CHORD CHORDETTE QUTE HD

Pre owned. In excellent condition. Free from any noticeable signs of wear. Supplied with owner's manual and original packaging.

The Chord Electronics Chordette QuteHD is a digital-to-analog converter designed to deliver high-end performance in an exceptionally compact form factor, bringing much of the technology developed for the flagship QBD76HD DAC into domestic Hi-Fi systems. As part of the Chordette series, it was created to make Chord Electronics' renowned proprietary digital conversion technology more accessible while maintaining the exceptional engineering standards for which the British manufacturer is known.

The design is based on a proprietary digital conversion architecture developed entirely in-house by Chord Electronics. Its custom circuitry is engineered to achieve outstanding accuracy in digital signal reconstruction, delivering an exceptionally detailed and transparent presentation that reveals even the finest nuances of a recording while preserving natural tonality, precise timing, and faithful musical reproduction.

The QuteHD is designed to integrate seamlessly with a wide range of digital sources thanks to its comprehensive connectivity. In addition to its high-resolution asynchronous USB input, it features coaxial and optical digital inputs for connecting CD players, streamers, and other digital components. The S/PDIF input supports sampling rates up to 384 kHz, providing excellent flexibility when playing high-resolution audio files.

One of the most innovative aspects of the design is its native support for DSD playback via USB. The QuteHD was among the first DACs in its class to offer DSD-over-USB compatibility, allowing users to enjoy high-resolution DSD recordings alongside conventional PCM formats. To ensure maximum compatibility and optimal performance, Chord Electronics also provides proprietary drivers for both Windows and macOS, overcoming the limitations of standard operating system audio drivers.

From a sonic perspective, the QuteHD combines exceptional analytical ability with remarkable naturalness. Its ability to retrieve fine musical information results in a spacious, precisely focused soundstage with impressive depth, excellent instrument separation, and outstanding transparency across the entire frequency range. Fine detail is reproduced without artificial emphasis, while excellent dynamics and timing contribute to an engaging and faithful musical presentation.

The quality of the QuteHD has been widely recognized by the international specialist press. It received numerous awards, including What Hi-Fi?'s Best DAC award for two consecutive years, the Outstanding Product award from Hi-Fi News, and top ratings from several other respected international publications. These accolades confirm the QuteHD as a compact DAC capable of combining proprietary technology with reference-level sonic performance within its class.

Technical specifications:

• Type: Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)
• DAC architecture: Proprietary Chord Electronics FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) with 10,000-tap WTA filter
• Digital inputs: Asynchronous HD USB up to 384 kHz and DSD128; 75 Ω BNC coaxial S/PDIF up to 384 kHz; optical TosLink up to 192 kHz
• Audio outputs: 1 pair of unbalanced RCA outputs (2 V line level)
• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): < -103 dB
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): > 120 dB
• Dynamic range: 122 dB
• Power supply: External 12 V DC, 1 A power supply (100–240 V adapter included)
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 160 × 70 × 40 mm
• Weight: 0.4 kg