Chord Electronics - Hugo 2 - The Official Thread

[Currawong]

«Re-processing» is an ugly word for mere DSP, as it implicates a massive signal deterioration, including the infamous breaking of «bit perfection». But if you categorically dismiss DSP, you're also not allowed to use equalizers or digital volume control. Among those there are enough well-implemented examples to disprove the claim of lost clarity and transparency. In my case the equalizer (Neutron) even enhances clarity and transparency – by removing masking effects by dominating frequency bands, without affecting small signals in any way.

It'd be interesting to actually try software that can do a good job of changing the music without deteriorating the sound, but everything I've tried so far destroys some aspect of the sound in an unacceptable way. MQA is a good example of this, destroying depth cues in classical music and outputting an unnatural sound. A good tube amp, at the most, just adds a bit of even-order harmonic distortion, and you lost a tiny bit of detail, but without losing the naturalness of the sound.

I get your logic about not buying a $5k amp for a singular purpose -- this is why I gave up the idea to buy a Blue Hawaii some years ago, but I don't consider a regular amp that I'm using all the time to be that.

Currently, it is rather difficult for me to extra drive to Osaka to give both a listen especially because the shop I usually go to does not have a 2Go as a mo unit yet.
In the end, would like to know if the sound quality Gap between the Hugo2 and the SP2000 is huge or not. I do know the Hugo and will borrow one from a friend soon again but I do not know the SP2000. Does the Hugo2's sound quality outweigh the improved practicality of the SP2000? Are they soundwise far apart?

You're not missing anything by the 2go not being there, as 90% of it has to do with functionality. A DAP with optical output will do for testing.

Does anyone have issue using Bluetooth as an input? Got a new macbook pro and for my living room speaker setup it would be far easier to use bluetooth, but every time I've used it it's been choppy, laggy and just flat out unacceptable sound wise. (sounds perfect via every other input)

I compared the Bluetooth input to various things, and found it degrades the sound enough that it ended up about comparable to the FiiO M11 I was testing with, so I'd not recommend using it at all. If a 2go is too expensive, a Raspberry Pi with DietPi, Ropieee or Volume IO and a good USB WiFi adaptor (or ethernet) would be a better option for wireless transmission.

 

[Hooster]

I compared the Bluetooth input to various things, and found it degrades the sound enough that it ended up about comparable to the FiiO M11 I was testing with, so I'd not recommend using it at all. If a 2go is too expensive, a Raspberry Pi with DietPi, Ropieee or Volume IO and a good USB WiFi adaptor (or ethernet) would be a better option for wireless transmission.

I really like your logic and your helpful posts and videos. Thank you so much for all your contributions.

As far as bluetooth is concerned I find if impossible to fathom why Chord decided to make it a feature of the Hugo2. Surely people who want bluetooth are not in the high end audio market. Chord could safely have omitted that feature and used the money spent on something useful.

 

[DavidS11]

This setup is my half-century birthday gift to myself, and you all helped me to complete it.
Thank you

Congratulations and welcome to the H50 club. You did good to reward yourself.. enjoy and happy belated birthday.

On topic, I’m also interested to know the difference between Hugo2, SP2K and SP1K+Amp.

 

[Dalmonegrig]

To make it short, the HD-800S, Arya and Utopia were my favorites from least favorite to most favorite. HD-800S very good at some things but not an allrounder, Arya really transparent, detailed, good soundstage, really enjoyed it, just a little dark, and the Utopia was REALLY nice, very balanced, a great performing allrounder and with all the clarity I so much craved for in my Clears!

This setup is my half-century birthday gift to myself, and you all helped me to complete it.
Thank you

Congratulations!

HiFiMAN Arya (HE-1000) requires more than 3 v RMS at the source output to operate efficiently.

The Hugo 2 cannot fully unleash the potential of the HiFiMAN Arya (HE-1000). The sound will not be of high quality (rich and dynamic).
Not all stationary amplifiers are capable of driving the HiFiMAN Arya (HE-1000).

 

[NickT23]

Thanks for your feedback, and also thanks to @Boldakov @Hooster @juansan @dontfeedphils @LCMusicLover

I drove 200km to a headphone store today and kept your feedback in mind when listening to a range of headphones.
It was clear from the beginning that I wanted to use the Hugo 2 output without an additional amplifier to preserve the Hugo's transparency. So it came down to trying different headphones and compare the Clears with them.
I first listened to Beyerdynamics T1, Hifiman Arya, Hifiman Sundara, Sennheiser HD-800S, then to the Meze Empyrean and Focal Utopia, and in the end I compared the store demo Clears with my 1 week old Clears.
To make it short, the HD-800S, Arya and Utopia were my favorites from least favorite to most favorite. HD-800S very good at some things but not an allrounder, Arya really transparent, detailed, good soundstage, really enjoyed it, just a little dark, and the Utopia was REALLY nice, very balanced, a great performing allrounder and with all the clarity I so much craved for in my Clears!
But my Clears just had this slightly compressed and strained sound, not objectively much but subjectively just something that bothered me. So I asked for the shop's well used demo Clears.
And those were sounding significantly more open, actually quite close to the Utopias! They used a different cable, and swapping the cable reduced the difference, but I suspext that my Clears are simply not completely broken in yet. So I ended up buying an upgrade cable and am looking forward to my Clears opening up even more.

@LCMusicLover - you were right about cables and Utopia - cables make a difference and Utopia sounds awesome!
@juansan - I discussed the Audeze headphones but in the end didn't get to listen to them today. I'll keep them in mind for sure.
@JaZZ - thanks for the PM. Good advice as well!

This setup is my half-century birthday gift to myself, and you all helped me to complete it.
Thank you

Hi, do you have any cheaper headphone than the Sundara ? Also have you tested Sundara or any cheaper cans with the Hugo 2 with Youtube and Spotify (poorly compressed music) ?

 

[NickT23]

Congratulations!

HiFiMAN Arya (HE-1000) requires more than 3 v RMS at the source output to operate efficiently.

The Hugo 2 cannot fully unleash the potential of the HiFiMAN Arya (HE-1000). The sound will not be of high quality (rich and dynamic).
Not all stationary amplifiers are capable of driving the HiFiMAN Arya (HE-1000).

Hi, maybe because the recording is bad probably ?

 

[Dalmonegrig]

Hi, maybe because the recording is bad probably ?

This of course also affects the sound quality, but the Hugo2 lacks the amplification power to drive the HiFiMAN Arya (HE-1000).

 

[NickT23]

This of course also affects the sound quality, but the Hugo2 lacks the amplification power to drive the HiFiMAN Arya (HE-1000).

Well, do you also have Hugo2 and Hifiman Arya ? Because in terms of the world of portable, the Hugo 2 is the best performing and powerful portable amp/dac combo. So happen to be the most expensive portable combo.

 

[Dalmonegrig]

Well, do you also have Hugo2 and Hifiman Arya ? Because in terms of the world of portable, the Hugo 2 is the best performing and powerful portable amp/dac combo. So happen to be the most expensive portable combo.

I wanted to buy myself a HiFiMAN HE-1000 (Arya), but Hugo 2 simply could not manage them effectively. I had to lower the bar to Ananda.

 

[NickT23]

I wanted to buy myself a HiFiMAN HE-1000 (Arya), but Hugo 2 simply could not manage them effectively. I had to lower the bar to Ananda.

So meaning you only have Hugo2 as your main amp/dac ? Have you heard both the Arya and Ananda ?

 

[Dalmonegrig]

So meaning you only have Hugo2 as your main amp/dac ?

Yes

Have you heard both the Arya and Ananda ?

Yes.
Ananda is in my signature and I'm listening to it right now.

 

[NickT23]

Yes

Yes.
Ananda is in my signature and I'm listening to it right now.

Nice !!!! Am listening Dt 770 250 ohms now with the Hugo2 as well. For now, its my main at the moment. Do you listen to your Ananda and Hugo2 to poor quality music as well like me on platform such as Spotify and Youtube ?

 

[Dalmonegrig]

Do you listen to your Ananda and Hugo2 to poor quality music as well like me on platform such as Spotify and Youtube ?

No, sound quality is a priority.
Right Now
Mac Pro => Roon (TIDAL) => Chord Hugo2Go => HiFiMAN Ananda

 

[NickT23]

No, sound quality is a priority.
Right Now
Mac Pro => Roon (TIDAL) => Chord Hugo2Go => HiFiMAN Ananda

OK, but have you tried Spotify and Youtube nonetheless ? Report to me if possible.
As you know problem I have with other platform, is that user interface and many music selection is not available and most I listen is rare and unpopular. Such as soundtracks and random trailer music. Many variation of mix genere such as Electro and Funk.

 

[Dalmonegrig]

OK, but have you tried Spotify and Youtube nonetheless ? Report to me if possible.

This sound quality is unacceptable to me. Sorry, but I can't help you.