Chord Electronics Qutest DAC (£1200) Vs Aune S9C Pro DAC (£644)
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Published 2024-04-12
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PRODUCT LINK:
Eden Audio (Aune in the UK with normal UK consumer rights / protections) : edenaudio.uk/DACs/118-aune-s9c-pro.html
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The review is not paid.....If it isn't a competitive product then it goes back to the brand unreviewed (for YouTube) regardless if they sponsor or not.
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The discount code is affiliated which means I benefit if people buy the product, however this does not come before my own journalistic view of the difference between these DAC's and the DAC I prefer. I also rarely have and use affiliate links.
TIME STAMPS
0:00 - Chord Qutest DAC
2:42 - Aune S9C Pro DAC
4:51 - Interlude break
5:25 - Sound Quality Differences between DACs
9:12 - Summary of Sound Differences / Scoring
10:04 - Affiliate Link / Thanks for watching
HOW LONG DID THE VIDEO TAKE TO MAKE?
In this case the time to make it was approx. 35 hours of work of research, listening to gear and swapping out systems, watching and reading other reviews after forming opinions, scripting, setting up cameras and filming pieces to camera, shooting b-roll, editing all clips with creative clips in software like After Effects, creating the thumbnails, and publishing to YouTube, creating articles.
NOTES
*1 COMPARISONS OF UNREVIEWED GEAR : Please don't ask me how a product compares to another which I haven't reviewed, as it isn't possible to comment on such products I haven't tested. This is the most common question I get which I have given up saying this. Check out my website for reviews of products I have completed instead (hit the review tag, and separate tags).
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All Comments (21)
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Hi everyone, thanks for watching the video. Before commenting I would recommend reading the description too as this often answers lots of the questions I get asked. If you want to support me and independent and honest reviews please sign up to Patreon, or you can Paypal me too. Links in description. Also anyone who wants to lend gear for reviews to help other viewers, where it is often difficult to get products with such reviews, this is always appreciated.
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Liked the on-screen comparison table showing various characteristics of each DAC with a star rating. Thanks Simon.
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I really like the graph with the star rows
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You need to listen to Rob Watts lecture from earlier this year where he covers the cons of linear power supplies.
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Hmm, i liked the Chord Qutest quite a bit to be honest, and for another DAC to have caught up in only 6 years for half the money is impressive! As usual, lots of visual eye candy! Very nice.
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Thanks for the review!
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OMG. You did a full written review on Patreon. Blimey!!
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Nice comparison video. Do you still have an ADI-2? Would be an interesting one. Cheers
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unexpected comparison. i was thinking about getting a Qutest having the Aune as the cheaper option
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Reviewers don't seem to talk much about the musicality of the dac. After having lived with Chinese dacs for over three years ( Gustard x26 and R26 pro), I went back to my Chord Hugo2 and 2go. The Gustards at first wowed me with their precision and slam but on longer listening failed to grab me. The Chords have that human touch to them whereas the Gustards feel like perfect computers. I don't know about the Aune's but I suspect they fall into that perfect computer zone. Again, pure conjecture on my part as I haven't heard the Aune.
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Great comparison review Simon. 😊
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Very informative re-review and comparison with the Qutest. Thank you Simon. PS: I wish you had an Amazon US "purchase through" link, as I am seriously considering buying the S9c for my Aune S17 Headphone/Pre Amp, (even though I already own several $1000+/- DACs), as a direct result of your excellent professional reviewing style. I will be supporting you through your Patreon. You really do add value to the YouTube "Audio Ecosystem". Cheers!
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Simon, i currently use the Qutest to process the output of an Eversolo DMP-A8. Do you have any insight or recommendation on the output type (USB, SPDIF, or Optical) for the interface? I recently switched from the SPDIF to USB and not sure I get too much benefit. Also, perhaps the A8 DAC might be the preferred output? Thanks for your review!
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Nice video.
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Nice review. Again you have outdone yourself. In reply, could you comment on the system you used to do the review was it the Hagel. Thanks.
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I’ve seen on the Chord FB page members really recommend the BNC outputs from the Qutest. Have you tried those?
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When do we expect to see bloopers in the end of the video like in Darko’s…
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Nice review Simon, to the point . Are we saying chords shelf life of 6 years and counting is starting to make it look vulnerable to the newest gen DACs?
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Wonder how using a separate clock on the Aune has on it's performance?
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Interesting review , following up on your comment re the M scaler, do you not feel it adds to a system ? From a Dave to any other dac? Thanks.
