UPGRADE PATH FROM CHORD QUTEST
My system currently consists of the following:
1. Martin Logan 11A impression hybrid electrostatic speakers.
2. Bryston 4B3 cubed power amplifier
3. Rogue Audio RP-1 preamp
4. Lumin U2 mini transport streamer
5. Chord Qutest Dac
Happy with the sound, but on many tracks on Qoboz the sound especially on rock leaves a lot to be desired. This could be the function of the source itself (the recording) is poor. Would a better DAC yield more detail and better sound? My price limit is about $5000.00. Not looking to buy used. Wish to work with a dealer because I have found them to be incredibly helpful. Also looking for a company that provides phone customer support. There is nothing like a conversation or a discussion to solve an issue. I understand that my view is a minority view out there. As we are in a self-service world. But I am used to a person picking up the phone and asking how can I help you? Any thoughts would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you.
I suggest you go a different route, along with freediver`s suggestion. Replace your preamp with the Rogue RH-5 headphone/preamp. Go the headphone route. The Rogue does this, while maintaining the tube pre part, on your main system. I have found that many old rock recordings sound better over a headphone system. Then, replace the stock tubes in the Rogue. I think they`re JJ`s. Get the reissues of Tung-Sols or Gold Lions. Then, eventually, do old stock tubes to your liking. |
@kjl1065 I upgraded from my Qutest by adding a Chord Hugo Master Scaler (HMS). The upgrade was subtle at first but I could definitely hear it and as the HMS and the two new Nordost digital interconnect cables burned in I became much more wowed. You need to output from the HMS into the Qutest with TWO digital interconnects into the Qutest to take advantage of Chord’s double date rate upscaling. I’m using Nordost Silver Shadow but Nordost Blue Heaven would be fine. By the way, the Qutest needs hundreds of hours of playtime to fully burn in and definitely leave it powered on 24x7. |
I've owned all of the Chord DACs, Qutest is by far the best price / performance ratio, I didn't think the TT2 was a significant improvement upon it. After market power supply and really good music server, usb cable and interconnects are a very good thing to do to a qutest. I currently run PS Audio Directstream - I feel it's slightly better than the qutest as it is more natural sounding (yet still has the dynamics/PRaR). Schitt More is Better (avoid Less is More, too dark sounding), Lampizator, Laiv Harmony or the new LTA DAC is where I'd also look. |
I agree with the suggestion about tubes or even the preamp. I felt the same issues in one of my systems compared to others. I swapped speakers. Then I upgraded DACs. Finally I swapped my tube amp to a ss (all of this from stuff I had in other systems or lying around) The ss made a difference. So I went back to the tube amp and put nos Mullards in. That made me happiest of all the swaps. Eventually I "upgraded" the amp to one that cost less with less power but maybe cleaner signal path, and kept the nos tubes and now have been happy with that for several years. So I would try tube or pre amp swap before DAC. |
