rgs9200m said:

Here is my question. How are the Chord Hugo DAC sonics compared to those from companies that offer some DACs that are not crazy-expensive:
1. Schiit
2. Audio-GD
3. Ayre
4. Bryston
5. Bel Canto
6. Benchmark
7. PS Audio
8. Meridian
9. Grace
10. Antelope Zodiac
11. Musical Fidelity
12. Mytek
13. M2Tech
14. Rega
15. Auralic

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Splitting the Atom took less time, then doing a comparison of all those units..

Here is something I while back someone put a link to google doc that we would all benifit from. I think we should all give the gent some input .

Also hiw any dac sounds should be split into two categories.
One should be PCM the other should be dsd.
The short answer why is most dacs sound good with dsd but very few have this marvel of great sound worked out with PCM.
The mytek is pretty good with dsd but a headache with PCM.
The audio gd m7 is a really good dac , it has a thick note but the bass is string but needs more details. And it's a bit warm as well. Now playing dsd to,it
In a down conversion sounds better than PCM flac files. All,of this could be put on the google doc .
Also how or what players work with what other devices. Such as the android or apple , or who ever else .
Just some thoughts . Also if the mods here have made a change I am sure it's leveling the playing field for all and something that mods should do. As long ad the links to new locations is posted I am happy.
Al

It would probably have been a good idea to make 2 threads in the first place.
I remember my first reaction when I saw the thread: "oh no, not in the portable gears forum!..".
This forum is full of: " would this OTG cable work great with X device and Y software?". Then comes 100 of amazon links posted...
Like the DX100 thread was full of software issue report and it was very hard to find useful impressions in the high message flow of the typical portable gear (20 posts/h).
Compare the number of replies for portable gear forum vs. any other section, it's dramatic.

weisse muller said:

paranoia aside it does seem strange that Hugo has been pushed aside for being good enough as a mobile product to rival larger desktop systems. You'd think the mobile guys of headfi would have applauded that fact and not taken the view that Hugo belongs into be aligned with the high end products. I hope they reconsider this Hugo is a mobile unit for music wherever you go... It's in the name after all.....

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I agree. But as we all may have heard.. everything has an explanation.. and I guess that is the case this time around also.. but those who knows haven't said a word.. yet anyway..

But enough with this.. lets focus on the Hugo.. it is actually a high-end device and everyone deserves one!
And did anyone mention that it's also a portable device? If not.. I can confirm that it is! And I almost forgot.. it is also a high-end device that deserves more attention than it gets..

rgs9200m said:

  Here is my question. How are the Chord Hugo DAC sonics compared to those from companies that offer some DACs that are not crazy-expensive:
1. Schiit
2. Audio-GD
3. Ayre
4. Bryston
5. Bel Canto
6. Benchmark
7. PS Audio
8. Meridian
9. Grace
10. Antelope Zodiac
11. Musical Fidelity
12. Mytek
13. M2Tech
14. Rega
15. Auralic

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According to Audiostream, the Ayre QB-9 DSD is a better performer than the Hugo, they rate the QB-9 as a "Class A" and the Hugo as a "Class B".  
 
However the Ayre's retail price is $1K more than the Hugo.
 
Hugo review is here: http://www.audiostream.com/content/chord-hugo-mobile-dacheadphone-amp

holeout said:

  Your iphone, ipad, touch with Onkyo player can do DoP, stream native dsd to Hugo via CCK. Just make sure you enable the DoP function in Onkyo settings. I'm waiting for delivery of the just launched QLS360 which will also do DoP through coax. Hope to get it within 1 - 2 weeks.

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HTC's new 1 M8 does hi rez, don't know bout DS, but it can take 128G cards.

frank i said:

  Thats subjective and your opinion but Fidelia does not do DSD. ise aurdirvana which does dsd and amarra symphony for other stuff that does  use DSD. Thats formy  in home solutions.  You made it clear you opinion on Fidelia but I can't carry it easily a si only take my macbook when i have work to do on trips . Just not for my portable usage.  Have you heard or spent time with the AK240?

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Not just my opinion. Audiofile Engineering creates a lot of apps for the pro industry. Fidelia uses iZotope and among those who have tested a number of these resamplers, sonically it is at the top. DS? I don't know, I don't much care at this point in time with few DS titles I'm really interested in. I'm sure Fidelia people will keep up with the trends. Anyhow, new standards will soon surface and some of the boys I know at TAS are not at all enamored with DS.

vq_aus said:

The Hugo would sound better than your x3 into your headunit via a 3.5mm out, but then again you'd still need a source for the Hugo cos your it's a DAC/AMP only. There's absolutely no point getting a Hugo if you want to use the Helix's own DAC via its optical input as 1) it's not possible to put the Hugo in that chain as it doesn't have an optical out and 2) even if you could do that, you'd be bypassing the superior DAC in the Hugo to use the Pioneer's DAC.

In a slightly more off topic tangent, as someone who used to be involved in car audio competitions, experience says you'll spend multiple times the amount trying to get the same sound quality in a car compared to a home system simply because a mobile environment is subject to things like road noise and the fact that you have to do some pretty major modifications to get speaker placement ideal for SQ (like you have to put your mids and your tweeters in the door frames, sub in the boot etc). A car simply isn't a very good place to listen to music!

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so how about this setup will i then benefit from buying a hugo
 
i plan to use a tablet window 8.1 in my car ( lenovo miix 2 ) instead of my head unit so I would connect that windows tablet to hugo via usb, then I will take a cable from the hugo to the optical input of the helix c dsp
 
will I then benefit from the hugo if not what is the best to use to get the best sound from my windows 8 tablet which has a bad sound card then connect it optically to helix c dsp, i really need help in this please

sound eq said:

so how about this setup will i then benefit from buying a hugo

i plan to use a tablet window 8.1 in my car ( lenovo miix 2 ) instead of my head unit so I would connect that windows tablet to hugo via usb, then I will take a cable from the hugo to the optical input of the helix c dsp

will I then benefit from the hugo if not what is the best to use to get the best sound from my windows 8 tablet which has a bad sound card then connect it optically to helix c dsp, i really need help in this please

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Hugo has just digital inputs. All outputs are analogue.

Edit: So you can't use the Hugo in the setup you mention. But why not plug the Lenovo USB to an Audiophilleo (1 or 2) and with a PurePower if you can afford it, and use coax to the Helix? If it got an coaxial input?

Edit again: The Helix doesn't seem to have a coaxial input.. so the Audiophilleo wouldn't help you much..

Edit yet again: The ifi iUSB or a similar product might work.. but the ifi iUSB needs 9V DC and your car got 12 of them.. but you may find a solution anyway?

alrainbow said:

I also have a note 3 , it has removable chips and does 128 cards. But it does not play dsd as yet. . I know I am being pompus about wanting dsd. But it's my choice too. If inMplYing a dsd file inwantnthe light to be white it makes me feel better . I would very much like to hear the ak240. But it's a no go as player . I would not walk around with 5 k plus CIEM,s
As it is I am up to 4500 with CIEM,s. This hobby is just crazy and I as an individual am way out there .
Al

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Al, try and listen to some DAPs and desktop systems that convert native DSD to PCM. Like you, I was skeptical...but then had a long talk with Paul McGowan (from PS Audio) who insists that this one format transition that can actually sound better (less "processing" at the DAP/player end). There are  a few SOTA players that also do this (some Weiss?). So my advice (as always) is to listen first to DSD converted to PCM before dismissing it. DSD from my AK100 through Hugo sounds very good.

alrainbow said:

I think the battery inside the DAC would be good for a few years at least . Relax and buy one you'll be happy .

I fly rc helis. And the batteries last a while no worries. .
Al

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Off topic, but R/C 'copters, eh. I just maidened a 12 foot sailplane today; graceful thing...attracted a few eagles to soar with it. Been flying for 35 years. Glider flying and portable audiophile player is the ultimate stress buster.

Yes it is. But flying Helios it's not to cool to be listing to music in your ears. It's just a bad idea. Now flying a plain now that is fine for me.
Al

mython said:

   
I can confirm that the ZX1 is extremely reliable to connect to the Hugo. It doesn't even pause to undergo a noticeable 'handshake' - it just plays within approximately 1 second of being connected. Sweet!

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I have been trying to buy that ZX1 USB cable - it's very hard to get hold of!

alrainbow said:

Hahaha yes I am happy too. There was a time that these devices did not perform so well and Needed the help. I am just wondering why it actually make sit loose its mojo .
Even the direct stream doe the same thing. Anyway thanks and enjoy your profound of improvements and lower price point .
I am happy .
 

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Al, even Steve Nugent from Empirical says his Overdrive DAC (when fully loaded) does not benefit from an OR5...for him to make that claim (as he also designed/sells the OR5), shows that as DAC designers pay more attention to incoming jitter, we have less to worry about with respect to the incoming signal. That said, audio via USB, through a PC (sorry Mac guys)...there appears to be a lot of benefit using a specially designed USB card in the PC (low noise, with the appropriate linear PS)...this is SOTA server development in the threads I have read over at Computer Audiophile.
 
A year ago, I would have said that ANY chains benefits from an OR5 and it is still a very good device...but now the game has stepped up a notch and I thank Rob Watts for saving me that money...a fully-loaded OR5 is close in price to that of a Hugo. Likewise, Steve at Empirical is doing a lot of development "post-DAC" with things like the Final Drive. Interesting times indeed.
 
I still want to try a TU-5 tube (the little portable one) after the Hugo to drive my TH900's in the "ultimate" portable rig; as I'm concentrating more on the post-Hugo chain than the pre-Hugo chain.

lornecherry said:

Al, even Steve Nugent from Empirical says his Overdrive DAC (when fully loaded) does not benefit from an OR5...for him to make that claim (as he also designed/sells the OR5), shows that as DAC designers pay more attention to incoming jitter, we have less to worry about with respect to the incoming signal. That said, audio via USB, through a PC (sorry Mac guys)...there appears to be a lot of benefit using a specially designed USB card in the PC (low noise, with the appropriate linear PS)...this is SOTA server development in the threads I have read over at Computer Audiophile.

A year ago, I would have said that ANY chains benefits from an OR5 and it is still a very good device...but now the game has stepped up a notch and I thank Rob Watts for saving me that money...a fully-loaded OR5 is close in price to that of a Hugo. Likewise, Steve at Empirical is doing a lot of development "post-DAC" with things like the Final Drive. Interesting times indeed.

I still want to try a TU-5 tube (the little portable one) after the Hugo to drive my TH900's in the "ultimate" portable rig; as I'm concentrating more on the post-Hugo chain than the pre-Hugo chain.

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Have you talked with smial1966? He has both the Hugo and the rather big but portable tube amp.