Audio High is proud to have been chosen by Chord Electronics to launch their highly anticipated Chordette line into the United States. Whether you play your music from a music server, PC, MAC, iPhone, iPod, laptop, cell phone, PDA, or stream it from the Internet, Chordette has an affordable system which will allow you to enjoy your music with astonishingly high fidelity.

The new Chordette series from England’s Chord Electronics offers you a completely flexible modular system so you can enjoy your music your way. The system begins with the Chordette Gem, a high quality USB / Bluetooth DAC allowing you to easily take music from your digital sources directly into your stereo. If you don't have a stereo, Chordette offers a broad range of components and you can select just the ones you need. Finally, a flexible modular stand is available so you can display this stunning system at it's best.

Though the size of each component is small, nothing has been compromised. The audio response is still state of the art with exceptional performance and low noise levels. Encased in Chord's trademark solid aluminum billet metalwork chassis, the Chordette looks as terrific as it sounds and shows off its industry leading engineering both inside and out. Below is a description of the available components.

Chordette QuteHD (DSD) DAC

The QuteHD is a 192kHz-capable, multiple-input, USB DAC which offers a range of bespoke technologies taken from the acclaimed QBD76HD, our reference DAC. Part of the beautiful Chordette series, the QuteHD boasts a groundbreaking sonic performance, custom DA conversion technology and cutting-edge DSD-over-USB functionality.

The QuteHD is a high-quality, super-high-performance D/A convertor that, for the first time, offers our world-renowned proprietary DAC technology for an incredibly low price. QuteHD brings exceptional detail-retrieval, insight and transparency to audio systems, thanks to its bespoke circuit design implemented by our internationally renowned engineering team.

Fully future-proof - even for the most adventurous computer audiophile - the QuteHD is ready to take advantage of today’s advanced studio-master-quality music files. It can handle sample rates from 44.1kHz to 192kHz (and up to 384kHz on S/PDIF), allowing users to experience music in true high definition, along with the best possible reproduction of CD-quality music. The QuteHD benefits from an advanced 192kHz-compatible USB input and can also bring sparkling clarity to any connected component with a digital output thanks to two additional digital inputs - coaxial and optical.

In addition to standard PCM files, the QuteHD can also process DSD data using the latest DSD-over-USB support, making it the world’s first affordable DSD-compatible USB DAC. Whether using Mac OS or Windows OS, Chord Electronics’ own proprietary driver software is provided, removing the restrictions of current operating system audio playback.

"Chord has struck gold with the QuteHD. It’s a terrific performer for the money" - What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision 2012

"Chord has set the cat among the pigeons with this affordable but capable and fine-sounding DAC. Trimming the fixtures and fittings back to a minimum and concentrating the budget where it matters most has produced a DAC that will meet most audiophiles’ needs while delighting them with sound that belies the keen price." - HiFi News 2012

Chordette Gem

The Chordette Gem is now upgraded to include APT-X, the Gem delivers true high end sound from cell phones, PDAs, PCs and music servers to any hi-fi system – wirelessly or via it’s USB input.

Chordette Peach

Chordette Peach is an enhanced version of the Gem offering additional optical and coaxial inputs. The Peach also offers a five position input selector switch allowing you to connect up to four different sources and easily switch between sources. The fifth position on the switch passes control to a pre-amplifier allowing you to change sources via the pre-amplifier's remote control.

Chordette Prime

Chordette Prime is a pre-amplifier designed as the control center for your Chordette or existing hi-fi system. Up to four sources can be connected via the analog inputs and a USB connection allows direct digital connection to a personal computer. The USB input will not only playback music but will also allow you to record the audio from any of the analog inputs directly onto your computer. During playback via USB an optical TOSlink output can act as a digital record monitor or as a digital feel into another DAC or AV system. 

 

Chordette Scamp

Chordette Scamp is a stereo amplifier with control for both digital and analog inputs. It has been designed as a small but extremely capable amplifier. The Scamp delivers 2 x 40 watts and features USB and high gain RCA inputs, a built in DAC, a rotary volume control on the rear and a pair of high quality speaker binding posts. 

With it's own RCA phono inputs, USB input and gain control, this little power house can be used as a stand alone integrated amplifier with a single source or as a power amplifier when combined with the Chordette Prime. This gives great flexibility, but there's even more; by just pressing a switch on the back the Scamp can also be bridged into a high power 80 watt mono block amplifier!

Although the Scamp is small, very little has been compromised. When bridged, this compact beauty will supply an output in excess of 80 watts rms of pure music power – this truly amazing unit does this without resorting to fatiguing 'D' Class digital technology but uses instead an innovative common drain, vertical mosfet design, class 'AB' amplifier supplied by a truly innovative 4 transformer 500 kHz unique power supply.

Chordette Toucan

Chordette Toucan is a high quality headphone amplifier which adds advanced, fully adjustable headphone connectivity to both traditional and computer based hi-fi systems. The Toucan, shown below, features gold plated RCA phono and true balanced XLR inputs for analog sources and has two headphone jacks so two can listen at the same time. With the addition of a USB port the Toucan can be connected to a personal computer and will seamlessly appear as an audio device by the operating system. Any music played on the computer will be digitally decoded and then converted to a hi-fi quality signal for playback.

The listening experience has been further enhanced by the addition of a cross-feed network filter. When selected, this will provide a spatial effect giving the feeling that the music has moved outside the head. This results in a more coherent soundstage and lifelike presentation. A manually operated solid aluminim volume control makes for precise and easy volume adjustment.

Chordette Dual

Chordette Dual is a high quality phono amplifier for MC phono cartridges. The Dual features selectable input impedance and gain options that allow for perfect matching to your cartridge. The advanced circuitry gives superior performance and applies the appropriate RIAA equalization for outstanding sound quality. A Rausch slope filter removes rumble from low frequency music. 

An onboard analog to digital converter with USB output allows you to record from your vinyl to your PC or MAC. RCA analog and optical TOSlink digital outputs are also provided.

Chordette Mogul

Chordette Mogul high performance PC is the heart of this highly flexible highly advanced and stunningly styled home computing/entertainment solution. Running the latest Windows™ 7 operating system the Mogul supports a vast range of multimedia applications with full internet access and support. Whether you want to play music, download and playback a missed television program, check your email or just browse the internet the Mogul is the perfect solution. Small and discrete it will sit neatly under a TV or monitor in any room or office and function as a full sized PC or multimedia player.

 

 

Each of the new Chordettes have an internal USB D to A converter or A to D in the case of the Dual. So the Prime, Toucan, Scamp, Gem, Peach and Dual can all be connected into the Mogul by way of USB. With both wired and wireless network support you can stream media content to and from any other compatible product giving total flexibility and compatibility within the home or office network.

The Mogul also has an internal DAC with RCA outputs which when combined with a pair of active speakers creates a luxury high end solution to home computing.

The Mogul not only offers total flexibility with the rest of the range but it also allows dual VGA and simultaneous HDMI (including digital audio) output so you can watch a downloaded movie on your Projector and do email at the same time on a normal LCD PC monitor.  

The ultra compact Mogul supports 2GB of DDR2 system memory and leverages a power-efficient, high performance 1.2GHz U2500 VIA Nano processor to provide a very capable and power system for the size.