Chord Qutest Digital to Analogue Converter

Chord

$2,500.00 AUD

Collections: Chord Electronics - DAC's

Type: DAC

Chord launches the worlds most advanced compact DAC - The Qutest.

A highly accomplished standalone device, the new Qutest is bases on the latest proprietary Rob Watt's FPGA technology.

Qutest is the next evolution of the 2Qute, chords multi award winning and most affordable and compact DAC. We've loved the 2Qute, in fact we've loved every DAC from Chord since we became exclusive stockists of Chord over 6 years ago. The look and feel of the new Qutest doesn't disappoint. With an all new precision machined aluminium chassis with facia controls including input and filter adjustment. The lack of which we found a little frustrating in the previous models. The latest FPGA and advanced WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filters are implemented in the Qutest pushing it's performance capabilities that much further than the 2Qute in a number of areas. Performance gains have improved in timing accuracy, noise reduction and dynamic range. Filter tap length, which is the technical indicator of how complex the interpolation filter is (the heart of the FPGA) has more than doubles up to 49,152 points. Which is staggering for a DAC at this price.

The Qutest is designed to be a static DAC within a home audio or desk top system. Support for 768kHz and DSD 512 audio via galvanically isolated USB-B input, 24 bit/384kHz PCM and DSD128 via coaxial (BNC) and 24 bit 192kHz data on optical. DSD 64 to DSD 256 is supported via DoP and ASIO native DSD format is also supported up to 512.

Also supported are class 2 USB input which is driverless on Apple and Android devices and ASIO included drivers for Windows devices.

The all new aluminium casework has significantly greater mass than the 2Qute, precision machined from aircraft grade aluminium and maintains the popular magnifying window revealing the custom Chord circuit board within. The external control spheres illuminate with colour coding information denoting sample frequency and filter choice. Four filter functions are available to provide a degree of frequency shaping bringing warm and soft or transparent and incisive presentations. New to the feature set has user adjustable output voltages in 1,2 and 3V RMS ranges for better connectivity to partner devices.

KEY FEATURES

Chord Custom FPGA DAC
Frequency response 20-20kHz +/- 0.2dB
TAP length 49152
384kHz PCM DSD 128 USB Type B Input
192kHz Optical Input
USB Galvanic Isolation
2x 384kHz BNC Coax Input (Dual mode up to 768kHz for M-Scaler operation)
1x RCA Outputs
DSD 512 Capable
DSD Transmitted via DoP
Solid Aluminium Chassis