Human audio memory is provably faulty. Question: If I upgrade from a Walmart portable all-n-one box turntable to a VPI turntable with the system to match it, will my "memory" be able to tell the difference if I don't "double blind test"? Obviously the answer is: YES. Why/ Because the difference is so dramatic that even a deaf man could feel the difference! So we learn if the difference is wide enough between quality levels of components, then we might be able to "remember" the audio difference. Secondly, let have a show of hands out there of many of you have only purchased new components AFTER hearing a double blind study? Wow, fewer hands than I expected! "Yes", you in the back,"you have a comment?" Okay...I heard that. He said he did watch a YouTube video once where the reviewer said he did a double blind study on an amp he was looking at. Did you believe that YouTube guy? You bought the amp! Well fine. But for the rest of us, We will be forever consigned to reading reviews, trusting YouTube guys, and keeping our shiny new toy if our memories and wives approve.Happy listening (The Chord Qutest does shine too. How can I turn these darn lights off?)
Finally Bought Chord Qutest
After two years of obsessing over my curiosity about what a new DAC would do, I pulled the trigger and bought a new Chord Qutest. Three days in since the lights came on. There has been a slight burn in transformation going on in depth and impact of bass. My expectations were irrationally high. (The price tag in part feeds that!) I'm from the poor side of the audiophile family. Honestly the improvements are more than even I expected. I'll spare you all the typical accolades but one stands out I should mention. By the way my previous DAC was the NUprime 9SE which retailed for a little over $1000. So no junk there. Timing. I heard reviewers speak of how "timing" seemed right. But I never really knew what it was. With the Nuprime DAC I felt the music wasn't settled and relaxing. The Chord DAC gives the calming sense everything is in its place. This in turn allows me to relax and enjoy the music like my early "phile" days. I guess this is what "timing" means. More detail for sure, and this ...very clear distinction in each aspect of the music, each instrument sits freely in its own space. It blew the borders off with depth, width, a real holographic world audibly before my ears. Fantastic (And I said I wasn't going to wax eloquent) Transformative really [Raven Integrated Amp, Klipsch Lascala II, SVS SB2000 sub, Audiolab CDT6000 transport, Mad Scientist interconnects, Tellurium Q Black II speaker cables]