This is a review and detailed comparison of two CHORD DACs: the discontinued Chrodette and 2Qute. They are both used and on kind loan from our local audio store: Gig Harbor Audio . The Chordette seems to have listed for USD $799. The list price for 2Quete is USD $1,295.Both units look remarkably similar from the outside with TOSLINK optical, S/PDIF coax and USB inputs. On 2Qute there is an input selector. There is none on Chordette and it seems to autoselect the input.I first tried to operate the units using USB input but had no luck with my previously installed CHORD drivers. I downloaded the Windows 7 drivers and still had no luck. So for this review and testing I resorted to using the S/PDIF input.Typical of other CHORD products, user interface is odd with a large lens on top of the units amplifying LEDs of different colors.Unlike many DACs we test, these CHORD units have custom DAC internally designed and implemented using an FPGA. they are what I call boutique products given their unique approach. Let's test them and see if they deliver or have oddities as many boutique products have.Let's start with the older and cheaper Chordette:We strangely have high output of 3 volts rather than 2 volts. Not a bad thing but be mindful of comparing this unit to other DACs as it will play louder, making you think there is higher fidelity than there is.Distortion and SINAD unfortunately are well below average. There are a lot of odd spurious tones in the Fourier transform on top right although the mains noise and second harmonic dominate.Switching to 2Qute, the picture changes dramatically:Distortion drops by almost 20 dB, matching the specified 0.0003% by CHORD. Here is how they rank among tested DACs:2Qute is at the bottom of tier 1 and Chordette in the middle of tier 3.Due to high output levels, dynamic range is quite good for both:Intermodulation distortion tracks THD+N results in the dashboard with new insights with respect to level sensitivity:Chordette has generally higher noise which 2Qute remedies but both have an odd rise in distortion at around -25 to -20 dB.Here is jitter performance:The 2Qute delivers essentially textbook response with almost no spurious responses. Chordette looks worse compared to it but it is still a very respectable response.Linearity shows the absolute superiority of 2Qute:That is one superb linearity all the way down to -120 dB. I usually allow up to 0.5 dB of error at that limit but the CHORD 2Qute does not need that handicap at all.The Chordette DAC sadly produces disappointing results, losing all presence to even 20 bit fidelity let alone 24.Here are 32-tone tests which as usual, mostly reflect the results in other tests:Despite the reputation for excellent engineering, the other CHORD DACs I have tested have not broken any new ground. The CHORD 2Qute changes that equation for the most part, delivering very good results and rankings among DACs tested. The Chordette however, fails to impress across a range of tests.Quirks of CHORD products remain with drivers that don't seem to work, and user interface that is cryptic although not as much as a hindrance as in their headphone products.Both of these products are discontinued. In used market, assuming the price is right and you want something unusual, the CHORD 2Qute may make a good purchase.I hope to test one of the more current CHORD DACs in the future. Given the direction of 2Qute, I am hoping it will deliver exceptional performance showing that custom DACs need not underperform.-------------As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.If you like this review, or even if you don't but wish for me to escape the rain in Seattle and go somewhere sunny, please considerusing: https://www.patreon.com/audiosciencereview ), or https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...eview-and-measurements.2164/page-3#post-59054 ).