully the singxer is the missing link, asgard just sounded kinda of harsh and thin with clears but pretty good but a little dark with 58x.

I think you'll be happy with the SA-1. It's a definite upgrade from the Asgard 3 (and Jot 2)

I do still think this is the best DAC for the price even after hearing a bunch of other options. I can't recommend a specific power supply though because I only know what's good here in Australia and power supplies are often built for local power requirements

I don't specifically know the 430HAD, but the Qutest is excellent and should be as good or better than any other DAC of similar value regardless of being RCA only. There's no inherent benefit in balanced vs single ended outside of noise rejection which is not often a problem in home setups with short cable runs

Hi Andrew, putting aside the aesthetics (which I agree are a bit polarising even though I like them) there is a bit more to the Chord products than just the FPGA approach (although that is very important). There's also the design of the USB receiver and it's galvanic isolation from noise, how they implement the power supply and the output stage which also uses a proprietary technology to avoid switching noise. If Chord were to sell off their programmed chips to other manufacturers, they'd be diluting their own value proposition and likely degrading the perception of their brand which would ultimately be a disservice to the industry. Don't forget, the Chord Mojo uses the exact same software (just a less powerful chip) and is a fantastic DAC in its own right.

@@PassionforSound thanks for the reply; I hadn't realized that the secret to the Qutest's sound was more than just their programmed FPGA, but the extra noise reduction via those methods makes sense. I wasn't so much thinking that Chord should sell their programmed chips to others, as to make a more conventional looking Chord DAC at a somewhat lower price than the Qutest, but priced above the Mojo. I have no idea where Chord ranks in terms of sales volume and profits, but it seemed like something they should consider, expanding the use of a key component that they've already designed - the software program for the FPGA. This approach might be better for Chord's profits (and in turn, more resources for future R&D) as well as making the sound more readily available to the consumer. Still, it's nice that they offer the sound of the Hugo 2 in the form and price of the Qutest.

Yeah, they seem to be doing just fine from a sales point of view and it's actually very dangerous for a brand to dilute their style and approach to chase customers / keep everyone happy. Chord have a strong following and are probably well served to maintain their approach accordingly. Not trying to be argumentative, just explaining how these decisions often get made from a marketing and product design point of view. When I worked at Pioneer Electronics, they made the decision to try and compete with Panasonic and the like with plasma TVs instead of leveraging the better product and positioning themselves as a more premium brand. It's no coincidence that they're no longer in the TV market ☹️

@@PassionforSound great points regarding marketing, and potentially diluting their brand. Given that Chord offers DACs at several multiples of the current price of the Qutest, I'm sure they view the Qutest as a reasonable value, and in any case they have the Mojo for people who want a more affordable taste of their sound. As to the polarizing looks, I suppose something can be said for that in favor of marketing as well. Their DACs will never be mistaken for anyone else's. If someone hears a very nice system at a friend's or at an audio showroom, their eyes are going to quickly lock on the unusual and colorfully lighted DAC, and they'll remember it as a Chord. So that's a branding tool that works even without a corporate logo. The fact that I would even consider the Qutest despite the price, form, and lack of conventional inputs and outputs such as balanced XLR, is a testament what Chord has accomplished with their sound. What I'd like to see Chord do with their software, and the "smart" thing for them to do as a business, are obviously two different things. I appreciate your video reviews and your responses to the viewers, so thanks for that, nicely done.

Thanks Andrew for the measured conversation. My views aren't gospel and yours are totally valid. It's always fun to consider where the balance points lie for all of these types of products/brands and I think you're right about the look being a memorable thing. They're an imperfect brand (no balanced outs on Qutest, no 4-pin XLR on TT2, crappy remote controls, etc.) but the sound! That's what does it! 😃

I do still think Qutest is the best option at the price. I'm not sure when to expect Qutest 2, but imagine it's not too far away given the recent release of Mojo 2. What's hard to know is whether it's coming in 2022, 2023 or later still.

Good points. Each manufacturer has a solid argument for their decisions, but probably none of them are "right". To be fair, I believe RCA outputs can be just as high voltage as XLR so in Geshelli's case it might be that the way their circuit is designed has optimised the XLRs. I noticed with the Schiit Gungnir that the XLRs were noticeably better than the RCAs, but the Qutest's RCAs were slightly better still than the Gungnir's XLRs so I think it all comes down to the design.

Hi Andreas, I can't answer that unfortunately, but hopefully another viewer might...

Hi Ari, I have tried the Qutest with USB and coax/BNC and didn't notice a much difference (if any). I would have thought the Bluesound should sound good, but haven't compared at all. I'll see if I can check in the coming days and let you know.

@@PassionforSound that would be great. Look forward to hearing your thoughts. By the way the Chord Qutest is an exceptional piece of equipment and it just highlights how "lacking" my old rega dac was. The sound stage is vast, instruments can be pinpointed very accurately and the rhythmic timing is superb.

The Qutest really is amazing. Watch out for an upcoming video featuring it again on the channel - you might enjoy it. As for coax vs USB, I tried tonight with my RaspberryPi/HiFiBerry and there's a slight difference between coax and USB. I think it's debatable which is better, but the USB sounds a touch brighter. It might be that the coax is cleaner and smoother or it might be that the USB circuit is providing better resolution. Like your setup, in my case the RPi might be the limiting factor too. How would you describe the improvements you're hearing via USB?

@@PassionforSound I just did another comparison. Qutest connected to laptop via usb which was playing "Your latest trick" by Dire Straits in jRiver (with no dsp). And bluesound node 2i connected to Qutest via geistnote coax cable playing same track from my connected hard drive. I hate to say it but the usb connection sounded better. Not miles better, but nonetheless noticeable. Sound stage seemed a little more recessed with the node 2i. Via usb there was a bit more clarity and separation of instruments in the top end. I only just got the node 🤦🏽‍♂️ and I'm already thinking about an auralic g1. Personally I'd like a solution that has all of my music (hdd), tidal, roon and Spotify in one place without me having to get up and change inputs on my Qutest or turn my laptop on. The bluesound let's me do this and it has a great app which I really like. However. Having listened to music for the past month via my laptop (usb) I feel I've come to know that "sound" pretty well by now. I've had the node 2i for 3 days and have used it everyday since I bought it. I couldn't help but feel that something was slightly lacking and that the music sounded a little better via my laptop usb connection. Sometimes it's psychological and maybe I was imagining it. Tonights tests I think confirm that usb, in my case, sounds better. My uncle and wife thought so too. As mentioned it's a subtle difference. Maybe 10%. But enough to annoy me. I'd love to hear Rob Watt's thoughts on this. Also looking forward to hearing your opinion if you compare the bluesound node 2i. Would optical cable make a difference? I still haven't found out for certain if optical cable is capable of 24bit 192khz. In my optical cable test from node to qutest it could only play a maximum of 24bit 96khz resolution. I don't know if this is a limitation of the node or the optical cable? I know Rob said optical is preferred to coax (because of Rf noise) in your interview, but I do have a fair few albums that are 192. I'll stop talking now. Would love to hear your thoughts and anyone else's on the above. Look forward to your next Qutest video! 😲

Ps. in the bluesound app I forgot to mention that under settings, "tone controls" is disabled. When enabled this changed the sound a lot. Made everything sound much softer for some reason. Also, the Dire Straits track mentioned above was a 24 bit 96khz Flac file.

That will depend on your source, Tom. If you're using a basic PC, then running a DDC like a Singxer SU-6 and then feeding BNC to the M-Scaler will be better. Otherwise, you can use something like a JCat USB card in the PC to get similar results. If you're using a streamer, it will depend on the device.

@@PassionforSoundActually I use an Innuos streamer/ripped CD player with a Phoenix all connected with FTA usb - b cables. Since the TT2 has an exceptional USB connection I thought I may be giving that up in using the MScaler as it is connected to the TT2 with BNC cables as I understand. I suspect the MScaler has a similar USB connection though. I also assume that Chord would make the BNC /MScaler connector on the TT2 at least as good as the USB connector on the TT2.

Yes, USB into the M-Scaler is just as good. Your setup sounds like it would be brilliant!

@@PassionforSound Thanks Lachlan, FYI, I am using Lessloss for interconnects and will use Wave’s Storm Reference BNCs and also a lot of other stuff from Lessloss for RFI/ EMI. Also considering a Puritan power conditioner and possibly a LPS for the TT2/MScaler but not sure on that. People say it improves the Qutest though. Am booked for the Dallas CamJam and Chord will be there so I will ask. Zach will be there with his new amp and might discuss his new DAC venture with Rochna. Also definitely hitting up T+A for your loaner. IMO they are missing a big marketing opportunity since it seems to be a good piece of equipment. ( did note that one analyst just reviewed it though )

Hi Will, there are lots of options in this price range - many of which I haven't yet had the pleasure to review. The Schiit Gungnir Multibit (Gumby) is what I replaced with the Qutest. Some people may prefer the Gumby still. Another common competitor to the Qutest is the RME ADI-2 which I hope to review very soon. Sorry I can't provide more answers for you.

I can't compare it having not heard the MDac, but the Qutest really is excellent

Apologies. Thank you for the correction! I was under the impression that R2R and NOS were interchangeable, but I gather that's not always case.

@@PassionforSound No Worries

I can't recall the Qutest causing me any issues. The M-Scaler certainly causes problems in full upsampling mode, but it's using 1 million taps

Hi Chemper. Yep, that's my error. It's addressed somewhere in these comments (and maybe in the video description), but was 100% an oversight by me during my review prep.

Hi Jim, what do you mean about the "+"?

@@PassionforSound You said that Rob Watts recommends only USB 2.0 cables and they can be recognised by a + symbol on the connector on the cable.

Did I? I've not heard of that before I think. I must have meant something else. Rob does only recommend standard USB cables (i.e. not fancy audiophile ones), but I can't agree based on my listening tests. I'm doing a review of some affordable USB cables soon so that might help you choose something.

@@PassionforSound Now you have me wondering if you did say that! I am so sorry if you didn’t as I must have read it somewhere else. This is what I mean about the + sign on a USB 2.0 verified cable: www.quora.com/What-does-a-plus-sign-next-to-the-symbol-for-a-USB-port-mean

@@PassionforSound Thank you.

The Qutest is still the best DAC I've tried at the price so I'd still recommend it. 🙂

@@PassionforSoundi see, thank you for your response

Hi Gilles, I haven't heard the Pontus yet so can't comment. I hope to in the future though

The Qutest is a significantly better DAC IMO

Hi Richard. If the Node 2i is doing the decoding duties (i.e. you're using the RCA output direct to your amp) then you should be getting pretty good sound. I would expect the Qutest to be an improvement, but I'm not familiar enough with the Node 2i to say how big the improvement would be. What source are you streaming from? A local digital library or a streaming service like Spotify / Tidal? Can you give me a couple of example tracks or albums so I can listen to them on my rig and tell you what I hear with the Qutest?

@@PassionforSound yeah I'm using the onboard DAC to go RCA out, it sounds great in general, but it's just a hint of harshness on some material. I'd have to sit down and listen to call out a track (not home currently), but most music I hear it on tends to be similar to You Me At Six, Paramore, that kind of thing. Never notice any harshness at all with electronic music, or with say London Grammar or Daughter that I feel are a warmer and better quality mastering, not sure if true or not. However it is def the more pop/punk stuff I believe that it crops up on. I'll try and sit down over the next day or 2 and see if there's a highly repeatable part of a track I can find.

@@Mingchops I have the Bluesound Node 2i (bought mine in December 2020), streaming Tidal on my Infinity Kappa 9.2i’s on my Mark Levinson 431 and I have tested the Qutest several times with several different amps as well and I don’t hear a difference. I did hear a difference on my friend’s system (Hegel 360 with Scansonic MB5 B’s and an (older) Bluesound Vault). So either the Bluesound Node 2i is great or my Infinity Kappa 9.2i’s cannot deal with the change (they sound amazing already btw), or the acoustics in my living room is blocking a better sound(stage) So if you can, test the Qutest before you buy it, it’s quite an investment so it’s something you need to hear on your system and your room.

Based on what I've read from other people on forums, I'd definitely expect the Qutest to be an upgrade so there could be a few things going on: 1) the room acoustics are limiting performance 2) the amp, cables (unlikely) or speakers are limiting performance 3) the test tracks you're using are limiting performance 4) what you're listening for isn't what's changing My bet is on either #3 or #4, especially #4. One of the biggest things I've noticed when testing the Qutest (and TT2, and Schiit Bifrost 2 which is a Multibit DAC - basically all the non-ESS/AKM/Cirrus DACs) is that the differences are not immediately obvious. You may find an initial sense of less detail or no difference in detail levels because the benefit of DACs like the Qutest is the correctness of tone, sense of 3-dimenstionality in the soundstage and individual sounds, and subtle textural details are the things that improve. These are all things that I find to improve the listening experience significantly, but do not jump out at you during A/B listening unless you take the time to listen into the music. I don't mean this to suggest you're 'not doing it right' because I don't know enough about you or your setup, but I've seen lots of people prefer DACs with AKM/ESS chips citing that they are more resolving and detailed (the things we hear first in comparisons), but I consistently find those DACs to be a bit forced and 2-dimensional sounding which creates an immediate sense of detail, but is less true to.life and more fatiguing over time. Sorry for the extended response, particularly given that it MIGHT not be the answer. Hopefully it makes sense and might help you decide. To be clear, if you're happy with the Node 2i after your listening tests, I think you should stick with it. I have no better interest in you preferring the Qutest and just want you to enjoy your music, however it reaches your ears 🙂

Gee old post! I’ve since bought a Schiit Modius, found it to offer a subtle improvement (far from night and day and probably impossible to tell on a blind test) - that said, it did take the slight harsh edge out I was experiencing. It’s a very similar sound just a touch smoother. I have still not gone for a Qutest - I’ve (last week finally!) decided in favour of a Schiit Bifrost 2. Hoping that will be here this coming week. My reasoning was I went for the Modius first based on measurements from AudioScienceReview; The Modius measuring fantastically and the Node 2i measuring terribly - and that didn’t really pan out as expected. The ASR way of thinking is these 2 devices that all but bookend the measurements table and creating a big delta in their alleged performance, you would assume therefore I would hear something significant.....however as said above that simply was not the case! Therefore I’m trying the Bifrost 2 now because it’s a vastly different architecture to D/S and places little emphasis on measuring well. The Qutest is essentially a D/S design at it’s core and there’s a few thing’s I don’t like about it (filters (i fiddle too much!), the PSU, obvious fact I’m paying a lot of money on case work). I’m sure it’s great, I may one day demo one (see how it’s BF2 test goes!). But I just felt the BF2 offers the more likely chance I’ll hear something noticeable and plus Jason and Mike over at Schiit just come across as a couple of genuinely decent people and a breath of fresh air in this industry! Of course I’ll be objective in my assessment but I’m certainly hoping multibit is going to knock D/S out the park. On a relevant but separate note. I spent some time the other week playing with REW and my UMIK-1 Mic, trying the port bung combinations in the KEF R5, the short version is I have managed to control the bass and stop the massive 35hz room peak I was experiencing from them, this has made the biggest upgrade to sound since buying the damn things! Overall balance is better and the top end sounds cleaner as a result, but surprisingly to me is the soundstage is better (wider, higher, deeper) - I’m sure there’s room for improvement still, but I was not expecting this to manifest. I can only assume the removal of the bass boom was creating a muddyness, and now without it just allows you to hear the subtle articulation of sound (transients?) better up top. There is a strong chance this change would allow me to hear more of a difference in the Node to Modius change, but I can t be bothered to go back and test that, but I should be in as good a position to test the Modius vs Bifrost 2 that my room allows!

Hi Antonio, it's unlikely the RCA cable, but it might be that the Qutest isn't a good match for the rest of your system. What are you not liking about it and what other gear is downstream from the Qutest?

@@PassionforSound thank you for your kind reply. Sources include an Allo Digione streamer and TV, while the amp is a Cambridge audio cxa81; kef ls50 meta speakers and Tellurium q black ii speaker cable, rel t5i subwoofer . My previous dac was the Mojo and it seemed more lively and better than the cxa81 in reproducing spatial cues; I can't find these qualities in the Qutest. The adjustable output voltage seems to have an impact, for now I keep it at 1V according to Cambridge audio recommendations. Also, the sound seemed better in the first hours, as it got duller after. An example of opposite burn in outcome 🤣

That's strange that you found the Mojo better. I still own the Mojo, but don't find it as good as the Qutest was. Are you saying the Qutest was better as a DAC feeding the CXA81 compared to the CXA81's internal DAC and that now the Qutest is not better than the CXA81 internal DAC? I should add that the magic of the Qutest in my experience is the way it delivers detail and spatial cues without overemphasisng anything. The reduced edge/glare can come across as less detail, but in my experience the details are all there, just rendered with a bit more refinement.

@@PassionforSound that's exactly right, as if something happened in the very first hours of operation l. Thank you for your kind reply

Hmmmm... That is strange, Antonio. I'm not sure what to suggest. Perhaps give it a little time to see if you adjust to its sound and maybe try playing with the filters (although they're subtle). If all else fails, maybe it just doesn't suit your system so well. System synergy is a big thing, especially with speaker setups where the room comes into play too.

I didn't get the chance - sorry. I upgraded to the TT2 before delving into power supplies.

@@PassionforSound I'll have a look for your tt2 videos then! I recently picked up a sennheiser hdva600, which immediately made it clear I need a more neutral and transparent dac, and chord seems like it could be a good fit for the job, just trying to cover all the bases if power supplies make enough of a difference

I have no doubt the Qutest would be improved with a better power supply. The TT2 is the only device I've found so far that appears to be immune because it uses the super capacitors

I can't say directly, but I find it slightly better than the Gungnir Multibit which is a higher model than the Bifrost, but I can't provide a direct comparison for you. Sorry!

Hi John, thanks for trying. I think they stopped carrying it ☹️

@@PassionforSound Are you still happy with it as your choice of dac? Any additional things you have found about it since your excellent video? Also, what do you use to stream your flac files to it? Any additional info here is appreciated. Thanks.

Hi John, I was so happy with it that I upgraded to the Chord Hugo TT2 and i kind of miss the Qutest in some ways (simplicity, tiny footprint, etc.) I fed it (and still do with TT2) from a Windows 10 PC using Roon software and a direct USB connection via a Curious Evolved USB cable. I have also tried a Raspberry Pi with Digi+ Pro board for BNC output to the DAC, but the difference wasn't enough (if any) to justify the extra components.

Nice! I'll check it out for sure! Will be interesting to see what they've achieved with FPGA tech but with Rob Watts' programming

Thanks Spazcore. I haven't tried the RME gear. Perhaps I should check out our

I got mine for $1200 like new on ebay. absolutely fantastic.

@@pietossing nice one, value for money off the charts!

No, Chord DACs have looooong lifespans because they're so good from day 1 that they hold up over time. There's still not a DAC I'd choose over the Qutest for the same money.

@@PassionforSound love the Qutest but isn’t the Denafrips Pantus 11 eating up a big chunk of its market? Also the new Liberty and the RMI. I don’t think the Qutest has it all it’s own way anymore. If Chord doesn’t respond I don’t think it is going dominate as much as it has.

Chord are doing the decoding process differently from any other brand and it keeps them separated. That doesn't mean others (like Denafrips) won't also be popular, but that's about tastes changing and (sometimes) what's flavour of the month. The Pontus II is definitely a nice DAC (I included it in my recent R2R DAC comparison), but it's a significantly different sound from the Qutest. When I last checked, the RME approach isn't in the same league as either of them and relies on the audio tweaks to create its value rather than pure decoding performance. So, the summary is that the Qutest is fine and will continue to be one of the best options for the price for the foreseeable future, but also that other options will be great for other people - it just depends on the system you're building and your tastes. Those who want a more "accurate" sound should still get the Qutest IMO. Those needing something a bit softer round the edges should get the Pontus II, and those wanting audio tweaks should get the RME. I don't know the Liberty DAC specifically, but it's using the same 'off-the-shelf' chip like the RMEs I believe and therefore will always be limited by that.

@@PassionforSound I generally agree with all of your assessment. But what I'm saying is it's relative competitive competitiveness has reduced. When the Hugo came out was a landmark at that price but eventually they had to update it

I agree that there are more options around now that might be stealing some market share and making the Qutest a less clear choice.

Hi Kyron, yes I think it's definitely competitive still. I personally think it's closest competitor is probably the Schiit Bifrost 2 or maybe something like the Burson Composer. I don't know if I've ever directly compare the Mojo and Qutest, but they're definitely on a different level because the Mojo doesn't comfortably beat all of my other desktop DACs, but the Qutest did.

@@PassionforSound Hi Lachlan. Thanks for those suggestions. I've been looking at some of your videos. I'm really impressed with your interviews with Rob Watts, particularly video 3 talking about transients. It makes me think that only a Chord DAC will do. The most important thing I'm looking for is music that sounds sweet and lush and not fatiguing. You know when you start listening and you don't want to stop. Closely followed by the ability to produce lots of punch and slam. I've never heard and R2R DAC. I like the features on the a ADI-2. I should go somewhere and compare the bifrost 2 with the D90, D30pro, ADI-2, qutest, Burson composer. Maybe Chord will come out with a Qutest 2 before too long. Perhaps the best strategy is to go with a Modius and Asgard 3 as a budget system that's enjoyable for a few years until the Qutest 2 comes out.

I definitely feel that way about Chord DACs and not just because of what Rob said - the theory makes sense, but in practice they do what Rob says they will and sound more realistic and natural. For me, the Bifrost 2 and Schiit Multibit DACs in general are the next best thing because Mike Moffat is also very focused on the timing which Delta Sigma DACs like the AKM and Sabre stuff don't (i.e. they don't emphasise the time delay, not that they ignore it) I definitely think it's worth doing your own listening if you can, but I also think the Modius/Asgard 3 setup will be a great start until you decide on a Qutest or Qutest 2 (if one is coming soon)

@@PassionforSound thanks very much. It's all very interesting.

Sure can! I'll see if the local supplier can arrange a loan...

@@PassionforSound that would be awesome. It's one that looks like it does some really cool stuff at a good price. Be good to get an opinion from you on it. 👍

Hi Saumen, that's true, but it's really not a big deal for most home systems. A well-designed single-ended output can outperform a balanced output on a similarly priced product (e.g. the Qutest RCA out is miles better than the RCA out on the Schiit Gumby and still slightly better than the XLR out on the Gumby too). Also, not all balanced inputs on amps are better than a single-ended input as balanced designs require a more complex circuit which means either greater cost or lower quality components. There's no blanket rule that one is always better than the other (in home setups with short cable runs) so it's more important to buy the gear you like the sound of rather than focus on a single feature such as balanced outputs.

@@PassionforSound great explanation about the differences between Single ended and balanced output thanks

Qutest is still better. I have compared Mojo 2 and Hugo 2 (same DAC as Qutest) since the Mojo 2 review and they're very similar to ally, but the Hugo 2/Qutest provides a greater sense of space and refinement.

@@PassionforSound I appreciate your responses. The only issue is, for the price of a Qutest, I can get a Denafrips Pontus II, which is said to refine some of the "resolution" shortcomings of the Ares II. I think I might prefer to go with the "holographic" soundstage idea for a much lower price than trying to find perfect realism with far more money. Realism to me is for classical, acoustic etc, but if I'm being honest, I listen to more pop, synthetic and alternative. I think a "fun" soundstage delivered with a top R2R system, might be my best bang for the buck overall. I told you timbre last time, but I think I have changed my mind to soundstage and "holographic" based on other reviews I have seen recently, and also based on what I can get for the price.

I'm yet to try the Pontus II, but I hope to. The reason I tend to favour Chord gear is that it does a great job at splitting the difference between the space/imaging of R2R and the attack/energy of delta sigma. The R2R DACs often sacrifice the energy of leading edges which sucks the energy and rhythm from the music. I definitely don't like an aggressive sound, but the Chord approach seems to balance all factors the best in my experience. Not trying to push you in a particular direction. Just sharing my experiences to hopefully help you find the product that's the right combination for your preferences. 🙂

I think I covered that comparison in my Ares II review, but I would take the Qutest for headphones. The Ares II seems to excel with speakers

Hi Nick, I haven't compared both, but my understanding is that the DAC stage itself is identical. There may be tiny differences caused by additional elements in the Hugo 2 (like battery power), but they should be very very similar

@@PassionforSound Have you tried the Chord Hugo 2 nonetheless ?

Hi Nick, not for extended listening and it was quite a while ago - sorry

What you're describing, Seth is the exact difference between regular Sigma Delta DACs and Chord's WTA approach. I'm not saying you're wrong because what you enjoy is all that matters. Traditional Sigma Delta DACs create a wall-of-sound effect while Chord, Schiit Multibit and R2R DACs create layers in the soundstage which can result in sounds being pushed back from you a little. That can also make the details less immediately evident compared to Sigma Delta DACs that push all details forward.

Not sure what you mean, but thanks for watching and commenting!

@@PassionforSound I think he approves of your reviewing style 😉

Either this or the Gustard R26 I think. I've not had the chance to compare them side-by-side as yet

@@PassionforSound Thanks! Tough to demo any down here in the wilds of TAS so trying to get a feel for options. Pity the Yggy+ is so pricey here as that is obviously a top option.

Yes, it's a lot harder here, but there are some very safe options to choose from where you really can't go wrong.

I'm not sure why they take that approach, but I personally quite like it so I figure I'm not alone. It's a pretty polarising product range because you're definitely not alone in disliking it either

Wesley, there are many times that blind testing is necessary and I do use it when relevant. The reality is that the Qutest has a completely different presentation in its sound compared to any other DAC I owned at this time. If you look at my review of something like the Modius and Bifrost 2 you'll here me talk about blind testing because there the differences were less obvious. Just because another reviewer fails to hear differences, doesn't mean that we all lack that ability. Bias and psychoacoustic influences are very real and I understand them deeply. With that knowledge I am careful to apply multiple strategies to prevent bias and placebo effects.

Rob is the designer of all of Chord Electronics' DACs. He's been in the industry for a long time and is widely considered to be one of the top experts in the field. The Dave DAC from Chord Electronics (designed by Rob) has been around for years but is still considered an absolute top tier, reference DAC by many.

Thanks for that.

How so, Yoo?

Hi Gordon, no, I didn't buy a sales pitch. I compared this thoroughly with my previous DAC of choice (the Schiit Gungnir Multibit) and carefully considered whether or not I was hearing the proposed benefits. In my experience, Rob Watt's philosophy to digital audio makes a lot of sense and the Qutest is a great example of it. It's not a perfect DAC - e.g. I wish it had more than one output (either SE or balanced), but it's an excellent DAC for the price in my experience.

Passion for Sound thank you for your review of the dacs, I have been using the Gumby for about a month now and have found it to be musical once run in but, yes I could do with blacker backgrounds however now I seem to be locked in with this dac and comprehend what you are saying about the clarity, so what can I do about it short of moving up the price range?

It's a shame you blocked the channel because you probably won't see this reply explaining that unlike file transfers, audio transmission via USB doesn't receive the same error checking and resending process as file transfers to a hard drive or printer. That's because audio is very time-bound so the system can't wait for new packets to be retried like a printer or hard drive could.

Hi Andrei, just because I'm a fan doesn't mean it's a loaner. I'll be glad to send you a copy of the receipt from my purchase.

@@PassionforSound I bet this dude just label every audio products as snake oil. I mean we can say the same about cables to certain extent. This is real engineering with measurements to back. Its really hard to judge a product without actually trying them in your system

Very true about the importance of trying gear for yourself (when possible)