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Author Topic: Chord Peach DAC  (Read 1608 times)

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Marvey

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Chord Peach DAC
« on: November 15, 2013, 06:55:08 PM »
Zero sent these to me as part of his "public service" project (see: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1173.msg31231.html#msg31231)

Not sure what model this is? The Chordette Qute? Gem. It's got a goofy window which allows us to see SMT components on a board. LEDs inside light up different colors according to input selected. Currently using the supplied wallwart:

This DAC doesn't sound all that bad. It's decently resolving. It's on the thin sound, not horribly so. Bass lacks oomph (dynamics and sustain) and apparent sub-bass extension. Raspy. Not as bad as most Sabre based DACs, but this has DAC has gotten sigma-delta written all over it. Longer term listening becomes difficult, but with the right combination of amp/headphone it may work.

UPDATE: I can't stand long term listening on this with Vali+Abyss (tweaked for smoother treble). Started to get a digititus headache now at 20 minutes.

I need to compare it to something around it's price range or below. How much does this thing cost? Will test with AMB sigma11 PS soon.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2013, 08:24:40 AM by purrin »
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zerodeefex

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Re: Chord DAC
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2013, 07:42:35 PM »
It's not the Qute, it's the predecessor, the Chordette Gem. Pricing is REALLY hard to determine. It looks like the MSRP was $800, but that was a few years ago and I believe most dealers give it as a freebie with large Chord purchases. I see one on Audiogon for $300.
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ultrabike

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Re: Chord DAC
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2013, 08:54:29 PM »
LOL! Marv you might get a letter from John & Matt.
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Marvey

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Re: Chord DAC
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2013, 09:14:56 PM »
LOL, I haven' tried BT yet. Used USB (which is probably just as bad considering the state of USB back then). Looks like Art Dudley felt it sounded quite similar to what I thought of it.

BTW, the Sigma11 PS didn't help much. Maybe a tad better bass sustain, a tad more body, a tad more resolving, but the Chord Gem just screams "Ima poster child for sigma-delta sound!" too loudly. The effect of a better PS was really what we were interested in.

There's probably a reason Zero still has his Gamma2 at home and sent this to me instead. (I already know how the Gamma2 sounds like - it's good.)
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zerodeefex

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Re: Chord Gem DAC
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2013, 09:20:42 PM »
The interesting thing is that I've tried the QuteHD which is pretty much more of the same. I didn't feel like it was a big improvement at all over the Gem. I am really confused as to the popularity of the QuteHD on CA. Additionally, this really makes me wonder about the QBD76 HDSD.

Quote from: purrin on November 15, 2013, 09:14:56 PM
LOL, I haven' tried BT yet. Used USB (which is probably just as bad considering the state of USB back then). Looks like Art Dudley felt it sounded quite similar to what I thought of it.

BTW, the Sigma11 PS didn't help much. Maybe a tad better bass sustain, a tad more body, a tad more resolving, but the Chord Gem just screams "Ima poster child for sigma-delta sound!"
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Marvey

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Re: Chord Gem DAC
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2013, 09:49:15 PM »
CA has a much wider audience - and thus from what I've noted - tends to be all over the place.

It's not a bad DAC if properly paired. I actually liked this DAC (or was it the CuteHD?) with a Leben (the 600, not the 300, and with special tubes)
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zerodeefex

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Re: Chord Gem DAC
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2013, 09:57:37 PM »
Crap sandwich, did I say Gem? I meant this is the Chordette Peach which was the successor to the Gem and adds Toslink, etc. I get their damn line confused all the time. Now they have the Qute EX.

It's gone: Gem > Peach > QuteHD > Qute EX

There's also another DAC line that is a different chassis but the same dac as the Qute line. Confusing as shit.
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