Disclaimer: The Corda Quickstep was loaned to me by Mr. Meier himself when we met at Canjam Europe in Essen last year. Jan is a great guy and I always end up having nice talks with him and Fried from Violectric.
The Story
It’s not the first time I’ve said this but the market has changed. In example five years ago, everyone was using double or triple stacks and carrying around external portable amplifiers was considered normal and logic. The last few years DAPs became more important and modern DAPs get stronger every day. The need for external amplifiers compared to a few years ago simply isn’t there anymore as much as it was before. DAP suppliers like Fiio and Hifiman now even supply different kind of amp modules with different “strengths” to use in their DAPs. That being said there still is a market for portable amplifiers: some DAPs just simply need one as they’re not powerful enough for the modern head/earphones, others just want to use their DAP as a source and another group just wants to drive full sized headphones directly from their portable setup. The market still is there, it just got smaller and in that situation, only the best gear survives.
I reviewed Jan’s Daccord and Corda Classic quite some time ago already and while I personally wasn’t too fond of their signature at that time, they are top quality amps. Last Canjam Europe, I stopped by Jan’s booth and we were talking about and testing his new FF technology (very impressive and I can’t wait to review it someday) when I saw the Corda Quickstep on his exhibition table. I recognized the amp from Rasmus Horn’s ultra-portable iPod Nano + Quickstep setup (if I remember well) and I decided to give it a listen. I compared the PCSTEP (his lower level portable amp) to the Quickstep and decided to take the Quickstep home with me. I don’t think an amp ever convinced me as quick as the Quickstep did (I couldn’t help myself). In fact, I have been using this amp since late September and I really should apologize to Jan for being rather late with this review. The Corda Quickstep isn’t new though and if I’m not mistaken, the Quickstep has been around since 2012. You won’t find a lot of pages about in on the WWW though but a lot has been written about it on Head-Fi (page 130 and on).
The Quickstep
According to Mr. Meier the Corda Quickstep is “simply one of the very best portable amplifiers on the market and it uses the concept of balanced ground and a discrete volume control. In addition it has an extensive RF-filter of the input-signal which makes it immune to RF-pollution caused by mobile headphones. It also has heavy-duty 3.5 mm sockets which strongly reduces contact-problems and increases reliability”.
The Quickstep is a very simple but stylish portable amplifier and it design wise follows the typical Meier design. The aluminum Corda Quickstep is really small (8,8 x 6,6 x 2,2 cm) and it weighs only 115gr without the 9V battery. Combine it with a small DAP like the iPod Nano and you have a top quality super portable setup. Build quality, like all Meier amps, is great and Mr. Meier only works with the best of components. On the front of the amp you’ll find both the 3.5mm input and output. Right in between is a blue LED that lets you know the amp is powered on. The plugs are sufficiently wide apart and plugging and unplugging cables is no issue at all. The tiny volume control is located on the right side of the front panel. The gain selector is located right below the 3.5mm Line In and it’s placed a little bit deeper in to the casing so you don’t accidentally switch to high gain. Flicking the switch to high/low gain can easily be done by using a pen though.
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Barun C
Hey Lieven, nice article. Had a couple of questions
1. Did you get a chance to try it with sensitive balanced armature/hybrid IEMs and if so how was
the synergy and noise floor?
2. By stating that the amp does not run even a full working day, do you mean less than 8 hours,
just wanted to know what is the range of battery life?
Thanks
Headfonia_L.
1. I have used my Maestro 12 BA driver and the Warbler Prototype: No noise whatsoever
2. On my rechargeable batteries it doesn’t last 8 hours, no. For longer use you should hook it up to a power supply
Kristian Lindecrantz
Makes me skitish, how you avoid give an estimate on battery life… Great review though, as usual!
Headfonia_L.
It depends on the power of your rechargeable battery, the ones I have are only 200 and they last for about 6 hours
Ken
Wow, I bought the Chord Mojo 2 weeks ago and has been so happy that I decided too sell my home setup (Audio-gd 10.32) and previous “on-the-go” equipment (Corda Quickstep). Last year I got an almost new Quickstep for less than 200 euro, but I have not used it very much. It doesn’t give my iPhone 6 enough of an upgrade powering Beoplay H6 headphones or q-Jays in-ears.
I was going to put the Quickstep up for sale tomorrow, but this review has made me reconsider. Tonight I have been listening to the Mojo/Quickstep combo, and I must admit that it is very good. The Mojo is perfect on-the-go, but Mojo/Quickstep might be a very fine and small home setup. Last week I sold Denon D7000 for lack use, so I am in the market for another fullsize headphone. Your thoughts on the Quickstep and HD650 will probably make me buy a second-hand HD650 for the third time if the price is right:-)
Headfonia_L.
The HD650 should be in each self respecting music lover’s inventory/setup 🙂
Ken
You are right:-) What is the small cable you have used to connect Quickstep and Mojo?
Headfonia_L.
It’s a mini IC that came with the Fiio Q1, it’s awesome. You can get one exactly like this over at JDS for only $4.99
https://www.jdslabs.com/products/146/ultra-short-3-5mm-interconnect-cable/
canchang
intriguing and helpful review! how loud (what colour) did you set the mojo to output into quickstep? thx
Headfonia_L.
The standard LO setting of the Mojo (start up with volume buttons pressed)
canchang
merci!
Skyfall
Lieven,
Lovely reviews. Between Quickstep and Duet, which one according to you have better synergy with HD700 and LCD X. I am a sucker for tonality that is thicker, textured and slightly bassier sound but great transparency and details. I found Mk3B+ delivers what i’m looking for I wonder if it could be better since you can put more oomph with Quick Step using better Battery, more voltage.
Your help will be much appreciated.
Headfonia_L.
I’d give that to the Duet, especially in balanced config
Carl
Another cool review L!
When you say that with the HD800 it has become your “easy couch” set-up, what DAC is that with? Or is it with more than one!
I’m finally at the point of getting an HD800 (or the the 800s, which would be several hundred pounds more) and I’m a little lost with knowing what direction to go in concerning amps & days at the more budget end of the spectrum.
You are one of the rare ‘recent owners of the HD800 that don’t spend ages outlining its flaws, so any advice you could give would be appreciated.
Really stuck between the 800 and the ‘improved’ 800s ….
Be well.
Headfonia_L.
Thanks Carl! Couch setup: Any DAP (X7, AK120II, AK240, L5pro, N5, …)
Most headphones have “flaws” somehow but I think the criticism on the HD800 is also often exaggerated.
Carl
Two follow-on quick questions L:
Is double-amping still an issue at all? I ask in probable ignorance I realise, but connecting the Quickstep to a DAP with one of the supplied 3.5 to 3.5 connectors, isn’t the quickstep then also amping the DAP’s amp, or does it not matter?
Secondly, what are your two personal favourite amps when you listen to your HD800?
Thanks!
Headfonia_L.
You have to use the Line Out of the DAP, not the headphone out.
My custom made 300B amp and the Violectric V281
Carl
Thank you for your time.
Be well.
dalethorn
Ignoring price, the HD800 has a phenomenal resolution, and needs really great amplification to bring out its best. A guy I know was running some tests at a dealer who had such amplification, and what he described was akin to hearing the angels of heaven etc. I got a small sense of it with headphone amps under $1000 USD, but I can imagine what I was missing.
Headfonia_L.
Luckily for me I have those amps too 🙂
But seriously, the Quickstep really surprised me with the HD800. Maybe that’s no coincidence as Jan is a big fan himself
Trychtyr
Hello Lieven, thank you for nice review and
introduction of the brand which was completely unknown for me. At the moment I
am considering purchase of the portable amp for aluminium Kaiser universal. I
use it with original Fiio X5 and I have feeling that build-in amplification is
not adequate to these IEM. I plan to buy new DAP soon but I am not sure yet
which one (most probably X7 or L5pro). They are also some newcomers announced so I give it time. Do you think portable amp would be sound quality improvement to
current setup and also in future when used with new DAP? I am thinking about RX,
Picollo, Pure II+ and now also Quickstep. I also listen to music at very low
levels. Are all mentioned amps suitable for such usage with sensitive IEM? Do I
have sufficient possibility to fine-tune volume at low level or low level with
these amps means also channel imbalance area of volume pot? On X5 I am usually
somewhere between 15 and 20 of 120. Thanks in advance for hint.
Headfonia_L.
Great selection of amps, any of these will be just fine 🙂
Peter Pan
Hi Lieven how do you compare this amp with G109? I am thinking about meier Jazz ff or G109A for my HD650. Any thoughts?
Headfonia_L.
You shouldn’t compare a mini portable amp to a desktop amp. The G109 and V100 are good amplifiers, haven’t heard the Jazz ff yet
Peter Pan
Yes i know just wondering about sound signatures because from what i am reading i understand that you liked both quickstep and G109 with the HD650.
Headfonia_L.
if you need it to be portable: Quickstep, if not: Lakepeople/violectric
Peter Pan
No need to be portable so i have to decide between G109 and Jazz ff but no chances for me to listen to them so it’s a blind date! (and the price is the same so very difficult to decide.)
Headfonia_L.
Analytic, neutral : Jazz (based on Meiers sound sig)
Warmer, good bass and body: G109
Dave Ulrich
The G109 is still pretty neutral
Peter Pan
Ok thank you guys for the info well from what you say i am inclined towards G109…
Nickjan Glas
Great review, I got this one some time ago when it was on sale. but its definitely worth retail price. it replaced my fiio e12, which I havent used since.
For power I added a second rechargeable 9v battery (both 250mA). That usually lasts for 12 to 15 hours total.
I also upgraded the corda classic to the ff version after listening to the HE560 on it at Canjam and I am sure you ll love it once you get to review it. Seems to me to be more lively and open/dynamic than the regular version; a nuance difference, but with great positive consequence.
Headfonia_L.
The difference between regular and FF is quite noticeable. Surprised to see you getting 12 to 15h on the 250mA though 🙂
Nickjan Glas
The 12-15 hours is on 2 batteries; I carry a spare. I am now saving for the hE560 to get more out of the classic ff.
Ritwik
I am glad that you wrote a review about the amp, finally. I still use my ‘Stepdance’ and like it over any other SS amp I have ever heard. When I bought the amp there were very few who talked about this great little amp but I took the leap of faith and never regretted my decision.
Headfonia_L.
I’m glad yo liked it! Lovely amp 🙂
Krzysztof Nowaczyk
Nice review but could you briefly compare it to Aune B1? Just soundwise…
Mainly to be used with IEMs – Flare R2A/R2pro and Lear BD4.2 – sources – Mojo, iPhone 4s and TEAC HA-P90SD. After owning hundreds of portable equipment those quys seems to be my end game (more or less:) ) – but I’d like to try new amp…
I can buy Corda for 110$ and B1 for 220$ … Just for a price – performance point of reference
Headfonia_L.
I’m afraid I can’t. Don’t have the Aune B1, Flare or Lear or Teac 😀
Krzysztof Nowaczyk
Too bad:( I was hoping for some insight.
I’ll go with Corda then… I think it may go well with iPhone 4s (which I’m using as streaming-enabled DAP only).
Headfonia_L.
Nathan always says the 4S was/is one of the best iphones for sound, so adding the Quickstep probably is a really good idea
Krzysztof Nowaczyk
My thoughts exactly:)
I’ll post a comment how it stacks together…
Julio
How compared with Cloud Nine in terms on detail, layered and dynamic’s?