I know of a 2Qute going for a reasonable price, anyone got any thoughts or experience running this DAC? Would be going between NDX2 and SN3. I’ve read some reviews saying it’s a tad lean, don’t really want to waste sellers time home demoing if it can be avoided.
I have not heard one myself, but a good friend had a home demo with one, and hated it. He said it was extremely bright, and ended up buying my original Hugo, which he loved.
1 Like
I have had the mojo and the Hugo TT, they were both solid performers albeit on the analytical side. Make sure you feel comfortable with Chords user interface design , I frankly find the need to memorize color codings pretty annoying
2 Likes
I believe the dac of the Ndx2 is better. Chord Hugo more, more details and holographic sound, but not Naim. But you may like.
1 Like
I used 2Qute for a couple years it was ok, then upgraded to the Qutest which is really great and am still using it. I would advise looking for a Qutest if you are going that way.
2 Likes
I do enjoy the Qutest in my office system and, for my taste and partnered with Nait 50, it’s a significant step up from my Atom. But would it outperform the DAC in an NDX2? Of that I’m not so sure and, like FR, very much doubt that a 2qute would, though I’ve not done the comparison. Better, I’d have thought, to look for an nDAC or start saving for a power supply for the streamer.
Roger
1 Like
Analytical is a common trait among Chord devices.
2 Likes
I’m using a 2Qute into my SN3 and it sounds great.
The output is very hot though at 3V so I’m now using 20dB Rothwell attenuators as it just overloaded the SN3 input.
I’ve never been a fan of the Naim DACs and preference has been for Audio Note but the Chord is very good with the SN3. One of my favorite DACs is the Auralic Vega mk1 and the 2qute is close to that on detail and speed.
But what does that actually mean? Do you mean opens up to reveal musical detail, which assist allow a listener so inclined better analyse the musiccianship or the music structure or the composition etc (but not anyone not interested in doing that), or do you mean something else?
When I added a Hugo to my ND5XS, using latter as the renderer, it brought a sense of naturalness that I hadn’t registered wasn’t there with the ND5XS’s DAC until I changed. Suddenly digital matured for me Then when I heard Dave it kept the naturalness, but more so, expanding the presentation to be more three dimensional, and, crucially, opening it up to be more transparent, revealing detail in the music I’d never heard before. These things are there in live playing, at least with acoustic performances, but all too readily lost in recording and replay. Hearing it is what produced my musician son’s involuntary “wow!” Within the first few bars of music when I auditioned Dave.
I mean very detailed but lacking engagement.
3 Likes
I assume that hot means high sound level. Does 2Qute not have an attenuated output option? Hugo does, and I understand 2Qute’s replacement the Qutest does, which can be set at an optimal level for whatever preamp or even to use direct to a power amp,
The Chord DACs I’ve heard haven’t done anything to prevent engagement with the music: I found music through Hugo very engaging (improved from ND5XS) as m last post indicated), and Dave so much more so.
1 Like
It just reduces the range of the volume control, at 9 o’clock it will be rattling windows
Nope the 2Qute is a fixed output of 3V
Also among the cables I found. The first ever chord item I liked I a second was the music din cable. It has more details without loosing the naim feeling.
But as it is all about balance - the chord stuff can be a perfect addition
1 Like
Chord electronics has nothing to do with Chord cables though.
2 Likes
Ok - I forgot … too hot here. I know that they are from a different company … sorry.
But chord music cable is still a winner 
As are the other Chord’s DACs to many!
1 Like
I would say analytical is hifi sounding. You have all hifi criterias but it left you cold.
2 Likes
I had no split second of doubt to that
Well, music through the Chord DACs I’ve used certainly haven’t left me cold! (But bad music -through any DAC/system - certainly leaves me cold!)
1 Like