Any love for Chord on the forum?

polkfarmboy

I know we have at least one member here that digs their dac's along with myself but what about the rest of the gear?

Has any members here ever owned or heard their components? If so, what did you think?

ken brydson

So you're back now?

polkfarmboy

Yes Ken I am back with some Chord gear and here to talk about it! If you want more details about my return then pm me, same for anyone else.

ken brydson

Really don't care but thanks for the offer...

polkfarmboy

Well I have spent the past few days just sitting on my butt and I swear this brand is super weird. Its almost like it takes a few days to even know what your listening too. I have started to rethink what I am hearing out the rest of my gear. I cannot find words but everything I am hearing is very different, I also find myself replying with the word 'Obviously' crossing my legs reading the paper and drinking lots of tea. I think its the British sound manifesting itself in my listening room.

Here is a little snap shot of the qutehd dsd dac, its super tiny. I think for the money its very good value but it is not till I have had it paired up with other chord gear that its really opened up.

The integrated is a strange piece of gear, retailing at $8000? Dang!! Is it worth it? Obviously not! Does it sound good? You can bet your bloody bollocks it does old chap!

nooshinjohn

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polkfarmboy

nooshinjohn wrote: »

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John its funny how you keep like joining in threads saying I am on your ignore list? I get it buddy lol I am on your ignore list. What is not funny though is that our mods have to keep removing it. I dont care if you call me names and shortly delete it after thats cool with me. Your like near 60? you should start acting like it!

polkfarmboy

If anyone is interested in a Chord dac then it should be something to check out as you get more than you pay for. I know people say things like that all the time but its very true with the Chord. I came from listening to two of Mcintosh Dacs, the D150 and the D100 and they really are quite boring to play music on. The D150 just sounds the same as the D100 and they sound good but for me I like alot of fun music and the Mcintosh are not very good. When I say fun music I mean non acoustic stuff. If i was sitting around listening to tindersticks or alice in chains mtv live set then maybe the Mcintosh would get some juice.

The blue light glowing from the chord dac is a color we all love here! It represents the two camps of listeners in two different brands where one knows nothing about audio gear and the others with lots of money that still know nothing about audiogear.

Incase you think its a deal breaker with the blue light then dont be too quick to jump the gun. The Chord Qute HD has no remote, buttons or any switches at all yet there is three inputs. The inputs automatically detect where a signal comes from but I heard that if your song finishes and you have a bluray hooked up to the fiber optic then it will take over the input when your song is done on the usb.

With no display the color changes on the bulb to let you know what sample rate is being put through the dac. I would demo this but its a hassle so I will try find a pic that has each color showing everything from purple, green, yellarrnshyit.

brianle

I like the look of the Chord integrated amp

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the thread PFB. I'm looking to try a tube DAC, but I don't want to "color" my sound per se.

polkfarmboy

The Chord dac and the rest of the gear from them that I have gives you the impression that its neutral. Then as you start listening you realise its not, its just getting out the way and you start really diggin it as there is no coloration to it. I have my tube buffer sitting and waiting to try the psvane but I think it may explode in my face because I am not quite sure I should be using those tubes , I am 70% sure lol. I will let you know if it could be the ultimate tube dac super synergistic solution, this may be the worlds first exclusive trial of such a combo. I cannot possibly post such findings nor let you guys know if the tubes fried my gear until I get at least insightfull clicks.

tonyb

rednedtugent wrote: »

Thanks for the thread PFB. I'm looking to try a tube DAC, but I don't want to "color" my sound per se.

Then you shouldn't be looking at tube dacs. Tubes color the sound, pretty much anything will to some degree. Just a matter of finding the right combination of colors to paint the picture you want.

PFB,
That level of gear and you still have a tube buffer ? Then somethin' ain't right pal.

polkfarmboy

Tony I am going to disagree with that statement. I would have hit the disagree button under such a comment but its gone?

Tony I would like it if you expanded on your meaning in that last line.

tonyb

What I meant was, the level of gear you have rolling in and out of your joint is at a level far superior to what a tube buffer brings to the table. Maybe your just not finding the right combinations or something isn't sounding too great that you feel a need for it ?

That wasn't a shot at you, just that a tube buffer certainly has it's place in audio, but imho it isn't at the levels your playing at.

[Deleted User]

don't want to thread jack. Just interest in peoples thoughts on the Chord...

nooshinjohn

rednedtugent wrote: »

don't want to thread jack. Just interest in peoples thoughts on the Chord...

I like a nice "C" major myself...

[Deleted User]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, whew. I'm out

erniejade

I thought halen and skip also loved the chord dac.

polkfarmboy

Tony with higher end gear it is cursed in that if your playing low resolution digital it is horrible. I like the tube buffer because it can mix in to a solid state rig were one would otherwise have to suffer..

There is a ton of music out there that your not going to ever get to hear at redbook playback levels. This kinda low quality stuff consumes most of my listening time.

tonyb

I wouldn't consider redbook low quality.....MP3 yeah, redbook....nope. If the high end gear you have can't do cd quality on it's own to your satisfaction, something is wrong with the associated gear or the gear really sucks.

Plus, if your going to spend time on low rez stuff with a tube buffer in the mix, why spend the coin on higher end gear then ? You can get good sound from a 500 buck cdp and some vintage Polks....no Chord stuff or the likes needed.

I know what your saying about SS, but that's not all SS. Maybe your just on to the wrong SS. The chord dacs are very analog sounding I'm told, a tube buffer may monkey that up some I would imagine. Just my take PFB, listen as you will with whatever you will, as long as you like it, who cares.

[Deleted User]

"it is cursed in that if your playing low resolution digital it is horrible. I like the tube buffer because it can mix in to a solid state rig were one would otherwise have to suffer.." What he said.

I don't know about horrible, but the sssssibilance on vocals is irritating.
I have already removed the worst offender bad recordings. I love the detail
and instruments sounding like what I presume they should sound like.

polkfarmboy

For me its all about finding new music more than anything else and most of the stuff is dreadful quality but still gets my foot tappin. I like to surf the globe via internet radio stations and I write down names and try find most of it on cds later so I can rip them, once I do that then I wont be using the tube buffer.

Skip any opinions on any Chord gear are welcome as thats why i started this thread. If people dont talk about it then people dont have it on their radar. What component are you currently listening to?

[Deleted User]

I have some experience with Chord products. Only their DAC's. All I could really say. Once people are finished with setting up there ideal listening space and equipment, only then would they realize what changing a single component would bring.

The Chord line of DACs are very nice and the Hugos a true bargain for a sample of what uncompromised sound is like.

There have been only two DACs so far that beat the Hugo, overall. Under $20,000. And that is insane. I would never spend that much. For me, I would rather buy a different pair of speakers, amps, or high mpg sedan.

I will own a chord product gain. No doubt within next two years.

halen

polkfarmboy

I am going to try the hugo next and really like the Qutehd. I was going to try find a cheap QB76 hd and send it in for the qb76HDSD upgrade. On paper however the Hugo appears to have the latest chipset and a pretty good one. I wish they would have included balanced outs on the Hugo and Qute HD but thats not a good business move as they probably want to keep that feature on the more expensive units.

People can be wacky when it comes to audio putting part of the price tag towards the bulk and build of a component. The chord DACs are small in size and I think people factor that into performance of how it sounds on a subconcious level. Some people also dont like the look of the Chord dac's either and lean towards Mac dacs and pee iss audio.

The Chords offerings outside the Dacs is superb but many people would just go safe. I have been playing around with such a safe combo against the Chord outfit and it got smashed. Both integrateds have the same power roughtly and they both sounded good but the Chords realy good and that is the best way to describe the difference. Here is a couple of pics of the other more mass appealing that would fly off the shelf faster if both even cost the same amount...

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