Chord Mojo(1) DAC-amp ☆★►FAQ in 3rd post!◄★☆

Dec 31, 2015 at 6:07 PM Post #8,103 of 42,916
Is there any way to use the Chord Mojo DAC with powered speakers (or studio monitors)?  I don't see a line output on the unit :(


There is no seperate line out because there is no seperate amp section like in traditional setups. You aren't 'double amping'. You can read more about it by searching this thread or go to the Mojo FAQ:

http://www.head-fi.org/a/chord-mojo-faq
 
Dec 31, 2015 at 6:14 PM Post #8,104 of 42,916
 
Is there any way to use the Chord Mojo DAC with powered speakers (or studio monitors)?  I don't see a line output on the unit
frown.gif


There is no seperate line out because there is no seperate amp section like in traditional setups. You aren't 'double amping'. You can read more about it by searching this thread or go to the Mojo FAQ:

http://www.head-fi.org/a/chord-mojo-faq

 
 
What x RELIC x said, and I suggest you take a look at the following posts:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/newsearch/?search=active+speakers&resultSortingPreference=recency&byuser=&output=posts&sdate=0&newer=1&type=all&containingthread[0]=784602&advanced=1
 
Dec 31, 2015 at 7:39 PM Post #8,106 of 42,916
Thanks guys, I've decided to buy one if I can get it at a better price.  If anyone has one for sale in Australia, ping me :)

Every store just sells it at RRP here $899 AU.


That's only about $50 USD more than the price here in the States. Not sure if there are many on the secondary market yet. Cheers
 
Dec 31, 2015 at 7:58 PM Post #8,107 of 42,916
There are not many new ones available is Australia, either. The first batch numbers was pretty low, so if you can grab one at RRP go for it. I had to wait for mine a few days to be delivered from the Australian Chord rep to the Adelaide dealer and at the time they had only a handful available in the country. I wouldn't hold my breath for any discounts then. Oh, and no chance getting mine :grinning:
 
Dec 31, 2015 at 8:03 PM Post #8,108 of 42,916
Makes sense...I auditioned the N5 and was impressed, but could not bear the looks (I know, I have the Lotoo which is quite...special). So opted dot the Ak100 mk2. Much less nice as a standalone, but I have the Lotoo for that. Will see how they all compare when I actually have time to listen.


The Lotoo Gold is sure a fantastic player, I have recommended this to a few friends who were considering the Korean brands at their budget points, but sometime I got the same reply as you have mentioned regarding the look and feel of this player, its a pity that they have missed a damn good player because of that. Your location has a lot of advantages to try out many DAP that are not familiar to our North America friends, so you probably has a different set of problem when you want to pick a DAP for certain purpose, you simply got more choice then the rest of the world, a headache if you are "greedy" in the hobby, right? :D :D
 
Cayin Stay updated on Cayin at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
http://en.cayin.cn/
Dec 31, 2015 at 9:04 PM Post #8,109 of 42,916
I just picked up a Mojo, based on some reviews (all, obviously glowing) and prior knowledge of the Hugo.  FYI, it's the first thing I've heard of that fit the niche I was looking for - a truly portable amp/dac to improve the sound of my iPhone (or iPad, or computer).  Wanted something multipurpose like that, plus important to me to work with phone etc., rather than just buying a AKwhatever for example, because (a) I stream music, (b) didn't want to carry both my phone and a separate audio player and (c) didn't want the hassle of separately loading and managing music with a new interface.  Anyway, that's all background.  

I'm listening to the Mojo with (alternatively) Shure SE-535 IEMS and PSB M4U-2 headphones.  Sounds good in some cases, great in some cases - unfortunately def displays inferior recordings!

Here's the question:  The PSB M4U-2s include an amp, which can be used or left off.  I wouldn't have thought appropriate to use the headphone amp in addition to the Mojo (I mean, why TWO amps)  but I've been playing around switching back and forth between my three options (535s or the PSBs with headphone amp off or on), I find the latter option, using the PSB amp, the best - music is richest, bass is somehow fuller.  

Am I nuts?  Is that surprising?  Anyone else using either of the headphones I am?  (FYI source is iPhone 6S plus or macbook; using Tidal.)


The PSB measures differently with the built in amp on or off. On measures a bit better; and sounds better IMO. Similar to the Bose QC25, which is designed to sound significantly better with the amp on. So in these cases, it's a little different than just adding an amp into the mix.
 
Dec 31, 2015 at 9:31 PM Post #8,110 of 42,916
The Lotoo Gold is sure a fantastic player, I have recommended this to a few friends who were considering the Korean brands at their budget points, but sometime I got the same reply as you have mentioned regarding the look and feel of this player, its a pity that they have missed a damn good player because of that. Your location has a lot of advantages to try out many DAP that are not familiar to our North America friends, so you probably has a different set of problem when you want to pick a DAP for certain purpose, you simply got more choice then the rest of the world, a headache if you are "greedy" in the hobby, right?
biggrin.gif
biggrin.gif


 I live in Japan and have heard all of the major DAP's including your companies. I would pick my Note 4 with it's huge high quality interface playing host to the Mojo over anything else.
No offense but you guys are in trouble. Cayin, Lootoo, all of the small screen click and go G.U.I are quickly being made obsolete. The FiiO X7 is the future and they are going through the stresses of making that leap but the item in this thread is super hot because it can outdo more expensive dedicated devices and allow folks to keep their smart device and according to CHORD's ad it was designed to do just that. They nailed it.
 
Watching a sponsor in another brands thread talking about other brands is kind of odd. For folks who are not rich and bought the N6 after the many reviews it must be odder?
 
Dec 31, 2015 at 9:37 PM Post #8,111 of 42,916
 
That looks like a task to carry
biggrin.gif

 

 

 
 
 
 
Happy New Year From Japan
beerchug.gif

 
 


Indeed.  Happy New Year everyone.  This device is the first in a while to get me genuinely excited about portable HiFi again.  I plan on getting my mojo in the coming days depending on stock.
 
need that setup but I'm an iPhone user.
 
PS as an aside any MacBook owner can easily test USB vs Optical, but I don't expect there to be any difference, even if you high higher than 192 kHz source (I can't imagine playing anything higher than that personally).  Still, I will use optical from laptop and USB from phone as necessary.
 
Dec 31, 2015 at 9:45 PM Post #8,112 of 42,916
  Watching a sponsor in another brands thread talking about other brands is kind of odd. For folks who are not rich and bought the N6 after the many reviews it must be odder?

 
 
No shame in a sponsor respectfully acknowledging the merits of competitors' products. Actually, doing so reflects quite well upon the integrity of a sponsor
 
Dec 31, 2015 at 9:49 PM Post #8,113 of 42,916
There are not many new ones available is Australia, either. The first batch numbers was pretty low, so if you can grab one at RRP go for it. I had to wait for mine a few days to be delivered from the Australian Chord rep to the Adelaide dealer and at the time they had only a handful available in the country. I wouldn't hold my breath for any discounts then. Oh, and no chance getting mine :grinning:

 
lol, I hear ya. At $899, it's a bargain for what you get anyway, seriously!  I was told by a retailer here that there's not much in these units so they are very unlikely to discount them.
 
Would you agree that this is about as good as you can do at this price point?  I assume an O2 or a Schiit stack wouldn't even get close?  Another option is the Audeze Deckard, any thoughts?
 
Cheers
zambz
 
Dec 31, 2015 at 10:01 PM Post #8,114 of 42,916
  .... I was told by a retailer here that there's not much in these units so they are very unlikely to discount them.

 
Don't be surprised that there is a small profit margin on the Mojo:
 
 
.... we were fighting every penny to get to the magic sub four hundred pounds. This was a very very tough thing to do,it's a price performance issue. That had we'd failed we would not have been able to address a wider audience. You see it our intention to bring more non audiophiles into this business this will help the whole industry not just us. ....

 
Dec 31, 2015 at 10:02 PM Post #8,115 of 42,916
 
Indeed.  Happy New Year everyone.  This device is the first in a while to get me genuinely excited about portable HiFi again.  I plan on getting my mojo in the coming days depending on stock.
 
need that setup but I'm an iPhone user.
 
PS as an aside any MacBook owner can easily test USB vs Optical, but I don't expect there to be any difference, even if you high higher than 192 kHz source (I can't imagine playing anything higher than that personally).  Still, I will use optical from laptop and USB from phone as necessary.


My iMac 2012's USB is poor next to my iPhone's USB. The difference is major from a measuring standpoint, making the Mojo as bad, or worse, than many poor-quality DACs. 

At the exact same output level:

Noise
iMac: -99
iPhone: -116,7

Dynamic Range
iMac: 99,2
iPhone: 116,6

THD
iMac: 0,0025
iPhone: 0,0004
 
IMD/Dist
iMac: 0,0035
iPhone: 0,0008

Crosstalk
iMac: -109,2
iPhone: -116,6

Now, I doubt that any of the above results are audible, but with the exception of stereo crosstalk, when fed by my iMac, Mojo wasn't even able to break past the 16-bit ceiling _playing test waves_! So, not all USB outputs are created equal.
 

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