Ratings: 5/5
Price: $1485
Chord
QuteHD
If you’re always lusted after Chord’s stunning QBD76 digital-to-analogue converter
but could never stretch to the $6000 price tag, we have good news: the new
QuteHD is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Built into a standard Chordette casing –
Chordette is the company’s ultra-compact entry-level range – the QuteHD
features most of the technology that makes the pricier DAC so special.
Most specialist manufacturers buy
off-the-shelf conversion solutions from the likes of Burr-Brown. In its
high-end DAC designs, though, Chord has gone its own way by using a FPGA (Field
Programmable Gate Array) and running proprietary software on it to do the
number crunching.
Top-end internal components
Until the QuteHD came on to the hi-fi
scene, this conversion technology was limited to Chord’s top-end products. This
is the first time it’s been available anywhere near the $1500 mark and we’re
mightily impressed with the results.
Yes, the QuteHD isn’t as subtle or as
authoritative as its big brother, but it costs a cool $4500 less – and for the
money it’s really a terrific performer. If you value qualities such as dynamics
and rhythmic precision, we can’t think of an alternative we’ve enjoyed more.
While the Chord’s ability to replay
32-bit/384kHz material will grab the headlines, there isn’t a meaningful supply
of files at that resolution at the moment. So the ability to cope with
24-bit/192kHz source material and below is far more pertinent. The Chord can
handle all the conventional resolution files through each of its optical, coax
and USB inputs.
The USB input will also accept a DSD data
stream (Direct Stream Digital, as seen on SACDs) and treat it natively rather
than covert to PCM first: something of a specialist requirement, but nice to
have.
You might notice that there’s no front
panel button or display. Inputs are auto-sensed, and the top panel window
changes color depending on the signal’s resolution. CD standard 44.1kHz is represented
by red, 96kHz is represented by green and so on – much like the AudioQuest
DragonFly DAC.
Chord provides the necessary USB driver
software for both PC and MAC.
The
QuteHD offers USB and coaxial inputs (we preferred the latter). Inputs are
sensed automatically, too – so there’s no need for switches
Great sound across the board
The performance across all inputs is
impressive, but we ended up liking the coaxial connection the best. Listening
to a 24-bit/96kHz Kate Bush’s 50 Words For Snow proves a joy as the Chord
delivers a full-bodied and expressive performance – it makes most rivals sound
insubstantial and lacking cohesion. Bush’s voice is rendered with impressive
detail: every nuance is communicated clearly. This adds up to an immensely
engaging performance where any thoughts of hi-fi fade, leaving just the music
to take center stage.
The story is the same when the QuteHD is
dealing with a 16-bit/44kHz recording of Massive Attack’s Heligoland.
This is a favorite of ours for its complex rhythms, deep bass and, most
importantly of all, great songs. The Chord DAC nails it. There’s unstoppable
rhythmic momentum with the likes of Atlas Air, with wide-ranging
dynamics to match. Most of the material on this album is immensely dense as far
as production goes, but the QuteHD takes it all in its stride, providing plenty
of insight without losing cohesion.
A true HD hi-fi hit at the money
Some rivals might sound a little more open,
but we’re happy losing that extra dose of spaciousness for the Chord’s
full-bodied approach to replay.
Build quality is up to the brand’s usual
high standards, and the solid aluminum case makes a stark contrast to the usual
bent-metal casework we normally see.
All in all, this is a terrific product:
it’s simple, looks great – and above all, sounds absolutely fantastic. You’ll
have to spend twice as much to get something significantly better.
Use it with
Apple MacBook Pro Any laptop will do, but make sure you used high quality files. We’d
say WAV at a minimum…
