Chord Qutest

[MarkusBarkus]

53 minutes ago, Gavin1977 said:

I do find it a more darker sounding DAC than the DAVE though, the highs are also somewhat recessed, and this decreases it's realism IMO. I use the incisive neutral filter and Oyaide Tunami Terzo RR v2 and Sablon 2020 USB.

I found the same to be true when I used the Qutest. I preferred the incisive neutral filter most of the time. Interestingly, I also used a Tunami, but the red-plug version. USB was Triode Wire Labs.

 

I *really* liked the Qutest. It was part of my plan to see if I liked the "Chord Sound." 
 

I did. So, I added an MScaler to the Qutest. That was really excellent, IMO and I could have lived with that.

 

But hobbies (aka: addictions) being what they are, the march to DAVE unfolded. Now I have a DAVE on a DC4. 
 

I like the D/DC4 a lot, but frankly, that Qutest MScaler config was really sweet.
 

For the first month on the DAVE/MScaler I wondered if I had misstepped. The uber set-up is clean and revealing, but the Qutest is very musical. Very nice.
 

BTW: the Wave BNCs are good for sound too. I have the mid-level version. Good luck!

[MarkusBarkus]

@OldBigEars if you are going single input, you definitely have options. BTW: you can use the SRC box as a single, which allows changing to double at a future time. 
 

I experimented with a few options into the Dave, including both dual and single SPDIF on the Audiowise converter. That's about 500 bucks.
 

The Peachtree I have not tried, at about 200 bucks.

 

54 bucks gets you a Douk Audio converter with the newer XMOS chipset. I bought two and gave one to a hifi pal who likes it very much in his system.

 

I am currently testing single SPDIF input to the Dave, using the very, very nice Denefrips Gaia. USB to SPDIF conversion. I think that was about 1600 bucks from Vinshine. There are leas expensive models too. The Gaia is very nice. 
 

FYI: I am converting to by-pass the Amanero chipset in the Dave. I have an MScaler and will test single SPDIF into that too, by-passing the USB handling, then dual SPDIF into Dave. 
 

I think you would get excellent results with some of these strategies on the Qutest. I really liked the Qutest very much. Honestly, I could have stopped there. Q on HMS is excellent. Good luck! 

[MarkusBarkus]

...they shipped pretty quick, but customs was a little slow (based on my personal impatience). The USB to SPDIF is a smart little performer. Cheers...

[MarkusBarkus]

...you'll try both, I'm sure. A pal and I tested with a 5v Shanti he had which is competent, but not extraordinary. It was a good addition. It does a very good job in that system, which uses a single input path. 

[MarkusBarkus]

...depending on your conversion needs, there are a few options, but yes: DoukAudio. Here is what we tried around here...