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Am I deaf?

Hello all,
Just got a Chord Qutest to use as an outboard dac with my Oppo BD 105. Connected the Chord to the Oppo coax out with an Audioquest Carbon coax cable. $2100 for the Qutest including the cable! I'm not hearing it. I think the Oppo dac may sound a bit better than the Chord. Tried all the filters. Am I nuts?
Ben
honashagen
honashagen OP
87 posts
 
Chord says break in is not needed. Warm up is enough. The reviews on this dac are all spectacular and that's what I was expecting. I have an Audioquest Carbon optical cable coming. Can't imagine it can make a difference. 
uberwaltz's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
uberwaltz
4,946 posts
 
Clearthink.

Obviously the OP was not expecting it to sound worse!
Hence his thread to see where he maybe going wrong.
rcprince
2,830 posts
 

Just to confirm, you are comparing CDs, not SACDs, right?  The Chord would decode the CD layer, while the Oppo could play the SACD layer.

In any event, I don't think you're going nuts, you just prefer your Oppo's sound.  While there are differences in DACs, they may not be as great as you would be led to believe, and some of the differences are more sonic "flavorings"--hence the different filter settings on the Chord.  Could you find one you liked better than the others?

gosta's avatar
gosta
202 posts
 
You’re just being honest to yourself. Not as fun maybe but will save money and time. Or let you put your money where they differ most.
honashagen OP
87 posts
 
Playing cds and Tidal. Tidal on the macbook pro too. 
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