DAC Comparison: Chord Qutest vs RME ADI-2 DAC FS
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
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#audiophile #audioreview #DAC
![ARES II vs D90 vs Bifrost 2 vs ADI-2 vs Gungnir vs Qutest [Mega DAC Roundup & Comparison]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/sCP63G8MYOI/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for the insightful and informative comparison! I own both DACs -- the Chord's in the living room driving Focal 3-way active spkrs through a Hegel pre-amp, and the RME's in the office/studio driving ATC monitors and Sennheiser HD660S or HiFiMan Sundara cans or Westone IEMs.
After quite a while with both, I'd amplify your comments concerns the Qutest's lack of a UI (I have it on a shelf, so I need to pick it up to see the sample rate) and lack of balanced outputs; single-ended [RCA-terminated] cables are very effective antennae in any system that mixes analog low-level audio with video, internet and other signals. I rarely use the RME's fancy features, but on some recordings, a bit of EQ or cross-feed makes all the difference, and the low-noise IEM output is an asset.
Your sound-related comments are also spot-on; the difference between "chip" DACs (generally sigma-delta) like the newer RME's ESS Sabre DAC versus a long reconstruction filter with high-order overlap like the Chord's will never be subtle over suitable (hi-quality) down-stream components. (I've read too many reviews where they use $100 headphones to listen to $2000 DACs.) It's in the transients and the timing for sure.
Other comments: (1) always upgrade the power supply you use with the Qutest to a linear one; (2) make a pair of RCA-to-XLR cables (with floating ground) and run your Quest using the optical input and an ungrounded power supply; and (3) upgrade your headphone cables (most all mid-range cans come with crappy cables).
Again, thanks for your contribution to the community, mate!
Thanks for sharing your experiences with both DACs! It's very helpful and always nice to get some confirmation as a reviewer too. 🙂🙂
I'll happily keep my RME ADI-2 DAC FS then. It's amazing.
Yep, great piece of kit
@@PassionforSound Yes, because it's way more than a simple DAC. Almost perfect quality and features, at a fair price. Love it to death.
@@jpallatin What functionality you're using beyond DAC?
@@henson2k In addition to a preamp/headphones amp, one could use the remote to adjust bass/treble/loudness...not that I use it but you could also save your EQ to different profiles
Really good job. I actually compared the RME ADI-2 with the Hugo 2 (which I understand uses the same DAC as the Qutest) and I see the difference exactly as you described it. Very well done, you've helped me out a lot with this. You are now forgiven for the mistake of recommending the Ares II. :) Really, really happy with your super-professional reviews, keep it up!
Thanks Rhino. Most products have a purpose so I try to find a clear use case and discuss the product through that lens when possible (i.e. Ares II for soundstage lovers with brighter setups)
Thanks for sharing your experiences with the RME and Hugo 2! It's always helpful to hear when others are perceiving the same as me so I know I'm still on track 🙂
Very well explained man. Now I'll also watch your ADI-2 review.
Thanks, TechReflex!
And so continues the centuries long battle between English refinement and German efficiency 😂
Cheers for the interesting comparison, Lachlan!
Also, that was some slick B-roll towards the start of the video. Very Joshua Valour-esque 😉
Haha. Nice one! Glad you enjoyed it
Adding my experience to the mix in case it helps someone else make a decision. I just finished putting the Chord Qutest up against the RME ADI-2 FS with ESS chip. (Note: there was a DAC chip change from AKM to ESS a while back due to supply issues / fire at AKM manufacturing facility) My usage is solely in a two channel system consisting of Focal Chora 826 speakers, a pair of SVS SB-2000 Pro subwoofers, Focals are powered by a Lexicon RV-6 receiver. Source is a Raspberry Pi with Allo Digione transport, connected to DAC via BNC or coaxial digital cable and running Roon software.
I started by comparing the Qutest to the built-in DAC in my Lexicon receiver (Cirrus CS42528). I ran the Qutest into a separate input on my receiver so I could quickly switch back and forth from the listening position. With the Qutest set to the default filter (Incisive Neutral) the first thing I noticed was a smoother presentation of the upper mids. Example would be listening to Adele's "Hello". When she starts to push, her voice can take on a kind of reedy sound that came across as being a little harsh with the built-in DAC but was much smoother and realistic with the Qutest. The highs of the Qutest were simply amazing. Best way I think I can explain this is that they sounded more detailed but lush. Not harsh in any way but silky smooth without being attenuated.
Overall soundstage width sounded like it was about 4-6 feet wider on each side with the Qutest. Center image seemed just a little less prominent but there was a depth to it that seemed like it better separated the center vocals from the other instruments in the background. Almost like you could hear around and behind the center image.
After watching this video, and quite a few others that rated the RME DAC up there with the Qutest, I decided to order an RME to put up against the Qutest. I split the digital signal from my transport into each DAC and then ran both analog outs to my receiver using identical interconnects (Audioquest Golden Gate). It didn't take me more than about five minutes to realize that the RME wasn't going to cut it. The upper-mids and highs seemed to sound almost grainy. The center image sounded like it had less depth and the overall soundstage sounded equally wide but seemed to have a reduced height. Overall, it just sounded like a more 2D presentation with a little grain on the top end. I tried the various filters and equalization but couldn't get the RME to sound as good as the Qutest with any combination of settings.
I think having the built-in headphone amp would make this a great candidate for my work / gaming / music creation desk with Yamaha HS8 monitors but I'm not at a point where I'd spend $1300 on a DAC for my desk. I did not try the headphone amplifier so I cannot comment on that part of the unit.
I know this isn't too important but I do want to say that I'm not a big fan of the aesthetics of the Chord. Sure, it's a solid block of aluminum but it really doesn't give me feeling that I got my money's worth... until I listen to it. I realize that's not a big deal, but it does leave me a little disappointed because I think it just looks like a $300 black box. If it's going to sit on a shelf in a hi-fi rig, at least the front of it could be dressed up a little bit. Move the Chord badge to the front panel instead of the top? The RME looked and felt like it was worth a little more than the Chord but at the end of the day, it's the sound that matters so the Chord is staying in my main rig.
Thanks so much for sharing your detailed experiences on these two. It's very helpful for others!
I think the Qutest looks amazing and completely worth the price.
The window that allows you to see inside with the lights is super special.
I kind of like that too, but I understand some people not liking the design
I think the window is cool and that it looks nice when viewed from above, but when you look at the front of it, it’s just a black box with two illuminated spherical buttons and the filter/input labels. I have it on a shelf in my rack so you can’t really see the top of it. I’ve been thinking of making a little stand for it similar to the one Chord sells, but angling the unit a little so you can see more of the top. I know it’s nit picky, maybe it’s just me…
I can relate to that. I miss seeing the window too when it's out of sight 🙂
Keep it up, you're getting the attention you deserve.
Thank you!
Perfect comparison. For people looking for a not so crazy high price for dac but also not the chi-fi like D90 this is a perfect comparison. RME is a bit more tinkering but what a classy device. Chord is a nice beast too at that small size but a bit decor unfriendly :)
Glad you liked the comparison, MS!
Chi-fi? What does that mean? Topping D90Se is a better dac than ADI-2, though. Even my old D70s is better than ADI-2 in resolution, soundstage and dynamics. I think ADI-2 is overrated, and RME has gotten away with overpricing it for years now thanks to Audio Science Review and other places that flat out worship it.
I do agree that the ADI-2 isn't the be-all and end-all. At the price there are multiple preferable options IMO, but the ADI-2 feature set is pretty unique so that does create a point of difference and some value
To my ears, the bass is where the RME shines the most. It`s, perhaps, the only dac, to my knowledge, that handles bass "correctly". There is a interesting video on this exact thing on RME`s channel, where the adi is the only reference level converter in the shootout who can control the low end properly.
Thanks for sharing. I'll take a look at that video, but I'm also aware that every manufacturer makes statements like that because they all (understandably) believe they are right.
I've been trying to find the video, but I can't. Do you know what it's called?
@@PassionforSound Thank`s for answering. Opinions will vary :) Here is the link: ua-cam.com/video/doHG32aXBDY/v-deo.html
Thanks for the link. There's no doubt the ADI-2 is brilliant, but I think he's talking about the bass from the ADI-2 combated to the other 2 DACs in the studio. There are so many great options out there that I'd say the ADI-2 is one of many that do a very good job. The Topping D90, Chord Qutest and even Denafrips Ares II can all compete with (or even beat) the ADI-2 in some areas while the ADI-2 beats each of those in other areas. Such are the joys of this hobby!
@@PassionforSound I should have said "that I have heard". He is, of course, talking about the mastering DACs in the comparison - but I find the same to be true when I compare it to a handful of other DACs that I own. The RME is my most expensive, and I haven`t had the chance to actually compare it to other super high end DACs (other than the shootout I referenced).
I bought both a Schiit and an ADI-2 DAC and wound up returning both. I found them too "digital" sounding and they were tiring to listen to for long periods. I obtained a Qutest on loan from my local dealer. Wow. The Qutest was the first affordable DEC I heard that just plain sounded "musical." I ended up buying a Qutest.
That pretty much sums up my experiences too, VC. Which Schiit DAC was it?
@@PassionforSoundSchiit is just schiit. You can try a different one but in the end it is just... schiit. I'm sorry I could not resist 😂
The Qutest really benefits from a good power supply like a power supply or an ifi PowerX. It is also responsive to different usb cables. I settled on a Ghent usb cable for $40. It beat out an AQ Carbon, WW Starlight 7 Red and a couple of others. You get more detail and smoothness at the same time. Background is much blacker with a better power supply.
I wasn't into power supplies when I tried the Qutest, but have heard many people say the same thing. Thanks for sharing your experiences
Very good comparison! Your detailed elaboration on the sound stage differences are very handy. I find it frustrating when some reviewers don't elaborate on what they say, leaving the listener guessing at what they truly meant.
Hi Kacper, glad it was helpful! 🙂
I second this, excellent overall!
Thank you for such an excellent review. The best so far comparing both DACs.
A very interesting nice review but this one is better testing more equipment setups:
ua-cam.com/video/0_G7ENaPg3o/v-deo.html
Love the video comparison. Thank you 🙏🏼
My pleasure. Glad you liked it 🙂
As a satisfied owner of the ADI 2, I thought this was an interesting revue, the only way it could be fairer would be if you had changed anything in the ADI's settings that made you like the effect the most. An obvious setting change from S D sharp to long, for example.
My decision to buy the RME was not based purely on sound if it had been I probably would have bought the Schit Bifrost 2 , I chose it because in combination with my valve amp I have the freedom to sett my sound to such a grate extent that if I don't like the sound, it would be my fault for not making the right choices.
There's no doubt that the range of settings available on the ADI-2 makes it very versatile! I may not have mentioned it in the review, but I did try the various filters and they didn't shift things significantly enough to warrant a mention in the video.
Depending on when you purchased, you might also have a different DAC chip version. At the time of this review, they were using an ESS chip, but moved to AKM at some point too.
Once again, you've made another extremely useful, and extremely grounded review. We're all familiar with (and probably guilty of, on occasion) hyperbolic audio commentary, so thank you so much!
Thanks Jeff! Glad you found it helpful
I'm using Hifiman Ananda. I got the RME since I get a very good headphone amp. I'm addicted to the 'Loud'ness mode. The Ananda's bass response became just tooo goood with Loud turned-on. whomever I demoed this combo had a wide grin on their face...
Glad you've found such an enjoyable setup. Thanks for sharing!
Informed and a very well presented review. You would have to be one of the best hifi reviewers on UA-cam!
Wow. Thanks cwill!
Its funny that you used TVs as a example and I agree with your point which is probably why I always preferred the natural picture of a Sony over a Panasonic or Samsung. Although I never heard the ADI the one thing that always strikes me when hearing any of the Chords is how incredibly natural and analog they sound and with 10,000 records and considering how dedicated I am to analog I generally find the sound of the Chords pretty amazing.and I love the fact that it is made in England and not China.
Hi Scott, I couldn't agree more! My reference for good sound is always the experience of sitting in an intimate venue listening to live music and so far the Chord products come closest to that mark for me.
@@PassionforSound I as well love and use the live small venue clubs as my reference. I was lucky enough to be at CES back in 1982 when Sony debuted the first cd player and it was so God awful that its amazing to me that they have been able to get digital audio to sound as good today as they have. The one area that always was a real let down was in the area of depth but boy the Chords really seem to let you forget you are listening to digital, Rob Watts is a truly gifted designer. Thanks for your great review as always.
Solid review. Haven't heard the RME, but you describe the exact qualities I like about the Qutest. So much (inner) detail but somehow airy, natural, and non-fatiguing with it. Especially in the top end where all other DACs I've heard apart from some NOS ones have that etched glare you mention. Even the smallest amount of it matters now and sounds wrong in comparison. Again though haven't heard the RME so it could be closer than I'd imagine.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Rob. It's always nice as a reviewer to get some confirmation that I'm not the only one hearing it that way 🙂
@@PassionforSound Right-on. Seems sibilance, digital glare and listening fatigue is just somehow accepted. There should be zero as the recording does not sound like that. After many years of digital audio maybe it is close to being GONE.
In some devices, it definitely is, but we still need to choose carefully, I think.
Excellent comparison. Thank you.
Thank you. You're welcome!
I am watching this review a 2nd time. What an excellent review. I just compared a mytek brooklyn plus mqa vs a Chord hugo tt in my system. Each time the dac connects directly to my active speakers. Your adi descriptors in this video befits the mytek. And your qutest descriptors in this video befits the TT - they are all Chord products anyway. The mytek sounds like a pro dac, and is not as refined. The adi may be the same.
Thanks Isaac. What I'm finding is that most chip-based DACs have that sound and so far the only explanation i can find is that Chord have got the right approach to correctly reconstructing the sound. If we think about it, a DAC should accurately reconstruct the sound that was happening in the studio/venue at the time of the recording. Which of the DACs you just tried sounded the most like the real thing (and not a recording)?
I say that because to me the idea of "pro" DACs is a bit of a misnomer if they don't correctly reconstruct the signal to it's sound as it left the instruments/vocalists. By the way, I'm not knocking your use of the term "pro DAC" so much as making a comment about the industry perceptions of those types of DACs.
No offence taken at all. When I was listening to the mytek I really liked it. It sounds so analog - the background is dark, the instrument timbre is so accurate, transients are fast, music is dynamic. It is as if I am listening to a record. But the TT is different. I hear so much more and in a nice way. The subtleties. The atmosphere. The mytek sounds like a really good recording. The TT sounds like you are there. It reminds me then of what you said about Rob Watts’ intent to bring us not to the studio, but to the recording venue. I thought it is a stretch when I hear you say it, more referring to Rob’s goal. But then I experienced it. I have owned the TT for more than 3 years. And slowly I begin to realize I should keep it 😄. I appreciate it more by the day. And I also like that it is battery powered - no expensive lps needed. I can also hear the differences between 9038 and AK chips. They have some sound characteristics. I am open to them - but they are not at Chord’s level - for now.
Awesome review, thanks!
Lots of bull concerning those BNC connectors. They were originally designed for analog video where an impedance of 75 ohms was very important, and the connector had a bayonet mount to ensure proper safety lock since often those cable had long runs on floors. Digital signal should not affected by impedance unless there’s a huge interference problem that would provoke loss of data, hence more error correction at the DAC stage. The main advantage of a BNC cable is its shielding but high end RCA coaxial cables are as good and smaller than bulky BNC cable.
Hi Jacques, my understanding is that impedance mismatches (i.e. RCA vs BNC connections) will cause issues regardless of the format due to the reflections created by changes in impedance.
@@PassionforSound my point is not that bad cables or connectors will cause issues, but that a good coax RCA cable will do fine and no one will be able to hear the difference using either RCA or BNC. Another point to take in consideration is the digital source; if the output connector is RCA then you’ll definitely have no advantage using a BNC on one end and an RCA at the other end.
Hi Jacques, that's certainly true about the output and input sockets being RCA. The differences in cables though I can't agree with after my recent testing. I have a very nice (but modest) VanDamme BNC cable which is 75 ohm end-to-end and should perform just as well as the Wave cables, but the blind testing proves that it doesn't. I can't explain exactly why that's the case, but the proof is definitely in the pudding.
I recently started using an iFi Elite power supply (15v) with my RME and found that it improved its already excellent sound quality. I found that the RME with the SDLD Foster beat out the Qutest in sound quality by a nose. Moving to the Slow filter with some recommended make-up EQ (per RME) gives it a really peerless impulse response and remains flat to 20k. I totally disagree that the RME filters don’t make much difference; I found they made quite a difference and the SD Sharp is not a great filter compared to SDLD. It is dry and edgy compared to SDLD.
But moving to Slow +EQ, the biggest winners are transparency, soundstage size, and depth.
Still, even with the SDLD filter and factory PS, the ADI-2 narrowly beat the Qutest in that sense of 3D.
Lastly, ensuring that the RME’s output voltage equals that of the Qutest Is also very important. The Qutest is shipped with a 3v rms output voltage. The RME manual doesn’t call out the equivalent settings to achieve that voltage (AutoREF on, +13 dB Ref level, -1dB volume). Gain staging has an enormous effect on SQ.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, DBruh!
@@PassionforSound I love your honest reviews. You only have so much time. Keep up the great work. Just wanted to add some data points. 👍
Thanks DBruh. I'll always welcome additional perspectives. Can I ask if you're using speakers or headphones mostly? I've found since reviewing the ADI-2 that many speaker listeners seem to prefer it to the Qutest while a number of headphone listeners lean towards the Qutest.
@@PassionforSound Speakers for the vast majority of my listening. Call it 98% speakers. My wife is beginning to listen with me more often as she reads so the headphones see less and less use.
I’ll note that my comparison between the two was done exclusively with speakers. Line Magnetic LM805IA and Naim SuperNait 3 into a pair of Chane Music and Cinema L3c’s and A5.5 towers. Good quality, mid-fi stuff.
Nice that you're able to share it with your wife. 🙂 It's interesting that many speaker listeners prefer the ADI-2. It's actually part of the reason I created my new intro so people know that I'm 100% headphone based for all my reviews as it definitely changes the experience!
Sounds like you've got a great setup there - happy listening!
What an outstanding DAC review. I was really impressed by your ability to anticipate the questions of a perspective buyer. I immediately subscribed to you channel and look forward to viewing more of your videos.
Thanks so much, Chris! I'm glad it was helpful and hope you enjoy the future content I have planned
Appreciate your very detailed and informative review. I have Hugo 2 which I understand is similar in sound to Qutest. Resting easy after your conclusion!
Hi Graham. Glad it was helpful and yes, rest easy, you have one of the (if not THE) best DAC in the price range!
The advantage of RME is that you can fine tune the sound to your personal taste, regardless of which headphones you use.
That's definitely is strength for those who like to use EQ, crossfeed, etc. - very powerful
I think if sound is good, you don't have to fiddle with EQ etc. It just means the sound is unsatisfactory. And that what I felt with RME, despite having big hopes for it.
It's not that it's bad, it's just digital and tiring, though very detailed in a good way (it's not just amplified highs).
Also the remote didn't work at all, and the power supply looks cheap
That's how I tend to think of it too. Some people like to tweak the frequency response of their headphones or speakers though so it can be good for that.
My understanding is coax S/PDIF is 75 ohms, coax or RCA connect. The effect of the connectors themselves may be noticeable at microwave bandwidths but not at the S/PDIF signal bandwidths. BNCs lock while RCAs (usually) don't, and BNCs (at least at one time) came silver plated while RCAs were less reliably of precious metal quality. Nevertheless, minor differences. Just my two cents.
RCA connectors are almost never 75 ohm connectors so the total impedance of the connection will change significantly with 50 ohms plugs on each end. As to how important that is from a sonic perspective, I've never tested.
RCA connectors aren't necessarily 50 ohm, either. Regardless, the fact is, the role of the short RCA (or BNC) connection within an otherwise continuous 75 ohm transmission line (like RG-59 cable) is essentially negligible at the bandwidths and switching speeds of coax S/PDIF. Consider 192,000 sample rate x 24 bit per sample x 2 channels = approx 10 Mhz. In free space, 10 MHz has a wavelength of 30 meters. In RG-59, it's 2/3 that length, or around 20 meters. The electrical length of any of these connectors (20 mm or 1/1000 a wavelength) is minuscule. BNC connectors are great for their bayonet characteristic and solidity and their RF characteristics shine at higher frequencies, but for coax S/PDIF RCA connectors work just fine. Witness how widespread their adoption. The mistake that's often encountered is the use of audio cable instead of true 75 ohm transmission line.
Both BNC and RCA are coaxial cable connectors. BNC is the best quality of signal transfer. RCA cables that are not 75ohm. Are not for digital signals.
Correct! It's a shame so few DACs offer BNC connectors
I have the utmost respect for companies like Chord and Schiit for making their own DAC designs rather than using off the shelf chips. Granted Chord and Schiit go about it a very different way but respect none the less!
Agree. To me it shows a real commitment to seeking the best possible sound.
RME is not buying DAC units of the shelf, in the pro units, the even write their own USB drivers (not using the OS generic ones).
The USB drivers and DAC filters are very different, Benny. Perhaps in the pro gear RME are using custom filters (but I doubt it), but we're talking about the consumer grade device here which uses either AKM or ESS chips (depending on the version) and uses the stock filters from those chips - the same filters used by Topping, SMSL, Burson Audio, FiiO, etc.
@@PassionforSound As I said they compete (the opinion of some of the best mastering engineers in the world, not just me), with the best DACs in the pro audio, and are praised for the DAC and super clean preamps. So I guess it's probably (Even though I have some masters I did hear in the mastering room. I hope you agree this is what we try to replicate) much closer to the real sound then I ever heard from a sub 10K pro DACs. I assumed they use the same DAC units in the ADI-2, but I might be wrong on THIS.
Benny, I'd recommend checking out some of my interviews with Rob Watts from Chord Electronics where he discusses the limitations of the DAC chips in products like the ADI-2 (not a knock on the ADI-2, just a reality of the chips used. As I said before, the priority for mixing engineers and audiophiles are quite different.
Interestingly, I've heard that some studios and engineers have actually begun buying Chord DACs for this reason.
Dont underestimate that the digital cable used has a major effect on the sound as does the source.
I agree, Robert! I'm very careful to match all elements as much as I can for this reason.
Super detailed and helpful review...thank you!
My pleasure. Glad it was helpful!
Sounds like both sound good enough and unless you are sitting there AB ing them your not gonna know. Now add all those not used equalizer functions to get what you want
That's so often the case with gear like this - unless you've got them side-by-side, both will sound great. I do think the ADI-2 might be a bit fatiguing in some setups, but the EQ and filters might fix that to a degree.
Thank you for this review! I have a Qutest and I agree 100% with your thoughts on this one. I wonder if you like the Qutest more than the Mojo 2 as a DAC only? - I can’t pick a winner…
The Mojo 2 is excellent, but when I tried it against the Hugo 2, the Hugo 2 was a bit better and it uses the same DAC stage as the Qutest. It will depend a bit on your amp though as to whether you can extract the differences.
@@PassionforSound Thank you for sharing, Lachlan! I tried the Mojo 2 and the Qutest with the Genelec 8331A and I liked more the Qutest, but for headphone listening I really enjoyed the crossfeed and eq options on the Mojo 2.
I agree that the crossfeed and EQ on the Mojo 2 are brilliant! Qutest wins on pure resolution and detail, but those extra features are brilliant!
@@PassionforSound I agree. Thank you for your reply! Have a great day
You too, Jose!
Just a great review. Two key things for me. I'd luv to see an RME -ADI-2 upgrade, with the ak4499 chip. Believing in the ability of that chip. And would like to see a Hugo 2 TT and namely the Dave reviewed, they rarely are. But both these devices you reviewed are absolutely nice. I'd personally like RME, being too have Balanced to another amplifier, and that I luv the combinations of iem's and headphones, both. But I'd take both, to be honest 😁 Good review! Truly 👍🏼
Thanks Joshua. Stay tuned... I'll be answering at least one of your wishes :)
@@PassionforSound oh yeah!? That is great to hear 🥳 😁
I had a Qutest which I returned as it failed. I got an RME ADI2 instead and I think your comments around the difference in SQ are very much in line with my experience. I’ll swap back at some point.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Barry! Sorry to hear about your Qutest. Hope you're still enjoying the music 🙂
Another spot on review Lachlan 👍
I recently had the opportunity to compare the bluesound node 2i vs a project stream box s2 ultra connected to my Qutest Dac. The node was connected via coax and the s2 ultra via usb digital out. The differences I noticed were that the node had a bit more bass punch and mid range warmth, while the s2 ultra had a little more detail in the top end. Very subtle overall. If I had to put a figure to it maybe +10% bass from the node vs +5% treble detail from the s2 ultra. I kept the node and returned the s2 ultra. Its such an easy to listen to streamer for the money and the app is very good and stable. Keep the videos coming! Love your channel.
Thanks Ari. Interesting to hear your experience with the streamers. I haven't dabbled in that world yet (beyond my RaspberryPi setups).
Although someone I was chatting to recently was concerned that the Bluesound was limiting their overall sound quality.
@@PassionforSound ah interesting. I'm sure an auralic G1 or something like a lumin D2 would sound better but probably not by much. They're worth 3 and 4 times as much as the node. Hard to justify the cost. It's a very musical streamer imo and on the forums people are happy to have their $20k systems etc.
Absolutely and don't trust my anecdote as truth as it's not necessarily a thorough review and I don't know the other variables he might have had going on. It also depends on how you're using it. I'm quite happy with my little Sonos 1 in the dining room for background music even though it pales in comparison to my office setup. It's all about the situation.
Thank you for this excellent review, sir. I am an ADI-2 owner, but you got me interested in seeing what I'm missing out with the Qutest. I'm going to see if I can pick up a nice second hand unit somewhere. All the best from Rotterdam!
I hope you enjoy what you hear, Bas! Thanks for watching and commenting! 🙂🙂
@@PassionforSound Well who would have thought? The day after my comment I had the chance to pick up a perfect second hand unit, with a matching SBooster power supply! Which I did, and I must say I’m *very* impressed with the sound this little DAC produces. It really is like you said in your video: the RME has you sitting on the edge of your seat, listening for all the little details the DAC produces, whereas the Chord has you sitting back and relaxing in the music. With the RME I found myself listening to my stereo, with the Chord I’m listening to the music again! What a giant step forward. Thanks again!
That's such great news! So glad you're enjoying it!
Have the RME behind some mono block tube amps. Don't think the Chord would beat it as the RME can be tailored with its EQ to sound like the Chord and better. For my 2 channel system with floor standing McIntosh speakers, it's a noticeable improvement also powering the RME by battery. As in a major impact to the quality in every aspect. RME also put out some firmware upgrades (as you probably know.) But RME is a Chord killer. YMMV.
ua-cam.com/video/0_G7ENaPg3o/v-deo.html
I really am not a sniper but there is a significant difference in signal to noise between RCA and XLR. Unfortunately some manufacturers put XLR jacks on unbalanced devices. Respectfully submitted. ( It's been a pet peeve of mine over decades.
Hi Ed, it all comes down to the topology of the design and it's implementation. My point is that a well designed single-ended setup with RCA out only (e.g. Qutest) can easily match a good balanced setup with XLRs. I threw this same question to Jason Stoddard in my interview with him and, as an experienced designer of amps, he explained why this is.
@@PassionforSoundRespectfully I disagree. This is one area in the audiophile world that is measurable and repeatable. Granted the differences are microscopic if the environment is reasonable. It's why the commercial world uses XLR and BNC as you mentioned in your review.
My understanding is that XLR is used in commercial because there are longer cable runs in electrically noisy environments.
Check out from around 16:50 in this video ua-cam.com/video/UCStarTt_PY/v-deo.html for an explanation from someone who designs this type of gear
@@PassionforSound That is true. I'm not challenging the origin, just the lack of usage in high end audio. I guess I'm a bit over sensitive to it setting up hear for @35 years in the field and coming home to consumer gear touting wonderful sound but not maximizing the specs. I'm more of a hands on audiophile. More of an Audio Audioholic type guy. I like the magic of high end audio but I have a jaundiced eye when the basics aren't followed. I wish the world of high end audio would embrace the science a bit more. Not that you aren't. I enjoy your site and info.
Glad you're liking the site and appreciate the sharing of experiences and perspectives. It's good that there are a range of brands and products out there to cater to us all!
Great review
Glad you liked it!
Great video and very informative and very pleasant way how you present (voice, gesture, lighting,...) - really enjoy, even content I would not need to listen to.
Re the Chord, obvoiusly, their engineers did a terrific job with programming their own DAC chip. This provides the opportunity of 'enhancing' the sound stage and make it sound a bit wider by adding a (tiny) bit of psycho acoustics to their algorythm, such as a very decent reverb, plus a small portion of spatial stereo widening to compensate for any sound stage narrowing effects from the reverb. I can imagine what internal debates and endless listening sessions their engineers and product managers must have gone through to get such a great sounding device to the market.
Do I know? Not really, but exactly this would be my approach if my engineering team needed to develop the decoding by themselves for a custom developed DAC-chip.
I am just in the phase of experimenting with adding very subtle reverb to the music I am listening to - with superb sound enrichment and stage depth. The trick is to keep the reverb that low that you would never detect any signs of reverb, such as short echoes when stopping yoour source to play. Im am doing it with the PC software VoiceMeeter Potato which is a great platform for experimentation for different ways of altering sound without the need for costly hardware.
Hi JoF, the results of Chord's DAC design aren't from any kind of DSP, but from better reconstruction of the timing of transients in the music. I'd recommend checking out my interview with Rob Watts (Chord's DAC designer) for a thorough explanation.
Not that there's anything wrong with using DSP. I just wanted to clarify
@@PassionforSound I watched the interview part one which is truly great.
So, let me correct my self: Indeed, he does not use any of those typical DSP chips. Instead he does the sound generation via the FPGA programming which, of course, is far more complex than relying on a DSP chip with its prebuilt instruction set.
Anyway, and this was my point, he digitally shapes the sound with the SW, i.e. the transients, the noise floor, the harmonics, etc.
And, most importantly, he does it quit well, doesn‘t he? Thanks again for this great video - learned a lot from it.
Glad you liked it. I'm not being picky, but wanted to clarify something for others who might read this. What the WTA filters in the FPGAs are doing is applying a more intensive reconstruction filter compared to traditional Delta Sigma DAC chips (ESS/AKM, etc.) These DACs all have to use filters to manage the reconstruction of the analog waveform from the digital data, but most off-the-shelf DACs apply the filter algorithms 100s of times (100s of taps). The use of FPGAs in Chord DACs allows them to apply their filters 1,000s of times and therefore better construct the waveform with greater timing accuracy. This accuracy is what enhances our perception of transients, soundstage and timbre. It's not so much manipulating the sound that comes out so much as trying to make it as accurate as possible to the original.
Again, not trying to be pedantic, but some might see "digitally shaping the sound" as messing with the integrity of the source which isn't their intention. 🙂
@@PassionforSound Thanks for your comment and clarification. I think we're both pretty much in sync: I did not want to allege they are doing psychoacoustics in their DAC or so.
I fully agree that they are hunting down to get a most clear and good sounding analogue signal, back from digital bits and bytes flowing in. And, they take massive research, efforts, and engineerial science to do that in a wonderful way!
Which brings me to another question (might be an interessting topic for a video): What do we from a listening standpoint believe to be the acoustic truth?
I remember well how shocked I was during my first visit of a recording and mastering studio many years back.
No monster loudspeaker cables or ultra-expensive XLR-cables, instead lots of room treatment, stable power supply, and (that was what shocked me most) each microphone signal was captured into a single strip tube amplifier with lots of attenuators for warmth, saturation, etc. And in mastering, there, again, were full racks of gear to run signals or groups through to alter the sound, not to talk about the digital alterations done by the mastering engineer.
And as if this was not enough I learned that sometimes they ran a certain track, such as the guitars for blues music, through an CD-to-MP3 encoder and backwards, just to create a certain type of artificial transients that come from the lossy conversion. Of course, the final product was called DMM audiophile CD or so.
After this experience, I stopped complaining about MP3 (320 Kbps vs CD), ultra-expensice cabling, and trying to end up with a new piece of gear every three month, just because of a new review of a magazine. Instead, pretty much of my gear has turned from audiophile towards professional, allowing me to tweak sound towards my personal pleasure.
Nevertheless, I have highest respect for companies like Chord or RME (and many others) who do their very best to engineer and build such great products, making excellent sound feasible for many. And, more and more, there a nice cross-over products, combining the best from two worlds.
Great that you spend your time with such great reviews, truly inspiring content, and take some time forr answering - highly appreciated!
Great point about the studio approach! To mixthings up even more, this can also vary drastically from one studio/engineer to the next! Thanks for commenting 🙂
2:50 you're wrong. Just check out the specs. Distortion is lower on the XLr output than on the rca. I'm not sure we can hear it but XLR is technicaly better even for short distance. that is acualy why you prefered the sound throught it. Still a VERY nice review!
Hi Mathieu, not sure why you say I'm wrong there. I'm saying that any good RCA implementation should be as good as a good XLR implementation. I wasn't discussing the quality of specific outputs either DAC at that time.
@@PassionforSound On equal quality stuff XLR ouperform RCA just by nature. So I still think that santence you said is wrong. Don't get me wrong, I'm not aggressive at all. Forgive me if you felt it that way. But Yeah good XLR implentation in better than good rca implentation. Perdiode.
Hi Mathieu, you might want to check out my interviews with Jason Stoddard (Schiit) and Rob Watts (Chord) because they would both disagree. So would Dan Schmalle from Bottlehead, but I don't think we discussed it in my interview with him.
Both interfaces have their merits. XLR will eliminate environmental noise (if picked up by the cable) but involves more parts in the signal path and can therefore degrade quality and also has a higher noise floor. RCA may be susceptible to environmental noise in extreme situations, but offers a simpler signal path which is always preferable in analog signals and has a lower noise floor.
I'm not a fan of one or the other specifically. I actually like the security of XLR connectors the way they lock in place so I probably lean that way overall, but I like to ensure that we're not spreading misinformation on this channel and all of my research and discussions with experts says they're two equally good (and equally flawed) connection types so people should choose based on the performance of the inputs/outputs on each specific product not a general statement.
As a final illustration of what I mean, the RCA output from the Qutest is still better (IMO) than the XLR output on multiple DACs I've tried (Schiit Modius, Denafrips Ares 2, Topping D90, etc.) so there's no reason someone should avoid the Qutest because it lacks an XLR out. Hopefully that all makes sense.
@@PassionforSound it does make sens my friend. and i don't discus about the qutest qualit that i've never listened to. I just say that for exemple the dynamique range is higher (almost 10dB) with XLR partly due to the higher output voltage. It's a mesurable fact not a teast. So, on the same divice the xlr perfom better than an RCA without a doubt. What I wanna say is that If the qutest sounds better than the RME it will do even better if they use a symetrical stucture with a xlr or TRS oupt. But I know that ther are people who prefer higher distortion in some frequencies (the kind you have with a good tube amp for exemple.) And i respect that. Because it gives this little "something" to the sound. Thank you for sharing your point of view, i really appreciate.
RCA is better than XLR ? seriously ? That's new, doubtful about that
That's not what I said. What I said was that a system designed and optimised to be single ended is just as good as a system designed and optimised to be balanced. On top of that, there are inherent benefits and drawbacks to both single ended and balanced circuits so neither is definitively better
I did not had RME , but I had Qutest, and didn't like it. I've compared it with 2Qute ,which is also mine, and sold the Qutest after wanting so badly to be better.. At first you think, mmm,,,details...and than start the questions..where is music...where is dinamic...where is emotion...where is life?
That's very interesting to hear
Excellent review, thank you for the effort! I had a Chord Mojo and like the sounds quality, so planned to upgrade to Chord Qutest. However, after reading/watching reviews of Denafrips DACs, I am now a little bit hesitate on which way to go. Do you have any experience of listening to R2R DACs, especially Denafrips Pontus or Aries?
Hi Peter, I'm actually in the process of trying to get a Denafrips DAC for review. The only other R2R experience I have is the Schiit Gungnir Multibit which is a brilliant DAC, but not as good as the Qutest on raw sound quality (better on features though because it has RCA and XLR outs)
Passion for Sound , look forward to your evaluation of Denafrips now
J'ai les deux appareils, le RME est plus versatile, complet et plus économique.
Mais j'ai franchement peine à croire que nos oreilles de simples humains sont capables de faire une différence à ce haut niveau de technologies utilisées dans ces DAC.
Si je disais à certains de poser une canette de bière sur leur appareil pour sentir une différence audible, je suis absolument sûr que quelques- uns la sentiraient sincèrement.
Il n'y a pas plus infidèles que nos oreilles.
There's some truth to the fact that our ears can easily deceive us (as can our other senses). In this case though, there are significant differences in how these two DACs are reconstructing the analog waveforms. I'd recommend watching my interviews with Rob Watts, Chord's DAC designer, for an expert explanation of why the Qutest sounds better. In short, it's all about more accurate timing of transients in the music and it results in better timbral accuracy and spatial cues.
Translated:
Il y a du vrai dans le fait que nos oreilles peuvent facilement nous tromper (tout comme nos autres sens). Dans ce cas cependant, il existe des différences significatives dans la manière dont ces deux CNA reconstruisent les formes d'onde analogiques. Je recommanderais de regarder mes entretiens avec Rob Watts, le concepteur de DAC de Chord, pour une explication experte des raisons pour lesquelles le Qutest sonne mieux. En bref, il s'agit d'une synchronisation plus précise des transitoires dans la musique et il en résulte une meilleure précision du timbre et des repères spatiaux.
@@PassionforSound Have you tried comparing the Chord with the RME by trying the DA filter, to me it looks better in NOS. After that, maybe my 58 year old ears are not sensitive enough to hear a significant difference. And again, many thanks for your expertise.
I did try a few filters I think, but can't recall. I'm hoping to borrow the ADI-2 again soon so while I don't have the Qutest anymore, I'll definitely try more testing with the filters and maybe compare to the very excellent Schiit Bifrost 2.
I dodn't test Qutest, but tested RME. I must say it sounds much more detailed compared to my old lavry, but it also sounds a bit tiring after some time in closed heasphones, as it's very crisp, detailed, but the bass is quite strong. The sound is vibrant, energetic, but at the same time analytic, like studio monitors. Some tracks sounded amazing, and I must say I felt a new impression of music I didn't imagine, as I thought my dac is quite capable. The image is very clear, not any mud when many instruments at the same time.
I tried to reduce highs, but it ruins the image. So I'm not sure it's a good choice for me personally.
I'm not sure it it's a good pick for music, but if you like details, it might be a good choice
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Mike. I completely agree about the slightly bright/aggressive character of RME DAC.
@@PassionforSound Thank you! The main drawback of Qutest is the absence of headphone jack. Is there a way to connect headphotes to Qutest? I want to use it with PC
XLR sound from ADI probably sound "better" since DB's are up on XLR versus RCA. It boosts volume, sometimes making it seem like it sounds "Better".
I'm careful to volume match when comparing balanced and singal ended outputs, Ryan, because you're 100% right about the louder sound seeming better.
Depending on the design of the equipment though, sometimes the RCA outputs are driven differently.
Hi,
Thank You for the great analysis.
I just bought the ADI-2, and i'm getting lost through the menu/buttons system, really super user un-friendly. (The comic 70 pages manual doesn't help).
Apart from that (still have to find out how manage the EQ.. ), the sound is very detailed and sweet at the same time.
Fast attack and decay too. I'd say a modern sound.
Maybe to my ears it's not very "wow" or very exciting, or magic. I feel like an inspector, looking for sound flaws, instead of loosing space-time into the music flow.
Not sure if I prefer the much more grainy and congested sound of the Jolida Fx Tube Dac, which I used for years.. (Mullard tubes added :))
But there's something more "dynamic", more raw, more real, even with much more distortion and much less details, in the chinese one.
Something less digital and more analog.
I hope to appreciate the Adi-2 more, maybe after some EQ settings.
You're very welcome. I think what you are hearing and what's detracting from the pure enjoyment is the digital edge that I commented on (i.e. we are talking about the same thing, but calling it different things - I don't know if there's a "right" term for it). To me, that's what (very) slightly held back the ADI-2 from a pure sound perspective, but it's still an excellent DAC. Maybe have a play with a very subtle cut in the EQ at around the 1-2kHz mark. I can't remember exactly where I was hearing the 'edge', but I'd start with some upper mid/treble frequencies and see if that works. It's possible of course that it all comes back to very minor timing errors as I discussed in my M-Scaler video in which case EQ will never fix it and you might be better off looking at something like the Denafrips Ares II (review coming soon). But don't lose hope yet. Give yourself some time to adjust to the sound of the ADI-2 and get used to the crazy menu. It's a really outstanding device and will reward you in time I think once you adjust to the different sound, particularly coming from the Tube DAC.
Passion for Sound
Thank You for your answer.
I'll do my best to open my ears and hopes to this new dac.
( i have to confess that i'm a huge Jolida fan ;)
Their pre-phono is just .. unrealistically good.)
Just the comparison I was looking for. One of the negs I have on the qutest is the lack of XLR, which I currently use as a 2nd output to use for active speakers. Hearing you describe the presentation, I think I'll take the qutest either way and figure something out for the outputs.
Glad I could help. I agree that it's limiting in a use case like yours. There are adapters on the market to take XLR to RCA, but it needs to be a transformer, not just a dumb adapter that grounds the negative. Search for Neutrik XLR to RCA transformer to see an example.
@@PassionforSound ah no worries my speakers take SE as well. Thank you for the extended reply. On a DAC note, I've been comparing the teac udh01 (burrbrown) to the questyle cma400i (akm4490) that I've both owned for a while. I can also see the akm4490 reigns in dynamic swing and adds satisfying top-end sparkle compared to the udh01 burrbrowns. While the questyle akm4490 sounds cleaner it's much less bassy and dynamically swinging (negative feedback?), and the burrbrown has a slight nasty edge in the treble of very busy sections like certain choirs. I still ended up using the teac more because the sound was more lively and natural. I tested both this week with a ifi ican SE amp. I think I really prefer a dynamic presentation to anything, so the qutest.
I think if you enjoy the dynamics, but don't like the edge of the burrbrown, you'll really like the Qutest! That's interesting what you've heard while comparing the two. I've never been a huge fan of BB DACs myself and generally find I like the ESS gear the most of all the chips (depending on implementation of course)
My Mojo is looking at me suspiciously after this review.
You're not making this easy!
Haha. Sorry about that, Gill! Qutest or ADI-2 got your attention?
@@PassionforSound The RME, able to get one at a good price. 1600 AUD new.
I was searching for reviews and that's how I found your channel. Zeos sounds like a sugar addled child compared to you.
Haha. Yeah, we have very different styles 🙂
That's a good price. Go for it, you won't be disappointed! Mojo is great, but ADI-2 is next level.
@@PassionforSound I'm thinking a Used Hugo 2 and a new RME. Just different flavours to try.
The Grace M9XX and the Resnoessence DACs are pretty good as DAC only units too. Want to compare the Chord and the RME with the Resnoessence Labs in units.
My Chord Mojo is upset with your review though😂
The Hugo 2 will be slightly better (same DAC stage as Qutest), but obviously won't have the versatility of the ADI-2. Both great products though!
A rare situation in which the ADI-2 DAC is the bigger box 😁
For a perfect music collection and speakers I think the Qutest could be better indeed but I think I'd prefer the ADI-2 because of its options to influence sound characteristics, given a variety in quality in the music collection.
That's really the separation point I think - customisation vs purity of sound. Both are great products in their own ways and I'd certainly be happy with either despite leaning to the Qutest overall.
@@PassionforSound Thanks! 👍
Well I manage to get a Qtest for less then a ADI-2 and while good, it left you wanting for more. Sound is a little on the thin side, a little too light and not that satisfying. It is on top of that it has problems decoding DSD. 1st it needs ASIO to decode DSD for some reason, so you are forced to go fro DoP, and due to extra work it has to do you get random interruptions here and there, and bonus to that you get a buzz in between songs. It does have very good points, like good USB input, nice filters, good output stage, natural presentation, but it always it lacks the presence and authority. At some point I will get a good psu and will report back if that fixes the issue. But that will literally double the unit price.
Sorry to hear you're unimpressed. Can I ask what you're comparing it to when you say it lacks presence and authority?
@@PassionforSound yes, it is like seeing a very good picture of a statue vs seeing the actual statue in front of you. All the details are there, but there is nothing impressive. I did decided to go for a ferrum power supply. I know it is overkill, since it is just as much as the dac itself, but Qutest have some very good points that I would like to keep if I can fix the weak parts. People reported that a good power supply change the sound for the best with this DAC. If I will manage to buy that power supply I will report back.
Sounds good. When I asked about what you're comparing it to, my thinking was to see if you had a different audio source that is giving you the experience you're looking for with greater presence or if it's more about your expectations/goals for the sound.
@@PassionforSound my last DAC, and my point of reference for Qtest, is Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital. It has more authority and texture. I was expecting that moving from a 350€ dac/amp to a 1500€ dedicated DAC, the upgrade to be very clear, yet here I am looking back at some not at all insignificant lost aspects in this upgrade process. Qtest has very good points, but with the same source - a basic ifi 5v power supply, it does not pull ahead as much as was expected. I will try an ifi iPower elite as first upgrade. And see how sound will change with more power.
I haven't heard the Pro-Ject, but it's worth taking some time to also adjust to the presentation of the Qutest. Because it produces a greater sense of depth in the soundstage, it can push some sounds further away and that might be part of what you're hearing. Delta Sigma DACs using chips like the Pro-Ject will tend to bring everything more forward which has its own benefits, but ultimately, I've always found the Chord gear to win out once I start to hear the depth and layering available. Hopefully you end up loving the Qutest, but it's all about personal preferences too
Nice work.
Thank you! 😁
Have you tried Octo Dac 8 Stereo? I can only find a few reviews but all exceptional. Stereophile rated it Class A and comparable to $15k MBL. My curiosity is peeked.
I haven't tried that one - sorry
I agree with your analysis of the cutest. The remaining bit of the puzzle, is how will the rca perform in a fully balanced headamp with xlr inputs. (Rca also available). Case in point is Oppo HA1 headamp. Or should I just sacrifice the cutest in favor of the rme, simply because of the xlr outputs.
Most balanced headphone amps I've tried (but not all) have good RCA inputs so you should be completely fine with the Qutest for RCA only connection. I would personally choose it if the HA1 has good quality RCA that matches the XLR for sound quality.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the reply. Appreciate it.
My pleasure 🙂🙂
I'm a bit confused on the RME's outputs. Can I use my HD800s with a balanced xlr connection rather than the front 1/4 headphone jack? Thanks.
No, you shouldn't run headphones off DAC outputs unless the product is specifically designed to deliver enough current. DACs are designed to output moderate voltage with very low current and the amp then essentially provides the current to drive the headphones. Connecting direct to the DAC will likely sound bad and could damage your gear.
@@PassionforSound Thanks so much!
How would the RME stack up with a Topping A90 amp? would it be more optimal sound-wise to pair it with a Topping A90, or just sell the A90 and use the ADI-2 as an all-in-one solution? I was thinking of running the A90 + the ADI-2 fully balanced, including headphones via 4 pin xlr input on A90.
Thanks in advance! Love the channel, some of the best HIFI gear content out there.
Thanks Luis! The A90 will be noticeably better than the ADI-2 amp based on my experience. I haven't compared them directly, but the ADI-2 was roughly on par with the THX 789 and the A90 is clearly better than the 789 so I think we can extrapolate that to the ADI-2 as well. The ability to run fully balanced with the A90 may also bring some improvements depending on your exact setup.
Glad you're enjoying the channel!
@@PassionforSound Ended up buying the ADI-2 at a nice price and did a comparison between the A90 and the ADI-2, kept going back and forth and the A90 was indeed noticeably better. A bit hard to explain, but the A90 sounded more open and drums/beats just had more power/emphasis to them. Thanks again!
Glad you're enjoying the improvement!
How would you compare the RME ADI 2 DAC to the Topping DX7 or the SMSL M500 MK3 as a dac?
That's a tough one because I've never had them side-by-side to compare - sorry!
Sounds like I would much prefer the qutest, and this is chords low end model. Funny how most people would tell you the RME is end game.
Hi Manish, yeah. I don't think I'd call either DAC endgame (I've got an upcoming review that might put this in perspective). The RME is very good, but there is still plenty of room to improve by spending more money. It all depends on a person's budget and the rest of the system. I.e. RME is great if you're running mid-tier headphones and amp, but won't get the most out of top level equipment. Nor will the Qutest, but it's a bit closer.
@@PassionforSound just as I thought, for me once you taste the high end stuff, the midfi never hits the same again because you realise everything that was missing, it then always feels lacking. Oh ignorance is bliss :(
So true! I actually find I enjoy the entry level gear and the top end gear more than the midfi for some reason.
You are one of the few people who nailed the Chord sound. I am auditioning the Chord Mojo and completely agree with your assessment of the Chord sound. It puts you more in the music and circles you with sound. It’s pretty impressive and different. I like it but not all the time. What I didn’t like about the Mojo is it’s lack of weight and punch. Which makes rock music sound less impactful. For jazz it’s maybe better. But as I said it’s a bit too airy.
I do think the Chord has its own sound and is immersive in some ways. It’s definitely a wetter sound. But that has its consequences. It’s like the Chord sound has a slight reverb added in it.
As I mentioned I wish the Chord sound had more weight to it and solidness.
If you play electric guitar as I do it’s like the Chord sound has a touch of reverb as I mentioned before. This can add to a more “ washed out” sound. Mind you I mean this in a very subtle way. If you have a touch of reverb on a guitar it’s a bit looser than without it. Whether you like that or not is subjective and depends on what you are listening to. I don’t like the Chord sound for piano because you can’t hear the distinct “thunk” a piano key makes. It doesn’t have the weight behind it which I immediately recognize as a musician. So I do disagree with the realism of instruments you speak of. You might like the more relaxed sound but some music and or instruments are not relaxed and shouldn’t sound relaxed in certain contexts. Another example are horns. When listening to Miles Davis with Coltrane , there are certain aspects to a trumpet and a sax which are sharp and peaky. The added ambience from the Chord sound slightly washes that away imho.
Great review
Does the RME have the punch I want and a more weight to it?
Great channel btw. You have good ears.
Hi nightjar, have you tried a Qutest? I completely agree with your feelings about the Mojo and I actually on-sold it pretty fast because I found it a bit lifeless and lacking energy, but I never found that with the Qutest.
Otherwise, the RME will definitely give you a stronger sense of attack (perhaps a hair too much)
Passion for Sound no I have not tired the Qutest. I wanted something that was compact and allowed for headphones. So I can move around the house.
I have a Marantz which sits in my main system and why I can’t move it.
The RME is small enough where I can tote it around to other places in the house and listen through headphones. Unless I try the Hugo 2. But that is expensive. Does the Hugo offer more weight and punch than the mojo? Or does it have the same airy wet sound ?
Again you have good ears as I’m a musician and know what instruments sound like and actually feel like. Played piano , violin and now guitar for over 35 years.
The Hugo 2 would be a great choice and is a different sound to the Mojo based on my brief experience with it. It's also truly portable unlike the RME, BUT the RME is much more powerful in terms of features. I'd probably say the same as I did for the Qutest vs RME comparison: get the Hugo 2 for pure sound quality or get the RME for features and functions.
Passion for Sound I would get the Hugo 2 but it’s way too expensive. I’m maybe going to audition the RME.
I think it could be a good answer to your needs
Have you done a Qutest vs Bifrost comparison? Interested in these two. Have you also ever heard the original 2qute compared to the qutest?
Hi Snook, I haven't yet compared the Qutest and Bifrost, but would love to. I've never heard the 2qute
Thankyou for the comparison. In terms of pure DAC comparisons have you heard/lived with a schiit bifrost 2 or any of the Giesler DACs and could make any basic comparisons to the Chord? Thankyou
Hi Paul, I haven't tried the Bifrost 2, but would expect that it isn't quite as good as the Gungnir MB which I owned prior to the Qutest. I provide a brief comparison of the Gumby and the Qutest in my review of the Qutest: ua-cam.com/video/VVYk-dqHpQk/v-deo.html
I'm yet to try a Giesler DAC, but hope to in the future
I really liked your video and production and know how much hard work is involved. did rme loan you this dac? I compared both and was confused with your SQ comparison. I compared both in my review and I found more soundstage space with the Qutest but the RME is more mid centric. What one trades the other makes up. I tried with atc SCM40A’s. This is a preference issue and the way to look at it, isn’t what you prefer as to what is best, but what others might think. The question to ask when doing a review is would more people prefer one over the other or be indifferent to either, and the answer is definetely the latter. These are so close to make it not possible to answer in my view. The decision is on the fact you might as well have all the other features for less money.
Hi 13th Note, thanks for your comment, but I disagree. I started out in this hobby as an enthusiast just like everyone else and I always preferred reviews that told me what someone liked and why. Over time as I got to know the reviewer (like Tyll for example), I soon learned to hear what he was describing in a product and also I learned how my preferences were similar and different to his. My point being that this hobby needs all different sorts of reviews to suit all different people.
I feel like I'd be doing a disservice to say that someone wouldn't notice a significant difference because I did. If I hear it, others will too. Perhaps it's because I'm 100% headphone based whereas you're using speakers. The effects of distance and room acoustics might be playing a part in how we both hear these products.
Passion for Sound I agree that’s important and I’m on that theme too (like jeremy clarkson lol) and your opinion counts and nobody can deride it - but it’s also important in my mind to point out that as reviewers we often describe small differences to preference. Aside from stating your strong preference (the first limb of a review), what I think reviewers have to ask too, is does another product trade in other areas that others might prefer (second limb). I like products and rate products I don’t prefer eg chord Hugo tt2 preferred over ps audio directstream. I always think if it’s very nuanced then it’s preference but if it’s more fundamental - better bass, detail, mid range etc then you can call it out. I got a sense you were calling out finer details so it wasn’t *better*. My attitude is if you think better, and others will too, you say so, if not say that too, take out preference. I didn’t get an impression you’d considered that. What you hear and prefer are separate issues to what you recommend. I agree with you on headphones, I suspect I might prefer the chord with same. I did with a HIFiMan Jade 2 headphone set up in fact. I hope I’m not being too critical as this was a good review, just drawing some of the finer points and vagueries of HiFi reviews. Best wishes and all credit.
Passion for Sound ps I just thought the rme was a different sound to the chord but in a HiFi set up was as accomplished with more features for a better price. That made it a better product.
I agree, 13th. Not sure if you watched my entire video, but my conclusion was that I would recommend the Qutest on pure sound quality because I believe it has a slight edge there (we may disagree - this is a subjective hobby). However, I definitely would recommend the ADI-2 to anyone looking for something with powerful features, flexibility, and the onboard HP & IEM amp.
Did watch it all they way through.. Passion for Sound try it with HiFi too and you might have a different view. Chords are always expensive for what they are, and whilst I love the chord sound and the Qutest, the ethos of the brands are different. Audiophile HiFi comes out more expensive because it’s about getting highest price and using luxury materials we might not want if Sq is first aim - the rme is as well built, but pro Audio is a bigger market so they can sell gear cheaper. It’s like the Intel nuc versus Roon nucleus conundrum. Buying active speakers in a music shop or in an audiophile shop.
Conclusion..The Chord for Klipsch and RME for B&W.😁
Haha. Yep, that would probably be true
I can't believe this reviewer has not discussed the direct DSD capability of the RME ADI-2 . The AKM chip gives the option for direct DSD and the benefit of HQPlayer upscaling options. But because of recent chip change , maybe not an option for me
There's always a limit to how deep I can dive on any review. On top of that, direct DSD doesn't make THAT big of a difference. Furthermore, once we start adding HQ Player to one DAC, we then need do all comparisons with the same setup. When we do that, all DACs are improved by essentially the same margin so the comparison becomes irrelevant as the direct, non-HQ Player comparison has already told the story.
Nice review, was it all headphone listening though? Do you think using speakers would reveal the subtleties between them? I fancy a Qutest but don’t know if it’s worth it as I never really hear much difference on DACs in my lounge/speaker based setup. Got a Schiit Modius DAC now and sounds great, can a Qutest really move the game on I wonder?!!
Hi Richard, I'm 100% headphone based so I can't really say for sure. I do know from my "past life" speaker experience that there are more factors involved with speakers such as the room, speaker placement, etc. and these could all be limiting factors in the potential of your system.
There's no doubt the Qutest would be a great addition to any system (speakers or headphones) so it really depends on whether your system is being held back by something else
Passion for Sound ah ok, I’m only using headphones for on the go use. Yeah the room colours the sound so much it could be that the differences in DACs are essentially masked down to subtleties. And if it’s only subtle between 2 DACs anyway let’s say, that might be why people often claim no differences! I don’t have a ton of experience, but so far I can hear differences but it’s subtle only. Cheers
@@Mingchops definitely as you climb the DAC ranks the differences get more and more subtle like textural cues, spatial cues, etc. Happy listening!
@@Mingchops When you're just listening, those different DACs will handle certain transients differently at times, and all those slight changes over a longer stretch of time play differently with your brain. The more natural something sounds, the easier it will be to listen to. But if a DAC has tiny bits of extra emphasis at different places, your brain needs to work harder to compensate for those frequent inconsistencies. But once you sit down to A/B some DACs full focus, you're losing your overview on the bigger picture, and you're pretty much searching for Waldo who pops up in different places, disappears shortly after he appears, sometimes stays away for a long time, or secretly hiding within the large crowd. It takes a lot of time and experience to get to know your music well enough to know by heart when Waldo pops up and where you need to look.
Thank you for such a detailed review. I am a fan!
Couple of questions:
1) The RME ADI-2 DAC has another version ADI-2 FS. How does that compare?
2) You mentioned the treble being edgier on the ADI-2. Can that be addressed by controls?
Much appreciate it.
Hi Oddi, glad you liked it! Technically, this is the FS version. I believe the non FS is the older model and no longer available. I can't speak to the differences - sorry!
As for the edgy treble, it's about the reconstruction of the signal, not the frequency response so you can't remove I'm in afraid. It's very minor though and shouldn't put you off buying the ADI-2. I only mention it as a differentiator from the Qutest.
I'll discuss the edgy treble phenomenon a bit more in my upcoming review of the Hugo M-Scaler (when I review it with the TT2). I've briefly discussed it in the Qutest + M-Scaler video, but it probably deserves a bit more discussion.
@@PassionforSound If the non FS is older model, the question becomes irrelevant. Thanks for answering.
You're welcome 🙂
I wonder if the sound comparison between the two would be any different now that the ADI-2 uses ESS DAC chips?
Unlikely it will change more than a tiny amount. There's only so much that any company can do with the standard filters built into ESS chips (or the other chip-based Delta Sigma DAC options)
Agreed, I thought about as much. I struggled for days trying to make up my mind, but in the end it came down to Swiss Army knife for testing in multiple scenarios. If I had purchased the Qutest, I would have put it in my system, set it and forget it. ADI-2 will be here today. Thanks for the guidance. Still, I could have had a CHORD 😢. The input auto detect is also a neat feature on the ADI.
The ADI-2 has some amazing features so if you're going to tweak and adjust, you'll have a lot of fun that the Qutest can't provide. 🙂
Hi I am going to buy an Adi 2, besides all the features do you think will be an upgrade in terms of sound quality compared to mi Cambridge Dac Magic Plus?, I Have paradigm Studio 60 v.5, Marantz preamp, an Also a head amp Woo Wa7 Audio Fireflies
I would expect that to be an upgrade, but I haven't tried the two side-by-side so I can't say for certain.
great video. I heard the RME can´t play native DSD only via PCM? Another good DAC can´t play MQA but DSD damn I don´t know which one to buy
I believe you need to use the ASIO driver in windows to get native DSD so it is technically possible it seems. Hopefully that helps with your decision...
Tyvm, Great vid as always. Do you think it would be possible to run the Chorde Qutest w/ RCA to XLR Balanced? I want to run a XLR switch box to switch between amps and one of my amps is across the room.
There are switch boxes that take an RCA in and put out XLR so yes, that should be very doable. I use a Nobsound switch that does this so check on Amazon (links in description) and you should be all set.
Loved the music in the background. What is the name of the song?
I'll check and let you know...
The track was called Hiatus by King Sis
What a great patient review. I’ve been a fan of RME FS after hearing it in a store in neck to neck comparisons with Gungnir etc. At the moment I’m running a Schitt Modius between my Mac mini and active Dynaudio Xeo 20 speakers. (I know Xeo 20 has internal DSP etc so this is two rounds of conversions but for some reason there’s a better sound when running via the Modius.) So question - will upgrading to Bifrost or even Qutest upgrade the sound quality?
That's a very interesting question. I'd say it's very difficult to predict because it will depend on the synergy between the DSP and the DAC itself. Sorry I can't be more helpful!
Great review! I currently own a RME ADI-2, and looking for some dac smoother and more natural as an upgrade or complementary, do you feel the difference between Qutest and ADI-2 is significant enough for me to buy it and keep both? If not, which should I try? Im thinking Ares II or Pontus II from Denafrips as well
Hi Alex, I personally love the Qutest, but it's not as huge a departure as something like the Ares II which I found too smooth. I'm yet to try the Pontus, but that or the Qutest are probably both worth trying if you can.
@@PassionforSound Thank you for replying, Ordered a Qutest on the way now
Great news! Enjoy!
would be interesting to compare matrix audio dacs with that mix since they have cheaper options or slightly more expensive yet newer chips
Good idea, Sall. I used to own a Matrix X-Sabre so I'm definitely a fan of their products!
Passion for Sound Personally looking for a Dac at sub 1000$ to pair with Woo’s WA2 but since my adx5000 and amp didn’t arrive yet I’ll keep exploring until I hear the sound signature first🥵
Good luck in the hunt. I hope the ADX5000s arrive soon!
@@sallom432 you might want to check out the schiit bifrost 2 dac. Excellent value for money.
Hello I just became a sub. I know this is not Q&A but if you read this maybe you can take an educated guess. I have an Arcam irDac with an original wall wart. Would you assume an external liner power supply would make a reasonable improvement or will it be throwing money away vs buying a Chord Qutest with its standard power supply? Thank you for sharing you audio knowledge with us all, stay well.
Hi Cruzing, I have no experience with the irDAC so I can't comment - sorry. What I can say is that the Qutest comfortably beats anything else I've heard in the nearby price range so far (and that's quite a lot of DACs). The only DAC that's come close and may be equal to the Qutest is the Schiit Bifrost 2, but I don't have the Qutest here for comparison because I had to sell it to fund other purchases for review.
Passion for Sound thank you for taking the time to relay I really appreciate it sir, stay well.
You're welcome. You too! 🙂
Hi. Thank you for your amazing reviews. I need to buy a new dac and therefore I became a huge fan of your channel. I’ve watched every video I could and your reviews are so professional and complete!Probably you could help me to choose properly. You see, I’m a concert pianist and what I would like to get is a more natural as possible sound. I don’t want the sound to be beautiful, nor bombastic, I want it to be as close as possible to reality. I have a McIntosh ma6500 amplifier, ProAC Future 0.5 speakers, MIT shotgun s3 cables and, at the moment, Cambridge Audio CXC and CXN. Would the RME give me a more truthful sound? Should I make a bigger effort and go for a more expensive dac? In the future, I’ll probably get also a new network streamer. Thank you again
Hi Stefano, I think the ADI-2 is very resolving, but I personally don't think it's the most natural sounding DAC I've tried. I believe the Schiit Bifrost 2 or Chord Qutest provide the most natural sound of DACs close (or sort of close) to the price of the ADI-2. The issue with DACs using AKM, ESS or other DAC chips is that they tend to flatten the soundstage and the result is that you don't hear the subtleties, nuance and depth in the music the way you would in a live performance. I believe Bifrost 2 and Qutest do this much better.
@@PassionforSound thank you so much. I’ll probably spend more and go for a Hugo TT2 then, as I would also like to have a headphone amplifier
@@PassionforSound ...and what about the Mytek Brooklyn? You have never reviewed it. Do you know by any chance whether it has a natural sound, or how it compares to the other DACs you mentioned? Thanks
Awesome. You'll love it!
Hi Stefano, I'm yet to try the Mytek gear - sorry! The Burson Composer is an option that I have coming up for review. It's performing really well and may be another one worth considering. Stay tuned! 🙂
Hello, I have a Topping E30 and L30 stack and I was thinking to upgrading to RME ADI-2 DAC FS to pair with my HD800s. Would that upgrade be worth the money for the SQ gains? I have no opportunity to testing RME ADI-2 DAC FS in my country. And TBH with all this measurements "META" in audio community, you making a video comparing a budget stack with good measurements and high end stack with about the same measurements and explaining their differences would be a great video for audio beginners like me that read the forums where people only talk about measurements and not how things actually sound. Thanks!
Hi Dmytro, that's a good idea for a review! I'll see what I can arrange. In the meantime, the ADI-2 will be an improvement over the E30/L30. The DAC stage in particular is a lot more advanced and you have a lot more control over the sound. The amp stage may not be a huge improvement over the L30, but it definitely won't be worse.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the reply, what If I would Keep L30 and get a chord Qutest for dac? I found a place where I can get it for under 1000 euros. And maybe later I would get a better amp.
That would be my choice. L30 is good enough to serve you well with the Qutest until you can upgrade further
How would you compare the audio on the RME to the Burson Audio Composer 3XP?
I personally prefer the Composer because I feel like it's use of the Burson discrete op-amps produces a more natural and smoother overall presentation. I recently had the ADI-2 on loan again and REALLY wanted to prefer it, but no matter the settings I used, the edginess of the delivery made it hard to relax into the music and gave no alternative benefit that the Composer lacked. The Composer matched it for detail retrieval, soundstage, etc. so the ADI-2 is only of benefit if you need the built-in headphone amp (which is quite good, but not amazing) or if you need the in-depth EQ, crossfeed, etc. of the ADI-2 and that's very hard to find in any other product
@@PassionforSound Thank you for your detailed response. The RME features are compelling but ultimately, the audio quality is my priority. I already have the Burson Swing with both Classic and Vivid options depending on mood and I am quite impressed with it's performance. Burson asures me the Composer is an upgrade in many ways.
I haven't heard the Swing, but I don't doubt that the Composer will be better.
Hi Passion for sound, you describing Qutest more envolving and circular in its soundstage, with a more vibrant-room filling bass, against a more horizontal - wider but less depth soundstage on RME Adi-2. Those consideration are made by HP audition? Should differs playing by SPKRs?
Does RMA offer some filters/options to let the sound as smooth and enveloping as the Qutest?
There is a chance that some things will be different from speakers, but most of what I've said holds true regardless. There's also no way to get the RME to sound as good as the Qutest because the issue is in the timing of the transients in the music and there are no adjustments from that - it's about the way each DAC processes the signal
@@PassionforSound Is the difference in sounstage you mentioned, really noticeable?
Whatever is the DAC in subject, is possibke to go out to 2 amps at the same time? I.e. connecting the DAC to a secondary 10W allinone for evening easy listenings, and to primar amp for primar auditions?
I definitely think the soundstage difference is noticeable and you can always use an RCA splitter to take the signal to two amps
@@PassionforSound I avoid splitters as signal looses passing through a switched off amp. On forums a guy said ADI-2 outputs both anal at same time. I got 2 questions:
- When it's USB-cabled on Win7 PC, still Mobo or PCI-e audio card active, letting its mic to keep working?
- Does ADI-2 offer a sound compresson / Vol normalizer?
I've never noticed significant signal degradation from splitters (but I use solid splitters, not cables so that might help with quality).
The ADI-2 does output via both at the same time so that might keep things simpler.
Your mic is controlled separately in Windows so it will keep working regardless of the DAC.
As for sound compression, I'm not sure that it has such a function, but I don't know 100%
Hi and thank you for making such a good comparison video. I need to replace my integrated DAC Peachtree as it is dying so I am considering getting a DAC/pre amp with headphone option, then a power amp (Kinki EX M7?) as it it safer if something breaks and potentially provides better sound. I was leaning towards the RME but have just realised that the Hugo 2 is selling for a similar price here in Japan. Do you think a Hugo 2 would work successfully in a home setup enabling me to get the Qutest benefits plus pre amp/headphone versatility? I am pretty sure the sound will be more natural and live which is what I like. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
I'm glad I found help!
The Hugo 2 would be a wonderful choice. It performs just as well as the Qutest, but gives you pre-amp control and a fantastic headphone amp when you need it. Definitely a better option than the RME.
@@PassionforSound Lachlan, thank you for replying to a video you made sometime ago! Yes, I think I will do this then although my Peachtree now is officially dead so I will have to change my main amp first.
I am looking at the Kinki EX M1 integrated or M7 power amps which have damping factors of 2000 which is good for quiet listening during the day while both my wife and I work from home. Could there be a better amplifier to go well with the Chord? I have Martin Logan Motion 40 speakers now although I might finish my upgrade cycle by changing to some Focals but not this year on my pocket money!
Anyway, thank you again and I hope your channel continues to grow as you obviously put effort into your reviews, the production but also in terms of chatting with people in the discussion.
Always happy to help. 🙂
As for amps, I'm not as deep into speaker gear as I am into everything else so I'm not able to make recommendations there - sorry!
Actually, mostly based on your reviews, I decided to go for the Burson 3GT for these reasons: I don’t use balanced so a simpler architecture is better, has a fan for sweaty Japan, got an awesome ex demo deal for the unit at half price with warranty direct from Burson, headphone amp looks ideal, better unit for home stereo in terms of looks and practicality. Now I have to decide whether to go with the Kinki or Burson amps. Decision will probably be made based on whether Burson runs a promotion or not! Thanks once again.
Glad I could help. You'll love the 3GT!
You want to use balanced output rather than rca, as most balanced amps perform better when run balanced, since they are designed so. And most good amps are balanced. So, I would never buy a DAC without XLR output. It also limits you to only one output device. At this price point, the Qutest rca-only implementation seems inexcusable cheaping out.
That's not entirely true, ML. The Qutest is RCA only because it's a simpler signal path and that can result in a better transmission of the analog signal (i.e. not cheaping out). I do agree that having a single output is limiting and some balanced amps don't perform well via RCA, but there are plenty of great balanced amps that are wonderful via RCA (Burson Soloist 3XP & GT, Sparkos Labs Aries, etc.) and plenty of single ended input amps that are just wonderful in general (Rebel Amp, Bottlehead Mainline, Elekit TU-8200R, etc.)
Apart that the tonality of the REM internal amp is more inline with a 789 although I understand a little more musical, how would this stack up against the bifrost 2 and Jot2?
The Bifrost 2 / Jot 2 combo would be way better. Both the DAC stage and the amp are superior to the ADI-2 IMO if you don't need the EQ, crossfeed, etc.
@@PassionforSound thanks, xfeed and eq I can control from elsewhere in the chain, maybe a mojo 2 for now, so in that case I will stick to my original plan
Hmm mojo 2 isn’t going to work is it 😁 in that config as dig in only and analogue out only, Ron here I come I guess
Did you need an analog input too?
@@PassionforSound thinking
What headphone amp do you suggest I pair the chord qutest to? I like the sound signature that you described of the Qutest. I wanna kind of have an endgame pairing for the purpose of listening to music with headphones. Currently I am using a pair of Audeze LCD-2 Classic.
The Burson Soloist 3X is brilliant. That would be my choice. I'm also reviewing the Auris Euterpe shortly which is wonderful if you're looking for a tube amp.
Which one has more defined vocal? or more lively I should say? Do you think Amp affects the vocal character more or the Dac?
Definitely both amp and DAC can influence vocal character, but the amp SHOULD be the more impactful I believe. Having too much colour coming from your DAC can make your choices in the rest of the chain very limited. As to which makes vocals more lively, that's hard to answer, but I find the Qutest separates the vocal better, provides a better sense of 3-dimensionality and texture so I would choose that over the fairly 2-dimensional sounding ADI-2
@@PassionforSound Thanks! Eyeing on Qutest, but it doesn't have balanced out, that puts me off, I can't spend that much on same level of amplifier and not full use of its balance circuit. I heard recording studios use RME products, it must be very neutral, do you think it somewhat falls flat not musical? How does it compare to like BiFrost 2 and Ares II?
A good quality headphone amp should be equally as capable via RCA as XLR inputs so don't let the single ended only outputs put you off. Unless you have ground loops issues or very long came runs, there's really not a strong enough argument for balanced connection to sacrifice product/sound quality over connector type.
As for Bifrost 2 and Ares II, the Bifrost 2 is definitely the next best choice after the Qutest. I'm not a huge fan of the Ares II because I think it's too smooth and it kills the energy on transients too much.
The use of RME products in recording studios doesn't make them great playback devices necessarily because studios are more about the analog to digital process (recording) not the digital to analog process (listening)
@@PassionforSound Very enlightening answer, everytime I learn something from you, thanks a lot!
That's great news, Dean. So glad I could help!
How does the Chord Qutest compares to the Geshelli Enog2 Pro ?
Hi Nick, I haven't tried the Enog2. I might reach out to Geshelli and see what we can arrange though...
@@PassionforSound thanks
Hm ... I don‘t like that you compare RCA-Output from the Qutest with the XLR-Output of the RME ADI-2. Because at the end ... what did you judge: the different outputs of the DACs or the different inputs of your (pre-) amplifier? This can be complete different on other amplifiers ...
Hi Tom, the point was to maximise the possible performance of the ADI-2 and not handicap it by using the (slightly) lesser quality RCA output. You can draw all the necessary conclusions with the comparisons provided:
A) the XLR out from ADI-2 is better than the RCA out from ADI-2
B) XLR out from ADI-2 is almost as good as Qutest, but not quite
Therefore, RCA out from ADI-2 is noticeably inferior to Qutest.
Most people buying the ADI-2 will want to make use of the balanced out if possible and that's why I focussed on that output, buy still hopefully provided a full overview of the sound.
I'm sound quality all the way kinda guy but I want EQ and and true balanced out. what are my options?
Hi FV, what's your source? Just USB or also CD/SACD/DVD and similar? I.e. can you introduce EQ elsewhere in the chain?
If not, the ADI-2 is still fantastic and insanely powerful in terms of features. I'm not sure of another DAC that offers what you're looking for.
@@PassionforSound thank you for the excellent comparison and thanks for the reply. I'm using USB only for the moment but looking for a decent CD transport in near future. In terms of feature set, I don't think I've seen anything coming close to ADI-2 but after hearing your description of the sound coming out of Qutest, I'm leaning toward that for future purchase. I thought not having balanced output at that price point is hubris on Chord's part but you really convinced me that maybe Qutest's SE really is just as good or better even than the other DACs of the similar price range.
Check out my upcoming interview series with Jason Stoddard from Schiit. I asked him specifically about balanced vs SE and he confirmed that both have their pros and cons so it's more about the implementation than one approach being inherently better.
In terms of DACs, if you don't go for the ADI-2, the best sounding options I've heard are the Qutest (obviously) and I think the Bifrost 2 might be pretty special. It only just arrived, but I'm very impressed after initial listening.
Sound like you've been convinced by the maker of the Qutest... One has to listen to Rob Watts BEFORE noticing the differences of Qutest... Psychoacoustcs... The difference is VERY VERY subtle... I think the uture dac chips will be better than chords FPGA technology...
Hi J R, that's not really the case because i have since said that the new Schiit Bifrost 2 may actually be just as good as the Qutest while costing much less (I'm yet to have them side-by-side). If I was swayed by the marketing and hype from each person I speak to our each article I read, my tastes would be forever changing, but they're not.
I like to hear sound that has 3-dimensionality, nuance and texture - not just a wall of sound. There's no reason that I've come across yet that suggests future delta-sigma chips will start to do this better than Chord's FPGAs, some R2R ladders (not all - I don't particularly like the Ares II), or Schiit's Multibit designs.
@@PassionforSound makes sense. Would live to hear qutest vs bifrost side by side. Was bifrost also a 3d soundstage like qutest?
Yes, the Bifrost 2 has a nice sense of depth to it. I'll need to get my hands on a Qutest again to properly compare them. I'm so curious to see if the B2 is as good despite the much lower price.
I have two things to ask, for the sound comparison did you increase the dBu output on the ADI? Second, I am assuming you never tinkered with the EQ? Many reviewers mentioned it hurts the soundstage and I was curious to know if there was truth to that, as it would deem a primary function useless.
Hi John, I adjusted the dBu to match volumes where necessary. I didn't feel like this impacted the SQ at all.
I did play briefly with the EQ from an interface perspective, but didn't consider the overall SQ with it active. Reduction in soundstage could be a result of DSP being applied to the signal, but it could also be a result of the tonal balance being changed. Different frequencies provide different spatial information to our brains so how someone sets the EQ can have a huge impact.
@@PassionforSound after doing room correction and adjusting it with the eq, I actually found that the sound stage and openess got better after the eq, so it's possible to improve the rme in every way
That's great news! Glad you got it sounding how you like
I understand Qutest has better sound quality including the SS width and depth in particular than RME but look at the back it does not even have the RCA inputs. In terms of feature and interface it offer, what on earth does Qutest justify its price tag?
The consumer ADI-2 as reviewed here also doesn't have RCA inputs so you're paying for the same thing in both cases - sound quality. The ADI-2 has more features, but I didn't enjoy listening to it no matter which settings I used. The Qutest, on the other hand, I bought and owned for quite some time because I enjoyed every moment
@@PassionforSound I think there is a slight misinformation here. ADI-2 does have the Coax input along with Opti and USB. What I was saying is Qutest should have at least one coax. input in lieu of two being BNC. Of couse, we could always use coax. to BNC converter but I think that is less preferrable way since less is better in the signal path.
Ah, when you said, RCA I thought you were referring to the ADI-2 Pro version which is also an ADC and therefore accepts analog audio inputs. As for no SPDIF RCA, the BNC inputs are a superior connection compared to RCA SPDIF and adapters from RCA to BNC are readily available and cheap.
Was the comparison made with headphones only?
Hi Mark, yes. All my reviews are with headphones
@@PassionforSound thank you for your reply
Hi! now i'm lost! I already ordered the Singxer SA-1 and was thinking of buying the Topping D70S DAC to use with my Sennheiser HD 800 S ... but after round and round I wonder which will sound better, if the Singxer together with the D70S or together with the Qutest? ?? Or which DAC would you recommend below US $ 2000?
Hi Javier, you'll get better sound with the Singxer and either the Schiit Bifrost 2 (good) or the Chord Qutest (better). The D70S will flatten the soundstage and prevent you hearing the layering the SA-1 is capable of
@@PassionforSound Thank you! And if I want something even better than the Chord Qutest, which one can I buy?
Next step above the Qutest would be the Schiit Yggdrasil (I think - yet to try one) or Hugo TT2 (definitely)
@@PassionforSound OKAY! Thanks for sharing! For now I'm going to go for the Qutest. The others are already a little out of my budget
You'll be very happy I think 🙂
IMO it make no sense to compare those two devices: RME is actually DSP with dac/headamp option for free, Chord has no options. That being said, it make no sense to buy RME only for DAC not using anything else.
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Hi Piotr, this was one of the most requested comparisons I've seen which is why I produced the video. I agree with your assessment that they're very different products, but many people consider them both in the approximate price range.
Another great review - Thanks for your efforts! Where would you place the Denafrips Ares II Dac in comparison with these 2? - Does it compete, or are these two the next level up??
It's a very different beast. I think to me, the Qutest is clearly the best of the three on pure sound quality. After that, it's very much about either tonal character and soundstaging vs features. The ADI-2 is a beast for features, but the sound leaves me pretty cold. The Ares II is very rich and warm for a DAC and can lack a sense of energy and excitement, but throws a big spacious soundstage.
In think if you asked me to rank them in order of my sonic preference it would be Qutest, Ares, ADI-2
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the great reply, really appreciate it, Cheers! OK, what about the Bitfrost 2? Above the Ares?? - I'm researching a new DAC to pair with my Senn HDV 820 (which has a DAC), but I want a separate stand alone unit. HP's are 660S, AKG 701's & Arya. I don't get to demo or test any new gear, so I have to read many reviews and watch channels like yours to make an informed decision :)
To me and based only on what I've personally tried, the Bifrost 2 is the best DAC other than the Qutest before you start getting to crazy prices. It's very similar to the Qutest in many ways, but I think slightly less resolving, but only by a tiny margin I think (I haven't had the chance to try them side-by-side)
It's very very bad that the RME have only a few digitial inputs. Please give me 4 coax and 2 optical inputs. The chord cannot deal with emphasized cds.
There's not too many DACs or there with that many inputs. 2 coax and 2 optical exist, but 4 coax is very unusual.
@@PassionforSound 2 coax + 2 opt would be enough. So some cents more to build for the RME.. Dont't understand it anyway.
Yeah, for a device of this nature, I agree a couple of inputs of those types might have been good
Hi There excellent comparison, I need advice, I currently have chord Hugo 2 and for my Arya headphones Which benefits from high power I am looking at Topping A90 Amp but my Hugo 2 only have RCA out will I lose resolution or experience distortion if using RCA out with A90 or getting something like D90 will give greater benefits or it will be waste of money. Thanks
Hi Lone Star, the D90 will be a waste of money as the Hugo 2 is comfortably better (based on Qutest being better in my listening tests). I'm currently preparing to review the D90/A90 stack so I can speak from experience on that.
What I don't know is whether the A90 is better than the Hugo 2 in terms of amplification. It's a nice amp, but it's not blowing me away so unless you really need the power, I'm not sure it's the best use of your money. Let me do some reading and calculations and come back to you...
Ok, did some reading and calculations and yes, the Hugo 2 is a bit short on power so the A90 is likely going to be an improvement. The question for me at the moment is whether the A90 sounds better than the THX 789 - I need to do more comparisons, but my testing of the Schiit Magnius with the 789 and A90 makes me wonder... I'll see if I can get you an answer fairly quickly... (like tomorrow or the day after)
@@PassionforSound many thanks for your quick feedback and glad to hear you will be doing a review of Topping Stack, can you please compare the RCA input via Qutest vs XLR on D90 with A90 it will really help me spend the money wisely to get the best sound. Looking forward to your review.
@@lonestar1664 no sweat! I tried the A90 RCA vs XLR today and if there's any difference it's VERY minor. I think what I'm hearing is actually the difference in quality between my excellent XLR cables and average RCA cables
@@PassionforSound many thanks again for helping with this question. You are truly amazing for answering all my questions
The ADI-2 wins hands down on versatility and features and price and Bang for the Buck. Just like there is a so called "AppleTax" I think that there is a "Chord Tax" that one pays to have the privilege of owning a piece of Chord equipment. Plus there is an element of bias that is present for many reviewers. If one listens/watches enough reviews on the comparison of these two there is a tendency for reviewers to conclude that the Qutest sounds better some of which I think is due in part to "Chord" brand and to the "well it is more expensive so it must sound better" . Double blind testing would be useful to eliminate bias but is quite difficult to implement.
Hi gomez, no doubt the ADI-2 is extremely versatile and possibly the most powerful DAC on the market in the price range. I disagree about the Chord tax though. I don't know enough about Apple to say how they compare, but in the case of Chord, what you're paying for is an advanced, in-house designed DAC using the FPGA (more expensive than off-the-shelf AKM / ESS chips) and Rob Watt's coding for its operation. The ADI-2, like most DACs on the market, uses an off-the-shelf chip that's both cheap and not as good as custom-designed solutions being produced by companies like Chord (and Schiit although that's a bit different).
As for the bias that it's more expensive and therefore must sound better, that doesn't really stand up to the evidence. I have reviewed the $700 USD Bifrost 2 from Schiit and believe it also bests the ADI-2 for sound quality along with the Topping D90 (also better than the ADI-2 I think) so I have multiple examples on my channel where cheaper gear is favourably reviewed against more expensive competition both in the space of DACs, but also headphones (see my Grado RS-1 review)
Thanks for your review. I’m not sure what you mean when you say the dacs sound different though. In engineering terms both dacs are transparent. We know this because the data is published, all distortion and jitter artefacts are in the region of -140db or less, which is about as inaudible as one can get. Can you elaborate on how you achieve this?
Hi Kristian, measurements of distortion don't cover everything about the tonal character of the DAC. Check out my interviews with Rob Watts (Chord) and Jason Stoddard (Schiit) for further explanation.