Qutest is our "pure" DAC (it doesn't contain headphone amplification or rechargeable batteries like some of its range counterparts) and is designed to improve sound quality in the home. It is the latest evolution of our most affordable standalone DAC, the award-winning 2Qute, which it directly replaces.
Qutest, which is the best DAC? from What Hi-Fi? (£500-£1500) and What Hi-Fi? Winner of Best DAC every year since its inception (2018-2022), it is a proven class leader and is based on our award-winning proprietary FPGA technology developed for the class-leading Hugo 2 DAC/Headphone Amplifier, giving you proven class-leading technology. class . and sound performance. Perfectly equipped to bring the benefits of our digital technology to a wide range of connected devices, it features galvanically isolated USB-B, optical, and coaxial digital inputs, providing an instant performance boost, as well as the ability to retrofit legacy digital source components.
The Qutest chassis is also completely new. It has a significantly greater mass than its predecessor and has been precision machined from a solid piece of aircraft-grade aluminum. The Qutest PCB sits within a shallow cavity in the solid aluminum chassis, providing the circuit board with greater protection within the enclosure and additional isolation from external vibrations compared to previous designs.
Qutest offers Hugo 2’s patented user-selectable frequency-shaping filters and input selection controls, available via two fascia-mounted dials, introducing useful flexibility. It also features RCA analog outputs for connection to integrated amplifiers, preamplifiers and headphone amplifiers, as well as inputs high-resolution dual data digital for connection to future Chord Electronics products.
Another new feature is a user-selectable output voltage available in 1, 2, and 3V RMS outputs for flexible connectivity with a wide range of associated devices.
Materials: Precision machined aluminum housing with polycarbonate buttons and glass viewing portal. Available only in Jett Black.
Device power supply: 5v 2amp Micro USB
Faucet length filter: 49,152 – 10-element Pulse Array Design
Connectivity (input): USB Type B (white): 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz – 16 bit to 32 bit
2x BNC coaxial (red): 44.1 kHz – 384 kHz – 16 bit to 32 bit
1 Dual Data Mode Input (using both BNC coaxial inputs together): 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz – 16-bit to 32-bit
Optical (green): 44.1 kHz to 96 kHz – 16 bits to 24 bits
Connectivity (output): 1x stereo pair of RCA (left and right)
