$2000 for DAC? Chord Qutest Review
Do DACs matter? Can you justify spending $2000 on a DAC like the Chord Qutest? I was fortunate enough to have a friend of the channel send a Qutest over for review and I was able to put it up against my Schiit Bifrost 2 to see what the difference was. TLDW; the Qutest is great, but I don’t know that I’d shell out the cash for it. I feel like the Bifrost holds up pretty well.
Links (maybe be affiliate):
Chord Qutest: https://www.moon-audio.com/chord-qute...
Schiit Bifrost 2: https://www.schiit.com/products/bifro...
My other Do DACs Matter videos:
#1: • Do DACs Matter? (my experience)
#2: • SU-9 Review - Do DACs Matter? (part 2)
#3: • Do DACs Matter? (part 3: R2R) Bifrost 2 vs...
#4: • Should you upgrade your AMP or DAC first? ...
Look down below for links to all that gear and some other recommendations.
Of course, I always recommend you take a look at the used market, below are some sites that are great for that.
Head-Fi: https://www.head-fi.org/
HifiGuides: https://forum.hifiguides.com/
Reddit: / avexchange
Hifi-shark: https://www.hifishark.com/
US AudioMart: https://www.usaudiomart.com/
Some of my favorite equipment for various niches (some links are affiliate):
Super Budget Headphone: Koss kph40: https://koss.com/products/kph40-utility
Need these pads for the kph40 though: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10050...
Cheap Gaming Headphone: AD700X: https://amzn.to/3b4ACUS
Cheap All-Around Headphone: SHP9600: https://amzn.to/3b6aUiP
Entry Level DAC: Modi 3+: https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-1
Entry Level Amp: IEMagni: https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-1
Entry Balanced DAC: SMSL SU8: (look used)
Or Modius: https://www.schiit.com/products/modius
My Main DAC: Bifrost 2: https://www.schiit.com/products/bifro...
My Main Amp: Singxer SA-1: https://amzn.to/3BgXJ97
Tube Amp: Bottlehead Crack: https://bottlehead.com/product/crack-...
Headphone #1: HE6SEv2: adorama.rfvk.net/4eydoo
Headphone #2: Focal Elex w/ Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin: https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-focal...
Headphone #3: OG NIghthawks: (look used)
Gaming Headphone: HE560v4: adorama.rfvk.net/6bnGoG
Bluetooth Portable DAC/Amp: XCan: https://amzn.to/3vJG8WA
Wired Portable DAC/Amp: Mojo: https://amzn.to/3CbYWQs
TWS: Sony XM4: https://amzn.to/3Glr7Py
Cables:
Hart Audio Cables: https://hartaudiocables.com/
Worlds Best RCA Interconnects: https://amzn.to/3pB2Oa7
Worlds Best XLR Interconnects: https://amzn.to/3vEdwxO
Recording Gear:
Canon M50: https://amzn.to/3ba7KKJ
Sigma 16mm 1.4: https://amzn.to/3vF6SaB
Maono USB Mic: https://amzn.to/3CecbQO
Canon M100 (overhead): https://amzn.to/31lZAxT
Canon 22mm 2.0 (overhead): https://amzn.to/3dowiAO
#hifi #chord #qutest #schiit #dac #bifrost #headphones