Chord Qutest Standalone 'Pure' DAC

Chord Qutest: standalone DAC

• Chord Custom FPGA DAC
• 4x Selectable Filters
• Selectable Output Voltage
• 768kHz USB Type B Input
• 192kHz Optical Input
• USB Galvanic Isolation
• 2x 384kHz BNC Coax Input
• 1x 768kHz Dual Data Mode Input
• 1x Stereo RCA Outputs
• Supports up to 768kHz PCM
• Native DSD 512 (8x) Capable
• Solid Aluminium Chassis

Qutest is Chord's ‘pure’ DAC (it does not contain headphone amplification or rechargeable batteries like some of its range stablemates) and is designed to improve sound quality in the home. It is the latest evolution of Chord's most affordable standalone DAC, the multi-award-winning 2Qute, which it directly replaces.

Qutest, which is a What Hi-Fi? Star of CES 2018, is based on the award-winning proprietary FPGA technology from Chord developed for the class-leading Hugo 2 DAC/headphone amp, giving it proven class-leading technical and sonic performance. Perfectly equipped to bring the benefits Chord's digital technology to a wide range of connected devices, it features a galvanically isolated USB-B, optical and coaxial digital input, giving an instant performance upgrade, plus the ability to modernize ageing digital source components.

The Qutest chassis is all-new, too. 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 offers Hugo 2’s proprietary user-selectable frequency-shaping filters and input selection controls, available via two fascia-mounted spheres, introducing useful flexibility. It also features RCA analogue outputs for connection to integrated amplifiers, preamps and headphone amps, plus high-resolution dual-data digital inputs for connection to future Chord Electronics products.

A further new feature is a user-selectable output voltage available in 1, 2 and 3V RMS outputs for flexible connectivity with a wide range of partnering devices.

Features:

• Materials: Precision machined aluminium casing with polycarbonate buttons and glass viewing portal.
• Device power supply: 5v 2amp Micro USB
• Tap length filter: 49,152 – 10 element Pulse Array design
• Connectivity (input):
• USB Type B (White): 44.1kHz to 768kHz – 16bit to 32bit
• 2x BNC Coax (Red): 44.1kHz – 384kHz – 16bit to 32bit
• 1x Dual data mode input (using both BNC coax inputs together): 44.1kHz to 768kHz – 16bit to 32bit
• Optical (Green): 44.1kHz to 96kHz – 16bit to 24bit
• Connectivity (output): 1x stereo pair of RCA (Left and Right)
• PCM support: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 358.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz.
• DSD support: Native playback supported. DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD)
• Variable output: Fixed, but selectable between 3v (blue), 2v (green), and 1v (red) via dual press of 'Filter' + 'Input' upon startup
• Driver support: Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS
• Digital designer: Rob Watts
• Mechanical designer: John Franks
• Country of manufacture: England

Technical Specifications:

• Chipset: Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA
• Tap-length: 49,152
• Pulse array: 10 element pulse array design
• Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
• Output stage: Class A
• THD: <0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300?
• THD and noise at 3v RMS: 117dB at 1kHz 300ohms 'A' weighted (reference 2.5v)
• Noise 2.6 uV 'A' weighted: No measurable noise floor modulation
• Channel separation: 138dB at 1kHz 300?
• Weight: 770g
• Dimensions: 4.5cm (H) x 16cm (W) x 8.8cm (D)
• Boxed Weight: 1500g