Short answer: the Topping Centaurus. It ranks #19 of 30 DACs by measured performance, rated 4.7/5, at $869; the Chord Qutest ranks #26, rated 4.4/5, and costs $1,795, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the Topping Centaurus: Audio Science Review measured a SINAD of 113 dB, clean for nearly all listening and very good for an R2R design. The tradeoff: Its 113 dB SINAD trails most DACs in its group, and the SMSL SU-2 matches its rating and measured cleaner at 123 dB for a small fraction of the price.
Why pick the Chord Qutest: Audio Science Review measured a SINAD of 114 dB, clean for nearly all listening. The tradeoff: It has no balanced outputs and no volume control.
Buy the Topping Centaurus. It is rated higher than the Chord Qutest and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Headphone Amps and DACs rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Topping Centaurus | Chord Qutest | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $869.00 | $1,795.00 |
| Ranked | #19 of 30 in DACs | #26 of 30 in DACs |
| Device Type | DAC | DAC |
| SINAD | 113 dB (measured by Audio Science Review) | 114 dB (measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Balanced Output | Yes (XLR line out) | No |
| Inputs | USB, optical, coaxial, AES, I2S, Bluetooth | USB-B, optical, 2 x coaxial (BNC) |
| Outputs | RCA, XLR | RCA |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC | - |
| DAC Chip | Discrete 8-channel R2R | Chord custom FPGA (Xilinx Artix 7) |
| Volume Control | Digital (buttons) | None (fixed 1, 2 or 3 V output) |
| Equalizer | Yes (10-band parametric) | - |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 1.8” x 6.3” (222 x 45 x 160 mm) | 6.3” x 1.8” x 3.5” (160 x 45 x 88 mm) |
| Weight | 2.5 lbs (1,130 g) | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
Related Amp and DAC Comparisons
How Topping Centaurus compares with other leading options:
- Topping D900 vs Topping Centaurus
- SMSL SU-10 vs Topping Centaurus
- Topping D90 III Sabre vs Topping Centaurus
- Gustard X18 vs Topping Centaurus
- SMSL D400 Pro vs Topping Centaurus
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Amps and DACs In Full
Topping Centaurus: $869.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Audio Science Review measured a SINAD of 113 dB, clean for nearly all listening and very good for an R2R design. It has a 10 band parametric EQ built in and accepts USB, optical, coaxial, AES, I2S and Bluetooth with LDAC and aptX Adaptive, with RCA and balanced XLR outputs.
Cons: Its 113 dB SINAD trails most DACs in its group, and the SMSL SU-2 matches its rating and measured cleaner at 123 dB for a small fraction of the price. The Topping D70 Pro SABRE rates higher for less. Volume is set with buttons rather than a knob.
Full Topping Centaurus review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2024 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Balanced Output | Yes (XLR line out) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC |
| DAC Chip | Discrete 8-channel R2R |
| Device Type | DAC |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 1.8” x 6.3” (222 x 45 x 160 mm) |
| Equalizer | Yes (10-band parametric) |
| Inputs | USB, optical, coaxial, AES, I2S, Bluetooth |
| Outputs | RCA, XLR |
| SINAD | 113 dB (measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Volume Control | Digital (buttons) |
| Weight | 2.5 lbs (1,130 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Chord Qutest: $1,795.00 Audio46 eBay
Pros: Audio Science Review measured a SINAD of 114 dB, clean for nearly all listening. It takes USB, optical and two coaxial inputs and feeds an amplifier over RCA, with a selectable 1, 2 or 3 V output to match your amp’s input level.
Cons: It has no balanced outputs and no volume control. The SMSL PS200 PRO rates higher and measured cleaner for a small fraction of the price.
Full Chord Qutest review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Balanced Output | No |
| DAC Chip | Chord custom FPGA (Xilinx Artix 7) |
| Device Type | DAC |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 1.8” x 3.5” (160 x 45 x 88 mm) |
| Inputs | USB-B, optical, 2 x coaxial (BNC) |
| Outputs | RCA |
| SINAD | 114 dB (measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Volume Control | None (fixed 1, 2 or 3 V output) |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons