Short answer: the Topping D90 III Sabre. It ranks #7 of 30 DACs by measured performance, rated 4.8/5, at $899; the Chord Qutest ranks #26, rated 4.4/5, and costs $1,795, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Topping D90 III Sabre is the better-sounding option. Audio Science Review measured a SINAD of 123 dB, so its noise and distortion are inaudible. The tradeoff: The Topping D70 Pro SABRE matches both its rating and its 123 dB SINAD for much less, and the SMSL D-6S matches its rating for a fraction of the price.
Why pick the Chord Qutest: Audio Science Review measured a SINAD of 114 dB, clean for nearly all listening. Watch for: It has no balanced outputs and no volume control.
Buy the Topping D90 III Sabre. It is rated higher than the Chord Qutest and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphone Amps and DACs rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Topping D90 III Sabre | Chord Qutest | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $899.00 | $1,795.00 |
| Ranked | #7 of 30 in DACs | #26 of 30 in DACs |
| Device Type | DAC | DAC |
| SINAD | 123 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 HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC | - |
| DAC Chip | 2 x ES9039SPRO | Chord custom FPGA (Xilinx Artix 7) |
| Volume Control | Hardware knob and Bluetooth remote | None (fixed 1, 2 or 3 V output) |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 1.8” x 6.3” (220 x 45 x 160 mm) | 6.3” x 1.8” x 3.5” (160 x 45 x 88 mm) |
| Weight | - | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
Related Amp and DAC Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Topping D90 III Sabre:
- Topping D900 vs Topping D90 III Sabre
- SMSL SU-10 vs Topping D90 III Sabre
- SMSL RAW Pro-DAC1 vs Topping D90 III Sabre
- SMSL VMV D1se2 vs Topping D90 III Sabre
- Gustard X18 vs Topping D90 III Sabre
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 D90 III Sabre: $899.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Audio Science Review measured a SINAD of 123 dB, so its noise and distortion are inaudible. It accepts USB, optical, coaxial, AES, I2S and Bluetooth with LDAC and aptX Adaptive, and drives an amp or powered speakers over RCA or balanced XLR. A volume knob and Bluetooth remote let it work as a preamp.
Cons: The Topping D70 Pro SABRE matches both its rating and its 123 dB SINAD for much less, and the SMSL D-6S matches its rating for a fraction of the price. It has no headphone output.
Full Topping D90 III Sabre review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2023 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Balanced Output | Yes (XLR line out) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC |
| DAC Chip | 2 x ES9039SPRO |
| Device Type | DAC |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 1.8” x 6.3” (220 x 45 x 160 mm) |
| Inputs | USB, optical, coaxial, AES, I2S, Bluetooth |
| Outputs | RCA, XLR |
| SINAD | 123 dB (measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Volume Control | Hardware knob and Bluetooth remote |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Topping D90 III Sabre vs Gustard X18
- Topping D90 III Sabre vs SMSL VMV D1se2
- Topping D90 III Sabre vs SMSL D400 Pro
- Topping D90 III Sabre vs SMSL RAW Pro-DAC1
- Topping D90 III Sabre vs SMSL SU-10
- Topping D90 III Sabre vs Topping D900
- Topping D90 III Sabre vs SMSL M400
- Topping D90 III Sabre vs SMSL VMV D2R
- See all 9 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