Chord Electronics ☆ Poly ☆ (wireless & microSD module for Mojo) ☆★►USEFUL INFO on 1st PAGE!!◄★☆

[Guy Fawkes]

@Guy Fawkes well it is still (and always will be) an USB connection and the whole Poly/Mojo is "sandwich" type solution far from being perfect IMHO. Besides noise there is also a problem of heat dissipation consider both devices small footprint and internal batteries. Not to mention the radio transmitter/receiver in Poly.

I recognize that the Poly/Mojo 2 "sandwich" design is not perfect in every way and can present challenges, such as potential heat buildup and the impact of internal components, including radio transmitters.

However, my point was primarily focused on the benefit of physically separating the source from the DAC to reduce the influence of electrical noise and jitter introduced by external sources such as a PC.

While the Poly connects to the Mojo via USB internally, this connection was designed and optimized by Chord itself, which makes it different from a standard USB connection from a computer or music server, where cable quality, power, and other factors can affect the signal. Also, streaming via UPnP or Wi-Fi eliminates the direct connection to potentially "noisy" sources, which was my main point.

in short the problem is not the USB connection itself but where the signal comes from and what passes through the connection.

However, if you prefer not to use Poly I understand you very well, everyone has their own needs

 

[559938]

@Guy Fawkes well it is still (and always will be) an USB connection and the whole Poly/Mojo is "sandwich" type solution far from being perfect IMHO. Besides noise there is also a problem of heat dissipation consider both devices small footprint and internal batteries. Not to mention the radio transmitter/receiver in Poly.

This is true, but it’s advantage is that there’s no usb cable. Removing the cable helps a great deal because you can’t gather extra RFI/EMI out in the open. The connection is essentially completed inside its own little faraday cage.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

For all the pain the poly can cause, the sound quality is the best I've heard out of the variety of sources I've tried.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

This is true, but it’s advantage is that there’s no usb cable. Removing the cable helps a great deal because you can’t gather extra RFI/EMI out in the open. The connection is essentially completed inside its own little faraday cage.

Exactly, this also plays a fundamental role.

Also as far as I'm concerned the Poly always works with me, without any uncertainty, however I am aware that users who would like to use the Poly with their smartphone and their favorite streaming services, have been disappointed.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

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Anyone knows why the SD card sounds so much better than streaming? Might as well have turned the Mojo 2 into a DAP with how much better the SD card sounds.

To be fair, turning Mojo2/poly into a DAP would add a whole new layer of issues I doubt Chord could handle.

The A&Ultima 3000T gets it right and competes head to head with my Woo WA8/Mojo2+Poly. It took 10 years for Astell & Kern to figure it out.

 

[alekc]

This is true, but it’s advantage is that there’s no usb cable. Removing the cable helps a great deal because you can’t gather extra RFI/EMI out in the open. The connection is essentially completed inside its own little faraday cage.

@AussieMick where have you found information Poly is build around faraday cage? This is interesting information.

 

[alekc]

'

To be fair, turning Mojo2/poly into a DAP would add a whole new layer of issues I doubt Chord could handle.

The A&Ultima 3000T gets it right and competes head to head with my Woo WA8/Mojo2+Poly. It took 10 years for Astell & Kern to figure it out.

@Daniel Johnston I confirm, once you go 3000T path you will not want go back to Mojo/Mojo2 + Poly unless you badly need Mojo 2 clarity and transparency. IMHO A&K AKM implementation is not as transparent and clear even in solid state, but it reminds me more of Mojo OG and therefore I prefer it a lot more. Thanks to it, it is not lifeless like Mojo 2 sounds sometimes. Don't get me wrong Mojo 2 is brilliant little dac, probably one of the best in its league but when it comes to usability and personal SQ and sound signature preferences A&K clearly wins for me.

Actually I find it interesting that the first Chord product I've bought was Mojo OG (one my best audio purchases of all times) and it made me buy TT2 and M-Scaler later, while Poly has been last Chord product I've bought (right after Mojo 2) and so far it ended my audio journey with this company.

 

[559938]

@AussieMick where have you found information Poly is build around faraday cage? This is interesting information.

Well, it’s encased in aluminium. Hifi products rely partly on their case work to shield from EMI.

 

[NYanakiev]

Are we talking about the same SP3000T that get static and distortion when being moved with the tubes on? (I understand that this doesn't affect all units, but come on?!)
Or is it the SP3000 with its horrible wifi implementation?

 

[Daniel Johnston]

Are we talking about the same SP3000T that get static and distortion when being moved with the tubes on? (I understand that this doesn't affect all units, but come on?!)
Or is it the SP3000 with its horrible wifi implementation?

I've had zero static or wifi issues with the 3000T. IBasso should take design cues from AK because their nutube based modules are near useless streaming music. My main IEM for the AK is the Campfire Astrolith.

But then I use the Mojo2/Poly to feed a SET tube amp (Woo WA8) and a OTL/OCL amp (Folkvangr). Both are prone to RFI so I've gravitated toward nerwork equipment that seems to put out less RFI interference. The WA8!Mojo2+Poly combo to me is still clearly better thsn the AK. More detail, soundstage depth, and better timbre. All the Rob Watts DAC strengths with a good hit of musicality from the glowing bottles.

My only point was that creating an excellent DAP isn't easy. Putting Rob's DAC design, streaming hardware, OS, and a screen is not in Chord's design abilities.

 

[Progisus]

Or is it the SP3000 with its horrible wifi implementation

I haven’t experienced any issues. Can you elaborate, please.

 

[NYanakiev]

I haven’t experienced any issues. Can you elaborate, please.

Weaker/more unstable wifi than Poly and 2Go- across various routers and network environments.
Says enough, given how bad both Chord streamers can perform at times.

 

[alekc]

Weaker/more unstable wifi than Poly and 2Go- across various routers and network environments.
Says enough, given how bad both Chord streamers can perform at times.

@NYanakiev I have never expirence any of things you describe including tube ringing etc. I wonder if you are talking from an owner perspective or those are just stories from other users maybe?

If it would demonstrate Poly network "behaviour" I would switch immediately to something else, but fortunately it never did. The update process is also much smoother (contrary to situation when you needed Mojo OG to upgrade Poly firmware to be used with Mojo 2).

 

[NYanakiev]

@NYanakiev I have never expirence any of things you describe including tube ringing etc. I wonder if you are talking from an owner perspective or those are just stories from other users maybe?

If it would demonstrate Poly network "behaviour" I would switch immediately to something else, but fortunately it never did. The update process is also much smoother (contrary to situation when you needed Mojo OG to upgrade Poly firmware to be used with Mojo 2).

Good for you! I am going by what I have been hearing from people I know, who own/ed the sp3kt.
I am a tad biased as I have been very disenchanted with A&K as a whole. Slow updates, extremely closed off ecosystem etc etc.

The one reason I have been coming back to the brand is their excellent Roon Ready smarts. This is also the main reason I own both Poly and 2Go.

 

[alekc]

Good for you! I am going by what I have been hearing from people I know, who own/ed the sp3kt.
I am a tad biased as I have been very disenchanted with A&K as a whole. Slow updates, extremely closed off ecosystem etc etc.

The one reason I have been coming back to the brand is their excellent Roon Ready smarts. This is also the main reason I own both Poly and 2Go.

@NYanakiev apparently I am not the only one since @Daniel Johnston seems to be another "lucky" owner Contrary to you, mine opinion is based on first hand customer experience with both products, side by side.

With APKPure it is a lot less closed ecosystem than Poly IMHO and I have band camp app working from the first installation. So far I've got a single update and it worked smoothly, the product is delivering all the promised features out-of-the-box (contrary to Poly) and the only reason I can think of for DAP firmware update at this point are changes in streaming services but I'm mostly sticking to SDcard playback (just like I did with Poly).

Indeed both Poly and A&K DAP worked instantly with Roon but I will not carry around Rockna WLS with me just to make Poly work In fact Poly setup with Roon is the only one that has been successfully working for me for longer time but due to its limits it made sense only in-house which in turn made the whole Poly/Mojo setup pointless for me.