panditji
Well-Known Member
Finally compared the Chord 2Qute with a more expensive DAC - The Exasound E-22 in a fairly high performance system with Avant Garde Duo speakers and the new Primaluna Premium Dialogue pre-power amplifiers with a Mac Mini as a source playing music through HQ player software....
The Exasound was run in for about 100 hours and the 2Qute was about 4-5 months old... After about 45 mins where we played the same tracks through both DACs, it was clear that the 2Qute was equally good if not better than the Exasound. Now do bear in mind that the 2Qute has a higher output of 3V than most of the other DACs and maybe thats why it sounded better when it came to the detail extraction and the mid range sounded more open...
In short, the 2Qute for me seemed a clear winner especially when you look at the price difference - 995 GBP v/s $3500 USD .. Sure, the Exasound has more inputs and some extra features but as a USB DAC it was a clear winner.
Like an idiot, I sold my 2Qute to another FM and now will be ordering it again and will not be parting with it any time soon...
The Exasound was run in for about 100 hours and the 2Qute was about 4-5 months old... After about 45 mins where we played the same tracks through both DACs, it was clear that the 2Qute was equally good if not better than the Exasound. Now do bear in mind that the 2Qute has a higher output of 3V than most of the other DACs and maybe thats why it sounded better when it came to the detail extraction and the mid range sounded more open...
In short, the 2Qute for me seemed a clear winner especially when you look at the price difference - 995 GBP v/s $3500 USD .. Sure, the Exasound has more inputs and some extra features but as a USB DAC it was a clear winner.
Like an idiot, I sold my 2Qute to another FM and now will be ordering it again and will not be parting with it any time soon...