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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

Showing 14 responses by honashagen

honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Ok but isn't the digital out on all the time whether it's connected or not?
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Oh boy. Out of my price range. Thanks for the reply.
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Ayre Kx5 mp pre, Smc audio dna1 gold power amp. Harbeth C7es3, Cardas neutral reference cables. Kimber 8tc speaker cables.
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Tried the Brooklyn about a year ago. My reaction was about the same. 
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Playing cds and Tidal. Tidal on the macbook pro too. 
honashagen OP
137 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. 
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Maybe I'm not sure what I should be listening for? When I got the Ayre pre I could hear a difference right away. When I got the SMC power amp it was much harder to tell. When I got the Cardas cables I knew I couldn't give them back. 
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Does anyone know if there are any settings in the Oppo that I need to adjust?
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Yes. I have a few audiophile type friends.
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Thought- These Harbeth C7 speakers and wonderful but not that revealing. I notice you can't hear the reverb in rooms like I'm used to. Could it be difference is just not being resolved by the Harbeths?
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
A friend is going to put the Qutest up against has Yggy Analog for me. 
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Well it must be me. Maybe my ears haven't been trained properly. I had a recording studio years ago and I think you listen for different things. I can hear fast, warm, bright, etc. Pace and rythem and some other terms reviewers use not so much. 
I tried again last night but the Oppo still had an inner warmth I like. 
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
I wasn't comparing cd to pc. Thought the resolution from the pc might be higher. 
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Chord has no balanced connections.
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