Chord Qute

[SteveR750]

I've posted my initial thoughts elsewhere, but a quick summary of the Qute

It's simple to set up, beautifully made, but I'd prefer a cheaper case unless it adds to the sonic performance. If it's important to you, then it's a thing of beauty, much more so in the flesh so to speak.

OUt of the box, this thing is smooooth, with a very nice analogue (LP12 ish) treble, with lots of subtle detail. The detail is such that the spatial positioning or focus of the sonic image is clear and precise, adding an air of realism especially to live recordings that haven't been mucked about in the studio, Ry Cooder's Buena Vista Social club is a great example.

The bass is nice and tuneful, and deep. There's a great sense of majesty to recordings where it's in the original mix, but my impression is that oversued cliche that it simply disappears from the chain, it doesn't seem to impart any particular tonality or presentation.

In my system, this means that the combination of the M2 and the D18s is even more sharply matched, and I'm fast coming to the conclusion that these two are as a good a match as Naim/Isobarik, or NAD 3020/AR18BX.

Bearing in mind it's only a couple of hours old, I'll need to run it in and leave it for a few days and post some updates, but so far I'm impressed.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Once I get some spare time I'll be able to try ours out! Just been a little busy. I suppose with its size I could easily bring it home and try out in my system - wont be for the next few weeks though as my PJ has just got back from cleaning so I'm catching up on my recent Blu purchases!

 

[SteveR750]

David, post your findings, I'd be interested to hear your opinion.

I've heard bits of detail on "Paradise City" that I've not before - clearly 3 voices in the intro, Axl, Slash and Duff. There is a drum fill towards the end in the final chorus that sounds like a distant thunder storm rather than some plastic cones flapping in a wooden box.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I need to dump my music from my laptop onto a hard drive first as most of my listening is currently via Napster and Last.FM... 🙂

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi SteveR750

I've had Chord Electronics Chordette QuteHD DSD DAC for months now and i would say that you're assessment of the QuteHD DSD so far is much in line with mine

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Shanka]

Hi Steve,

I may have asked this on your NAD thread, did you try the MDac if so your thoughts on this compared to the qute ?

May be more than I would want to spend but we all know about temptation ?

( I was tempted to write we all Cno about temptation but thought thats a bit harsh, now ducking for cover 😳 )

 

[CnoEvil]

May be more than I would want to spend but we all know about temptation ? ( I was tempted to write we all Cno about temptation but thought thats a bit harsh, now ducking for cover 😳 )

I'll take that as a complement!

 

[CnoEvil]

Your system is now looking like it might get the source it deserves.

 

[SteveR750]

Hi Steve, I may have asked this on your NAD thread, did you try the MDac if so your thoughts on this compared to the qute ? May be more than I would want to spend but we all know about temptation ? ( I was tempted to write we all Cno about temptation but thought thats a bit harsh, now ducking for cover 😳 )

Shanka, I've bought a used M-DAC from the bay, so will get a chance to compare this also before deciding what to do. From what I have learnt, holding off until roksan launch their new gear between now and easter. Personally I can't wait to audition the M2 preamp with onboard DAC + separate 150wpc power amp combo.

 

[Shanka]

Cheers Steve,

Thanks for letting me know, will be interested to hear how you get on.

FYI the best dac I heard on demo with Caspian and Proac was the MF Clic if you get the chance to hear one.

I wonder if Roksan would do a stand alone DAC, I still love my M2 and hope I don't feel the need to change it, I have had to stop looking at speakers, too many good ones out there but still happy with mine, I think curiosity can get the better of you.

Cno, glad you took my comment as it was meant, :cheers: to both.

 

[SteveR750]

Cheers Steve, I wonder if Roksan would do a stand alone DAC,

If what I was <EDIT>: TOLD turns out to be correct, there will be 3 stand alone DACs, unless I misunderstood the conversation: an M2 range, a K2 range, and another cheaper one. In addition (unless this is what was really meant) there will be a new M2 separate DAC/preamp, a new M2 150wpc power amp, new M2 monoblocs. Back to the Qute, it suffers (with my PC anyway) from the dreaded USB ground loop hum, though earthing it via the amp helps, it doesn't banish it. This is one area that the NAD is excellent, it really is silent in all modes. I spoke to Chord about it this afternoon, and it's the first time anyone has mentioned it to them, so maybe a Sony PSU issue? I'm using it on optical now, as that is quiet, and according to Chord no difference in quality. Incidentally I talked to them about cables, and whilst it was private discussion I did learn something about optical cables in that length is largely unimportant. Other than that, I think our opinions were pretty much aligned on the subject. Friendly bunch of people though, I'd like to visit them one day for a chat.

 

[Shanka]

Hi,

Have been looking at the qute and have a dealer who I know nearby so will have a listen myself next week, they also stock the mdac so can compare the two in their listening room.

My concern would be the better connectivity of the mdac and the price but if there is a great step in sq....... who knows.

From your chat with Roksan did they indicate when their line of dac's would be coming out ?

Have a good weekend

 

[SteveR750]

Well, I was told the DACs wold be out between now and Easter, but were pending some Apple licensing issues which are out of their control from a timing perspective.

I'd go on next year sometime for all of this. TBH, I'd suspect I'd be giving up a bit of quality mvoing from the Qute to a Roksan M2 dac, but the increase in flexibility and a power amp hike to 150wpc would more than compensate. If Roksan can retain the fabulous transient response of the M2 into the new power separates then I'm first in the queue!

 

[SteveR750]

Quick update, now the Chord has been running non stop for 36 or so hours, so it should be improving. These things are always difficult to guage, other than a general sense of continuing to be impressed at the SQ of certain tracks - A bit like noticing the nights drawing in, you never notice it until one morning it's suddenly dark!

This is one of those moments, listening to UFO's album Making Contact, which I first owned on cassette when I was a student back in the late 80s, and today on Spotify. The Chord is good enough to let you know that the treble is a bit splashy, the imaging a bit vague, generally a slightly loose sound, but the bass end is less affected by a low bitrate, and its thundering out with a real sense of power behind. This is the first system I have had that makes bass guitars really sound (feel?) different to a 6 string. It's hard enough to follow a deep bass line in a live band in a pub gig unless you can feel it. With a deep dynamic bass, rock tracks just come alive.

Deeply impressive stuff indeed....

 

[CnoEvil]

This is the first system I have had that makes bass guitars really sound (feel?) different to a 6 string. It's hard enough to follow a deep bass line in a live band in a pub gig unless you can feel it. With a deep dynamic bass, rock tracks just come alive. Deeply impressive stuff indeed....

IMO The reason that the importance of a source is often underestimated, is the effect it brings can be more subtle....often revealing itself over time, as you start seeing (hearing) your collection in a new light.

 

[SteveR750]

Hi Steve, I may have asked this on your NAD thread, did you try the MDac if so your thoughts on this compared to the qute ? May be more than I would want to spend but we all know about temptation ? ( I was tempted to write we all Cno about temptation but thought thats a bit harsh, now ducking for cover 😳 )

Shanka, I'm probably now going to keep the Qute instead of a £450 used M-DAC. The latter sounds very good indeed, but the Qute is so much better. In te final analysis, it's uterly crazy what little gains we think are value for money. I'm still swayed by the knowledge that it's an additional £500 for ultimately a more musical box that delivers in everymans terms as a barely noticeable smidgen of detail and smoothnes :?

 

[ID.]

it's uterly crazy what little gains we think are value for money. I'm still swayed by the knowledge that it's an additional £500 for ultimately a more musical box that delivers in everymans terms as a barely noticeable smidgen of detail and smoothnes :?

I think you would've always had that smidgeon in your mind if you'd gone with the M-DAC.

When I relistened to my B&W 685 vs my PMC DB1i, there probably wasn't that much difference, but that little bit meant a world of difference to me. I think you mentioned in your other thread that you might wait and see what Roksan comes out with and wait for the NADs to turn up 2nd hand, which sounds like a wise way of getting some perspective, but nowhere near as thrilling as an impulse purchase.

 

[SteveR750]

it's uterly crazy what little gains we think are value for money. I'm still swayed by the knowledge that it's an additional £500 for ultimately a more musical box that delivers in everymans terms as a barely noticeable smidgen of detail and smoothnes :?

I think you would've always had that smidgeon in your mind if you'd gone with the M-DAC.

When I relistened to my B&W 685 vs my PMC DB1i, there probably wasn't that much difference, but that little bit meant a world of difference to me. I think you mentioned in your other thread that you might wait and see what Roksan comes out with and wait for the NADs to turn up 2nd hand, which sounds like a wise way of getting some perspective, but nowhere near as thrilling as an impulse purchase.

My post was perhaps a bit ambiguous - the M-DAC is staying, the Chord is going home. The dacmagic will be up for sale, assuming I decide to keep the M-DAC and not it. I decided to wait a while; new DACs are streaming onto the market right now....🙂

 

[Shanka]

Hi,

Apologies if I have posted twice, so the qute has gone, do you think you would have kept it if you didn't know about the upcoming Roksan's ?

How are you finding the mdac, did you ever try the Rega, I found little between them going through the Caspian.

From what I see here I think the Rega seems to work better with other rega components so may be the synergy between components.

I have to say my previous experience with Audiolab is finding detail above musicality, whatever that means, so was suprised it was the one I prefered, I thought it would have been the MF !

I am not buying until next month so still looking, did you ever consider trying the Benchmark USB Dac ?

Have fun, at least until you get the urge again, should add quietly if you ever tried a Sneaky ?

 

[plastic penguin]

Steve, what is the downside of the M-Dac?

 

[SteveR750]

Steve, what is the downside of the M-Dac?

This is exactly how I feel about it:

I have to say my previous experience with Audiolab is finding detail above musicality

It sounds very "hi-fi" but it's not very foot tapping. TBH, I'm not even sure I prefer it over the Dacmagic which seems to work well in my system. The issue is a lack of focus to the soundstage. The instruments and voices are there, but it's like looking through periferal vision.

Shanka, no I would not have kept it - I'd rather the NAD (even though my ears tell me the Caspian sounds more to my taste in my lounge). Partly because there are compromises with the Qute - single inputs for a start, and te USB hums with a ground loop. The NAD on the other hand can fit everything in and some, and it's deathly silent when it's supposed to be.

should add quietly if you ever tried a Sneaky ?

Damn, I'm sussed!

Yes, I am planning to try the integrated steamer DAC route next. On the basis that I've not heard a negative comment over the Linn DS range then it's the obvious thing to do.

 

[CnoEvil]

should add quietly if you ever tried a Sneaky ?

Damn, I'm sussed!

Yes, I am planning to try the integrated steamer DAC route next. On the basis that I've not heard a negative comment over the Linn DS range then it's the obvious thing to do.

:silenced:

 

[markvh1]

Interesting discussion. Could you audition the chord QBD76 in comparison to the other days you have tried. It would be informative to hear your views having listened to these various dacs in your home listening environment.

 

[SteveR750]

Interesting discussion. Could you audition the chord QBD76 in comparison to the other days you have tried. It would be informative to hear your views having listened to these various dacs in your home listening environment.

Mark, I listened to the QBD76 in a dealer demo, not at home. No chance now of that heppening TBH. It was good mind you, as I posted elsewhere, but I would not buy it.

 

[Shanka]

Hi,

If you are looking at streamers try MF Clic, from what I have listened to so far would be my choice if thats what I was gonna do.

However I will add last night I was listening to my SBT, first time had a proper listen and was comparing it with my cd player, there wasn't a lot in it which is staggering.

The price difference of £1200 and the Caspian knocked spots over every other cd player I listened too, no contest.
Will be doing a few little tests over the weekend but the quality of the SBT is incredible esp. at the price, I am a convert.

Good Luck with the search Steve, I have a NAD C370 turning up today, will be looking to see how it compares with my Alpha 9 which I love, FIGHT !!!