Review and Measurements of CHORD Qutest DAC

[Oldson]

finally got the E30 working in exclusive mode.
re-installed the driver several times over the last day or two and eventually it started playing ball.
did try wasapi and asio but neither solved the issue. both deleted now.
happy days.
£60 well spent for once in my life.

 

[huts]

I noticed a lot of these chord products have abnormally high output voltage. Are they using this to trick people who may be a/b testing something that has a normal 2v output?

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I noticed a lot of these chord products have abnormally high output voltage. Are they using this to trick people who may be a/b testing something that has a normal 2v output?

I don't think it's done on purpose, inn the end they offer voltage switch you can dial it down to 2v
Actually with their dacs that do offer volume control higher voltage is actually a good thing, as you can drive power amplifiers and set lower gain to maximize snr.

Still higher voltage can and probably is responsible for favorable sound of their dacs.

 

[ahofer]

I don't think it's done on purpose, inn the end they offer voltage switch you can dial it down to 2v

Is that right? I resisted a bet based on concerns about getting the voltage matched properly while still preserving rapid comparison.

I think it is at least viewed as a “feature not a bug” that a casual comparison will sound better for the wrong reasons.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Is that right? I resisted a bet based on concerns about getting the voltage matched properly while still preserving rapid comparison.

I think it is at least viewed as a “feature not a bug” that a casual comparison will sound better for the wrong reasons.

From Qutests manual

ps. still they might be slight voltage differences, as it can vary from dac to dac. Some will have 1,9V some 2,1V etc.

 

[Bernardo_G]

Hello and Happy New Year to everybody!

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here but... I've been tempted to try this DAC; my current one is a Schiit Modi (latest version). Would this one be a noticeable improvement in terms of sound? Is it still worth it? I think I can get a second-hand one for around $900-$1,000. No small money but not uber-stupid either.

I live outside the US and none of the HiFi stores here has one to demo it, so I'd have to go with whatever wisdom I can gather from experienced people. If I order one online, it's gonna be HARD to send it back.

All comments and recommendations are welcome; thanks!

 

[oleg87]

Hello and Happy New Year to everybody!

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here but... I've been tempted to try this DAC; my current one is a Schiit Modi (latest version). Would this one be a noticeable improvement in terms of sound? Is it still worth it? I think I can get a second-hand one for around $900-$1,000. No small money but not uber-stupid either.

I live outside the US and none of the HiFi stores here has one to demo it, so I'd have to go with whatever wisdom I can gather from experienced people. If I order one online, it's gonna be HARD to send it back.

All comments and recommendations are welcome; thanks!

Actual discernable-by-sound-alone difference when volume matched? Almost certainly none.
Differences you would imagine in a sighted comparison? Impossible to say.

 

[Angsty]

I have a Schitt Modi 3 and a Topping D70s. For the first few months, I could convince myself there were audible differences. Later in the year, I heard none and have not heard them to date (when volume matched).

I agree with @oleg87 on this one. You might hear differences if you convince yourself that they should be there for 5x the money.

 

[Skystar]

Hello to everybody. In 2025 Chord Qutest is worth to buy at about 800 eur? Compared with Topping E 70 Velvet Which you choose? Or maybe alternatives. I need an advice not graphics. Thank you in advance for your answers.

 

[Soria Moria]

Hello to everybody. In 2025 Chord Qutest is worth to buy at about 800 eur? Compared with Topping E 70 Velvet Which you choose? Or maybe alternatives. I need an advice not graphics. Thank you in advance for your answers.

I'd buy the RME ADI-2 DAC FS

 

[Chester]

I'd buy the RME ADI-2 DAC FS

I Agree. I’ve had both. I only have the RME now.

 

[Oldson]

Hello to everybody. In 2025 Chord Qutest is worth to buy at about 800 eur? Compared with Topping E 70 Velvet Which you choose? Or maybe alternatives. I need an advice not graphics. Thank you in advance for your answers.

neither.
another vote for the RME, here.

qutest is a waste of money, imo.

 

[ShiZo]

Hello to everybody. In 2025 Chord Qutest is worth to buy at about 800 eur? Compared with Topping E 70 Velvet Which you choose? Or maybe alternatives. I need an advice not graphics. Thank you in advance for your answers.

Does sound like a good price (where did you find it?). I'd only buy the qutest if I already had the adi 2/4 pro se , which I do. But I'd only do that as a second option. Qutest measures really well for a custom dac solution, but it doesn't even have balanced outputs or any of the other features the rme has (intersample peak headroom, built in EQ, balanced outputs, ADC, build in headphone amp, autoreflevel)

 

[Skystar]

Thank you very much for your answers.

 

[Mayan]

Hello to everybody. In 2025 Chord Qutest is worth to buy at about 800 eur? Compared with Topping E 70 Velvet Which you choose? Or maybe alternatives. I need an advice not graphics. Thank you in advance for your answers.

If you're unsatisfied by the review @amirm has graciously provided with graphs many of us enjoy learning and in his conclusion recommending based on such scientific data (less the presence of balanced XLR,) then I'd suggest a thirty-one day trail period from ListenUp located in Colorado. Or any other authorized Chord dealer distributors who stock the model and also offer a return policy after audition.

Great Company if I may add with a friendly and knowledgable staff.

 

[Henry53]

Hello to everybody. In 2025 Chord Qutest is worth to buy at about 800 eur? Compared with Topping E 70 Velvet Which you choose? Or maybe alternatives. I need an advice not graphics. Thank you in advance for your answers.

I tried many dacs including the Chord Qutest, eventually settled on a Denafrips Ares, extremely satisfied pairs well with my Primaluna Evo 400 tubes.

 

[Leif]

Hello to everybody. In 2025 Chord Qutest is worth to buy at about 800 eur? Compared with Topping E 70 Velvet Which you choose? Or maybe alternatives. I need an advice not graphics. Thank you in advance for your answers.

Chord produce very expensive products for people who value appearance over value for money and performance. I have a Chord Mojo, the ball based interface is horrible. In fact I can confidently say that the UI is balls.

 

[RandomEar]

Chord produce very expensive products for people who value appearance over value for money and performance. I have a Chord Mojo, the ball based interface is horrible. In fact I can confidently say that the UI is balls.

Bummer. I would have expected an interface based on balls to be well rounded.

 

[PacketofCrisps]

Chord produce very expensive products for people who value appearance over value for money and performance. I have a Chord Mojo, the ball based interface is horrible. In fact I can confidently say that the UI is balls.

To be fair part of the cost is that it's made in the UK, that alone jumps the price up compared to products from China, also it's more expensive in US due to importation taxes etc.

Mojo 2 is one of my favourite devices in audio, mainly due to it's versatility, it has enough power for most headphones out there, it's portable, but also can function as a good desktop DAC/AMP, and also a dedicated DAC, a unique aspect of the Mojo 2 is the dual line outs, you can use them to feed a headphone amp and a speaker amp at the same time for a full desktop setup, also being able to set the voltage for line out is handy for amp matching, desktop battery saving mode, and having a toslink input is also another bonus over most other portable devices, Mojo 2 isn't just a pretty face.

 

[VientoB]

To be fair part of the cost is that it's made in the UK, that alone jumps the price up compared to products from China, also it's more expensive in US due to importation taxes etc.

Mojo 2 is one of my favourite devices in audio, mainly due to it's versatility, it has enough power for most headphones out there, it portable, but also can function as a good desktop DAC/AMP, and also a dedicated DAC, a unique aspect of the Mojo 2 is the dual line outs, you can use them to feed a headphone amp and a speaker amp at the same time for a full desktop setup, also being able to set the voltage for line out is handy for amp matching, desktop battery saving mode, and having a toslink input is also another bonus over most other portable devices, Mojo 2 isn't just a pretty face.

I think it would be better with a proper display.