Chord Electronics
Features
Five Xilinx FPGAs: Features massive processing capability with 3,700 DSP cores running over two million lines of proprietary code.
Hardware-level processing: All digital filtering is implemented directly in hardware, completely avoiding the timing errors caused by software FFT convolution shortcuts.
Integrated Pulse Array ADC: The first Chord Electronics upscaler to accommodate analogue sources (such as turntables) via RCA inputs, eliminating traditional aliasing distortion through advanced decimation filtering.
Two-box architecture: Separates the sensitive audio circuitry from a dedicated power supply featuring a proprietary pinch-off RF filter architecture to reject mains-borne noise.
108-bit lossless digital EQ: A ten-shelf equalisation system providing ±18 dB of adjustment across frequencies with zero degradation of signal quality.
Comprehensive digital connectivity: Equipped with isolated USB-B, optical in, BNC in and dual BNC outputs supporting maximum resolution up to 768 kHz (optimised for pairing with the DAVE DAC).
Programmable Latency: Offers selectable delay from 10 milliseconds to three seconds to ensure perfect lip-sync during audio-visual playback.
What's in the Box?
Warranty
***Quartet pictured with Chord DAVE and Ensemble Stands (sold separately)***
Every digital recording carries a flaw invisible to the eye but audible to trained ears: subtle mistiming in how transients arrive. The Chord Quartet exists to correct it. Representing the most significant advancement in Chord Electronics' digital audio history, this reference-class digital upscaler tackles the timing errors baked into standard digital audio playback, delivering the kind of transient precision that turns good systems into reference-grade ones. Available in Silver or Jett Black to match your existing Chord stack, the Quartet Scaler is designed to sit at the center of the most demanding digital front ends.
At the heart of the Quartet is the all-new Blackbird WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filter–the culmination of 46 years of dedicated research from Chord's engineering team. Paired with five Xilinx FPGAs (five times the processing power of the flagship DAVE DAC) and nearly two million lines of proprietary code, the Quartet doesn't just play back digital audio — it reconstructs it with a level of mathematical precision previously unavailable outside a laboratory. It's the natural evolution of the technology found in the Hugo M Scaler and M Scaler, pushed farther than Chord has ever taken it.
The Filter That Changes Everything
The Blackbird WTA filter, built on a staggering four million filter taps, represents a tenfold increase over previous WTA designs, translating directly into a tenfold improvement in transient timing accuracy. Nearly 100% of the filter's mathematical coefficients reach the theoretical ideal "sinc function" — the gold standard for perfect waveform reconstruction. Crucially, all filtering is executed directly within the hardware architecture. By avoiding the software-industry shortcut of FFT convolution, which converts audio to frequency data and back, introducing further timing errors, the Quartet preserves pure signal integrity, delivering unmatched transient fidelity.
Five Xilinx FPGAs give the Quartet massive processing capability: 3,700 DSP cores running over two million lines of proprietary code, all dedicated to executing this complex interpolation algorithm without compromise. Programmable latency settings let you fine-tune the filter’s behavior to match your specific system and listening preferences, giving advanced users direct control over how aggressively the Quartet processes incoming signal.
Turntables Welcome
For the first time in a Chord Electronics upscaler, the Quartet integrates a proprietary Pulse Array ADC (analogue-to-digital converter). This built-in ADC allows analogue sources, including high-end turntables, to benefit directly from the device’s upscaling power. By employing advanced decimation filtering, the integrated ADC eliminates traditional aliasing distortion, outperforming even dedicated studio-grade conversion hardware.
Built Like It Matters
To protect the digital signal from interference, the Quartet benefits from a two-box design. The sensitive audio circuitry is isolated from an independent, Rob-Watts-designed power supply that incorporates a proprietary pinch-off RF filter architecture. This RF rejection achieves the exceptional sonic purity of a battery-powered device from a mains-connected unit.
The rear panel features comprehensive, isolated connectivity, including USB-B, S/PDIF optical, dual BNC outputs, and dual BNC inputs capable of supporting maximum resolution up to 768 kHz. The Quartet is compatible with all Chord Electronics DACs–from the entry-level Qutest and Mojo 2 to the Hugo TT2 and DAVE–and is capable of unlocking the full potential of the DAVE DAC.
FAQs
Do I need a Chord DAC to use the Quartet?
The Quartet is compatible with all Chord Electronics DACs and is specifically engineered to unlock the full potential of the DAVE DAC—pairing them together is the ideal way to hear what the Blackbird WTA filter is capable of.
Can I use the Quartet with a Turntable?
Yes. The Quartet's integrated Pulse Array ADC is the first in a Chord upscaler, letting analog sources like Turntables benefit from the same upscaling power as digital sources.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Physical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 7.8 cm (H) × 33.5 cm (W) × 15.2 cm (D) (Also applies to Power Supply Unit) |
| Weight | 3 kg (Main Unit) 3.2 kg (PSU) |
| Technical Specifications | |
| Digital Inputs | 2× BNC (or Dual BNC) 2× Optical 1× USB-B (Galvanically Isolated) |
| Digital Outputs | 1× Optical (192 kHz) 1× S/PDIF 2× Dual BNC (768 kHz) |
| Analogue Inputs | 2× RCA |
| Power Specifications | |
| Full Power Consumption | 130 W |
| Standby Power Consumption | 20 W |