Chord Qutest: A Review and DAC Journey
I recently took a step up in my DAC game. Here is an overview of my journey so far and a general review of the Chord Qutest digital audio converter.
Matt
·
Dec 3, 2024
A DAC Introduction
Digital Audio Converters (DACs) are one topic these days that can be all over the place. Speak with one person, and they have no clue what you are talking about. Ask a second, and they think DACs are all the same in every device they pick up. Start Googling "what is the best DAC?" — be prepared to feel your wallet melt. The good news? It seems that there are DACs for everyone and at all price points. If you are in the market for one, you are already going to get something better than the average person.
I started my journey with the standard DAC chips that Apple loads into its Macs and iPhones. Since I was interested in recording audio at a young age, I quickly realized that many recording audio interfaces came packed with much better digital converters since they had to be great for recording and playing back audio. Thanks to MOTU and Universal Audio, I found my gateway drug to higher fidelity audio.
Researching DACs and First Purchases
Without going too much into my initial DAC journey, I will quickly give my intro into this topic. I did some initial research and picked up a FiiO ALPEN 2 DAC Headphone Amplifier in 2015. Not knowing what I was missing, this thing opened my eyes to better-sounding music. Not only was the ALPEN 2 great in the portability department, it was much better at pulling together the details that were in the music. Most importantly, it deployed the energy I was looking for in my listening.
Three years later, and with a greater need to dive deeper, my next move was with a now well-known company in hi-fi. More specifically, their reputation brought some of the best sounds for your money. Schiit audio not only grabbed my attention with the name, but I couldn't ignore the number of people raving about their products. I went with the Schiit Modi Multibit. Sadly, it's no longer available, but it's been good to me over the past couple of years and will continue to serve me in various ways. I might add that Schiit has many other amazing products that are worth checking out!
As an aside, let me say this - It's so hard to define what is sounds "great." Like many people, everyone is looking for a recommendation or a place to make their claim about a particular product. I'm not here to convince anyone to buy the same products I have purchased. However, I hope to give you some of my insights and mistakes. Like you, I am interested in reading and learning about what there is to consume about audio and music. So, cheers to all that love music and audio technology out there. Reviewing and discussing audio performance is DIFFICULT! There are only so many words to describe something that sounds great - or shit. Well, maybe a bit easier when it's a thumbs down. However, I will link some of my favorite people to read and listen to below.
The Chord Qutest: My Favorite So Far
After looking deeper into the DAC reviews and recommendations, it was apparent that Chord had quite a reputation. Some would argue that their products are too expensive, which is valid depending on where you are in your audio journey. However, they do provide some much-needed value compared to other DACs that exist in the market and at an equivalent price point.
So why did I go with the Qutest? For starters, I was able to borrow and demo the product via my local hifi shop. Demoing was crucial for spending this much on a DAC. Not only did it come highly recommended locally, but it was also touted as the DAC to beat at the price point all over the internet. I knew that if I couldn't tell any difference when plugging it into my system, then I wouldn't be able to buy into anything anyone was saying.
Here was the audio setup:
iPad Running Roon
iPad USB Dongle into DAC
Audioquest Evergreen Cables
Rega Brio Amp (Yes, its output wattage is low for the speaker, but it produces excellent results)
KEF LS50 Meta Speakers
The good news was that I could immediately tell the difference. It was subtle and could easily be mistaken at first listen. The Schiit DAC produced a bit more punch and loudness at the first comparison. The Qutest almost seemed quieter and tamer than most. However, the expansion and layering was drastically different in comparison. After spending a little more time with the music, I realized the Qutest felt much more natural and organic, lending itself to longer listening times. The soundstage was much more profound and thorough with transparent, detailed layering. When I say details, there were times when background musical elements surprised me on tracks where I didn't notice them before. Songs with long-tail reverb and higher frequency content shined. Bass and kicks sounded more rounded and beefier than before. Everything just sounds more dynamic and exciting when you settle into the mix.
One other feature worth mentioning is the filter toggle in the Qutest. There are four to choose from, each representing a different colored button light when pressed. Based on what I can tell, you are essentially applying an EQ to the DAC. You can do things like add warmth or roll-off high frequencies to prevent distortion for some hi-res playback. More details are found HERE in the manual. Lastly, other Chord products, like the Hugo M Scaler, pair nicely with the Qutest and take listening to another level. I haven't thoroughly explored these options yet, given that they are extremely pricey, but I would love to experience someday what you get when pairing these products together.
So like that, I purchased the Qutest DAC and haven't looked back. Shout out to Moon Audio, where I picked up the DAC and had it in stock for quick shipment. More to come on these KEF LS50 Meta's.
Some recent favorite reviewers and sites that I frequent:
The shiny colored pebbles of Chord.
