Guest Sime Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 One word, wow, going from a Hugo to a 2Qute, the 2Qute on my system is so much more open and cleaner, bigger soundstage. But it should be the same shouldn't it? But it ain't, and apart from anything, the 2Qute looks and build quality, out bloody standing. Bass may be a bit tighter on the Hugo, but the overall clarity is more makes it not an issue. Anyway, that's my first hours impression.
scuzzii Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 I really like Chord Dacs. I've had the Chord64 dac for 5 odd years. It's sitting there unused as I swapped in a Audio GD, but very music Dacs
Guest yamaha_man Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 You weren't interested the the desktop Hugo model?
legselevens Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 I really like Chord Dacs. I've had the Chord64 dac for 5 odd years. It's sitting there unused as I swapped in a Audio GD, but very music Dacs Hi Scuzzi, which audio gd dac is it? I believe some can be used as a pre amp.
legselevens Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 (edited) I wondered if that was the one. Would be good to compare it with the Nad M51. edit. Silly washpot. I could have just looked at your signature. Edited May 5, 2015 by legselevens
Guest Sime Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 You weren't interested the the desktop Hugo model? Hell yeah, but not at 6k.
Guest Sime Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 2nd impressions, just wooooow, wow, wow, wow. If you are planning on buying a Hugo for a home DAC only, don't bother, the 2Qute smokes it. I'm listening to the stuff I listen to at night and know so well, and it's the best it's ever been by far. Best $2200 you'll ever spend. I think the lack of a headphone amp, preamp etc that the Hugo has, has made the 2Qute more simp,e and cleaner. Wow.
mmv Posted May 13, 2015 Posted May 13, 2015 Just plugged in the 2qute tonight - gotta say i'm not sure its better than my previous (much cheaper and older) DAC! - it's just somewhat harsh in the midrange...
Briz Vegas Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 That's a valid comment. Can you elaborate? I have only tried the Hugo. It was in comparison to my $10 k plus digital front end. Harsh midrange was not something that came to mind as a overall impression.. Clearly different to what I was used to and it did its best work with classical music. I found my current DAC better on some music, like JJJ like a versions which I actually use to demo my system if people ask. They sound so " right in front of you " if you get my drift. There was something about the Hugo that seemed more honest overall. I will be home demoing the new Chord DACs at some point, although I suspect there is a backlog on the home demo front. My system is much improved now also.
rocky500 Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 @ you are not using a older naim or marantz preamp are you? I think I read with the higher output of 3v this could possibly cause a slight problem?
mmv Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 @ you are not using a older naim or marantz preamp are you? I think I read with the higher output of 3v this could possibly cause a slight problem? Nope - current chain is Sonos (lossless files) --> 2qute --> DSI 200 --> dynaudio contour s1.4s. Previous dac was a cambridge dacmagic which i've had for 5 or more years. st I have a little playlist for testing gear - pop/rock/electronic and acoustic music - just stuff that I listen to alot and know and like the sound. All lossless files that i've ripped with XLD. I know people say that you really have to test the best live/acoustic recordings - but at the end of the day thats not what I listen to 90% of the time. I'm pretty bad at knowing what the right words are to describe sounds - but will try. Both myself and my wife were listening and both picked the same. The fist day I found that the sound was a little bit more harsh especially in the treble. Some of the cello/violin sounds seemed to just have a harsh/screechy edge to them (That was the intro to Intense by armin van buuren, and a Song by Arrebato ensemble). The bass response was definately better and deeper and there was good separation of instruments - that was a definate (Fancy by Iggy Azalea). I ran the 2qute 24/7 and listened again last night. I found that there was a definite increase in space, and vocal music sounded great around the vocals (I see fire by Ed Sheeran). Rock or metal music ( As I am by Dreamtheater ) - just had a harsh edge to it especially on the distorted guitars. By that I mean even at low volumes it was a little screechy on my ears (fingernail/chalkboard sort of thing) On Emarosa (A toast to the future kids! - which is not the best recording and why I use it as a test) - it just sounded horrible and unlistenable. So the plan is to: 1. Leave this running until Tuesday 24/7 before listening again(working all weekend- so can't listen anyhow) 2. Plug in my Antipodes DS reference! - havent had a chance, incase it is Sonos that is doing the harshness (and the dacmagic was filtering it away) 3. Let my ears adjust a little! Otherwise may have to return it if it doesnt start sounding nicer to me. I find it strange though because everyone raves about this - and all the reviews are really nice. But will see how it goes. Has yours changed much Sime?
Guest Sime Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 (edited) Mine sounds the same as it did on day one, and in my system, it's silky smooth, balanced and crystal clear. My guess is that your hearing your tunes how they probably sound. Edited May 15, 2015 by Sime
mmv Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 But I like the way my tunes sounded =P Will see how it wounds next week.
HumanMedia Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Yeah the 2Qute needs 300+ hours of 24/7 playing to start to stabilise. Very forward but liquid midrange, seems to be missing lower bass. Some treble areas a bit rough. A flawed masterpiece or just extremely sensitive to input and output connected devices?
rocky500 Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 (edited) I have one here about 6 days old. The first day it sounded a little dark in the midrange. I had a head cold too. Now today my system is really sounding awesome. The extremes are excellent. Great bass and weight and great highs. Seems very even. I seem to want to turn up the volume more with this Dac. I am running a PC to ifi USB Power plus ifi cables then to 2Qute. Will try without the iUSB and ifi cables and different USB later. I would say listening today, it is an awesome Dac! So easy to listen to and get lost in the music. Have had some not bad Dacs in the past and this Dac might be the most impressive. Different system config though before. Nad M51, Gungnir, Lenehan, DC-1, AudioGD, Havana and few others No harshness at all. . Edited May 17, 2015 by rocky500
mmv Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Really interesting to hear. Going to be stuck at work all night so will have a listen tomorrow night. What difference did you find with the other DACs?
rocky500 Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 (edited) Really interesting to hear. Going to be stuck at work all night so will have a listen tomorrow night. What difference did you find with the other DACs? I would say a more open sound and more space to instruments . Some previous Dacs seemed to smear the sound ever so slightly. I always thought it may be my room. Edited May 17, 2015 by rocky500
Guest Sime Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 It's very open, I'm just listening the Dream Theaters "Awake" album, and album I've been listening to since 96, know it better than myself, and through this DAC, it's opened this album up immensely.
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