Chord Hugo 2 DAC review

Chord’s DAC’s have populated my stereos for over a decade and my enthusiasm for the original Hugo was enormous. Now there is the Hugo 2: same concept but further developed.
Chord Hugo review: • 006 Chord Hugo d/a-con...
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About Questions: • About questions

[@TBKC2C3]

Have stayed clear of the Hugo 2 due to its price but after listening to one borrowed from my nephew last week, my jaws literally dropped....absolutely amazing sound

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for sharing!

[@johndavies6253]

Excellent and thorough as ever, thank you Hans!!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

My pleasure

[@AeroPR]

I was loving this... until you got to the price! Nice review

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Well, I can imagine. You might look at this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqeZZnuQererorc. It is based on the same tech and in that price range still unbeaten.

[@locmanw1583]

Would you like the Qutest model will sound same as Hugo 2?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I haven’t reviewed the qutest but I suspect it won’t be far off.

[@locmanw1583]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel cool thanks! But you think your Mytek Brooklyn is still better than the Hugo 2. One reviewer said if you don't need the functionality of the Mytek the Qutest is better in sound quality. BTW there are two public measurements available on Qutest and they are top notch.

[@devenmajmudar839]

Hello Hanz what about balanced sound. I have Focal Utopia and would like to buy portable amp/dac combo. Would you suggest Hugo 2 or a balanced output amp/dac combo. I travel a lot so it has to the be portable and usb rechargeable. Please suggest

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

see kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6rOnK2uitingpY

[@ArcticMedevac]

Great review sir! Thank you! I subscribed to Roon based on your review as well. Question, would you use the sample rate converter in roon with the Hugo 2?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You want to use the best upsampler but since that is partly a matter of taste, I can't really say. I prefer to have the Hugo 2 do the upsampling.

[@olexandrs6639]

The Hans Beekhuyzen Channel hi Can I connect my sony zx507 to the amp using 3.5mm and analog signal (not digital) to save the sound signature of sony?

[@JulAlxAU]

Hi Hans. Given MQA is becoming more and more popular, would you buy a brand new original Hugo (not 2) for 750 Pounds? You reckon worth it?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

please watch What DAC is the best: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6rOnK2uitingpY

[@locmanw1583]

Hans can would using a analog power supply with a big toriodal transformer be better than a switchmode power supply in dacs

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

If it is a good switching mode psu there will be no or little difference. If it is a bad one the difference will be huge.

[@Ryu288288]

Hi Hans, thanks for the great review. Can the Hugo 2 be used with the sotm sms-200 ultra?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Yep, you can connect the Hugo over usb to the SOtM. It is a fine combination

[@PeterHyatt]

Intelligent, well articulated review of a great product. I believe the "poly" like addition to Hugo 2 should be introduced, even if just in early form, January 2018. (I hope)

[@JR___]

Hi Hans. You said it’s very important to burn in the Hugo 2 for a week to make the Hugo 2 performs at its optimal. What are the sonic differences between a new out of the box unit and a burned in unit? Are they clearly noticeable differences or just slight differences? Thanks!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

It is a well know fact that equipment has to 'burn in' to some degree. With DAC's the clock oscillator will become more stable over time, which will lead to lower jitter. But also capacitors need some time to perform well. Whether you will consider this to be important or just a slight difference is personal. I mention it for those that are critical. They should evaluate a burned in sample or they might get a wrong impression of the device.

[@JR___]

Thanks for your answer. Yes, I know (and have experienced) the change in sound that burn in brings to some components (those with caps in signal path are the most evident in my experience). I‘d like to know what changes in sound have you noticed in the Hugo 2 (if any). I’ll appreciate if you can elaborate your experience about this issue with the Hugo 2. Thanks again!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

With DAC's getting the Xtals stable is the main factor. A 'cold' Xtal has more jitter and thus produces dirty highs,a vague stereo image and low tonality at the low end. This all happened with the Hugo 2.

[@JR___]

Thanks again Hans!

[@cybershaped]

Hans, you should ask for Chord the new Hugo M-scaler to review Hugo + M-Scaler and its 1 milion taps. Of course using direct connection from Media server and using Sotm Combo. Some guys are saying it's a game changing.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have set myself a limit of € 2000 for equipment I review. For now I stick to this. Sorry.

[@cybershaped]

The Sotm Trifecta Combo is almost the price of M-scaler. :)

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Well, I didn't review that either. BTW, the M-scaler is an entirely different product alltogether and perhaps the combo and the M-scaler might result in great sound too.

[@JackieLastrada]

@ Andre Vieira I just purchased an M-scaler last week to pair with my Qutest and I must say its pretty much ...game over. The sound I get when using the dual 768 Hz inputs is like nothing I 've heard in digital before. Its the most lifelike I've heard and I have been doing this for about 35 years. So to put in perspective for about $7800 you can have the sound that just 5 years ago you would have had to pay at least $25,000 to get with the highest end DAC's available.

[@paulclissold2677]

Speaking of the Poly Streamer (as quickly shown) would very much like to hear your thoughts about that Chord DAC add on.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Working on it

[@tonicipriano9113]

Hi Hans, have you ever thought about doing a review of the NAD M51 DAC? I would really love to hear your opinion about it.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have thought about many DAC's but I only have 24 hours a day and thus limit myself to DAC's below € 2000

[@tonicipriano9113]

Well the reason i asked is because it sells in Australia for about AUD1800 which is in the price range you usually cover. Not sure how much it sells in Europe though.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You're right. The price here is 1999. I'm booked for the coming weeks but I'll see what I can do.

[@gnostalgick9353]

The NAD is a great dac, but 5 years on just isn't worth it's asking price. IMO it doesn't quite keep up with the Ayre Codex, at about the same price--and both are absolutely outclassed by the Hugo2, for not that much more money. However if you find it used for half price or less, its still a decent value.

[@edincleve1955]

Hi Hans Thanks for your typically thorough review. I've read other reviews that raved about the Hugo2, but unfortunately it comes with a limited lifespan. Not only does the battery die, once it does, the unit will not operate (according to Chord). Did you open the unit, and if so, are the rechargeable batteries standard units, and could they be fairly easily replaced?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

The Hugo 2 is easily opened. I didn't check for the batteries since you have to be careful with replacing the yourself - well, perhaps not you - and you better have Chord or the local distributor take care of it. My Hugo first gen still plays without any problem and was in use for over 3 years. But I am sure a handy viewer will be able to find comparable batteries.

[@edincleve1955]

Thanks, that gives me one more DAC to consider now. (Mytek Brooklyn, Benchmark DAC3, Denafrips Pontus, Holo Audio Spring DAC, Audio-gd R2R 1 and Hugo2)

[@mattmcp1448]

you get a three year warranty with the Hugo 2 - if you don't open it...

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Well the batteries in my Hugo 1st gen did last for over 3 years..... BTW I don't think the batteries are covered by the warranty. They normally aren't.

[@mattmcp1448]

I want to modify my Hugo 2 - I hate micro USB, I want a full size USB B port - how would you do this?

[@bernardosilva7306]

Hi! Do you think there is a "Mojo 2" on the horizon? Thanks! :D

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I don’t know. Sorry 😐

[@bernardosilva7306]

No problem, just a guessing game :D

[@icervoid]

It beats Yggdrasil in matter of sound quality ?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I can't tell since Schiit doesn't respond to my request for a review sample....

[@dante19890]

is hugo2 the best transportable self powered dac you can buy ? or are there better options. My uses are headphones and iems.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I don't know. It's the best I reviewed. And not on headphones.

[@dante19890]

so you use the hugo 2 as a dac in your stationary speaker setup? My uses are mainly for traveling connected to my phone/laptop.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You might watch the video forst and then ask questions:-)

[@dante19890]

sorry but I cant really remember every word u speak in a almost 15 min video )

[@tichyzishh3379]

Andreas Tzimboukakis For me it is the best portable on the market. BT from my phone, and I headphones and iems, travel on the trains/bus etc to work. And walk about around the house with it in my pocket. I don't think there is going to be anything on the market that can beat this for years to come!

[@seditoable]

I hope to holy god, the addon to this could add mqa support... even if their dacs sound better on cd's than others on... everything... the fact remains, for the foreseeable future, I'm going to be using it a lot. Especially after your explanation of it. Plus in many of the mqa tracks I've heard, I'm hearing aspects I've never heard before. Its a new perspective. And that's one of the reasons I'm getting back into hifi equipment. Although I guess its unlikely. Unless chord has been listening and changing their minds because I've only heard they didn't have much faith in it. Anyway love your channel and what you're doing to educate on the many ways technology can bring more musical pleasure!

[@austinpop]

Hello Hans, I couldn’t tell if you compared the Brooklyn and the Hugo 2 apples to apples - with both driven by the sMS-200ultra. You seemed to say the sMS-200ultta+Brooklyn was better than the Hugo2 standalone, but what about: - sMS-200ultta+Brooklyn Vs. - sMS-200ultta+Hugo2?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I of course tested both DAC's under the same conditions. Fed from the computer they both play at the same level of quality. But when combined with the sMS-200Ultra the Brooklyn got even better while the Hugo 2 didn't. Why? I really don't know but it is clearly reproducible and I tested it on a third person. He needed about 2 seconds.

[@audiovideoexplorer2924]

Maybe you have a bottleneck in your setup one? Or the Hugo 2 has better rf isolation?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

No, the HUGO seems to have less perfect interfacing.

[@DigitalBliss69]

Would be interested in hearing your thoughts about Hugo TT, Hans.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have no thoughts on products I haven’t reviewed. Sorry.

[@remcosanders798]

Beste Hans, bedankt voor al jouw uitstekende reviews. Denk je dat het mogelijk is om een review te maken van de mytek brooklyn dac+? Fijne dagen!

[@andysherman711]

Oooh those screw holes!

[@georgepopescu1327]

I am on the market for a new DAC. Is Chord 2Qute much better than Mojo? 2Qute price is double compared to Mojo.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I haven’t reviewed the 2Qute so I cannot tell. Sorry.

[@georgepopescu1327]

From what I've read Qute is basicaly a Hugo 1 in an aluminim chassy with no battery and no headphones out. Unfortunatly I haven't got the chance to hear any of those DAC's.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

That's what I read too. But I haven't tried so I can't say.

[@mattmcp1448]

I've had both the Hugo and the 2Qute - if you don't need to go portable go for the 2Qute, technically though the Hugo is better but like the new Hugo 2 is compromised by micro USB and recessed RCA jacks.

[@georgepopescu1327]

No , I don't need it for portable use, only for home. By the way do you thing that adding a liniar power supply to 2Qute will make a good improvement to the sound?