Chord Electronics Qutest Digital to Analogue Convertor Black

£1,195.00 including VAT

The Chord Electronics Qutest Digital to Analogue Convertor improves upon the premiere technologies previously found in the Hugo 2. With a brand-new design and a vast array of technological advances, this DAC will offer only the best quality in sound reproduction.

Only 2 left in stock

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Description

The Chord Electronics Qutest Digital to Analogue Convertor is a What Hi-Fi? Award-winning DAC with a performance that belies its compact dimensions. With DAC architecture based on our class-leading FPGA tech, Qutest offers unrivalled sound quality gains.

The Latest Evolution

The Qutest DAC is designed to improve system sound quality, instantly. It is the latest evolution of our most affordable โ€˜standaloneโ€™ DAC, in other words, one that does not contain a built-in headphone amplifier, like the Mojo 2 and Hugo 2.

The Chord Electronics Qutest is What Hi-Fi?โ€™s โ€˜Best DACโ€™ 2023 ยฃ1,000+ and a What Hi-Fi? โ€˜Best DACโ€™ winner every year its inception (2018-2022). It is a proven class-leader and is based on our award-winning proprietary FPGA technology giving it unrivalled technical and sonic performance.

Isolated Digital Inputs

Perfectly equipped to bring the benefits our 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 modernise ageing digital source components.

Machined Aluminium Chassis

The Qutest Digital to Analogue Convertor 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.

Digital Filters

Chord Electronics Qutest offers Hugo 2โ€™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.

Technical Specifications

  • Materials: Precision machined aluminium casing with polycarbonate buttons and glass viewing portal. Available only in Jett Black.
  • Device power supply: 5v 2amp Micro USB
  • Tap length filter: 49,152 โ€“ 10 element Pulse Array design
  • Connectivity (input): USB Type B (White): 44.1kHz to 768kHz โ€“ 16bit to 32bit
  • 2x BNC Coax (Red): 44.1kHz โ€“ 384kHz โ€“ 16bit to 32bit
  • 1x Dual data mode input (using both BNC coax inputs together): 44.1kHz to 768kHz โ€“ 16bit to 32bit
  • Optical (Green): 44.1kHz to 96kHz โ€“ 16bit to 24bit
  • Connectivity (output): 1x stereo pair of RCA (Left and Right)
  • PCM support: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz, 384kHz, and 768kHz. 16 โ€“ 32bit
  • 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 โ€˜Filterโ€™ + โ€˜Inputโ€™ upon startup
  • Driver support: Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS
  • Chipset: Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA
  • Tap-length: 49,152
  • Pulse array: 10 element pulse array design
  • Frequency response: 20Hz โ€“ 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
  • Output stage: Class A
  • THD: <0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300ฮฉ
  • THD and noise at 3v RMS: 117dB at 1kHz 300ohms โ€˜Aโ€™ weighted (reference 2.5v)
  • Noise 2.6 uV โ€˜Aโ€™ weighted: No measurable noise floor modulation
  • Channel separation: 138dB at 1kHz 300ฮฉ
  • Dimensions: 4.5cm (H) 16cm (W) 8.8cm (D)
  • Weight: 770g
Additional Information

Frequency Response

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20-20 kHz +/- 0.2dB

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Tap-Length

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49,152

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Dynamic Range

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124 dB AWt

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THD

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0.0001% 1 kHz 2.5V RMS 300 ohms

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THD and Noise at 2.5v RMS ref 3V

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-117dB 300 ohms AWt

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Channel Separation

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138 dB at 1kHz 300 ohms

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USB

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Class 2 Galvanically Isolated

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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

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Outputs

1x (pair) stereo RCA phono outputs: 1, 2 and 3V RMS

Shipping and Returns
Your Delivery

Orders received before 1:00 pmย will be despatched the same day and can be delivered for the next working day (except bank holidays). For your convenience, you can choose multiple shipping options on the checkout page. We will also email with your tracking and dispatch information.

30-Day Returns Policy

HiFix is committed to selling quality products, which we hope you will love; we do understand, however, that there may be a time when you need to exchange or return something you have bought. We really do hope you are pleased with your purchase, but should you wish to return anything you have bought from us, we will be happy to refund or exchange a product within 30 days.

Manufacturer Warranty Information

Chord Electronics products are designed and manufactured to the highest quality standards. However, if something does go wrong with the product we are here to help. From your date of purchase your product is warranted against faulty materials or workmanship for a period of 36 months on all products except the Mojo, which is a period of 12 months.

This 36 month guarantee applies to all Chord Electronics Products (excluding the Mojo) including Digital to Analogue Convertors, Digital Streamers, Headphone Amplifiers. Phono Pre Amplifiers, Stereo & Mono Pre Amplifiers and Stereo Pre Amplifiers. Providing you with peace of mind and the assurance of premium Quality.

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