Chord Qutest

[Ron Scubadiver]

I bet it would pair nice with a Schitt Saga or Sys since the output is 3V.

[Ron Scubadiver]

On 4/28/2018 at 1:35 PM, jos said:

If you look at the Darko DAC index you could see that even a better Mytex DAC than the Liberty is far below the Hugo 2, and the Qutest is even (slilghtly) better than the Hugo 2, as you can hear in his podcast on the same site from Darko.

 

https://darko.audio/the-darko-dac-index/

I wouldn't put the fate of the audiophile world in the hands of a rating given by a single audio writer.

[Ron Scubadiver]

On 4/28/2018 at 2:36 PM, jos said:

That's true, but I prefer Darko's opinion (younger ears, more authority). It's also a question of taste, but in my opinion the Qutest is the better DAC for the money. Try to listen both. I do have the Qutest (with ultraRendu) and it was a major step forward.

It's definitely a question of taste.  One would think there could be a single correct interpretation of how to go from D to A, but apparently there is not.  So we see the Sabre sound discussed or the AK sound, or whatever.  What's best, or is it someone's favorite flavor? 

[Ron Scubadiver]

24 minutes ago, barrows said:

And that still is a vast over-simplification.  There is no such thing as Sabre sound or AKM sound.  DACs incorporate a lot more than just a chip in a box!  The power supply design and I/V (in the case of Sabre) or analog output stage will have more influence on the sound than the conversion chip.

 

What's with the "vast oversimplification".  That's not polite.  Why is it that nobody around here can simply say they disagree, in so many words, instead of such exaggerated rhetoric?  I'm not running for office.  BTW, there are many who would agree with me.  I am of the view that a lot of things people say they are hearing like additional detail, are really something else.  Perhaps it's a result of the filter Chord uses.  Don't get me wrong, I am not criticizing Chord.  Their products get rave reviews and have many happy owners.

[Ron Scubadiver]

4 hours ago, w1000i said:

Unfortunately Darko is using active speaker with built in ADC which is a crime in my standard to evaluate a DAC performance with that speaker.

 

Darko says his index also takes features into account, so it is not purely about SQ.  Is that a crime?  It sure muddies up the picture.  

[Ron Scubadiver]

10 minutes ago, barrows said:

Have you listened to the Chord DACs?  I am really not interested in "views" based on what (other apparently) "people say they are hearing"!  It appears that you are speculating about sound quality issues based on hearsay?

 

That's a rather combative bunch of accusations.  It's about what you think about me rather than what I have to say.

[Ron Scubadiver]

10 minutes ago, barrows said:

 

I have no interest in attacking you, but at the same time if I am listening to speculation based on no direct experience then i would appreciate knowing that.  Especially considering that your "view" is actually opposed to my direct experience of listening to Chord DACs.

It could be artifacts or euphonic colorations.  My view is many things subjectivists say they hear are not what they describe, but something else.  They may say they hear a particular improvement, but some will later admit there was a loss somewhere else.  I don't have a Chord DAC around here to listen to, so I have to rely on the comments of others.  You may feel that invalidates my opinions, but much of what we know is based on the observations of others.  Perhaps you would toss the theory of evolution having not seen all the species observed by Darwin?  Some find Chord DAC's to be too analytical.  That gets back to my original statement that there is a house sound associated with DAC chips from different manufacturers.  Many have reported this.  I have observed it myself with ESS chips being very different (and not for me) from AK.

 

Obviously, my views do not line up with those who make large investments in electronics.

[Ron Scubadiver]

1 minute ago, barrows said:

 

An audio system should be "analytical", as far as I am concerned, as it is a tool for listening to music.

That's a completely reasonable objective even if it is not my objective.  Actually, I have a lot of respect for Chord products and may buy one some day.