#Chordstest qmidi upgrade
#Chordstest qmidi full
#Chordstest qmidi portable

The Mojo didn’t sound any different than the standard iPhone DAC (with Sony IER M9 monitors), and the Qutest sounded harsh and clinical, and no better than the Node 2i analog outs (less enjoyable even, IMO).

#Chordstest qmidi portable

I have also tried a couple Chord DACs including this one and the portable Mojo, and I didn’t like either of them. Bits are bits, and if they are being transmitted without fault then there is nothing different between sources. In my experience a digital source is a digital source unless it is malfunctioning in some way or your files are bad. DACs in general are not overrated, but the differences aren’t huge once you reach a certainly level, in my experience, unless you move to a drastically different style (i.e.

Wrong sources? Connect, iPad, Macbook.? Not sure how bits will be improved here.ġ.

The DAC in the connect not so bad afterall.

Are DACs overrated? I can't think so many people praise them to believe this.

But when listening to the same tracks on vinyls it does get on another level. I might have been (wrongly) influenced by the many online reviews who talk about night & day difference or maybe my own physical hearing that was limited. I could hear more detail & soundstage with Tidal Master recordings but might just have been my excitement of seeing that the Qutest changed colors indicating I was listening to a 96khz track. I don't hear a difference between Tidal & Spotify. It does sound slightly different though and some more details at lower volume.įunny enough, but different (sensible) topic. Don't get me wrong, the sound is amazing but it seems my Luxman & Cheviot sare doing all the heavy lifting, the Chord doesn't seem to improve sound.

#Chordstest qmidi upgrade

but it feels more like a 5% upgrade when you listen to it with the greatest focus on some tracks. I was expecting some drastic improvements: more soundstage, depth, details. (background music while working with less focus on sound)

Several hours of one source with DAC, then same without DAC, then back.

#Chordstest qmidi full

Full song or album, and repeating with another source.A/B testing, switching every 30 seconds from one source to another.Given the current confinement situation I really had an extensive time to test this out for several hours per day. Sound was tested with my Tannoy Cheviots speakers and Beyerdynamic Tp5 cans.

Rega P8 > Lehmann Audio Decade > Luxman Amp (no DAC obviously, used MoFi Dire Straits as a comparable source and some other more mainstream recordings).

Sonos Connect > Luxman Amp (without the Qutest).

Macbook Pro > Chord Qutest > Luxmann Amp.

Sonos Connect > Chord Qutest > Luxmann Amp.Making sure it listened to same songs, albums.on all (when possible). DAC : Chord Qutest (borrowed for testing)ĭifferent setups I've tried to test the Qutest during a week.Just based on pleasure of sound and personal listening experience. I do listen to a lof streaming platforms aside from vinyl and want to get more out of my setup.Īlso, this is no technical or professional review. Important to share that this is the first external DAC I was able to test on my system. I have to say, I was really eager to test what is considered to be one of the DACs to beat in this price range (below $2k). A few days ago I received the Chord Qutest from my local dealer to try it out at home.