Chord Electronics Qutest for sale

About this product

We are offering for sale a Chord Electronics Qutest Previously Owned DAC on behalf of a customer following a change of circumstances. The Qutest is in excellent condition and is in full working order. The original packaging is not available.

Finish: Black
Serial Number: 39018
Date Received: 28.03.26
Condition: Unmarked
Packaging: No
Accessories: Power Supply
Delivery Options: Delivery available (ask for details).
Warranty: N/A
New Price: £1,195.00
Saving: £450.00
Sale Price: £745.00

The Chord Electronics Qutest DAC is a standalone digital to analogue convertor which is designed to improve the sound quality of your digital devices. The Chord Qutest is a stripped down version of the Hugo 2 and therefore does not contain a headphone amplifier or a rechargeable battery. It is the latest evolution of Chord Electronics’ most affordable standalone DAC, the multi-award-winning 2Qute, which it replaces.

The Chord Electronics Qutest DAC is based on the award-winning proprietary FPGA technology developed for the class-leading Hugo 2 DAC/headphone amp, giving it proven 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 connection, plus an optical and coaxial digital input. The Qutest is the perfect partner to ageing digital source components, as well as modern day digital devices.

The Chord Qutest’s chassis is a brand new design. It has significantly greater mass than its predecessor and has been precision-machined from solid aircraft-grade aluminium billet. The 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.

The Chord Electronics Qutest DAC 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 a pair of analogue RCA outputs for connection to an amplifier or headphone amp.

A 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.

Technical Specifications:

Chipset: Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA
Tap-length: 49,152
Pulse array: 10 element pulse array design
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
Output stage: Class A
THD: <0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300Ω
THD and noise at 3v RMS: 117dB at 1kHz 300ohms ‘A’ weighted (reference 2.5v)
Noise 2.6 uV ‘A’ weighted: No measurable noise floor modulation
Channel separation: 138dB at 1kHz 300Ω
Weight: 770g
Dimensions: 4.5cm (H) 16cm (W) 8.8cm (D)
Boxed Weight: 1500g