DAC contest: Border Patrol Sei or Chord Qutest?

@jjss49, there was nothing wrong with your response. Your assessment of the OP is spot on. He’s just trying to start some s#!+ and deserves to be ignored.

Troidelover1499 I had a similar experience as the setup used to demo a pair of speakers I bought used border patrol SEi. It was my foray back into hifi a couple of years ago. At the time I hadn’t heard other DACs so I didn’t know any better and bought one. Someone loaned me an Ayre codex and the difference was striking. While a little rough, the codex had much more detail. From there I moved on to the Ayre QB9 Twenty - another move up in SQ. My latest iteration is a DAC built into a SS integrated amp which, with my current cable setup, sounds even better to my old ears. Sometimes wish I could experiment with more DACs and cables because I believe that’s where the most sound variation exists. It’s an expensive hobby!!

@decooney

i totally agree... the bp is built for a certain kind of presentation, that is valued and appreciated for certain listeners and certain systems needing the ’calm’ and ’musicality’, whereas the chord and others of its ilk is for those on the opposite end of the sonic spectrum seeking zip, spice, attack and so on

one is not better than other, synergy and subjective preference always rules - rich creamy mashed potatoes versus a spicy caesar

in this op’s case, i mentioned the other extreme for dac presentation as he was looking for ’next level’, whatever that means

@hysteve i.e. "the difference was striking...". "Sometimes wish I could experiment with more DACs and cables because I believe that’s where the most sound variation exists. It’s an expensive hobby!!"

It’s been a surprise to me how various dacs can sound so different from one to the next. Using @jjjsss’s example, how much salt/pepper/spice should someone add to food starts with tasting and describing the taste before adding anything at all.

Until someone like the OP can actually describe what they are hearing or missing (in great detail - with comparison examples) the whole idea of anyone asking which daca vs. dacb is better, or what to buy, is kinda pointless and difficult to answer to.  

@soix 

At what point you are going to stop asking the same questions to almost every post in Audiogon?

It would be most helpful if you could share what improvements you’re looking for, what sound characteristics are most important to you, and what other equipment is in your system.  You’ll get much better and more useful recommendations sharing this critical info, and as it stands I’ve no way to make a meaningful recommendation despite wanting to try to help if possible.