Chord’s New Super DAC

Debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, 2Qute, the new compact DAC from Chord combines two award-winning products in one. The revolutionary Hugo headphone DAC/Amp, and the class leading Qute EX standalone DAC. According to Chord, the result is a new super-DAC for 2015 with class-leading specifications, outstanding technical measurements and proven sonic performance.

Essentially a Hugo in the Chordette styling and chassis, it brings the latest FPGA DAC technology into an affordable Hi-Fi style unit, rather than the portable form of the Hugo. 2Qute contains the same high-performance Spartan 6 FPGA that has enabled Hugo to redefine the DAC genre in 2014. The 2Qute also boasts astonishingly low distortion levels of 0.0003%.

The 2Qute offers support for up to 32-bit/384kHz audio via coax and USB, and 24-bit/192kHz over optical. DSD64 is supported on all inputs and DSD128 is supported via coax or USB (all via DoP). The new DAC also gains a handy switch to easily move between coax, optical and USB digital inputs.

“Hugo has since become the benchmark by which all other DACs are judged and has just shy of 40 recommendations in the press; Hugo’s sonic credentials are undeniable. However, this gave Chord a problem: some customers were less keen on a mobile-orientated product in their home systems and felt Hugo had too many superfluous features for home use. They loved the idea of a simpler and ostensibly lower-cost DAC, but wanted the award-winning sound quality that only Hugo, with its digital tap-length of 26,000, can achieve.” Chord Electronics' founder and owner John Franks, told StereoNET.

Features

• Coax, optical and USB digital inputs with input switch
• Galvanically isolated Class 2 USB input up to 384kHz
• Driverless operation on Apple and Android devices; drivers supplied for Windows
• Support for up to 32-bit/384kHz audio via coax and USB, and 24-bit/192kHz via optical
• DSD64 supported on all inputs, DSD128 supported via coax or USB input (all via DoP)
• Source and sample rate indication/illumination
• 12V 0.5A power supply provided

Specifications

• Output: 3v RMS 1kHz
• Dynamic range: -119dB A Wt
• THD: 0.0003% at 3v RMS 1kHz; 0.0002% at 2v RMS 1kHz
• Crosstalk: 126dB 1kHz
• Frequency Response: +/- 0.1dB 20-20kHz

Chord Electronics 2Qute DAC will be available in March / April at $2199 RRP.

Chord Electronics is distributed in Australia by Radiance Audio Visual.