Chord Electronics DAC Qutest black

Chord Electronics Qutest Noir DAC: A Stylish High-End Audio Converter

The Chord Electronics Qutest Noir DAC is a high-end digital-to-analog converter (DAC) designed to significantly enhance the sound quality of your home audio system. This compact and stylish model represents the latest evolution in Chord Electronics’ range of standalone DACs. It stands out for its cutting-edge technology and exceptional audio performance, offering an immersive and faithful listening experience.

The Qutest is a “pure” DAC, lacking headphone amplification or a rechargeable battery, unlike some other models from the brand. This streamlined design allows it to focus exclusively on its primary function: high-precision digital-to-analog conversion.

Cutting-Edge Technology

At the heart of the Qutest is Chord Electronics’ exclusive FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) technology. This Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA chip is custom-programmed by Chord, providing precise control over the conversion process. This unique approach allows the Qutest to handle very high-resolution digital streams with remarkable precision and minimal jitter.

The DAC also incorporates the WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filter developed by Rob Watts, an engineer at Chord Electronics. This filter uses 49,152 taps, enabling extremely precise analog signal reconstruction from digital data.

Compatibility and Connectivity

The Qutest offers great versatility in terms of compatibility with digital audio formats:

• PCM: supports up to 32-bit / 768 kHz
• DSD: native playback from DSD64 to DSD512 (Octa-DSD)

For connectivity, the DAC offers:

• 1 asynchronous USB-B input (up to 768 kHz / 32-bit)
• 2 BNC coaxial inputs (up to 384 kHz / 32-bit)
• 1 Toslink optical input (up to 192 kHz / 24-bit)
• 1 stereo RCA analog output

The USB input is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, offering great flexibility for use with different digital sources.

Design and Construction

The Qutest features a compact and elegant design, characteristic of the Chord Electronics brand. Its casing is precisely machined from a solid block of aerospace-grade aluminum, ensuring excellent protection against electromagnetic interference and vibrations.

The top panel of the DAC features two multicolored luminous spheres serving as the user interface. These spheres allow for input and filter selection while visually indicating the sampling frequency of the signal being played through a color code.

Exceptional Audio Performance

The Qutest delivers remarkable audio performance:

• Dynamic range: 126 dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): < 0.0001% at 1 kHz, 3V RMS, 300Ω
• Channel separation: 138 dB at 1 kHz, 300Ω
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz (+/- 0.2 dB)

These technical specifications translate into highly precise sound reproduction, with a wide and deep soundstage, excellent instrument separation, and faithful timbre reproduction.

Advanced Features

The Qutest offers several features to refine sound reproduction:

• 4 selectable digital filters: neutral, warm, neutral with high-frequency attenuation, warm with high-frequency attenuation
• Adjustable output voltage: 1V, 2V, or 3V RMS, allowing optimal adaptation to different types of amplifiers
• Dual data mode for future developments of Chord Electronics products

Integration into an Audio System

The Qutest DAC is designed to easily integrate into an existing hi-fi system. It can be connected to an integrated amplifier, a preamplifier, or a power amplifier via its RCA analog output. Its lack of variable volume makes it an ideal choice for systems using a separate preamplifier or an integrated amplifier with volume control.

The Qutest can also be used to enhance the audio quality of a computer, a network player, a CD player, or any other device with a compatible digital output.

Usage Tips

To get the most out of the Qutest DAC, it is recommended to:

• Use quality cables for digital and analog connections
• Keep the device powered on continuously for optimal performance
• Experiment with the different digital filters to find the one that best suits your system and listening preferences
• Adjust the output voltage according to the input sensitivity of your amplifier

Technical Specifications

Architecture

• Processor: Chord Electronics FPGA (programmable matrix processor) Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T)
• Class A output stage
• Solid aluminum chassis

Supported Audio Formats

• DSD (Direct Stream Digital): Native playback supported, DSD64 (single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD)
• PCM (Pulse Code Modulation): 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz, 384 kHz, 717.6 kHz, 768 kHz, 16 to 32 bits

Audio Performance

• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 0.2 dB
• THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): < 0.0001% at 1 kHz, 3 V RMS, 300 Ω
• THD and noise at 3 V RMS: 117 dB at 1 kHz, 300 Ω
• Channel separation: 138 dB at 1 kHz, 300 Ω

Connectivity

• Inputs:
  • 1 USB type B (white): 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz, 16 bits to 32 bits
  • 2 BNC coaxial (red): 44.1 kHz to 384 kHz, 16 bits to 32 bits
  • 1 optical (green): 44.1 kHz to 96 kHz, 16 bits to 24 bits
  • 1 micro-USB 5 V / 2 A (for power supply)
• Outputs:
  • 1 stereo RCA

Physical Specifications

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 160 × 41 × 72 mm
• Weight:
  • Product: 770 g
  • With packaging: 1,500 g

Included Accessories

• Qutest user manual
• Safety instructions
• Cable storage pouch
• Micro-USB 5 V / 2 A switching power supply
• USB type A to USB type B cable