Denafrips pontus vs chord qutest. Reference Nov 7, 2021 · I currently have the Benchmark DAC3 HGC and am enjoying it quiet a bit. 1584Mhz, 49. I think sometimes the Qutest can have a slight edginess to it. Please refer to screenshot as well. Dec 1, 2020 · If you are in the market for a DAC, by all means short list the Denafrips Ares II and the Pontus. AUD $2,400 / NZD $2,599. Starting with the iconic (and very expensive Nov 19, 2020 · Note: I had it wrong on the Topping D90 as it has a single AK4499 chip inside versus two. 005% R-2R network. (The eversolo does have a built-in DAC, but I think it sounds better through the Denafrips Pontus II DAC. The Pontus sonic character is cleaner, livelier, more presence and emotions. George thinks the Pontus is better than the Hugo2 which some like better than Qutest, even though it differs only by the headphone amplifier section and I/O jacks. connector. I've seen a lot of reviews for all three dacs, and some very rare comparisons, to Sep 28, 2021 · In my research so far I've come down to the Denafrips Ares 11 and the Chord Qutest, I've read great individual reviews of each and also watched some utube comparisons of the two dacs, which often finish by saying they are both great dacs but of course the Qutest is quite a bit more expensive than the Ares 11. My experiences with using the Qutest: Getting a cleaner power supply for the Qutest is a good idea, I used an external power bank battery as a poor man's version of a linear power supply on Jun 18, 2017 · Raw listening notes of Qutest vs Pontus (and a bit about the Schiit Yggdrasil) I've had a Chord Qutest in my system for the past 2 months with the intention of comparing it to the Denafrips Pontus II. But I would love to try one again :) May 17, 2021 · The Design. I wanted to gauge in my Film Appraisal of the Venus II, how this DAC stacks up against the competition, such as the Chord Hugo TT2 ? The PONTUS II 12TH -1 is a true balanced, dual mono R-2R Ladder Network Arrays DAC. Do these stars still hold and is it as good a preposition today, in 2021, as it once was. Chord’s designers were realizing that the weight of all the connections were practically lifting the the 2Qute off the table surface. Pontus is an 8. 4 volts RMS) outputs. There were two Mar 19, 2022 · 3. Chord Qutest has a long line of praises and five stars reviews, but it has been on the market for some time now. That said, @Calvin & Hobbes is one of many who prefers R2R DACs to Chord May 29, 2022 · I initially compared the very affordable and, quality at price, Ares 2 from Denafrips with DACs like Chord’s Qutest and RME ADI-2 DAC FS. Dec 16, 2020 · Interesting that you have such a categorical answer, i asked the question because on some reviews on the net the suggestion is that qutest sound has a lot of similarities to ares2 but with in reasd detail. Then I went to one Qutest and one Denafrips Terminator. I really didn't want to go over $4000 for the DAC. There are two headphone inputs on the front and a nice big and shiny silver volume dial. Apr 26, 2024 · The Pontus sounds less sharply etched in how it conveys musical detail compared to the Qutest, but seems to actually convey more detail than does the Qutest. 76 posts. 5kg beast with overbuilt power supply. Seattle Area. Jan 1, 2019 · Location. I’ve been reading up on DAC’s over the last couple days, and the Denafrips Ares II and Pontus II keeping coming up along with Chord Cutest, in comments that catch my eye. It puts out what the Aries puts only more so. I have heard of Chord for many years, but I had never tried any of their products until I stumbled upon a Rob Watts video on YouTube. 152Mhz - 1024x of based sampling rate of 44. The Venus II sells for 3,998 Singapore dollars which equates to around £2200 or $3000. There are tons of subjective comparisons on YouTube, so I won't go into that here. May 7, 2021 · Cons. RME ADI 2 Dac. At this point, it's had about 120 hours of break-in on top of the 100 hours that it received at the factory. Thanks in advance. Besides. I did AB the T2 vs the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge. Oct 20, 2023 · The Qutest’s sole purpose is to be the digital-to-analogue bridge between your digital source and amplifier – just like its predecessor the 2Qute, which the Qutest replaces in Chord’s five-strong DAC range. From my side I started with two Qutest (one in each system). 1kHz and 48kHz. Chord passed the cost of a good power supply to the customer. It is the latest evolution of our most affordable ‘standalone’ DAC, in other words, one that does not contain a built-in headphone amplifier, like the Mojo 2 and Hugo 2. Mar 20, 2023 · Well, here’s a well-written review of the R26 that he gave an overall score of 94. When I tried the Mojo with my bookshelf speakers I liked the sound but wish it could provide more detail. Instruments separation is better and the Pontus is a bit more natural . I end up buying the Pontus II and I am truly happy with it. HiFi Gold! Klipsch Forte IV Speaker Review! Dr. So I was thinking maybe Denafrips Pontus or Venus? Aug 26, 2019 · Chord Electronics Qutest DAC Review. Denafrips Pontus II Review. May 20, 2023 · Chord Qutest Many readers will know more about the Qutest than me. Mar 14, 2022 · The Pontus II is Denafrips’ second in a range of five, balanced, oversampling (if you want that feature enabled), R2R, or resistor ladder DACs, ranging in price from about $850 to $6,500. Mar 14, 2019 · Image Credit: Chord Electronics Features. In April 2021 I wrote about the Denafrips Terminator and getting the most from this lauded digital to analog converter, including using ultra high PCM sample rates of 1,411 kHz and 1,536 kHz ( link ). The Ares II is limited to optical and coax. Not on a par with the DAVE’s 164,000 taps though! The additional tap count from the original TT’s 26,368 is clearly to be welcomed. Schiit Gungir Multibit. Apr 9, 2021 · At least with my experience from Chord DACs, the Cat 8 shielding (or any shielded Ethernet cables) tends to leak RF noise into the Chord DACs and affect its performance. Streamer only, no DAC. Background on the Qutest as a reference point: The Qutest sounded really good with notably a high level of detail retrieval. The first thing that impressed me Nov 19, 2022 · Denafrips Pontus II R2R DAC RatingPrice: $2000 (Nov, 2022) https://amzn. Over the last couple of years, Chord has made quite a splash in high-end circles with its Digital-to-Analog-Converters (DAC for short). As you can see, I’m all over the place here. Sep 24, 2020 · 6,610 posts. Technical Spec. It delivers a more “real” sound than my previous Chord Qutest. The TERMINATOR-PLUS is equipped with dual OCXO operating at 45. The Qutest is What Hi-Fi?’s ‘ Best DAC’ 2023 £1,000 Oct 24, 2019 · DSD direct vs. Check out MHDT Labs, Border Patrol, or Lampizator for tube DACs. The insertion of the word ‘home’ into that product description is not to bump up the word count but instead reflects the company’s explosive growth in the field of portable DACs with products like the original Hugo, the Mojo and Hugo 2 being fairly emphatic demonstrations of the company’s proficiency Jan 22, 2022 · Thanks to Head-Fi user @damadaka for the loan of Qutest!Chord Qutest Website: https://chordelectronics. They offer something different to the Chords. Jan 28, 2023 · Here's a video Alvin just posted to explain the differences between the different versions of the Venus and especially the 12th edition. Essentially the DAC section of the Hugo 2 was placed in an aluminum brick, literally an aluminum brick, Chord removed Bluetooth input, the headphone amp circuit, and the battery. 5kVa -> Furman Elite 20 PFi power conditioner -> Shanti LPS for Chord Qutest DAC and R-Core LPS for Roon Nucleus+Signal: Roon Nucleus+ Aug 28, 2022 · R26 added a little bit of weight down low and made the bass heavier sounding little by little. But one thing being mentioned on the Denafrips Facebook group at the moment, is grey imports of the Ares 2, being sold at considerably reduced prices. On clarity , intelligibility; with the Pontus there is more micro dynamics, more transient, a bit larger stage and more headroom and a better sense of size and scale. I really liked it bit now I'm feeling it has deficiencies similar to the Qutest - blunted leading edges of transients. Dynamics, sound-stage, micro details to really h Dec 16, 2020 · The Qutest is the best of the three, the other two aren't close. @ryder. The Qutest DAC is designed to improve system sound quality, instantly. It has both RCA single-ended (2. Denafrips Ares 2. Both the Ares 2 and the Chord Qutest are competent DACs. So if the OP can afford the Venus sounds like he has already chosen better than any of these. My transport will likely be the Nuprime CDT-8 Pro. Background on the Qutest as a reference point: The Qutest sounded really good Feb 12, 2021 · The PONTUS is equipped with the proprietary USB Audio Solution, powered by STM32F446 Advanced AMR Based MCU. The Chord measures a bit better while the Ares 2 has balanced outputs. The Iris USB pollution. This DAC is frequently compared to some others on this list. #Denafrips #DAC #AudiophilePLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO PATREON for ;-Ad Free Videos (on Vimeo)-Music Playlists-Ongoing personal and private chats about the products Aug 21, 2022 · I've had the Chord Qutest and Denafrips Ares II in my system for an extended period of time and have moved to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC since April 2021. 2- Living Room: Roon - Chord Qutest - Schiit Kara+Vidar 2 - KEF LS50 Meta. The added weight also lends itself to the Nov 26, 2021 · @nopoweradeinusa On the Qutest vs R2R, it’s definitely a question of choice. I’m an analog listener primarily now, but I’d like to up my digital game with streaming. This reviewer also reviewed the Denafrips Terminator Plus and gave it the same score, so it would be logical to assume he’d prefer the Gustard to the Pontus ll 12th Anniversary as the Terminator is a couple models up in the Denafrips line and is considerably more expensive. I'd say the the Pontus is relaxed in a way that most non-R2R dacs aren'tthat might help with the poorly recorded music you mentioned. Audioquest Niagara 1200 Review. Apr 26, 2019 · The company’s latest, the Qutest, which replaces the 2Qute and, priced right at $1895, is the middle child of Chord’s DAC lineup. Chord Electronics Qutest. Feickert Volare Turntable Review Apr 8, 2024 · Listening test. Feb 8, 2022 · 02-14-2022 at 10:19pm. Mar 6, 2023 · - Had: Audiolab 8000DAC Audio Alchemy DITB Musical Fidelity X-Dac Audio Alchemy DDE v3. Also it's tuned a bit warm with a lake of treble detail. The T2 was better. Amazing job :once again 🙂 The VENUS II 12TH -1 is a true balanced, dual mono R-2R Ladder Network Arrays DAC. Jan 1, 2019 · Jul 12, 2021. Qutest is minuscule to barely hit 1. increased fidelity, it can connect to the Iris DDC with the higher resolution I2S. Mar 15, 2022 · But when taking one step up in the Denafrips portfolio with the Pontus II, matters already become less clear-cut. I also read it needs at least 300 hours before it fully breaks in and sounds amazing. 5kg. Jul 23, 2021 · DAC better than Denafrips Pontus II. Although I didn’t do a side-by-side comparison, I remember to have a inconsistent enjoyment from the Chord: great with some recordings and so so much with others, making the sound too sharp to my liking. We compared it briefly to the Allo USBridge Signature streamer. Aug 19, 2020 · I had the Qutest a few years ago and changed it for the Denafrips Pontus II, a more natural sound dac. 2 volts RMS) or balanced XLR (4. Chord Electronics of England is a high-end audio manufacture known for its somewhat quirky product design and high performance. Chord Qutest. I had heard him interviewed on a couple of occasions, but in this case, he was giving a presentation at CanJam NYC 2024. If that’s the case, I’ll probably skip it. Heading north from there (and in ascending price order) we have the AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt, the Chord Mojo, and the Denafrips ARES II. The Denafrips Ares 2 occupies a competitive place in the market against these other DACs because the margins of performance is normally close together with relative budget priced gear. I just bought a pontus ii and don’t have 200 hours on it yet. I was previously running my Roon Nucleus Plus into my Chord Qutest DAC via USB. They are all solid examples of units that deliver great sound at their price point. ) Bottom line, it will NOT better the sound quality of your really nice Chord setup. to/3GrqEhd⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⅞Pros: Stereo Image, Dynamic Balance, High End Oct 24, 2020 · Looking for something a bit more high-end, though still at/below $2. 07-29-2022 at 08:42pm. If you want an organic, analog sounding dac with a huge sound stage then the Denafrips cannot be challenged by the Chord. I believe Chord is going to give you a more analytical sound which goes against the stated aim of tube-like presentation. 2. In other words, they offer great value. I think the T2 will sound better than EverSolo DMP-A6 + Qutest. Apart from a price similar to Pontus, the two couldn't be more different. I think I have said as much as I can on the Ares 2, featured in my previous video here in a comparison to the Chord Qutest, and RME ADI-2 DAC FS. Only two buttons control the many features. Will be interesting to see how you feel after a while. Jan 1, 2019. Apr 27, 2018 · The Qutest has a beautifully simple aesthetic design. The ones I would not want in my system are the Rega DAC, Simaudio Moon 280D and the Chord Hugo TT / MScaler. This ranking is just my subjective thinking. It also arguably offers Chord’s best value, as it includes almost all of the digital “special sauce” found in the maker’s Hugo and Dave models, but in a much smaller, more pocketbook-friendly package. IMHO, all these are revealing, but that's a good thing. Jan 2, 2020 · Schiit Bifrost 2. 3 KTE] Schiit Audio [Yggdrasil] Mytek [Brooklyn] And I borrowed Super DACs : MSB Technology [Select DAC II Full Option] Chord [Dave] Myek [Manhattan II] I had A-B test about 2 months. The high frequency transient response of Elac is fine. Mar 19, 2021 · The Naim DAC V1 also works brilliantly with the CXN V2, as does the Denafrips Ares, the older Chord 2Qute and the newer Qutest, and the still-terrific Marantz HD DAC1 (which, even with the Denafrips Ares on the market, is still punching above its weight IMO). Aug 21, 2021 · I listen to a lot of female vocal like Sarah Jarosz, Norah Jones, classic Jazz, modern bluegrass. Jan 9, 2018 · The Qutest has a somewhat synthetic sound to me while the Pontus sounds unfailingly organic and natural both in its pace as well as its tone quality. May 7, 2021 · Is Chord Qutest still a good buy and good bang for the buck in 2021? You can find my written reviews with scores at https://iiwireviews. It also shares the same sound filters as the Hugo2, selected by the front button which Oct 8, 2021 · I would also recommend the Pontus II over the Ares II. #402. Jun 9, 2023 · But my main streamer (the eversolo DMP-A6) acts JUST like the denafrips ARCE. co. Jul 13, 2021 · Denafrips Ares II; Simaudio Moon 280D (at a dealer) Chord Qutest; Denafrips Pontus II; Chord Hugo TT / MScaler (at a dealer) They all sound different. We used Roon, Audirvana, JRiver and Asset UPNP server software. Priced at just over $1,800 the Pontus II is fair chunk of money but you do get more than a fair chunk of DAC for that. Other DACs I had and am familiar with for the intents and purposes of the conversation here are Chord Qutest, Bryston BDA-3 Thanks! Jul 26, 2018 · The Chord Electronics Qutest is the entry level home DAC in the company’s line up. And I make Best DAC Quality Ranking list. Currently my only option is the Denafrips Pontus II DAC. The Pontus 2 sounds like a great sounding DAC. Encapsulated in a metal casing, located at the center of the DAC, these OCXO are specially designed for high-end audio applications with ultra-low phase-noise and ultra-accuracy. 0 Musical Fidelity M1 DAC Teac UD-501 Morch Minuet Chord Qutest - Currently have: Denafrips Pontus II Parasound D/AC1100HD Opera Consonance DAC16 Sonic Frontiers SFD-2 MKII… one of the main stars of the system - Would like to try: Audial DAC S5 LAB12 Dac1 Reference Dec 26, 2021 · Some remarks: 1. 3. The retail price of the Qutest is USD $1895. Thanks guys! . The Ares II comes in at around $750, a highly competitive segment where adopters of the ESS Sabre Pro chips abound. - Qutest + MScaler combo vs Dave (Can you get DAVE performance for half the price?) - MScaler performance as DDC only (no upsampling) - Difference MScaler makes on a chord vs non-chord dac - HQPlayer vs MScaler - Holo May vs Dave (If you have any other questions you want answered, ask and i'll do my best to answer) Mar 9, 2021 · The ARC input is a really nice feature if you are integrating it with a TV, otherwise no, it’s not worth upgrading or using an external dac. The Qutest is quite a bit heavier than its predecessor, the 2Qute. I have about 11 DSD64 and 18 DSD128 files. The Mojo didn’t sound any different than the standard iPhone DAC (with Sony IER M9 monitors), and the Qutest sounded harsh and clinical, and no better than the Node 2i analog outs (less enjoyable even, IMO). Ever since March 2015 when I met Chord Electronics owner and founder, John Franks, along with Rob Watts, the engineer who designs the DACs for Chord, I confess to being a fan of the brand. They all sound pretty much the same. direct connection between Qutest and PC with a USB cable 2. It has a measured dynamic range of 124 dB (A weighted) and a channel separation of impressive 138 dB (at 1 kHz, 300 Ohms). I’m not sure if I should expect the Qutest to have the same sound signature as the Mojo. Denafrips Ares II. control benefits are still there, but can be appreciated to a greater extent via the. #1. Jul 4, 2019 · Qutest DAC. They also say that denafrips pontus has more detail than ares2,what's your opinion Snoopy? Apr 11, 2021 · Chord Qutest. I still have the Mojo for use with my headphones when I travel, but sold the Qutest. The Hugo TT2 takes proceedings up a considerable notch to 98,304 taps. - there was this other gentleman who created a specific thread recently for a DAC simply to build up it's hype by comparing it's likeness to a certain 16,000$ CD Player and stated, nay proclaimed unequivocally that he'd gone through the Chord Qutest, Denafrips Pontus etc etc and found his DAC to reign supreme and that it was "THE SOUND" he Jan 19, 2021 · The Denafrips Ares soundstage puts sounds at realistic status with distinct positioning and sound. Description. The lack of features reflects its lower price (the Hugo 2 is £1800 / $2495 / AU$3800) – although the word ‘lack’ can only be Jun 12, 2019 · In the case of the Qutest and Hugo 2 which share the same FPGA, there are 49,152 taps. In a direct comparison, the Pontus II feels similarly detailed and expressive as the Aqua and it is tonally actually quite close, even in terms of bass solidity and overall fullness, if a little darker in the treble. Oct 3, 2021 · Interestingly, the Denafrips compare very favourably to the Chords (Qutest up to Dave) as few prefer the traits of the Denafrips over the Chord. I previously tested a the older generation, Chrodette and 2Qute DACs so naturally members were curious how the current product line performs. Apr 1, 2021 · 3. There were two shortcomings that stood out for me about the Qutest. This is one area I have not spent a great deal of time on (the digital side) but I have not found anything negative against the Pontus II or the Ares II. Dec 4, 2021 · Qutest is priced more closely to Denafrips Pontus II (which I own); the Ares II is much lower priced. R-2R ladder DACs aren’t usually the best option for electronica tunes…but R26 seems a different beast. Apr 24, 2018 · Their most recent digital-to-analog converter (DAC), the Chord Qutest is a giant killer. For digital front end components just shop by feature. Pontus offers many more inputs/outputs than the Qutest's BNC and USB with a single set of circuit-mount RCA outputs. HoloAudio Spring 2 (KTE) Curious to see what ‘you’ would pick and why, also if your dac is not on the list, let me know which dac you are considering. The Pontus II sounds best to me in my system. However with all the hype around Denafrips Pontus II, I was wondering if anyone compared these 2 DACs and have some thoughts to share. So I'm told. As I try to finish out my system, looking at user recommendations for DACs better than the Pontus II. - there was this other gentleman who created a specific thread recently for a DAC simply to build up it's hype by comparing it's likeness to a certain 16,000$ CD Player and stated, nay proclaimed unequivocally that he'd gone through the Chord Qutest, Denafrips Pontus etc etc and found his DAC to reign supreme and that it was "THE SOUND" he #Denafrips #AresII #DACsSUBSCRIBE TO PATREON to support Honest & Credible and well produced HiFi reviews and for ;-Ad Free Videos-Added Video Review content Dec 9, 2020 · The Pontus is a 24-bit R2R (sometimes called a ladder DAC) that supports all sampling rates from 44. VIDEO: My Top 3 Integrated Amps of all time VIDEO: Analog system under $1k (Table, Pre, Speakers, Amp) The Fleetwood Deville Speaker Review. Feb 5, 2021 · I've had a Chord Qutest in my system for the past 2 months with the intention of comparing it to the Denafrips Pontus II. My perception is that resolution from the Pontus is better than that from the Qutest. Please keep us informed and thanks for sharing. The sound became taller somehow, the stage deepened and widened by a little for a more three-dimensional experience. Textures and transients are given shape and being. The Chord has oddball ergonomics while the Areas 2 barely has a user interface at all. DoP: The signal arrives at the D/A part of the DAC in exactly the same form. Buy on Amazon. I am using a iFi Elite power supply with it which made a nice improvement. Now, Roon Nucleus into IRIS DDC and then into my Qutest. The device is based on the critically acclaimed Hugo 2, but since there is nothing superfluous in it (say, a headphone amplifier), there is only a digital-to-analogue signal conversion system, the price of the device turned out to be record low for the company. I was pretty much sure with the Chord Qutest, but later identified that its strength is the transients but it will not help me in the 2K~7K range. The measurable differences between dacs are so far below audible levels, it would be like trying to listen to Aug 4, 2022 · P. I received my Pontus last Monday so have had about a week of listening to the Pontus. I personally find the R2R to be more analog sounding. Jun 22, 2023 · I had the Qutest but did not AB it with the T2. How does the soekris 2541 compare with the chord qutest in terms of sound quality “rca”. It is on kind short-term loan from Gig Harbor Audio. It supports 24bit/1536kHz PCM data stream, and native decoding of DSD up to DSD1024. 1- Home Office: Roon - Musician Pegasus - Mjolnir 3 - Hifiman HE6SE V2 or Hifiman HE1000SE or Sennheiser HD650 or HD600. At the time of my review, Denafrips was in the middle of a soft launch of the Terminator II. 5K, and the three options that seem to pop up a lot at that price range are the Schiit Yggdrasil (specifically the Analog 2 version with Unison USB), the Chord Qutest, and the Denafrips Pontus. Words like flow and musical keep coming up. Power: Topaz 31 series Ultra Isolation Transformer 2. It supports sample rates of 32 bit / 768 kHz and native DSD up to 512. i think you have some confusion on the items you are referring to: chord's qutest, denafrips (terminator, ares, venus or pontus), ps audio directstream are all dacs. The choice of such design yield very small linearity error, high decoding speed, low digital noise, not only to ensure That's the Chord Qutest. Jan 17, 2021 · Denafrips have a reputation in the Audiophile community of producing really good value for money products. There is no such thing as one is better than the other. Jan 24, 2021 · Chord Qutest is the latest DAC from the renowned high-end audio manufacturer. The Qutest offers wide-ranging sample support: A USB type-B handles PCM up to 32-bit 768kHz, or DSD 512; there’s a 24-bit 192kHz optical digital audio Jan 16, 2022 · So, I own a Chord Qutest DAC and was wondering which digital cable (and options) would provide best sound quality. Aug 24, 2020 · P. But do note that the T2 does not have any digital input. In Stock Ready to ship within 2-3 business days. roon nucleus would provide the digital signal, from either its hard drive or streamed over ethernet. Removing those features was similar to the original Hugo. The only experience I have with Chord DACs is the Mojo. I'm considering getting a streamer that natively supports I2S, like Magna's Manus mkIII or the new Mercury V2, eliminating the USB to I2S conversion. I have had a Mojo for 4 years in my hi-fi system. RCA-BNC cable from Denafrips Hermes DDC (PC-> DDC with USB). 01% R-2R network. DENAFRIPS redesigned and optimized circuitry, allow the DAC to be used as high-end DAC with computers / streamers. Apr 14, 2020 · I have also tried a couple Chord DACs including this one and the portable Mojo, and I didn’t like either of them. uk/product/qutestMy Chord Hugo 2 Review: https://yo Oct 19, 2021 · I have to say, I am very impressed at the improvement it brought. If the Modi Multibit was a video game's graphical performance, I'd say the it is Crysis at 75fps on max settings in its hey-day on a 1080p monitor. The Qutest seems to emphasize the main parts of the music while other details tend to fade into the background. No deterioration of quality through this. Matrix Audio X-Sabre Pro (MQA) HoloAudio Spring 2 level 2. As a diehard vinyl listener, I’ve actively avoided digital audio for the past 32 years until COVID struck this past year. DoP simply carries the DSD data encapsulated in PCM frames. Mar 15, 2022 · Hi Christiaan, great review of the Denafrips lot. It’s silver, and has a nice digital display along with an input button and power button. Strong competition in 2021. How […] Jun 17, 2021 · I think a lot of the Chord sound has to do with the FPGA. Jun 22, 2021 · There are some pretty great DACs starting at $100, like the Helm BOLT. @pscar. In its recently upgraded form, Pontus demands shy of $1'750, a segment where expectations are already high (two grand is no small investment) and champions like the Chord Qutest set an impressive benchmark. May 30, 2019 · The Qutest replaces the now obsolete Chord 2Qute DAC. Also the new Mojo 2. 1 to 192 KHz on all inputs and will support up to 1536 KHz on both USB and i2S. 1. Jun 14, 2021 · I've had a Chord Qutest in my system for the past 2 months with the intention of comparing it to the Denafrips Pontus II. But I am a little skeptic that it may be too warm and laid back for the Elacs. TT2 drawn by me in Inkscape. and when I ask the sellers why they are selling they usually say they are moving up the Denafrips line to the Pontus. Sep 14, 2020 · Chord Qutest, RMI ADI-2, Mytek Liberty or Brooklyn - should all be on your shortlist as well as Denafrips and Schiit. I can only comment on the 1541 rca out, but I’d say that single ended, the qutest has a slight edge over the soekris overall, but balanced soekris vs se qutest they more even out. The Qutest uses the same DAC as in the Hugo2 but unlike the Hugo2 doesn’t have any internal battery supply so it’s running direct from the wallwart and it’s always on with no on/off capability. Mytek Brooklyn Bridge does sound better than the EverSolo, if my memory does not fail me. Each channel is equipped with independent high-speed FPGA to facilitate the digital signal decoding by means of 4 sets of 0. The Qutest sound seems to focus on the primary components of the music while the Pontus conveys more of what's in the music in a balanced way. We connected Arce to the test system using it as a streamer for Denafrips Pontus II DAC, Meitner MA3 DAC/streamer and Chord Qutest DAC, all via S/PDIF connection (RCA or AES/EBU). The DAVE will have quality caps and resistors I'd imagine. I recently purchased a Denafrips Pontus II, but I wouldn’t say it has a tube-like sound. For many others, very possibly. The choice of such design yield very small linearity error, high decoding speed, low digital noise, not only to ensure Jan 12, 2021 · I see these come up for sale on occas. Feb 10, 2023 · Because it sounds slightly different depending on which input you use, I opted for sending the USB output from my streamer to a Denafrips Gaia DDC to be able to drive the Pontus via its I2S. The only limitation of DoP is that it maxes out at DSD256, while DSD Direct goes to DSD512 on the Qutest. I was using a Chord Qutest and read all the amazing reviews about the pontus ii, so I thought I’d give it a try. Apr 27, 2024 · Denafrips Terminator II DAC Review. I think this phenomenon affects other DACs too but can sometimes make dull sounding DACs more exciting. May 28, 2018 · Denafrips [Terminator] Holo Audio [Spring Lv. com/Consider supporti Denafrips Ares II vs Chord Qutest (with Allo Shanti LPS) difference is much more noticeable in real life. s. Jul 30, 2022 · stevebohnii. At least in my system, Mojo was a bit warmer but the Qutest was more resolving with a bigger soundstage. Dec 25, 2021 · #1. The design and the style of the iDSD is quite nice for a $699 product, in a snazzy modern kind of way. I’m now at no more Qutest, the last one having been replaced by a Denafrips Pontus 2. Qutest has a tap-length of 49,152 taps and uses a ten element pulse array design, just like Hugo2. Watch out for issues with the availability of Schiit DACs though - dpeends where you are in the world - here in the UK they are hard to source right now - if you are in the US you shoiuld have more luck but I'm not sure whether they started their production line again since the Aug 2, 2021 · Denafrips Terminator II Review and Comparison. What left me most impressed was their collective grasp of what is required for accurate digital to analogue conversion. 09-24-2020 at 08:54pm. Thanks to the users who pointed that out in the comments. This is a review and detailed measurements of CHORD Qutest DAC. Jan 19, 2021 · Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories DACs. Features. ug oc cj jj wc bi wr ax ta nk