Chord Hugo TT2 & MScaler Review

[@jamiermathlin]

I have slowly improving my system over the past couple of year, tried many different DACs and a few amps and I finally reached my dream of owning a set of Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4s, now powered by a Michi X3 amp. With regard to DACs I started with a Topping D50 which I was happy with, however, a deal came up for a Topping D90LE, so I aquired this, quite a step up from the D50, around the same time a friend let me borrow a Chord Qutest, wow, I was hooked from the second I played music through it. So I starting saving for a HugoTT2, aquired this, another big step up, and finally I purchased an M-Scaler a couple of months ago. This was less of a step up compared to Qutest to HugoTT2 in terms of detail and refinement, however, what it did bring was a wider and deeper sound stage, with a real sense of 'being there'. I suppose the next step will be Dave, but I think I would need to hear one first before I drop £10k on one 😀

[@ianhps3]

Great review, and one of the few that exactly mirrors my own experience. I was interested in purchasing the TT2 and stupidly demoed it repeatedly against the Dave in store. I considered the Dave out of reach going into the process, but found myself buying one anyway, because I found it leagues ahead of the (also very good) TT2, which I could not settle for after hearing its big brother. I'm very interested in hearing what the MScalar brings to the table as this may well be my next purchase.

[@ozpauls4052]

Thanks for the comprehensive reviews Amos. I started my Chord journey with the original Hugo, which was amazing. Last year I updated to a TT2 and was impressed by the improvement in the SQ. I listen using the original Utopia headphones. I thought it was an endgame combination until I added an Mscaler which I did a few months ago. The improvement to the SQ is almost unbelievable. I now hear everything in the music, its just so revealing Listening is so revealing, especially with TOTL headphones. Often I add a tube amp ,(Feliks Elise), to my signal chain which warms things up a nicely. I am surely in endgame territory now. I'm am a huge Rob Watts and Chord Fan. Maybe a Chord Dave later on when I win the lottery!

[@adrianmorrish8494]

Rob says in the ne interview he takes an mscaler on plane flights with a power bank, now that is dedication to high end 😁

[@davidpilon9433]

Where can i buy this power bank ?

[@maximburgman]

Mobile Joy gets expensive in that rarified air.

[@lalawilson1988]

❤❤一.

[@JonnyParker-]

Hahah that is nutty.

[@FUSEDFORCE]

im amazed by the chord hugo 2 , line out to my lcx amp is truly amazing , im a chord fan for life after decades of trying to find my sound i found it

[@Vamp898]

I never tried or used any Chord products, but it was an enjoyable and entertaining experience watching you sharing your fascination about them.

[@neilsnyder7915]

Listening to Meze Elites, connected to a SparkoS Labs Aries II amp, connected to a Hugo TT2, connected to a Chord M Scaler. Listening to Tidal/Qobuz music via a Roon Nucleus. Pure heaven! I bought the Susvara, LCD 5, and Utopia as well but returned them as I preferred the musicality, fit, and finish of the Meze Elites. Lush, big, detailed without being edgy music. IMHO

[@johnspy12345]

I got a similar setup, though using PGGB for upsampling and no amp (other than the one built into the TT2). It’s good, but not heaven. How much of a difference does the Aries II make Neil?

[@neilsnyder7915]

@@johnspy12345 I'm pretty deaf so I have a significant imbalance between my ears. The Sparkos has a balance control which gives me enough volume in one ear for critical listening. I hear every nuance, with wonderful imaging. Any more detail and the music disappears. With my setup, the biggest disappointment are the massive amount of poor recordings. However, when something is well recorded, it's like being there. The Sparkos has plenty of headroom and is dead black on noise. The volume and balance controls are 1db attenuated so I get excellent and precise control.

[@neilsnyder7915]

The m scaler is not for everyone as it changes the music. I'm learning to listen to my favorite recordings being presented with such detail and presence that the music literally sounds different. Weird but wonderful.

[@lamgmtgroup258]

Man, talk about an incredible stack! I have Meze Elites as well and agree after demoing them against many you mentioned as well. I just picked up a Gen 1 mojo and I love it paired to the Meze elites, and love the chord sound. Haven’t demoed anything else other than the M2 and am already looking at the rest of the chord line. Dream setup would be tt2 + Mscaler or even a tt2 but that’ll be some time downline!

[@vancybergoth]

I only use my TT2 as a DAC, as an AMP the Moon Neo 430 and as headphones the Abyss PHI TC and Audeze LCD-XC. I've asked myself a few times whether the M Scaler makes sense or how big the improvement would be, since I absolutely don't listen to audiophile music. 😄

[@oscarmarfori613]

Those are really thin and fancy cables you have there connected, thanks for sharing information about this device, 👍

[@mariorinaldi7612]

I own a TT2+Mscaler which I listen trough a pair of LCD-5 and I feel I am in pure sonic heaven. I can't afford a chord Dave right now and the only downside of my Chord combo is that makes the research of other components from other brands pretty pointless as I know I can't find anything really better. I am hoping for just one more single product release from Chord electronics which is a standalone lossless equalizer as the one implemented in the mojo 2. Please Rob Watts, listen to my prayers!

[@brooksphillips2234]

There are other options that are just as good and better than the TT2.

[@Currawong]

Rather than post an empty comment, how about write about your experiences comparing the TT2 with other DACs? That would be more useful.

[@brooksphillips2234]

@Currawong as you know it's all preference. Some say they prefer the Holo May or the Lampizator with tubes. I guess I should have elaborated that it all comes down to taste. I don't believe that any dac is a be all end all dac because we are all different with different preferences.

[@annarobertson8320]

I agree, using same with Lcd5. Just adding ow a McIntosh Mct80 cd transport. End game i feel

[@powermod6772]

@@annarobertson8320 | @mariorinaldi7612 How much is the difference of using LCD-5 on TT2 with or without the M-Scaler? I have LCD-5 + TT2 but am not fully in audio heaven so far. Sometimes I am - with HQPlayer and the right recording, it can sound so real that I feel the music is in my room and not in my headphones. I want more of that. But the HQPlayer UI and its processing delay kind of sucks. And as said, this experience is very rare so far. And I am just using USB from my computer. Thought the TT2 is insensitive to USB noise?

[@DirectorsGarage]

I use the TT2 / MScaler with the new Ferrum Hypsos / OOR stack. It's the best combo I've heard on the Abyss 1266 Phi TC. I still think there's better out there for the Susvara, though it's quite good. I'm not sure I've found a match for its potential. The Bakoon 13r is the amp I'm targeting.

[@brooksphillips2234]

Just curious but have you tried the Susvara on the Burson Soloist GT? I own the GT but I've never heard the Susvara. Just curious on a small comparison if you had.

[@darkeldarblade916]

@@brooksphillips2234 I have the Susvara and the Burson Soloist GT with the Hugo TT2 and M-Scaler. It is very very good. Now I have found that when I just use the Hugo TT2 with the Susvara it totally can handle the headphones with out an external amp. The sound with the Burson Soloist GT and the Susvara is so clean but I have not noticed a huge difference between using the Burson and just using the Hugo TT2 amp.

[@gibgun]

Are you using the Hypsos to power the Oor or the TT2?

[@JTB--]

@@gibgun Oor

[@danieljakubik3428]

Excellent detailed presentation of high end headphone amplifier DACS!

[@brothatwasepic]

Hi Currawong. I love your channel man! I was wondering if it would be plausible for a product to have an m scaler dac in one. Like 1M+ taps in a dave 2 or something similar?

[@Currawong]

I do recall Rob writing about why putting both the MScaler and the DAC in one box is an issue. Also, if the MScaler portion is updated (and he's said online he's working on something better) then you'd have an out-of-date product, versus if they are separate.

[@brothatwasepic]

@Currawong thanks so much that makes sense. Thanks and have a good one

[@v8purrr92]

I currently have a TT2 (w/o the M Scaler), Yggy A2, and ADI-2 DAC FS sitting on my desk. To my ears, the Yggy has a more natural timbre, it also creates more air around each instrument. The Yggy definitely has great synergy with the Flux Lab Volot headphone amp. It's the only DAC out of the three I currently own that makes the Audeze LCD-XC (2021) sound almost like open-back headphones.

[@Currawong]

Interesting. I find the opposite with the TT2, but then, it has the advantage in that it has a good headphone amplifier built in. I reckon though that if you get good synergy, that beats everything really. The LCD-X headphones are open-backed by the way, unless you mean the LCD-XC.

[@v8purrr92]

​@@Currawong Indeed, it's all about synergy in the chain. Thanks to the Volot - so far it's the best sounding SS headphone amp I've heard. Yes, I did mean the XC version. It was a typo)

[@JTB--]

The M Scaler makes the stock TT2 sound rather muted and flat by comparison to when using them both together

[@Cestmoi50]

Do you listen to the tt2 + mscaler as a headphone amp/dac, or do you add a Burson soloist 3xr GT to is as a headphone amp as well? I have al three and actually both sound amazing in a different way, the Burson a little airy, the tt2 a little bit smoother. Was curious about your experience.

[@JTB--]

I recently snagged the Chord TT2 and M-Scaler for good deals ...and yeah there is a Chord difference with their DACS. Great with the HE1000se and Verite Closed. Also nice DAC paired with the Bottlehead Crack & Speedball and HD 600

[@aceofspades6667]

Is the hp amp good enough to run sus / HE6 / phi tc? Would you also compare the Dac sound signature to something like Holo KTE dacs is this a bit more neutral in comparison to their more smooth sound ?

[@alexmazin]

What could be considered a better purchase - Chord Dave or Chord Hugo TT 2 + Chord M Scaler? Both variants would cost the same on the second-hand market. I cannot listen to any of the devices before purchasing, unfortunately.

[@sonicplayroompiano4302]

Great review! Did you notice any worthwhile sound difference with the Amazon bnc cables vs stock?

[@Currawong]

I didn't compare them.

[@sonicplayroompiano4302]

@@Currawong why did you change it then?

[@Currawong]

A: Because the stock cables are not to spec, and B: Because 15cm cables are much neater and don't get in the way when you have up to a dozen components on a rack.

[@sonicplayroompiano4302]

@@Currawong makes sense. Wouldn't you want to do a direct a/b to see if they sound any different?

[@keithbertschin1213]

Hi Currawong Sir. My TT2 has malfunctioned and I’m currently awaiting fix. I took the opportunity to order a Holo May with the intention of selling the TT2 when it’s fixed. I do intent to keep the M Scaler to work with the May albeit not taking advantage of the dual BNC. I’m also selling my Empyreans which is really why I bought the TT2. I’m just no longer the headphone guy I thought I was so have no need for the TT2’s headphone amp. I know you reviewed the Holo Spring. What do you think of the move. Do you think an M Scaler + May would be better than TT2 + M Scaler? Golden Sound was all over the May and even suggested it was better than the Dave + M Scaler, high praise indeed. What are your Elacs? I have Elac Adantes which I love and can never understand why they didn’t run with them, they could have been a classic. I’m English, congrats on keeping hold of the ashes 🥺 Many thanks

[@Currawong]

If you're going to go with the May, and sell the TT2, I'd sell the MScaler as well and spend the money on Roon and HQPlayer, though the latter has a steep learning curve.

[@keithbertschin1213]

@@Currawong Thanks. Problem is, I use Innuos Zenith digital transport. The zenith is specced very low power to keep noise low, it only just runs Roon as core which I do, let alone HD player.

[@loborojo777]

This is the most British you've ever sounded. Currawong is about to hop to the Asda in his Land Rover with the Spice Girls on full. Keep up the great work!

[@TheDarnoconrad]

Any plans to review the Mojo 2 soon? Hopefully comparing to the original.

[@WoodstockG54]

Have issues when I power up the Hugo TT2. Using an Aurender N100, using USB connection, it doesn’t lock in and I get distortion. What would cause that? I have to cycle through the inputs to correct it.

[@Currawong]

No idea. I recommend asking in the Head-Fi thread for the TT2. Rob Watts may be able to help you as he posts there.

[@pennfootball71]

I wonder how you would compare it to the DCS Lina and reclocker

[@TigraZ]

that camaera angle just need a godzilla in the background to be perfect

[@rolandevans5894]

I have the TT2/M-Scaler and appreciated an uplift in overall SQ after replacing the stock coax cables that came with the M-Scaler with Moon Audio dual coax interconnects; also, quite an improvement after adding isolation/absorbers between rack to M-Scaler and between M-Scaler and TT2.

[@MisterChibs]

Awesome review! Looking forward to your Mojo 2 review if you decide to make one. Ordered one from Justin, he is a great guy!!👍

[@f.evangelista]

Does any one use the TT2 only as a dac with XLR to one amp( solid state) and RCA to tube amp? The manual says you can’t and my experience was weaker and distorted sound on the tube amp.. if I disconnect te XLR and just use RCA to the tube amp it’s perfect sound ..

[@connorduke4619]

Excellent review on all this Chord gear. One more defence for the arguably leading mid-fi R2R ladder Dac Holo May is that it presents a consistent soundstage located behind the speakers, which Paul McGowan from PS Audio regards as being the preferred soundstage location.

[@Currawong]

If a DAC presents a soundstage in one place all the time, then it isn't doing its job! The soundstage should depend on the music and how the microphones were set up. If the singer is up close, then they should sound up close. If an instrument is far back, then it should sound far back. Etc.

[@connorduke4619]

@@Currawong I understand the Holo May present the soundstage at various distances but almost always behind the speakers. Tried to find the relevant PS Audio video but could not (there are so many). FYI, the relevant snipped I had written down was (with respect to speak positioning advice) "picture dual recording microphones turned around and transforming into loudspeakers and the stereo image appearing from behind them".

[@MistaLova-Lova]

The Dave + the MScaler are so ridiculously expensive that it makes me think that the Holo Audio May + HQPlayer could be the ultimate set-up, giving you best of both worlds, on-demand. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this vs Chord's flagship product.

[@Currawong]

The Audio-gd R-27HE review might go some way to answering that.

[@MistaLova-Lova]

@@Currawong Thanks, I'm looking forward to watching that.

[@annarobertson8320]

I contacted Chord in regards to your comments about them supplying 50 ohm bnc cables instead of 75ohm. The answer was they dont. They supply 75 ohm as anything else wouldn't work

[@Currawong]

The one they sent me had 50 Ohm cables in the box. 50 Ohm cables will work, but will cause signal reflections. Whether that will result in audible issues I'm not sure. Probably not with their gear.

[@greenbow7888]

7:31 ... The negative you describe of the TT2, is not strictly true. Where you described the delay for charging the supercapacitors, when plugging in or removing headphones. You only get that delay if you change the gain of the TT2 between headphone sockets and the rear sockets. ... If the gain of the headphone sockets and the rear sockets is the same, i.e. high gain for both. Then there is zero delay when pluggin in or removing headphones. The change over is instant. ......... First time I discovered that, I thought my TT2 was suddenly partly broken. By the way I found your discription of the difference between the TT2 and the Hugo 2 to be underwhelming. (Almost boring.) The TT2 is considerably more explicit than the Hugo 2. Sounds are more fully realised/presented. All the components that make up the TT2's better sound quality, have a relatively profound effect vs the Hugo 2. Whereas the Hugo 2 on first listening while adjusting to its signature, can sound scarily real. (That's coming from the Mojo (1).) With music you already know well on the Hugo 2, the TT2 can sound momentarily alien with that same music. There's just so much with the TT2, that it can sound unreal. Not that it is reproducing music/sounds unrealistically. It's because compared to the Hugo 2, the TT2 is is better in ways we had not quite imagined. (This is analogous as going from the Chord Mojo to the Hugo 2. Better, and also better in ways I had never thought of.) The TT2 can sound eerily brilliant when you get all that detail and musical components. ... One aspect I noticed was that leading edges come in much more with the TT2. I noticed lyrics that e.g. started with a letter 'T', would jump out at me, vs familiarity Hugo 2 familiarity. In fact if you want to assess the TT2 quickly, I suggest listening to music you don't know. That way you are hearing the music as a whole. As opposed to listening to music on the TT2 compared to the Hugo 2. All while being left-fielded by the changes the TT2 brings. Of course you came to the TT2 already having heard the DAVE. You perspective on it was different to mine coming from the Hugo 2.

[@Currawong]

Thanks for the long comment. I've found the experience of each of the DACs to be relative. For example, a friend just got the Hugo 2, and was blown away (he uses high-end IEMs primarily). I'm now so used to the DAVE it doesn't have quite the effect on me it did at first.

[@enigmatwist6548]

Sweet set up regardless of it not being a Dave. Love the form factor.

[@cool28990]

Hey, Any chance you can help me guide on how to connect M scaler to Audiolab M-DAC. Thank you.

[@Currawong]

hear.audio/faq

[@annarobertson8320]

Im wondering if u pair qutest with Annie are u getting a TT2? Then by adding an Mscaler is this comparable?

[@Currawong]

No. The TT2 has a more powerful DAC at the very least.

[@annarobertson8320]

@@Currawong yes but if an mscaler added to qutest and Annie should be better than a Tt2 on its own

[@Currawong]

Going by my experiences with the Hugo 2, no. The DAC is always the limiting factor.

[@annarobertson8320]

@@Currawong just bought a TT2, at $7,285

[@GadZookz]

What about the increased physical distance between components you get from enlarging the interior space? Does that help improve performance by keeping components farther apart?

[@Currawong]

It can only help if one component is causing interference with another, which would produce obvious distortion to the sound. So, sometimes it is necessary.

[@shayan333]

Wish we could have a comparison between Dave+Mscaler and Holo may, that would be awesome.

[@davidpilon9433]

👍

[@cool28990]

I did it! it's not that good.

[@mensa2030]

What is the model name of audio-gd?

[@michaelreading5684]

agree with a lot of what you say about the sound, but the sound of the amp let’s it down in my opinion. But pair them with a Really good amp and put some good isolation under them, I think the sound quality is then fantastic. Having said that the Dave+mscaler may well be better , but I couldn’t afford a Dave at the time of auditioning the TT2 ,so can’t comment on it. For what it’s worth my system comprises: Sim audio 260 CD Transport: Chord TT2 + mscaler: Sim audio 430 Headphone amplifier: Grado PS 1000e headphones . A combination of Chord company cables and Kimber cables as interconnect’s Audioquest : Niagra power conditioner. Thunder power cables. Could I make a request, I would find it very helpful if you could compare Hifi to what was around a few years ago. For instance headphones, rather than just comparing products around today with other products that are around today. Well you did ask🙂

[@Currawong]

I use the TT2 through the Studio Six quite often. I don't think that the amp in the TT2 is bad though -- but, unlike many amplifiers, it hasn't any any "tuning" done to it, but was designed to be un-coloured. I don't like that so much with the LCD-5s, for example. Since you asked about older gear, if I have something I can compare that is relevant, I will do so, if it is still available. However, since I am short of space, I give away anything that has been discontinued.

[@richardatkinson4452]

What power board are you using? Thanks

[@Currawong]

One that isn't made any more. Any noise-filtering power board should do something similar.

[@nimzerz2422]

Do you add the Herbie dampers to all of your headphone plugs? In what way do you find them improving the sound for tubes or the cables?

[@Currawong]

Not usually. I haven't noticed them making a difference. I got a couple of them from someone else quite a few years ago, and haven't noticed them having any effect beyond helping prevent adaptors rolling off my desk. Since I have the Studio Six tube amp, I just tend to leave them on there, in case they might have any benefit reducing vibrations getting to the tubes.

[@nimzerz2422]

@@Currawong thanks, I have considered getting some but wasn’t sure if it was worth the money at the moment. Guess I will hold off on that.

[@arielext]

I guess Chord makes brilliant sounding gear but I can never own any of it as long as it is using the coloured balls as a means of telling a person what the state of the component is. "I prefer to listen to blue/cyan at white/orange levels with a green filter (although it can be blue, not sure.... ) the ball intensity is at level 4 or 6 or was it 5? hold on, let me click it 99 times to be sure." The table top gear has some sort of a display at least? No sorry I just cannot. For those that can: enjoy every moment you can with this amazing gear!

[@JTB--]

The M-Scaler functions were pretty easy to understand with the Balls. The Chord Mojo 1&2 are another story

[@greenbow7888]

The different colours of the balls/buttons plays little part in the experience. With volume you ignore it, as you alter volume by audible preference. For inputs it become easy. Clear is USB, and green is optical; and then there is coaxial. If you get lost you press the button again+, until it gets back to what you want. Four settings of crossfade ar easy, as clear is cross-fade off, then there are three colours after clear. They donate three other levels of cross-fade, easily followed from the button being clear. ... I.e. there's really nothing to learn.

[@mikeg2491]

@@greenbow7888I hated the balls at first until I realized it’s easier than it seems because I don’t have to be looking at any screen or dialing any jog wheels. Like you said I can keep pressing until I hear the music on the input kick in. I always keep the upscaling automatically to the highest so I rarely touch my scaled as it is.

[@kyron42]

How did you volume match. Did you do it scientifically or just use your ears?

[@Currawong]

I play a 1khz -20dB tone through the headphones while they are holding my phone, which is running Sound Meter. I can get it to with 0.1 to 0.2 dB accuracy consistently.

[@chrisdearmitt7474]

Sold a TT2 and MScaler and got a DOGE 7 tube DAC. Way cheaper and enjoying it much more.

[@JTB--]

Are you using the DOGE 7 headphone jack or using it with another amp? And what headphones are you using? Or are you using it with a Speaker system setup?

[@keithbertschin1213]

Thanks!

[@Currawong]

Thank you very much!

[@revm3_]

Don't own a TT2. Do have a Hugo2 + 2go. I really enjoy the Hugo2. Did try the TT2 (No M-Scaler) along side with the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE. Ended up purchasing the Spring 3 but may also look at the TT2 later on again. Was after something different from the Chord house sound. That was through a Volumino Primo via Roon (If I recall correctly) -> USB to TT2 and Spring 3 -> Holo Audio Azure Headphone Amp -> HD800 S. The Meze Elites were available to try but resisted as they're the same price of the Spring 3 at the time.

[@a4kata655]

Nomyn - Exhale - great track

[@IHearEverythingDude]

r2r dacs, especially in nos mode have this in your face sound. I always wonder what people hear when they talk about soundstage in r2r nos dacs... As soundstage is flat as a panacake and in your face. Typical sound of not using interpolation filter and not trying to recover signal in time domain.

[@brooksphillips2234]

What r2r dacs are you speaking of?

[@IHearEverythingDude]

@@brooksphillips2234 many audio gd or Holo.

[@mikeg2491]

I have a Dave and a Gustard R26. The Gustard is a great dac but it’s definitely smoother and more laid back, the Dave is just total dynamism. I listen to the Gustard if I just want to concentrate on something else with music in the background while the Dave is when you want to focus on the music itself.

[@trevorharrison29]

I use the Cayin HA300 tube headphone amp with my TT2 and Final D8000 Pro Headphones. Better SQ to my ears. (Digital source into the TT2 is via Toslink optical.)

[@edywidjaya301]

Hi Trevor, that is interesting set up. How do you connect TT2 to Cayin HA-300 ? By RCA or XLR ? Thank you.

[@trevorharrison29]

@@edywidjaya301 I have tried both RCA and XLR. Both work well. I've stuck with RCA between TT2 and HA-300. Very soon I shall experiment with long 20 feet / 6 metre XLR between DAC and amplifier.

[@aceofspades6667]

Trevor will you be upgrading to the ha300 Mk2 ? The black looks great and super interested to see what improvements were. Made.

[@trevorharrison29]

@@aceofspades6667 oooh I really would like to. The Mk2 has a 4.4mm pentacon headphone socket. Alas, we pay much more for Cayin gear in Australia than other countries. That always delays a purchase or upgrade for me.

[@OkieDokieSmokie]

Oh no, there goes one of my kidneys....

[@krisrudecki9477]

The gist I got is : - it's good but - get a Dave but - if Dave 2 comes out with TT2 power section, that will be a true upgrade That's the main reason I stayed away from Chord for now. I feel there's a lack of coherency in their range which indicates to me they are probably planning to release the next lineup. If they would release a new Dave with TT2 power section and new addons found in Mojo2 ... I would totally get it day one. Or TT3 with current Daves DAC component. If I'm dropping this kinda cash I want the best and I want it to last a few years. Also there's no escaping the fact thet Dave plus Mscaler is already MSB and 2nd hand DCs territory more less, so the decision becomes even more complex. Adding to that my recent mind boggling experience with Empire Ears Odin running straight from my LG V50 (albeit decent) DAC blowing my mind ... I'm starting to question where the value truly is.

[@Currawong]

Rob Watts said that he is working on better MScaler tech. Unfortunately there wont be a new DAVE. Still, I liked the DAVE direct to most of the headphones I have here. I just added the Master 10 to the chain when I needed more power, and it was still glorious.

[@razisn]

@@Currawong There won't be a new anything until there is one.. This is how most brands work. They will not encourage people waiting for the next thing and have sales of their current lineup stalling. I can see a new Qutest coming though, before a new Dave.

[@Currawong]

True, but Rob Watts has stated that he simply isn't even working on a new DAVE.

[@aceofspades6667]

I heard the Dave for a bit and thought it was nice but per $ there are def better Dac options out there. I think the tt2 represents a value sweet spot because the Dac and amp are pretty solid options. Berkeley ref 1, nagra Dac, Aries cerat kasssndra, Aqua formula / La scala, Mola Mola tambaqui we’re all super great.

[@scholardeville]

really wish chord would drop those orbs and spheres from all their designs forever, it looks like it belongs in a 70's budget scifi

[@wojciechczupta]

Dave + mscaler is great stuff though expensive. if you watch videos on your system you need to take in account Mscaler will add substantial lag, so you will end up switching it off.

[@Currawong]

Good point. That's why it has a "video" mode that has a shorter delay.

[@greenbow7888]

To be fair, using any Chord DAC from even the original Chord Mojo, to view video is excellent. Forgoing full M-Scaler upscaling when using a TT2 to view video, and then complaing about it. That is like shooting yourself in the foot, and then being happy about it. (Don't try this at home.😵 )

[@wojciechczupta]

@@greenbow7888 I actually found it inconvenient to switch on and off upscaling if watching video. And there is a lot of video content which is good quality audio as well. I really, really recommend trying KZbin. Though you can't use ASIO drivers it is still a lot of pleasure. Try for example Alicia Keys MPR Tiny Desk Concert. You won't find it anywhere else.

[@brooksphillips2234]

I wish sooooo bad they would come out with just the dac of the tt2.

[@Currawong]

In Chord DACs, there is no "just a DAC" possible. The output would be the same, with just the volume control disabled. If you want "just a DAC" you'd get the Qutest.

[@brooksphillips2234]

@Currawong I agree the qutest would be the closest but it would be cool if they did a separate dac of the tt2. I think many ppl would buy it. Lots of ppl like myself have a more powerful amp than the tt2 but would like the option of the dac and the option of the m scaler to make it even better. I know it could be done with the qutest too but it would be nice to have that option especially since it's such a popular dac. I am thinking of going with the Holo Spring 3 kte or the Lampizator Amber 4.

[@Currawong]

The FPGA and pulse array of the TT2 is, as far as I can see, the same as the one in the Hugo 2 and Qutest, so it proves what you're asking for. On the other hand, removing a few amplification components and the volume control of the TT2 probably wouldn't save any money overall.

[@tfj100]

@@Currawong I have demoed the Qutest, Hugo 2 and TT2 in my speaker-based system, therefore without using the amp section. I found the Hugo2 and Qutest pretty disappointing, but the TT2 was fantastic. I also can't figure out why they were so different given the same core DAC module. Maybe the number of taps?

[@Currawong]

You were using the amp section. There is no separate amplification section regardless of what output you use. This seems to confuse people. Aside from that, the number of taps and better power supply are likely the most significant factors.

[@steamstories1279]

Mojo 1 vs Hugo 2.. With Hugo 2 some sounds "sound" more intense, more present, more real, more lively compared to Mojo... and it's not related to how loud I listen... it's something i just don't hear with Mojo 1... BUT, I always feel something is missing with Mojo or Hugo 2, it doesn't sound complete, even if it sounds amazing and clean and fast and musical. So it seems it's the same thing with Hugo TT 2, it will give the feeling that I need more and for years I'm trying to understand why it does this. Why even a $100 trash DAC sound more complete than Hugo 2... I don't understand. The only end of the road would be Dave..... ... ... .... and M-scaler and ... that's too much for my wallet that doesn't exist. With Hugo 2, HD800 sounds are too disconnected, it's just a weird presentation even if it's more detailed than Mojo. Mojo sounds better, it has better lower mids.

[@aceofspades6667]

Would love for you to review the Aqua La Voce S3, Mola Mola Tambaqui, nagra Dac, Berkeley reference 1, ares cerat kassandra, Totaldac D1- and Audio Note DAC 5.

[@Currawong]

So would I, but it's difficult to do so here in Japan.

[@GuiltyRocker]

I love the DAVE, but the TT2 has a warmth that the DAVE lacks, the DAVE is more clinical, to me the TT-2 with M scaler is more musical.

[@razisn]

So TT2 + Mscaler vs just Dave? I’m not sure this was directly addressed.

[@Currawong]

It wasn't, because I didn't make the comparison while the DAVE was here.

[@razisn]

@@Currawong A pity because pricewise these are sort of comparable. He who can afford the first may be able to stretch to the other.

[@Currawong]

I'd buy a second-hand DAVE, then save for the MScaler, personally.

[@bahendri3722]

Does the Dave have enough power to drive the Susvara?

[@Currawong]

No, you need a separate amp for the Susvara.

[@garth56]

Nothing beats dCs I mean it's a given

[@Currawong]

Giving the Bartok as an example, there are plenty of people who didn't like it when they tried it.

[@EricRhodeslives]

Sooooooo laaaaid back... 😴

[@brianperry8718]

Wow this is the most buzziest of buzzword reviews. Where is the opening and scrutiny like the A90D. You are giving them credit for wallwort compared to scrutinizing the meanwells used that are recognized as good power supply.

[@Currawong]

Incorrect. The TT2 uses super capacitors for the PSU. The wall wart only supplies power to charge them. I've tried putting a noise filter between the wall wart and the TT2 and it made zero difference.

[@brianperry8718]

You are right thank you for the reply and your service to the community. You are lucky to have such a collection of good audio devices. Sometimes it is difficult to navigate this audio landscape between the objective measurements, the outright shills, and the actual bad devices. This is a great device that many would be grateful to have. Sometimes it is difficult to know if there is valid audible difference between the $1000 dollar devices and the $6000 dollar devices or if there is some confirmation bias that the listener is picking up on. As a newbie with a small budget sometimes the “buzzwords” are tough to understand and may mean something different coming from you or the next reviewer. Anyway thank you for in depth reviews, you definitely take time in understanding devices even at the component level.

[@CrazyAboutVinylRecords]

Like most stuff from this company, it is over engineered and over priced.

[@lostalx]

Yeah I'm shocked they sell this much overpriced gear. I think ADI2 is one of a kind true all in one end game solution personally and pay $1000 which in itself a ton of money. These Audeze, Hifiman, Focal just too much. I think there's a lot of snake oil BS in Audio world. Look at MQA scam for best eg.

[@kgtaillon27]

I can't get by the plastic look! Looks like it was sold by Walmart

[@Currawong]

It's all metal, so it doesn't look at all plastic to me.

[@JTB--]

You couldn't be more off. They are made of Aircraft-Grade Aluminum.... on par with several types of steel

[@annarobertson8320]

@@JTB-- i have Mscaler and Qutest, am having trouble finding any plastic, all heavy grade aluminum