Chord - Qutest
Desktop DACGET 18% GST INPUT
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Low Cost EMI Options through Credit Cards
ICICI Bank
3
Low Cost EMI
₹ 37,645
₹ 2,944
₹ 2,373
6
Low Cost EMI
₹ 19,196
₹ 5,186
₹ 4,196
9
15.99%
₹ 13,050
₹ 7,457
12
15.99%
₹ 9,979
₹ 9,758
18
15.99%
₹ 6,913
₹ 14,445
24
15.99%
₹ 5,385
₹ 19,248
HDFC Bank
3
Low Cost EMI
₹ 37,645
₹ 2,946
₹ 2,373
6
Low Cost EMI
₹ 19,197
₹ 5,190
₹ 4,196
9
16%
₹ 13,050
₹ 7,462
12
16%
₹ 9,979
₹ 9,764
18
16%
₹ 6,914
₹ 14,454
24
16%
₹ 5,385
₹ 19,261
SBI Bank
3
Low Cost EMI
₹ 37,676
₹ 3,038
₹ 2,443
6
Low Cost EMI
₹ 19,142
₹ 4,862
₹ 3,915
9
15%
₹ 12,998
₹ 6,988
12
15%
₹ 9,928
₹ 9,140
18
16%
₹ 6,914
₹ 14,454
24
16%
₹ 5,385
₹ 19,261
Axis Bank
3
Low Cost EMI
₹ 37,645
₹ 2,946
₹ 2,373
6
Low Cost EMI
₹ 19,197
₹ 5,190
₹ 4,196
9
16%
₹ 13,050
₹ 7,462
12
16%
₹ 9,876
₹ 8,518
18
16%
₹ 6,914
₹ 14,454
24
16%
₹ 5,385
₹ 19,261
Other EMI Options through Credit Cards
Citi Bank
3
14%
₹ 37,522
₹ 2,576
6
14%
₹ 19,087
₹ 4,535
9
16%
₹ 13,050
₹ 7,462
12
16%
₹ 9,979
₹ 9,764
18
16%
₹ 6,914
₹ 14,454
24
16%
₹ 5,385
₹ 19,261
Kotak Mahindra Bank
Tenure
Interest%
Installment
Interest
3
16%
₹ 37,645
₹ 2,946
6
16%
₹ 19,197
₹ 5,190
9
16%
₹ 13,050
₹ 7,462
12
16%
₹ 9,979
₹ 9,764
18
16%
₹ 6,914
₹ 14,454
24
16%
₹ 5,385
₹ 19,261
RBL Bank
3
13%
₹ 37,461
₹ 2,392
6
14%
₹ 19,087
₹ 4,535
9
15%
₹ 12,998
₹ 6,988
12
15%
₹ 9,928
₹ 9,140
18
15%
₹ 6,862
₹ 13,521
24
15%
₹ 5,333
₹ 18,003
Standard Chartered Bank
3
13%
₹ 37,461
₹ 2,392
6
13%
₹ 19,033
₹ 4,208
9
14%
₹ 12,945
₹ 6,515
12
14%
₹ 9,876
₹ 8,518
INDUSIND Bank
3
14%
₹ 37,522
₹ 2,576
6
14%
₹ 19,087
₹ 4,535
9
15%
₹ 12,998
₹ 6,988
12
15%
₹ 9,928
₹ 9,140
18
15%
₹ 6,862
₹ 13,521
24
15%
₹ 5,333
₹ 18,003
HSBC Bank
3
12.50%
₹ 37,430
₹ 2,299
6
12.50%
₹ 19,006
₹ 4,045
9
13.50%
₹ 12,919
₹ 6,279
12
13.50%
₹ 9,850
₹ 8,208
18
13.50%
₹ 6,784
₹ 12,128
YES Bank
3
13%
₹ 37,461
₹ 2,392
6
13%
₹ 19,033
₹ 4,208
9
14%
₹ 12,945
₹ 6,515
12
14%
₹ 9,876
₹ 8,518
18
15%
₹ 6,862
₹ 13,521
24
15%
₹ 5,333
₹ 18,003
Bank of Baroda
3
13%
₹ 37,461
₹ 2,392
6
14%
₹ 19,087
₹ 4,535
9
14%
₹ 12,945
₹ 6,515
12
15%
₹ 9,928
₹ 9,140
18
15%
₹ 6,862
₹ 13,521
24
16%
₹ 5,385
₹ 19,261
American Express
3
14%
₹ 37,522
₹ 2,576
6
14%
₹ 19,087
₹ 4,535
9
14%
₹ 12,945
₹ 6,515
12
14%
₹ 9,876
₹ 8,518
18
15%
₹ 6,862
₹ 13,521
24
15%
₹ 5,333
₹ 18,003
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Why Chord is Special
Designed in UK
Established & Reputed
Trust us, our reputation in the audio world speaks for itself!
This headphone or gear comes from a well-respected brand known for its high-quality audio equipment, so you can be confident in your purchase.
If you see a product marked as “🎖️ Established & Reputed”, it means you're getting a top-tier device from a brand that's earned its stripes in the audio industry.
Revered by Audiophiles
Audiophiles can be really picky and tough to impress and if the audiophile community says something sounds good, you can bet it's great!
This headphone or gear has gained recognition and admiration from audiophiles, who are known for their discerning taste in high-fidelity audio. They appreciate its precision, attention to detail and its ability to deliver an immersive sonic experience.
If you see a product marked as "🙌🏻 Revered by Audiophiles", it means that it meets the highest standards of sound quality and performance, making it a top choice for anyone who values exceptional audio experiences.
Specialist
A masterpiece from the experts who know audio inside and out!
This headphone or gear is crafted by specialists who know their stuff, ensuring every detail is perfect.
If you see a product marked as “🌟 Specialist”, it means you're choosing a device designed by experts who specialize in creating this specific category of device.
Boutique Brand
Born in 1989
Why we love this DAC/Amp
Premium Economy
Sensible spending and class above in quality.
This headphone or gear offers top-notch sound and performance without much impact on your pocket, promising a delightful experience that exceeds your expectations at an economical price point.
If you see a product marked as “💎 Premium Economy," it indicates that you're getting a high-quality audio product with exceptional sound clarity and reliable performance, all at a budget-friendly price.
Serious Audiophiles Only
Diving deeper into exploring the hobby is never enough.
If you're an audiophile on a hunt for a device that meets your high standards, this is one such headphone or gear designed for discerning audiophiles like you in mind.
If you see a product marked with “🦈 Serious Audiophiles Only" we assure you that this device can match your depth of knowledge and expertise to take your passion for audio to the next level.
Audiophile Community Favourite
This headphone or gear has a seal of approval from our audiophile community.
It is hit among the pickiest of audio enthusiasts. It comes with two thumbs up and is the community’s and one of our favourites.
If you see a product marked as “🦋 Audiophile Community Favourite”, you're in for a sonic treat with top-tier sound quality that will make your ears swoon and elevate your listening experience to new heights!
Our Team's Favourite
Cause after all, we are audiophiles first!
This headphone or gear has won the hearts of our team, standing out as a top pick among our gurus.
If you see products marked as “💙 Our Team’s Favourite”, you're choosing a product that’s been tested, loved, and enthusiastically recommended by our team, giving you confidence that it’s a standout choice!
For Audiophiles at Home
Cause music hit differently when you are in your own space.
This headphone or gear is perfect for those who demand exceptional sound quality in their personal sanctuary.
If you see products marked as “🏠 For Audiophiles at Home”, get ready to transform your living space into an audiophile's paradise, with rich, immersive sound that makes every listening session a masterpiece.
Built like a Tank
No need to worry about durability.
If you're seeking a headphone or gear with a strong, rugged build, this snapshot indicates that this is the one for you.
If you see a product marked with “🪖 Built like a Tank", it means this product is crafted with metal in its design, ensuring exceptional robustness and durability.
Connect With Cable
This device comes with multiple connectivity options. Be sure to check if your source and output support these input and output options.
Why it Sounds Amazing
DAC Chip
Know the secret to your pristine audio.
This headphone or gear reveals the secret sauce behind superior audio quality, highlighting the presence of a high-performance DAC chip for pristine sound reproduction.
If you see products marked as “⚙️ DAC Chip”, expect to experience your music with unparalleled clarity, detail, and fidelity, ensuring that every note and nuance is faithfully reproduced for your listening pleasure.
The Chord Qutest emanates a sound quality that's undeniably satisfying. It stands as a testament to robust engineering, providing a powerful and polished rendition of digital music. It achieves an impressive equilibrium between neutrality and precision. If you're considering enhancing your audio system, I strongly advise giving the Qutest a shot.
About RAGHAV SOMANI
Raghav Somani is the Founder & CEO of Headphone Zone. An avid audiophile and musician since 2008, his choice of headphones include STAX Electrostats, Audeze LCD 3, and for music on the go, the JH Audio Roxanne + Astell&Kern SP1000 is never too far away. On his playlist, you'll find A.R. Rahman, Michael Jackson, and the Eagles.
DESCRIPTION
UPGRADE YOUR HOME SET-UP'S SOUND
Unlike other DACs by Chord Electronics, the Qutest does not have headphone amplification or rechargeable batteries. It is a pure DAC made to improve your home listening set-up. With its FPGA DAC, you get superior technical and sonic performance. With 49,152 taps, this DAC is able to support even Native DSD 512 (Octa-DSD).
MULTIPLE CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS
Connect to a wide variety of devices with the Qutest’s optical, 2 BNC Coax and USB Type-B digital inputs. These are galvanically isolated to give an instant performance upgrade as well as to modernise ageing digital source components. Connect to future Chord Electronics devices with Hi-Res dual-data digital inputs. RCA analogue outputs let you connect to headphone amps, preamps and integrated amps.
SUPPORTS ALL YOUR CHOICES
The Qutest lets you select from its four frequency-shaping filters and input selection controls. This can be done via the two fascia-mounted spheres. You can also choose whether you want the output voltage to be 1, 2 or 3 RMS for connecting to a range of devices. It supports a wide range of frequencies like 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 358.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz and 768kHz.
HIGH-QUALITY, DURABLE ALUMINIUM CASING
The Qutest sports a show-off-worthy chassis. This all-new chassis has been precision-machined from solid aircraft-grade aluminium for better durability. The PCB has been kept in a shallow cavity in the casing for additional isolation and protection from external vibration.
SPECS
| CHIPSET | custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA |
| FREQUENCY RESPONSE | 20 Hz – 20 kHz +/- 0.2dB |
| THD | <0.0001% 1 kHz 3v RMS 300Ω |
| THD & NOISE | 117dB at 1 kHz 300ohms @3v RMS |
| CHANNEL SEPARATION | 138dB at 1 kHz 300Ω |
| TAP LENGTH | 49,152 |
| PULSE ARRAY | 10 element pulse array design |
| PCM SUPPORT | 44.1 kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 358.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz. |
| DSD SUPPORT | Native playback supported. DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD) |
| DRIVER SUPPORT | Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS |
| INPUT | USB Type B (White): 44.1 kHz to 768kHz – 16 bit to 32 Bit |
| 2x BNC Coax (Red): 44.1 kHz – 384kHz – 16 bit to 32 Bit | |
| 1x Dual data mode input (using both BNC coax inputs together): 44.1 kHz to 768kHz – 16 bit to 32 Bit | |
| Optical (Green): 44.1 kHz to 96kHz – 16 bit to 24 BIT | |
| OUTPUT | 1x stereo pair of RCA (Left and Right) |
| VARIABLE OUTPUT | Fixed, but selectable between 3v (blue), 2v (green), and 1v (red) via dual press of ‘Filter’ + ‘Input’ upon startup |
| DEVICE POWER SUPPLY | 5v 2amp Micro USB |
| DIMENSIONS | 4.5cm (H) x 16cm (W) x 8.8cm (D) |
| WEIGHT | 770g |
| BOX CONTENTS | 1. Chord Qutest DAC |
| 2. 5V 2A Switching Micro USB power supply | |
| 3. Type-A USB to Type-B USB cable | |
| 4. Drawstring bag | |
| 5. Qutest user manual | |
| 6. Safety instructions |
OTHER DETAILS
| GENERIC NAME | Digital Audio Converter |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | United Kingdom |
| IMPORTER DETAILS | Importers Name: Ferrari Video Address: 63/18, 1st Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Chennai - 600020 Contact No: 044-24420733 |
| DIMENSIONS | 22 x 13 x 11 CM |
| NET QUANTITY | 1 |
| MANUFACTURER DETAILS | Name: Chord Electronics Ltd. Address: The Pumphouse, Farleigh Bridge, Farleigh Lane, East Farleigh, Maidstone |
| PACKAGE CONTENTS | Chord Qutest DAC 5V 2A Switching Micro USB Power Supply Type-A USB To Type-B USB Cable Drawstring Bag Qutest User ManuaL, Safety Instructions |
User Manual | Qutest
Desktop DAC
|
FAQs
UPGRADE YOUR HOME SET-UP'S SOUND
Unlike other DACs by Chord Electronics, the Qutest does not have headphone amplification or rechargeable batteries. It is a pure DAC made to improve your home listening set-up. With its FPGA DAC, you get superior technical and sonic performance. With 49,152 taps, this DAC is able to support even Native DSD 512 (Octa-DSD).
MULTIPLE CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS
Connect to a wide variety of devices with the Qutest’s optical, 2 BNC Coax and USB Type-B digital inputs. These are galvanically isolated to give an instant performance upgrade as well as to modernise ageing digital source components. Connect to future Chord Electronics devices with Hi-Res dual-data digital inputs. RCA analogue outputs let you connect to headphone amps, preamps and integrated amps.
SUPPORTS ALL YOUR CHOICES
The Qutest lets you select from its four frequency-shaping filters and input selection controls. This can be done via the two fascia-mounted spheres. You can also choose whether you want the output voltage to be 1, 2 or 3 RMS for connecting to a range of devices. It supports a wide range of frequencies like 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 358.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz and 768kHz.
HIGH-QUALITY, DURABLE ALUMINIUM CASING
The Qutest sports a show-off-worthy chassis. This all-new chassis has been precision-machined from solid aircraft-grade aluminium for better durability. The PCB has been kept in a shallow cavity in the casing for additional isolation and protection from external vibration.
| CHIPSET | custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA |
| FREQUENCY RESPONSE | 20 Hz – 20 kHz +/- 0.2dB |
| THD | <0.0001% 1 kHz 3v RMS 300Ω |
| THD & NOISE | 117dB at 1 kHz 300ohms @3v RMS |
| CHANNEL SEPARATION | 138dB at 1 kHz 300Ω |
| TAP LENGTH | 49,152 |
| PULSE ARRAY | 10 element pulse array design |
| PCM SUPPORT | 44.1 kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 358.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz. |
| DSD SUPPORT | Native playback supported. DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD) |
| DRIVER SUPPORT | Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS |
| INPUT | USB Type B (White): 44.1 kHz to 768kHz – 16 bit to 32 Bit |
| 2x BNC Coax (Red): 44.1 kHz – 384kHz – 16 bit to 32 Bit | |
| 1x Dual data mode input (using both BNC coax inputs together): 44.1 kHz to 768kHz – 16 bit to 32 Bit | |
| Optical (Green): 44.1 kHz to 96kHz – 16 bit to 24 BIT | |
| OUTPUT | 1x stereo pair of RCA (Left and Right) |
| VARIABLE OUTPUT | Fixed, but selectable between 3v (blue), 2v (green), and 1v (red) via dual press of ‘Filter’ + ‘Input’ upon startup |
| DEVICE POWER SUPPLY | 5v 2amp Micro USB |
| DIMENSIONS | 4.5cm (H) x 16cm (W) x 8.8cm (D) |
| WEIGHT | 770g |
| BOX CONTENTS | 1. Chord Qutest DAC |
| 2. 5V 2A Switching Micro USB power supply | |
| 3. Type-A USB to Type-B USB cable | |
| 4. Drawstring bag | |
| 5. Qutest user manual | |
| 6. Safety instructions |
OTHER DETAILS
| GENERIC NAME | Digital Audio Converter |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | United Kingdom |
| IMPORTER DETAILS | Importers Name: Ferrari Video Address: 63/18, 1st Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Chennai - 600020 Contact No: 044-24420733 |
| DIMENSIONS | 22 x 13 x 11 CM |
| NET QUANTITY | 1 |
| MANUFACTURER DETAILS | Name: Chord Electronics Ltd. Address: The Pumphouse, Farleigh Bridge, Farleigh Lane, East Farleigh, Maidstone |
| PACKAGE CONTENTS | Chord Qutest DAC 5V 2A Switching Micro USB Power Supply Type-A USB To Type-B USB Cable Drawstring Bag Qutest User ManuaL, Safety Instructions |
|
User Manual | Qutest
Desktop DAC
|
Don't sweat it, this
Chord - Qutest comes with a 3 Year warranty
from Chord Electronics that covers manufacturing defects.
All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty.
Read more about Chord Electronics's warranty in India.
Best DAC £500 - £1200
What Hi-Fi? Awards
Nov, 2019
Best DAC £500 - £1200
What Hi-Fi? Awards
Nov, 2018
Best Product Award
EISA Award
Sep, 2019
Best Buy
Winner
AVForums
July, 2018
Stars of CES Winner
What Hi-Fi?
Jan, 2018
Editor's Choice Winner
Hi-Fi Choice
Feb, 2018
Best DAC £500 - £1200
What Hi-Fi? Awards
Oct, 2020
Best DAC £500-£1,500
What Hi-Fi? Awards
Oct, 2022
"What Hi-Fi? Awards 2019 winner. Chord has managed to do it again. The Qutest sets a new benchmark at this price. Clear, precise and subtle performer with stylish build."
Read More
"The Chord Qutest is a perfect fusion of science and art.Capable of astounding clarity, Chord’s Qutest DAC cuts the cost of audiophile grade digital decoding."
Read More
"Gosh, what is there not to like about the Qutest as a pure DAC? It gives resolutely detailed and fantastically natural sounding with just about any amp I can throw at it."
Read More
"The Qutest was detailed, natural, very atmospheric with great 3D imaging. The Qutest is a cuddly, small aluminium box which is machined from a solid billet of aluminium and then black anodised."
Read MoreCustomer Reviews
Took a step away from the Gustard R26 (excellent DAC, but somewhat laid back for my taste) to try the Chord Qutest as I wanted something a little sharper and more detailed. Qutest has clarity and is very rhythmic, but needs a good source to bring out the best. Sounded very average with an iPad 9th gen Lightning to USB-A adapter output, but excellent with an iPhone 15 Pro Max USB-C to HDMI+USB-A media adapter. Your mileage may vary.
Pairing with Amps:
1. Leaning on warm side of neutral when paired with my Yaqin tube speaker amp (6L6 tubes), holographic and detailed.
2. Neutral, detailed but not very holographic when paired with xDuoo TA66 tube headphone amp and Sennheiser HD660S2. Is the headphone the limiting factor? No idea.
3. Solid state Speaker amp - detailed, somewhat holographic, muscular sound - fine fit nonetheless
Detailed - I mean I can hear instruments and vocals separately and clearly, can identify more texture to each note.
Is this better than Gustard R26? For my preferences, my input sources, and my taste in music - Yes.
Bonus - It's a pleasure to watch action movies with sound through the Qutest - bullets and explosions have a real feel to them, movie sondtracks too.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with the Chord Qutest. We hope it continues to bring you joy. Happy listening!
Thanks to Headphone zone for offering very competitive price, below 1L with free stand. Very enjoyable DAC, it sounds very balanced and refined, feeling like it's my final DAC and my hunt for best DAC is over. Sound Quality is awesome, some songs feeling like I'm listening first time, very musical, great channel separation and crispy. It's value for Money. I would recommend this DAC for music lovers.
Hey Haribabu, thanks a lot for this lovely review and we are glad you are enjoying it! Keep the music playing.
There is something about the Chord sound which brings a lifelike realism. This is a very special DAC which sounds very different from the delta sigma ones with excellent detail, instrument separation and soundstage but still not being very clinical.
Pairs fantastically with neutral to warm amps, strongly advice to invest in good RCA interconnects to extract the maximum potential of the DAC!
Hey there, nothing makes us happier than knowing you loved your purchase, hope you had a comfortable shopping experience & thank you for the great review & ratings!
My heartiest compliments to headphone zone for a wonderfully curated and seamless experience.
I am a regular audiophile consumer and must say this was the best for a high end audio equipment purchase
Keep the mojo going headphone zone and service rewards handsomely.
HI Anand,
We thank you for this lovely review & we are glad you are enjoying it! Keep the music playing.
Really nice experience , able to hear details of music and warm sound output
Hey Prabakaran,
Thank you for the awesome review & ratings!
Ive been eyeing this piece of equipment for some time now, having multiple DACs like Schiit Modi, Ifi Zen dac , Aune X1s, Meridian Director who are all currently functional and in use in multiple audio set ups. This though is on a different level, pureplay DAC with no headphone amp built in, it makes your speakers shine. Go for it ! Absolute recommend
HI Shosin,
Delighted that you are loving your purchase, we hope you had a comfortable shopping experience & thanks for the lovely review. Cheers & Keep the music playing!
Chord - Qutest
If you are looking for a pure audiophile desktop DAC, this is what you get. Chord Qutest has a sound signature which is I was looking for a long time. It is smooth, warm, though can be somewhat analytical too, if you play with the filters.The soundstage is huge, the bass is thick and tight, mids are pleasing, highs are airy and can be sparkling (based on source and filter). The tonality is just right with accurate representation of instruments, as it should sound. For example a piano should sound like a piano and that tonality is kept true for other instruments too. This gives a unique flavour to this chord. It is special. It lets you simply to enjoy new details in the music and mostly importantly to enjoy the music.
Hi Koushik, .We are grateful that you took the time out to leave us this note. We look forward to serving you again.