What is also clear is that the dac is now probably earthed.. I had to fudge a bit if wire to my supernaits earthing post to stop a hum.. it’s now not needed.I'm not a lover of switching from one to another - I always think that going back to something after an extended period gives a more accurate and obvious impression.
I'd be lying if I said I'm not becoming a wee bit tempted though.
What is also clear is that the dac is now probably earthed.. I had to fudge a bit if wire to my supernaits earthing post to stop a hum.. it’s now not needed.
Can you please confirm the LMPS voltage required for a Qutest?
An obvious point here is that Rob Watts has gone into some detail as to why it's an illusion to run your Qutest off an "upgrade" linear supply. I think Keith is quoting him here, and this aligns with things he's (very helpfully) set out in one or two of the mags:
More Rob Wattage | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
As a side note, I'm currently running two of Rob's DAC designs - a DPA PDM1.2 and a Qutest - side by side. Very interesting to hear what 25 years of evolution in digital design sounds like.
i'm using a MCRU linear supply now and it sounds better and is cooler...We typically keep our CHORD QUTEST powered-up 24/7 - unless a typhoon is in the area.
Importantly, the very best sound quality we have achieved is by powering the QUTEST on a garden variety CELLPHONE CHARGER BATTERY - they type that you might take with you to recharge your cellphone, in the event that you might be away from mains power for a spell.
The sonic improvement is quite noticeable. Give it a try!
Second to the CELLPHONE CHARGER BATTERY - which needs recharging every now and then - we have also had good success with the iFi iPower wall-wart power supply. iFi makes some pretty big claims about low noise and it seems to be true.
In fact, we also get great results, using the iFi iPower to power our ORIGIN LIVE ADVANCED DC MOTOR CONTROLLER on our hot-rodded LINN SONDEK LP12!
(Wouldn't be without the iFi! )
As an aside...
The QUTEST also offers three different levels of VOLTAGE OUTPUT: 1V, 2V or 3V.
Whilst this goes some way towards matching volume levels with other digital sources - of various voltage outputs - in our system, the 3V sounds clearly superior.
(Even if 1V actually matches our VINYL LP source better than 3V...)
I assume the 3V sounds better because the 1V and 2V output options are simply padded-down with added resistance - amounting to "lost gain". Happy to be corrected on this point.
What have others found?
Is it an improvement Tim?As a side note, I'm currently running two of Rob's DAC designs - a DPA PDM1.2 and a Qutest - side by side. Very interesting to hear what 25 years of evolution in digital design sounds like.
Is it an improvement Tim?
Following this thread as I would be curious to see which benefits could be brought to my 2Qute with a linear power supply.....A few years back, I had a Chord 2Qute going into a Linn Kairn. The 2Qute - the predecessor to the Qutest - had a fixed voltage output of 3V. It sounded terrible.
I raised it with the dealer who in turn raised it with Chord. Chord offered to mod my 2Qute to ensure compatibility.