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Post by julesd68 on Oct 28, 2022 17:56:48 GMT
I wasn't sure whether to post this here or in What Made Me Laugh Today. Chord seem to be nicely integrated into the What Hi-Fi awards each year. "There is one particular brand that stands out from all the rest." Indeed there is. www.whathifi.com/news/chord-electronics-scoops-a-hat-trick-of-dac-best-buys-at-the-what-hi-fi-awards-2022The Qutest and Hugo 2 win again this year. The Qutest is 4 years old and Hugo 2 is 5 years old. These must be truly *remarkable* DACs to be better than all the new DACs released since in this fast moving, new tech laden sector. Truly remarkable. |
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Post by HD Music & Test on Oct 28, 2022 18:04:06 GMT
The hugo is not bad, but this is What carvan and its about advertising and perception in the market place not about performance in general. Also its been targetted at the snowflakes and their great deposalble income as it a desriable purchase for those without the credit kudos of having a 'Dave'  |
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Old DACs
Oct 28, 2022 18:33:27 GMT
via mobile
Post by julesd68 on Oct 28, 2022 18:33:27 GMT
What's the betting that the pioneering tech and performance of Qutest will never be eclipsed until the launch of Qutest Too ?
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Post by HD Music & Test on Oct 28, 2022 18:43:53 GMT
What's the betting that the pioneering tech and performance of Qutest will never be eclipsed until the launch of Qutest Too ? Well they are business and each product will have a project life span, middle ground where the replacement is in finial testing phase to its eventual replacement. Not a fan of chord electronics at all, however you have admire their ability to keep generating a market for their products. Like niam, chord sheep are plentiful and easily led by blingy casework and large domed enclosures with Blue LED's. Its a winning combination for them. Other's actually like a musical reproduction, but it takes all personal preferences to make a audio market place.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 28, 2022 18:58:02 GMT
They don't rename WHF as WTF for no reason.
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Post by daytona600 on Oct 28, 2022 19:14:01 GMT
WHF Bit like ITV. TV for the hard of thinking
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Old DACs
Oct 28, 2022 19:29:47 GMT
via mobile
Post by julesd68 on Oct 28, 2022 19:29:47 GMT
#faustianbargain
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Post by Slinger on Oct 28, 2022 20:00:12 GMT
Dave? I believe you mean the Chord "Rodney".
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Post by HD Music & Test on Oct 29, 2022 10:08:36 GMT
Dave? I believe you mean the Chord "Rodney". One could even suggest they are purchased by plonkers  |
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Old DACs
Oct 29, 2022 16:46:31 GMT
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Post by mattspl on Oct 29, 2022 16:46:31 GMT
WHF definitely favour certain brands.
I went through a phase of trying different Bluetooth speakers to use in work. I found Minirigs, particularly with the sub to be by far the best all rounders, yet WHF gave a mediocre review.
I hear the Chord Dac64 and QBD76 were good, but after that they altered their House sound.
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Post by HD Music & Test on Oct 29, 2022 17:40:40 GMT
I hear the Chord Dac64 and QBD76 were good, but after that they altered their House sound. I still have an original dac 64 MK I it had a linear power supply a Tx in that space lol instead one of those SMPS.
Its not bad for chord I purchased i in 2002 from Movement audio in Poole man I feel old lol
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Post by MartinT on Oct 29, 2022 18:45:43 GMT
I think, of all the main hi-fi components, DACs are the ones that you need to keep most up to date. Yes, some older DACs can sound good, but in general if you want true high resolution while maintaining a decent soundstage (in other words, a balanced sound), you will need to use a modern DAC.
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Old DACs
Oct 29, 2022 19:03:44 GMT
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Post by Mr Whippy on Oct 29, 2022 19:03:44 GMT
Been curious about phone DACs for years. Never bothered though as I was pretty happy with the sound I was getting. Found this on Aliexpress and at just £9, thought I'd investigate: ￡9.22 32%OFF | Audiophile DAC Type-C Plug For Phone ALC5686 Chip 312bit 384khz USB C Fast Charging Type C Connector Hifi Headphone Plug laptops a.aliexpress.com/_EyhY6u5 |
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Old DACs
Oct 29, 2022 20:14:44 GMT
via mobile
Post by mattspl on Oct 29, 2022 20:14:44 GMT
Been curious about phone DACs for years. Never bothered though as I was pretty happy with the sound I was getting. Found this on Aliexpress and at just £9, thought I'd investigate: ￡9.22 32%OFF | Audiophile DAC Type-C Plug For Phone ALC5686 Chip 312bit 384khz USB C Fast Charging Type C Connector Hifi Headphone Plug laptops a.aliexpress.com/_EyhY6u5I recently got a pair of 1MORE Evo wireless earbuds to use in work mainly. The sound is incredible for the price and being Bluetooth. |
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Old DACs
Oct 29, 2022 20:15:36 GMT
via mobile
Post by mattspl on Oct 29, 2022 20:15:36 GMT
I hear the Chord Dac64 and QBD76 were good, but after that they altered their House sound. I still have an original dac 64 MK I it had a linear power supply a Tx in that space lol instead one of those SMPS.
Its not bad for chord I purchased i in 2002 from Movement audio in Poole man I feel old lol
Definitely worth keeping I’d say. How does it compare to other, newer Dacs? |
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Old DACs
Oct 29, 2022 20:18:50 GMT
via mobile
Post by mattspl on Oct 29, 2022 20:18:50 GMT
I think, of all the main hi-fi components, DACs are the ones that you need to keep most up to date. Yes, some older DACs can sound good, but in general if you want true high resolution while maintaining a decent soundstage (in other words, a balanced sound), you will need to use a modern DAC. I’d be interested to hear an expensive new Dac. I‘ve had my Resolution Audio Cantata 2.0 since about 2017. It can be upgraded to the latest 3.0 for about £3000 I think. I’ll probably do that eventually, rather than selling it. |
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Post by brettj on Oct 29, 2022 20:19:49 GMT
I was shocked when I first read about WhatHiFi? bias.
20 years ago I bought WHF monthly. Most of my purchases back then were based on their reviews.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 29, 2022 20:22:52 GMT
I was shocked when I first read about WhatHiFi? bias. There was one WHF 'review' years ago, of a component I know well. Let's just say I doubted it was ever unboxed and I've never taken any review of theirs seriously since. |
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Post by brettj on Oct 29, 2022 20:40:20 GMT
I was shocked when I first read about WhatHiFi? bias. There was one WHF 'review' years ago, of a component I know well. Let's just say I doubted it was ever unboxed and I've never taken any review of theirs seriously since. The Audio Standard reviews, experiences, discussions seem to have superseded WHF in my house... |
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Post by HD Music & Test on Oct 29, 2022 22:18:14 GMT
I still have an original dac 64 MK I it had a linear power supply a Tx in that space lol instead one of those SMPS. Its not bad for chord I purchased i in 2002 from Movement audio in Poole man I feel old lol Definitely worth keeping I’d say. How does it compare to other, newer Dacs? At the time Matt it was quite a thing but like all chord electronic products they deliver a much higher output voltage which gives you a wow factor by highlighting the leading edge plus the Phil Spector wall of sound. Many new dacs are cleaner, more detailed, lower noise floor, bigger staging all the usual hifi traits the stereophile bible of audiophilia masterbates about. Very, very, very few new dacs are what you could say are a genuine step forward with an ability to real take you to the acoustical recording space. There are a few exceptions, but these are in the dream relams. I did pick up an msb dac this week these are up there with the very best currently available. Does that mean you would like them? Only you can answer that one. Big W's dac collection is now at 92 so I do have some experience with D2A's |
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