The Chord Qutest DAC has been one of the most peculiar products I’ve had the pleasure of evaluating, but that doesn’t mean you should drop what you’re doing and buy one just yet. That said, it earned a permanent spot on the Mark on Hifi “reference DAC” list and for good reason. In this video, I’ll share my thoughts on the Qutest after living with it in my hifi setup for the past 7 months.
• Chord Qutest website: https://chordelectronics.co.uk/product/qutest
• I bought my Qutest at JS Audio (these guys are the best in the business): https://www.jsaudio.com/
Tracks referenced in my video ⬇️
• “Only” by RY X – https://amzn.to/3NrcO1S
• “Come Over” by Noah Kahan – https://amzn.to/3oNDEqu
• “I Was Born To Love You” by Ray Lamontagne – https://amzn.to/3AEmzlA
• “Ilomilo” by Billie Eilish – https://amzn.to/3Hpu7wc
—
📷 Follow @markonhifi on Instagram for more behind the scenes content.
—
🚨 I also post regular updates for subscribers on my YouTube community page: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkonHifi/community
—
Here are a few other videos you might find interesting ⬇️
• Wilson Audio Duette Review: https://youtu.be/07BoRc3ZL_8
• Fixing My Awful Room With GIK Acoustics: https://youtu.be/GooYEH7UQvc
• Dynaudio Heritage Special Review: https://youtu.be/ZV56xgUqIhA
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
01:12 – Quirks and Features
06:13 – Listening Impressions
08:00 – Comparison To Other DACS
10:42 – Listening Notes w/ Track Mentions
15:10 – Closing Thoughts
#chord #qutest #hifi #DAC
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
source
Thanks Mark but My preferences lead me to toR days. So far happy with my Denafrips Pontus and if I wanted to upgrade, I'd probably go to the Venus.
Forward thinking for the color blind.
Remember when you said that the Topping D90SE gave you the realism of performing on stage. You said you could hear the instrument behind you just like when you are at work (In reality) …. So why the Chord now? – Upgradeitis? Lol… Me too. 🙂
I was able to get a new old stock Chord Hugo 1 from Acoustic Sounds two years ago for half the cost of the Qutest. I think they still have some. Haven’t heard the Qutest, but the Hugo is phenomenal. The headphone amp is better than the one in my very expensive pre-amplifier.
Mark what would be the streamer of choice (your choice) to pair this with?
You can get the most of this dac by connecting via GLASS optical,listen with the orange filter and feed power through an Sbooster psu,or better a supercap power supply!
I am a very happy owner,too!
Hi Mark, whats your source component?
WOW! 4 GREAT tracks to carefully study/evaluate after your detailed listening descriptions. 3 of my favorite artists & one unknown to me (Noah). My chain: Qobuz=>Ethernet cable=>Mercury Streamer v1=>18” audiophile I²S cable=>Pontus II=>Schiit Freya+ (w/supercharged tube circuit, spent $600 and soldered-in all new caps & resistors w/audiophile-grade)=> McIntosh MC512 Power Amp=> DynAudio Contour 20s & Stereo REL T/5x Subs. Mark…I was experiencing EVERYTHING you described and more…perhaps my improve tube circuit on my pre-amp enhanced the 3-D Soundstage…but what a joyful, joyful session that was. THANKS!!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Mark, great review. Currently using my Qutest with a Plixir Elite BDC power supply and Ghent Gotham GAC UltraPro JSSG360 DC cable. Obvious improvement in every area. Something to consider in the future. Using with Naim Supernait 3, HiCap DR, Denafrips GAIA DDC.
100% true. Your room and speakers count for way more than any DAC will. If it is all sorted, yeah rock a new DAC. I was a Chord dealer, and everyone loved them. Most were blown away with it. But listen to one, and try not to love it.
Mark,
It is SO refreshing to hear someone say what you did at the beginning: got $2100? Fix your speakers / treat your room. Thank you for not being “one of those guys” telling us to put clarifying ionized crystals on our systems to “totally transform and resolve” our music. 👍⭐️🇺🇸
Someone please tell me the name of the decorative sound thing on the wall in the background. Thanks
i have this dac for the last 2 years – I have to say the filters makes a BIG difference…
Sadly I can't do much to dial-in my room as it's a family room. It's heavily damped. My intent is to use a DAC like this to inject a bit more air and detail, it's really all I need to do to my sound. Thoughts?
When did you change to the tunetots?
I have to agree with you totally! For years I was using the DAC in my Oppo disk player, then tried the DAC in my McIntosh c50 preamp, both sounded different but not one better than the other. Then tried a Gustard pro 26, sent it back because it was different but not better. Then the Denefrips Ares 12, maybe a little better, but not a great deal better. Too bad I can’t return it! I’m at the point where a 2k up grade just does not give me a big improvement. My system is McIntosh c50 pre, McIntosh mc352 amp, Carver Crimson 275 tube amp, Klipsch La Scala’s and Magnepan LRS speaker’s. Also VIP prime TT and Ortofon MM cartridge. My streamer is a fantastic WiiM pro! I wonder how many audiophiles are in my situation?
DAC have gotten so good that you can get 95% of the best for a small fraction of the cost. You can get some really good ones well under $1000 now. Law of diminishing returns applies here big time! If you want a larger soundstage, add a tube preamp or tube amp, for example. Like Mark said, speakers and other components will make a bigger difference.
I went from the DAC in a Cambridge CXA81 to a Qutest, and the system was transformed! My wife (who at the time was not an experienced listener) heard it right away. We were both amazed. Would I ever replace it? Yeah. With a DAVE.
Its okay for what it is.
Its almost like what mqa does as it exagerares the samples.
It throws it at you and you have this belief its really good quality.
Im not saying it's bad as it offers something for sure.
However, i believe if you go back to say 2012 when the Linn Akurate dac/streamer came out then , i believe they still knock the socks off these chord dacs.
Okay so back then they were retailing from 5000 to 8000 pounds.
However you can pick up a pre-loved one for 2000 .
You get streamer ,dac and pre-amplifier.
They sound sublime and give so much finesse.
You even get to modfy the setting according to room build .
Tell the dac what your room is made of..material wise. ceiling height ,width ,and speaker model plus position.
I always look at what 2000 can get me.
If its only the Qutest im out.
Great video! Very practical advice and I enjoyed the music selections. Thankyou!
Qutest is a great little DAC. Despite what Rob Watts says, I found it was improved with a LPSU. Not massively, but enough to make me feel it was worth the outlay.
Since been replaced by a Venus 2 and now a Terminator 2, 12th. I still have the Qutest because it's a great DAC for the money and I'd like to make use of it again when I think up my next project.
Sometime ago you reviewed and praised the Zen Dac Signature, which made me buy one (the V2 version). I use it with the Zen Stream and this stack yields great natural sound feeding my Hegel H120 through the balanced input (btw, speakers are Revel Performa M3 106). Do you reckon the Qutest would make a marked difference, worth 2000 USD? My humble experience tells me that DACs are important but differences between well made DACs tend to be marginal, whereas price differences can be huge. Nice review. Cheers.
Hmm… "Only" reminds me of Yellow by Coldplay.
Another insightful review! I actually bought Topping D90SE based on your review. I’m loving the resolution it is capable of producing. However it’s a bit flat, but I don’t want to move on to something that is more musical but compromises with resolution. Would you say Qutest is a sweet spot?
Another fantastic video review, Mark. Thanks!
Yes, spend your money on room treatment and better speakers. Do not waste your money on any DAC greater than $400, cables or linear power supplies.