USB to Dual Coax Bridge for Qutest DAC

Update:  After listening to the Audience Studio One USB cable with my Bricasti M3 for about a week, I decided to purchase it.  It’s way more money than I’ve ever spent on a cable, but my ears told me to go for it.

The Bricasti/Studio One combination performed as @audphile1 described.  The music was fuller, more natural and there was significantly more bass.  Listening to the 24/192 version of Steely Dan’s Aja on Qobuz, my jaw was dropping with each song.  Everything I played sounded, OMG, unbelievably great.

So, thanks to all that chimed in, and for convincing me that I needed to get a new DAC to elevate my streaming experience to beyond my wildest expectations.

Now, I have one more request.  I have a near mint Qutest and SBooster linear power supply to sell.  Any thoughts as to which site I should list these items for sale?

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@drlou77 phew I was beginning to worry :)

glad you like the Audience! It’s amazing an improvement a good USB cable can make. 

The two sites I use exclusively to buy/sell equipment are this site and the US Audio Mart. Good luck! And enjoy the upgrades!

@audphile1 @adasdad @drlou77  I’ve followed this thread with interest and I’m glad everything worked out for the OP.  I’d like to add that it’s not really a valid comparison to compare a Qutest DAC to a Qutest and MScaler combination like @adasdad is using.  The MScaler takes the Qutest to a far superior level.  And it takes time for the MScaler to burn-in, partly due to the stock SMPS supplied with it. 

The improvement is profound. Detailed and smooth/natural.  I also found myself stretching to buy $1000+ cables because I could now hear the improvement they make.  I was already set for power cables. These new ones were USB and Ethernet cables!  With each one I could hear the improvement in my system.  The Qutest and MScaler combination made that possible.  Well, in addition to a Shunyata Denali 6000 v2 that helped get noise out.  In general, 24/44 and 24/48 music sounds much better than 16/44. With the Qutest alone and prior to the upgrades I couldn’t hear any difference.  

@txp1 Thanks for sharing your story.  I am very interested in the SQ improvement you realized from upgrading your ethernet cable.

My set up uses wifi to send the signal to a ASUS mesh system.  I am unable to run an ethernet cable from my router to my generic ethernet switch.  My download speed is consistently 180 Mbs, so it's been working for a year without any dropouts.
 

From the switch, I'm using a 1M plain vanilla ethernet cable to my Innuos Zenith mk3 streamer, a .75 M Curious Cable Evolved USB cable to my Innuos Phoenix USB reclocker, and then a 2 M Audience Studio One USB to the Bricasti M3 DAC.

Everything sounds superb, but I am wondering if I swap out the 1 M generic ethernet cable for something more exotic, can I squeeze an improvement in SQ worthy of the added investment for a new cable.

I'm guessing the answer is, "try it and see for yourself."  In either case, which ethernet cable would you recommend?

Thanks.

@drlou77 I run EERO mesh. I clearly hear differences between Ethernet cables connecting the access point to my streamer. I don’t use a switch. 
My approach is to use a decent Ethernet cable (currently using Purist Audio) and worry about components and speakers first. When I’m sitting here scratching my head about future upgrades to components, speakers and cables, and there’s nowhere to go in that space, I’d play with audiophile switches. 
 

In the post above by @txp1 , I respect his choices but we can debate what would be a bigger ROI, Qutest being a centerpiece with all the attachments to it, or having a clean DAC only approach with Chord DAVE, Tambaqui Mola Mola or some other high end DAC without all the accessories and clutter around the Qutest. 
As i said I respect choices made by others, but my approach is components first, accessories later. Right, wrong or different, that’s how I tackle it. 

@drlou77  I have a Netgear Orbi mesh system. It utilizes a main router which is connected to my cable modem in a different room which holds a separate home theater system. The main router feeds a satellite router using a 866 Mbps wireless signal. The satellite router provides Internet connection to my Aurender N150 streamer. I consistently get 275 Mbps download speeds throughout the entire house. 

My Ethernet cable upgrade saga began with a frequently recommended Generic Cat, 8 cable from Amazon as I wasn’t really a believer that an Ethernet cable could make a difference. I thought the treble improved but later learned this was likely noise that is frequently mistaken for improved high frequency response. So I bought AQ Cinnamon Ethernet cables. I started with the cable modem to main router and in the HT system another to the Apple TV 4K set-top box and another from the HT receiver to the TV.  The difference was noticeable on video so I bought them for the audio system as well. I immediately heard less high frequency hash and as they burned in I could hear more natural sound.

MScaler to the Qutest brought refinement and later the Denali brought more noise reduction which resulted in more cable purchases. This time because I have all Shunyata power cables, I decided to go big and bought Shunyata Alpha v2 Ethernet cables. Same order as the last time in separate purchases except that I bought a Shunyata Alpha USB cable with the streamer feed Ethernet cable.  These much better cables provided improved imaging, soundstage depth and tonal accuracy. The imaging improvement is incredible! 

I don’t know your equipment or cables but I would recommend a better Ethernet cable on your streamer. Use a retailer with a long (e.g., 60 day) evaluation period because all digital cables require burn-in IMO.  I’ve experienced digital cable burn-in many times now and the cables that aren’t pre-sale burned-in by the manufacturer tend to sound extremely closed-in or even harsh sometimes.

Happy journey!

@audphile1 I agree with you. But I consider the MScaler to be a component rather than an add-on. I’ve communicated with several Dave and TT2 owners who also have an MScaler. The Qutest and MScaler together and their cables require only one shelf in my audio rack. Same as a Bricasti M3 or Mola Mola or Rockna or most other high-end DACs. My goal is to buy a Dave when the “new Dave” is released. Hopefully the old Dave will go on sale!

if I didn’t have a DAC and was building a nice high-end digital streaming system I too would probably choose a Bricasti M3 over purchasing both a Chord Qutest and a Chord MScaler. But when you already own a Qutest for two years and like it, the MScaler brings it to a much higher level of performance. There’s really no comparison.

And the Qutest-MScaler combination pairs well with my all tube amplification. System synergy strikes again.

P.S. For future readers. Both the Qutest and the MScaler require a significant amount of burn-in. Don’t judge them too early in your evaluation regardless whether purchased individually or together.  And leave them powered up 24x7. 

@drlou77   Did you ever purchase an AudioWise SRC-DX?

@txp1 I did not.

I am still awaiting the delivery of the Audience Studio One USB cable.  I tested a sampler and had to return it.

I just got a UPS Tracking # sent tonight, so I should have it very soon.

Once I'm back on-line with streaming, I am going to test a higher quality ethernet cable, as others have suggested, and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks.

Audience Studio One USB in back in my system and it sounds fabulous.

Last matter: ethernet cable up grade.  I'm considering upgrading the one from my router to my mesh router.  I'm thinking that a modest upgrade will be fine here.

The other would be from my plain vanilla ethernet switch to my streamer.  Here's what I have to choose from that I can borrow and return from the Cable Company:

https://www.thecableco.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=Ethernet&product_list_order=price_asc
 

Any and all opinions are welcome.

Thanks.

PS - if you know of another vendor that will let me borrow, audition and return cables, please suggest them too.

drlou77

if you know of another vendor that will let me borrow, audition and return cables, please suggest them

Your local dealer will likely be happy to loan you some cables.

@drlou77 I would upgrade the cable to your streamer - thar is the most critical link. Everything before that you could probably get away with Amazon LinkUp cable. 
Also…why not continue with the cable co? They should cut you a nice deal after the evaluation is over and apply the lending fee towards the purchase. 
I would suggest Purist, Audioquest. Doesn’t have to be super expensive.