• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Review and Measurements of CHORD Qutest DAC

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.
 
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 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.
 
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.
 
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
1724417260451.png


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.
 
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!
 
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.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
Back
Top Bottom