{"product_id":"chord-electronics-qutest-dac","title":"Chord Electronics Qutest DAC","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Qutest digital to analogue convertor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQutest System Stand also available\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"While the proprietary FPGA technology behind the Qutest may be mind-meltingly complex, you don’t need to understand how it works to appreciate the nuance and detail it reveals. That being said, offering gloriously detailed sound and exhilarating to listen to, the Qutest is a fabulous desktop DAC.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e-Tech Radar\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"What it delivers is pure musical enjoyment and is never ever harsh, strident, bright, or flat. It has tremendous bass quality, gorgeous treble quality and that amazing detail it drudges up from the depths of the music that I never knew existed, all while remaining full, big, bold and wide. Crazy.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e-\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSteve Huff\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"tagline\"\u003eABOUT:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003eQutest is a standalone DAC whose performance belies its compact dimensions. With DAC architecture based on the award-winning Hugo 2, Qutest offers class-leading digital conversion.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tagline\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003eQutest 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 our most affordable standalone DAC, the multi-award-winning 2Qute, which it directly replaces.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQutest, which is a What Hi-Fi? Star of CES 2018,  is based on our award-winning proprietary FPGA technology developed for the class-leading Hugo 2 DAC\/headphone amp, giving it \u003cem\u003eproven\u003c\/em\u003e class-leading technical and sonic performance. 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 modernize ageing digital source components.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQutest 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 \u003cem\u003einputs\u003c\/em\u003e for connection to future Chord Electronics products.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFEATURES:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/strong\u003e Precision machined aluminium casing with polycarbonate  buttons and glass viewing portal. Available only in Jett Black.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDevice power supply: \u003c\/strong\u003e5v 2amp Micro USB\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTap length filter: \u003c\/strong\u003e49,152 – 10 element Pulse Array design\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConnectivity (input):\u003c\/strong\u003e USB Type B (White): 44.1kHz to 768kHz – 16bit to 32bit\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2x BNC Coax (Red):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e44.1kHz – 384kHz – 16bit to 32bit\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1x Dual data mode input (using both BNC coax inputs together):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e44.1kHz to 768kHz – 16bit to 32bit\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical (Green):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e44.1kHz to 96kHz – 16bit to 24bit\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConnectivity (output): \u003c\/strong\u003e1x stereo pair of RCA (Left and Right)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePCM support: \u003c\/strong\u003e44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz. 16 – 32bit\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDSD support: \u003c\/strong\u003eNative playback supported. DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVariable output: \u003c\/strong\u003eFixed, but selectable between 3v (blue), 2v (green), and 1v (red) via dual press of ‘Filter’ + ‘Input’ upon startup\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDriver support:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eDriverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital designer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rob Watts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMechanical designer: \u003c\/strong\u003eJohn Franks\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCountry of manufacture: \u003c\/strong\u003eEngland\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSPECIFICATIONS:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChipset: \u003c\/strong\u003eChord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTap-length: \u003c\/strong\u003e49,152\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePulse array:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 element pulse array design\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency response: \u003c\/strong\u003e20Hz – 20kHz +\/- 0.2dB\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOutput stage: \u003c\/strong\u003eClass A\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHD: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u0026lt;0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300Ω\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHD and noise at 3v RMS: \u003c\/strong\u003e117dB at 1kHz 300ohms ‘A’ weighted (reference 2.5v)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNoise 2.6 uV ‘A’ weighted:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eNo measurable noise floor modulation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChannel separation: \u003c\/strong\u003e138dB at 1kHz 300Ω\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight: \u003c\/strong\u003e770g\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003e4.5cm (H) 16cm (W) 8.8cm (D)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBoxed Weight: \u003c\/strong\u003e1500g\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Music Room","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51268130996505,"sku":"0452newchord","price":1795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0844\/4225\/1545\/files\/Chord_Electronics_Qutest_DAC_1.jpg?v=1768998070","url":"https:\/\/tmraudio.com\/products\/chord-electronics-qutest-dac","provider":"The Music Room","version":"1.0","type":"link"}