Nordost QRT QB8 MkII (20 Amp version) AC Distribution Board

The essence of the QBASE-Mark II concept is a straight-line AC distribution path, combined with star-earthed topology for connection to a clean ground. By eliminating any form of in-line filtering or active circuitry we maintain the lowest possible AC supply impedance, while a tiny lift in the earth impedance of all but one of the output sockets routes the signal grounds directly to the center of the star and the clean earth terminal. Clearly identified on the casework, this Primary Earth socket is at the center of your system’s performance, literally and metaphorically. It defines both the order in which you connect your components and also, their listening priority in your musical enjoyment, allowing you to further optimize the performance of your primary sources.

The sockets themselves are mounted on a customized frame plate and solidly constructed aluminum extrusion with machined end-caps that deliver a reassuring sense of substance. But the casework has far greater significance than that, the metal pieces and internal PCB (deliberately preferred to hard-wiring) constituting a single, mechanically tuned construction, designed specifically to enhance performance. Compare the musical performance of the QBASE-Mark II to the competition and you’ll hear just how effective this is.