Your first post said you like the sound of Chord DACs, which of their DACs is this based on?
Regardless, if you can home demo the Qutest, and the TT2 is not in budget, sounds like getting the Qutest in your system for a demo against your NDAC would be a great next step?
I do find demos in shops hard. And always found gear I’ve demo’d that way much better when back home; the small differences I could detect in a dealer were larger when at home, thankfully usually for the better! I’m sure you’ll soon know if the Qutest is for you once a demo unit is playing in your system.
If the TT2 is actually in budget then that makes things difficult again! Used they go for less than £3k in the UK.
I’d love to try an XPS but serviced XPS a hard to find in France.
Moreover, My nDAC is also a little bit faulty (different sound when using input 3 coax input 4, with input 3 having a very hard sound signature. Input 4 sounds better but the higher frequencies on the left channel are a bit missing (the same digital source and coax cable was used). Input 1 and 2 have also a fault. I sent my nDAC to my dealer and so that they would send it to Focal HQ in Saint-Étienne for a check and service. Focal HQ checked and it was sent back to my dealer with no “apparent default”and unserviced (it’s a 15 years old unit)… My dealer also heard the difference in sound when switching from input 3 to 4 (again same source same cable) so I know I’m not mad.
The first time I listened to a Chord DAC was years ago: Chord Hugo TT1 and Chord Hugo 2 and I preferred the Hugo 2.
I already heard the Qutest, not on my system but a similar one (Naim/SF). It was good, but it left feeling I wanted a little bit more…
I heard the Hugo2 (or TT2?) on a 272/250DR driving Sonetto Vs, the issue is I can’t remember which one it was.
Get your dealer to challenge your local Naim service centre.
I had something similar with my N50 where one of the inputs sounded ‘off’ like if was on a lesser amp performance wise compared to the truly outstanding N50. My dealer noticed it too, so off it went to Salisbury for repair. My n50 got returned from Salisbury fault not found, my dealer subsequently sent it back to Salisbury, and I understand Jason then listened to it and heard the issue. It turned out to be a suspect input relay, and a bit of manufacturing swarf in the DIN input socket. Those components got replaced, Jason apparently then confirmed suitable for return to the customer, and indeed it was.
Years ago when the Qutest was released, my local dealer let me borrow his personal Dave to try at home. Dave was awesome, but at that time beyond my budget. Interestingly though, he inserted the Qutest in place of his Dave, which was hooked up to his Blu2 (I think that’s what they are called). He was shocked how close it sounded to the Dave, so keep in mind you can later add an Mscaler to the Qutest . According to him, Mscaler/Qutest is very close to a bare Dave.
The predecessor to Mscaler…
It’s tough without an audition, but sounds like the Hugo2 might be the option to go for, for you. I suspect you’ll hear people saying they prefer both options, so it’s hard to base buying decisions on views expressed here (unless you know the views are expressed by people who share your tastes). But like I say, really hard! Think about it another way, once you’ve bought it you won’t be comparing it to something you don’t have, so comparisons don’t matter at that point. Plus neither sound awful, quite the opposite in fact!
The last set of serious auditions I did was for a new TT. I could have lived with any if the options I listened to. There were differences, but mostly driven by the recording or style of music. I suspect on different material it might well turn out that the Qutest and Hugo2 swap places during an audition; that you couldn’t say one was better than the other in all cases.
Regarding your NDAC, if it sounds iffy to you then I second Simon-in-Suffolk’s view, ask your dealer to ask Naim to take a second listen. Whatever happens on its potential replacement, it needs to be working right (whether you keep it, or sell it on)
One last thing, do you need all the inputs you mention using on your NDAC? Because I don’t think any of the Chord DACs you’re thinking of can match the NDAC for the number of inputs.
Top advice, I’ve upped my Qutest by putting a decent fuse in my S-Booster power box, a good power cable with a good fuse in the plug up the S-Booster’s rear, and just testing locating it all on the left side away from the brawn stack on the right. The Qutest with a macbook pro is just superb - admitting I haven’t heard that many other Dacs. No need to now!
Yes, mac playing qobuz, qutest, naim amps, b&w - the results are super impressive. I’ve put some effort in to cables, stacking, isolation, etc and just squeezing every drop of juice out of what I have. TT is a little overlooked at present!
Interestingly, in my opinion my Mscaler down graded my DAVE performance notably.. Mscaler just started to make the chain sound a little artificial/synthetic.
I tried all sorts including s different Mscaler, DAVE and Wave Stream interconnects… always the same.
In the end I sold my Mscaler .. as it was in the chain nearly always bypassed gathering dust.
The DAVE on its own is simply end game in my opinion …. Makes the debate of analogue vs digital irrelevant …a total revelation.. and one of my more inspired acquisitions in my hifi pursuit.
I remember you saying that Simon. I used an Mscaler with Wave cables when I owned the TT2 and thought it was worth the money.
I used an ND5XS2 as my streamer at that time.
It might come down to associated speakers/amps used with them too. My dealer who really liked the Mscaler/Qutest was using a Simaudio streamer/pre and power with Nordost Odin cables throughout. Probably 100 K in gear with it, so there you go.
You also went to a Chord amp for a while if I recall, and now you are back to a Nait 50.
Different gear/room/ ears/ speakers, so what works there, might not work here etc.
I guess I should add he used the Blu2, not Mscaler.
You can probably get even better sound by ditching the Mac for a dedicated streamer, even a cheap one will be much better. When I went from my Laptop to an Ifi Zen stream I was quite shocked at the improvement.
Just as good buddy😁. Seriously, I think it is about equal, with less boxes , cables etc. But, I do have different speakers and amp now. Also Townshend podiums, Shunyata power distributor and cables. And I added a carpet to the room, so it is not really a head to head comparison.
For sure the source makes a difference. My dealer used a Simaudio streamer, not sure the model but I think it retailed around 15K. I have read about a guy now feeding his Dave with the new Taiko Olympus. He no longer uses the Mscaler, or anything more than CD level rips.
Look up the Taiko, the price might shock you.
When I did my demo’s I found the Chord equipment to sound sharper/harsher, more clinical more digital sounding than the Lumin P1 which sounded more neutral, slightly warmer/smoother and more analogue which I prefered.
