Chord Qutest

[Fourlegs]

9 hours ago, davide256 said:

As far as I know no Denafrips DAC supports the dual BNC DX mode. I believe the Holo May is supporting this but that’s $4k vs $1.7 for Qutest

 

I don’t think the May does support dual BNC X mode. Happy to be put right though if I am wrong.

[Fourlegs]

On 7/20/2021 at 7:38 PM, OldBigEars said:

So I'm intrigued by the possibility of taking my Qutest to the next level with (a) an SBooster / Ultra PS and (b) Audiowise SRC DX Bridge, enabling double-BNC connection with my OpticalRendu. From all the various reports, this should be a nice upgrade for around $1000. But that begs the question....My Qutest becomes a $2700 DAC....should I sell and simply buy a new DAC such as a Denafrips Venus?

In a not direct answer to your question, i am using my Qutest powered by a Sean Jacobs DC4 power supply and so it has become a £5,200 DAC. I’m not sure this will be a permanent pairing because the DC4 really belongs to another piece of equipment but it has got me thinking and perhaps that combination can indeed stand up to other similar priced DACs. The Qutest with the DC4 is very very good indeed and to my ears sounds a bit like a mini Dave. 
 

Then I added an SRC-DX with the Qutest. I am just powering it through the usb 5v but in any case the usb is coming from an Innuos Zenith so its 5v usb output is already pretty good. The SRC-DX only costs £356 but Qutest to I am really impressed by what it does. Be prepared to spend extra on bnc cables with the STC-DX though because one can hear clear differences between them.

 

A DC4 SRC-SX Qutest is a force to be reckoned with but by now the price has gone up to £5,556.

 

Swop the DC4 for an SBooster + Ultra Mk2 or perhaps a Farad Super3 but keep the SRC-DX in the system and the Qutest is still amazing and far more affordable but it trails the absolutely stunning sound of the DC4 by a considerable margin.

 

So in answer to your question as to whether to add an SBooster type power supply + SRC-DX to your Qutest or to just buy a new DAC such as a Denafrips Venus I agree with @Gavin1977 that if you liked the Qutest sort of sound when you first bought it then you are unlikely to also like the Denafrips sort of sound. They are fine DACs but sound completely different to Rob Watts DACs.

 

But what to do about the DC4? I would say what ever you do, do not listen to a Qutest powered by one because then as sure as night follows day you will be faced with the moral dilemma of whether to sell a kidney or rob a bank. It is a sound which once heard cannot be unheard.

[Fourlegs]

8 hours ago, Womaz said:

Ok I am considering both of these options , the powerbank seems the easiest as I think I understand how it would work.

Forgive my lack of knowledge as this is a sort of first attempt at tinkering.

 

The powerbank simply replaces the Power Supply? Cable provided with the powerbank plugs into the back of the Qutest where the original PS would go?

 

The Douk option also appeals to me, but I have just bought a £350 TQ USB cable and it has the B connector. Does the Douk come with a B connector?

Also does this product mean I have effectively wasted my cash on the TQ USB cable? Would a cheap cable have done the same job as the Douk is doing the stuff here?

Does the Douk need a Toslink cable to then go into the back of the Qutest ?

So I guess to sum up I have no idea how this would connect to my Qutest😀

 

My apologies for all of the questions , but just trying to get a handle on things.

 

Also just a word of caution that not all stated output voltages from powerbanks are accurate. I have measured quite a few and some are significantly over voltage so it is best to measure the output first before connecting to the device being powered.