[Whazzzup]

well in defence of ch2, its a smooth mid detail machine with a sophisticated quality for a portable. Nice dynamic for me, I just feel the TT propels my full size cans better more authority, depth, and stage, even the susvara which I'm listening to as I type.
But honestly ch2 seems subtly better than ch1, and no i have not posted my summary. At this level its small changes that make the experience of listening more enjoyable. I don't feel ch2 is a runaway on ch1, matter of fact i find that the rough edges in the mids and lows of ch1 can make the bass more impactful and vocals a bit more distinct. The upside for ch2 is that the notes are fuller, smoother, and it adds a bit of depth. Possibly the best portable on the market.
Hope that TT2 when launched, that robb and frank take the time to make it the best mid market desktop in the market. It may be already but after listening to ch2, I think chord can elevate the experience a tad too. Please don't use filters but thats just me, transparency is what chord customers want i would think.

 

[Giraku]

I think it would be very unwise to make any decision or conclusion from that video comparing Hugo TT to Hugo 2, there is so much added to the mix such as microphone and further ADC and DAC that it renders the comparison almost meaningless. If the two DACS were connected using USB then different cables must have been used. There is also the issue of noisy mains powered source when using USB - in which case H2 will likely benefit from galvanic isolation on the USB, such as that available from Intona, to compete fairly with TT.

Agreed. The audio track on the online video goes through an aggressive lossy compression that most likely change all the sound quality signatures.

 

[canali]

tunes, you could do a lot worse than a pair of active speakers that don't rely on h2 to drive them. Neumann KH120 are superb in small/medium rooms or KH310 for larger rooms and very reasonabily priced for what you get. ATC actives if you really want to push the boat out.

this also interest me..i want to upgrade from my current focal alpha 50s to something more detailed, resolving still...but without busting the bank

 

[Whazzzup]

I don't believe itona will make up any difference with TT. Control group the inputs the difference is the difference.
Realize that ch1 or ch2 is a portable.

 

[audi0nick128]

Did you try using your Diamond USB with H/H2? maybe with an adapter?
I could imagine the delta to be quite big from Cinnamon to Diamond...

 

[Whazzzup]

Did you try using your Diamond USB with H/H2? maybe with an adapter?
I could imagine the delta to be quite big from Cinnamon to Diamond...

No I have not, as the cinnamon is modified for Hugo, to micro c, while the diamond, or oyaide 5s continental is USB A to B. Frankly I do some things for insurance reasons, I don't mean literally either, than for sq differences. I use linear power conditioners and some fancy USB and not sure if there are sq differences. But use them just in case they do, and for electricle safety. Severs absolutely do make a difference, cables some, dacs some, amplifiers are different animal. Amps I like are wire and gain and step out of the way. So the increased balanced voltage is in scale and bloom.

 

[audi0nick128]

I am using something like this to use same cables with different sources, including phones.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B071..._SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=otg+adapter&psc=1

For the asking price it might be worth a try to level the playing field, since I believe USB cables can make a substantial difference.

Cheers

 

[514077]

well in defence of ch2, its a smooth mid detail machine with a sophisticated quality for a portable. Nice dynamic for me, I just feel the TT propels my full size cans better more authority, depth, and stage, even the susvara which I'm listening to as I type.
But honestly ch2 seems subtly better than ch1, and no i have not posted my summary. At this level its small changes that make the experience of listening more enjoyable. I don't feel ch2 is a runaway on ch1, matter of fact i find that the rough edges in the mids and lows of ch1 can make the bass more impactful and vocals a bit more distinct. The upside for ch2 is that the notes are fuller, smoother, and it adds a bit of depth. Possibly the best portable on the market.
Hope that TT2 when launched, that robb and frank take the time to make it the best mid market desktop in the market. It may be already but after listening to ch2, I think chord can elevate the experience a tad too. Please don't use filters but thats just me, transparency is what chord customers want i would think.

Have to concur with you over the filters. Spent more time than needed trying to figure out the difference. Can't see myself wanting to use the O/R (16FS) settings, since I bought a Hugo2, wanting to take advantage of its full capability. My hearing indicates music gets a little gunked up in the lower-order filters. So understand your not wanting filters in a TT2.

 

[Whazzzup]

Well I already use a jitterbug so no more adapters would be needed. I don't use Hugo as a desktop anyways, exclusively cck to iPhone. Happy you think USB cables make a substantial difference...

 

[audi0nick128]

Wait a minute @Whazzzup ... you think you can cram a jitterbug in your IPhone?
Maybe I use the word substantial inflationary but I like my fancy USB cables
FWIW the Jitterbug is the only USB decrapifier I don't use anymore, since I did not hear benefits with my sources

Well I quess soon enough there will be more and more reviews incoming and some will likely compare it to TT.
I am anticipating audiobacon and DAR the most... Time will tell

My experience tells me that I need to spend a few days with new gear, exclusively to really evaluate it, without jumping back and forth... but maybe that's just me.

Anyways don't want to prove anyone wrong... I'm just curious

Cheers

 

[musickid]

1) H2 usb sounds identical to optical so galvanic isolation has no effect here.

2) zero noise floor modulation measured and extreme rf filtering on usb. usb tweaks can lead to unnecessary ground loops. zero worries here. i won't be introducing usb tweaks. back to conclusion 1.

3) specialist servers like antipodes do improve an overall system. but how many of us have thousands to spend on these things? also lower priced streamer devices like aries mini report and indicate no difference in SQ to good computing hardware.

4) headphones sound identical through mains powered desktop or battery powered laptop with H2. unwanted electrical noise infiltrating the dacs circuitry is not an issue with headphones with mains powered desktop. if you use an amp or speakers with H2 and a mains powered computer this may differ.

5) keep it as simple as possible. PC USB direct to H2. mains conditioning and linear power supplies from the electrical mains help. cheap and effective solutions available.

6) I don't believe a 1000 pound usb cable will sound any different to a 10 pound usb cable with H2 or even the free one supplied. this may differ with other dacs but normally it is just masking deficiencies. for peace of mind i use a 30 pound audioquest forest cable so at least i know i have a well made cable. the usb cable expenditure is pointless for H2 IMHO.

7) music first gear second or else it becomes like a major engineering project.

my conclusions so far.

 

[Hooster]

Delete

 

[Peter Hyatt]

I am curious as to Chord DAC fans thoughts about this recent published review of a DAC. To avoid controversy, the name is removed. I struggle to believe that leaving it plugged in for a month would produce such a drastic difference. Here we have talked about adjustment for the brain with Hugo 2's output of increased data, but I am still relatively new to audiophile world. The use of hyperbole by the reviewer suggests much to me, but I am interested in the thoughts of others. The ***DAC is similar in price to H2. I almost wanted to leave a comment about "why not leave it plugged in for 2 months?" but I did not want to incur a storm. This is a small exert. underlining is mine. Thanks!


Although ***** warned me that the **DAC** wouldn’t sound good right out of the box, I gave it a quick listen anyway after an hour of warm-up. He was right; the ***DAC*** was hard, bright, forward, and flat. I checked in with it a couple of times over the next week and heard it improving somewhat, but it was still disappointing. I decided to let it sit in my rack, powered up, for a full month before revisiting it.

When I returned to the ****DAC*** I discovered a DAC that wasn’t superb. It wasn’t even good. And it certainly wasn’t “good for the money.” What I discovered, to my amazement, was a DAC that was stunningly great, period."

 

[jlbrach]

all my Chord Dac's have sounded great from day one.....my Yiggy however sounded awful and needed tons of break in

 

[Squidz66]

My PC required at least 2 1/2 months break in before it started to "just works"