jvs

My personal favorite for now - apart from the new, higher tap length - is the user-selectable output voltage available in 1, 2 and 3V RMS

9th January 2018, CES, Las Vegas: Chord Electronics has launched the most advanced compact DAC on the planet: Qutest. A highly accomplished standalone device, the new Qutest is based on the latest proprietary Rob Watts’ FPGA technology developed for the class-leading Hugo 2 DAC/headphone amp. Qutest uses an all-new precision-machined aluminium chassis and includes several new features, including fascia controls. Qutest uses the same award-winning internal DAC architecture and proprietary software coding as the Hugo 2, giving it proven class-leading technical and sonic performance. Qutest also offers Hugo 2’s unique user-selectable frequency-shaping filters and input selection controls, available via two fascia-mounted spheres, introducing useful flexibility. Qutest offers a significant cost saving over Hugo 2 (H2 £1,800), as it eschews the headphone amplifier, rechargeable Li-ion batteries and crossfeed functionality integral to the transportable device. Qutest is the latest evolution of Chord Electronics’ most affordable standalone DAC, the multi-award-winning 2Qute, which it directly replaces. Qutest is uniquely equipped to bring the benefits of Chord Electronics’ acclaimed proprietary hardware and software technology to a wide range of connected devices. It features a galvanically isolated USB-B, optical and dual coaxial digital inputs, giving an instant upgrade to everyday audio devices plus the ability to modernise ageing digital source components. It also features RCA analogue outputs for connection to integrated amplifiers, preamps and headphone amps, plus high-resolution 768kHz-capable dual-data digital inputs for connection to Chord Electronics’ devices including the 705/768kHz-ready M-Scaler-technology BLU MKII digital/CD transport. Future-proof: High-Res Audio to 768kHz PCM/DSD 512. Qutest has been designed for static use within home audio and desktop hi-fi systems. The new design benefits from 5V Micro USB powering which offers improved flexibility over its predecessor. Qutest offers support for up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512 via its galvanically isolated USB-B input, 24-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD128 via coaxial (BNC) and 24-bit/192kHz data on Optical TOSLink. DSD 64 to DSD 256 is supported via DoP and ASIO native DSD format is also supported up to 512. The device features a Class 2 USB input which, because of the Qutest’s home-system orientation compared to Hugo 2’s more mobile aspirations, has been galvanically isolated. This has been achieved using a novel technique which allows for very high data rates of up to 768kHz; the input is driverless on Apple and Android devices, with (ASIO included) drivers for Windows devices. All-new aluminium casework The Qutest chassis is all-new. It has significantly greater mass than its predecessor and has been precision-machined from solid aircraft-grade aluminium billet. The Qutest PCB nestles within a shallow cavity in the solid aluminium chassis, giving the circuit board greater protection within the casework and additional isolation from external vibration compared to previous designs. Qutest’s new square-edge chassis design created by owner and Chief Designer John Franks retains the popular circular magnifying porthole window, which reveals the custom Chord Electronics’ circuit board within. Qutest’s control spheres (for user-selectable frequency-shaping and input selection) illuminate with useful colour-coding information denoting sample frequency and filter used; brightness settings are user-adjustable. A further new feature is a user-selectable output voltage available in 1, 2 and 3V RMS outputs for flexible connectivity with partnering devices. New levels of technical performance for a compact DAC The latest FPGA and advanced WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filters have been implemented in the Qutest, bringing a wide variety of performance improvements over the 2Qute in a number of areas. Performance gains have been made in timing accuracy, noise reduction and dynamic range and tap length, the technical indicator of how complex the interpolation filter is, has more than doubled compared to its predecessor, to 49,152. User-selectable filtering option A four-function switch filter, operated by its own control sphere, offers a useful degree of user-selectable frequency-shaping, bringing warm and soft or transparent and incisive presentations, giving additional flexibility and user control. Technical specifications Frequency response: 20-20 kHz +/- 0.2dB Tap-length: 49,152 Dynamic range 124 dB AWt THD: 0.0001% 1 kHz 2.5V RMS 300 ohms THD and noise at 2.5v RMS ref 3V: -117dB 300 ohms AWt Channel sep 138 dB at 1kHz 300 ohms Galvanically isolated USB No measurable noise floor modulation Inputs: 1x Optical TOSLink 24-bit/192kHz-capable 2x BNC coaxial input 24-bit/384kHz-capable (dual data mode up to 768kHz for M-Scaler operation) 1x HD galvanically isolated USB-B input 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512-capable Outputs: 1x (pair) stereo RCA phono outputs: 1, 2 and 3V RMS Price and availability Qutest is available to order now (black only) from Chord Electronics dealers priced at £1,195

Chord Qutest

https://www.speakershack.co.uk/articleResult.php?subject=2&record=2439

For the Pi2, the old Volumio 1.55 hands down. It's been stable as a rock for me on two Pi2's and sound quality is second to none.

Could you try and describe the difference?

Update on the test with the 2Qute directly driving the speakers. I first tested it with female vocals which sound good and very open but with more complex music the 2Qute on its own simply lacks control over the speakers. Went back to 2Qute > Cyrus2+PSX > LS3/5A

I actually spend some time today to make two RCA to banana cables. I am at my normal listening level with the Rogers LS3/5a's directly connected to the 2Qute at 30% attenuation (70% volume level) and the sound is very, very open. Don't notice any lack of weight either.

Yes, passive. The old BBC monitors, in this case by Rogers

I know they are not efficient speakers but do you think the 2Qute would drive LS3/5a's to low volume levels without amplfication? Would I risk damaging anything if I tried?

I listen a lot at low volume. From what I've read this is not what the ATC's excel at.

I don't know... these larger Harbeths will probably just go lower with the risk of overwhelming the midband on lesser recordings. I must say I can live happily without any deep bass as long as the midband and treble is as good as the Harbeth P3ESR or the LS3/5a has to offer.

That's interesting because a few months ago I bought a secondhand set of Harbeth P3ESR's for the very favourable reviews I found online. And because it is considered a more modern and improved LS3/5A. The P3ESR's are magnificent speakers and have a far cleaner and deeper bottom end than the LS3/5A's of which I own a Rogers and a Harbeth pair. However, I did miss that last bit of presence and reality of voices that the LS3/5A's offer in the P3ESR. I must add that I have yet to hear an affordable speaker that matches the ancient LS3/5A's for voices, including the Kef LS50 passives. The LS3/5A really makes you think the singer is with you in the room, no other speaker has done that for me yet. The Harbeth P3ESR however was the best modern speaker I heard, only - for me - to be bettered by the old LS3/5A. I resold the P3ESR to someone who immediate sat down in front of them for half a night to rediscover most of his record collection :-) but I still listen through the LS3/5A's myself...

I'd be interested to hear your latest findings dmormerod!

Sorry, thought the Digi+ was the DAC. But no, I am using the Pi2's USB to the DAC. The Pi3 does not have a toslink output of its own does it? I'd like to hear your findings. I don't think you will be disappointed either way. I very much like the idea of doing just one thing, rendering, on the renderer. Isolating that machine from the browsing and file retrieval tasks of the server and control point can only be beneficial to the sound quality, I think.