Chord Electronics - Hugo 2 - The Official Thread

[Whazzzup]

I got Dave instead of a new car.

Just bought a new car

 

[galacticsoap]

Hi Everyone - Despite searching for "USB Charger" and reading four pages of posts from other Headfi'rs on this thread I'm still no closer to finding out whether I can use my four port USB charger on the Hugo2.

The charger that Hugo2 ships with is used at work where the bulk of my listening is done. Disconnecting it and taking it with me isn't practical for a variety of reasons.

I want to use one of the ports on my Comsol 4 port USB charger to charge the Hugo. Each of the outputs are rated at 5V 2.4A. From what I can gather the Hugo2 takes a 2V charge? Would I damage the Hugo if I use the Comsol charger given the 5V 2.4A specs? If so, what charger chan I use? I even tried to see if I can purchase a replacement Hugo2 charger but couldn't find a source.

Any help would be appreciated. I love the Hugo2 dearly and don't want to damage it.

 

[tekkster]

Deleted. The 5V point is one I hadn't considered.

 

[Mython]

Hi Everyone - Despite searching for "USB Charger" and reading four pages of posts from other Headfi'rs on this thread I'm still no closer to finding out whether I can use my four port USB charger on the Hugo2.

The charger that Hugo2 ships with is used at work where the bulk of my listening is done. Disconnecting it and taking it with me isn't practical for a variety of reasons.

I want to use one of the ports on my Comsol 4 port USB charger to charge the Hugo. Each of the outputs are rated at 5V 2.4A. From what I can gather the Hugo2 takes a 2V charge? Would I damage the Hugo if I use the Comsol charger given the 5V 2.4A specs? If so, what charger chan I use? I even tried to see if I can purchase a replacement Hugo2 charger but couldn't find a source.

Any help would be appreciated. I love the Hugo2 dearly and don't want to damage it.

What is critical is that the voltage specification of the charger should not exceed the USB spec of 5v.
In principle, the spec you have stated (5v, 2.4A) should work correctly with Hugo 2. Hugo 2 will only draw as much current as it desires.

In the event that the charger supplies insufficient current (perhaps also insufficient voltage), Hugo 2 (and Mojo) will show this by the white charging light blinking.

Spoiler: Also see

It's due to the charger voltage collapsing whilst charging - maybe a power brown-out. Un-plug the charger, re-connect, if it's white don't worry. If it's flashing, then your PSU unit is faulty.

Note that some chargers try to be clever and charge devices more quickly - these should definitely be avoided, as they may stray above the 5v standard. This may occur with a few present-day smartphone chargers. Such chargers may also modulate their voltage output downwards, as-&-when they (try to) sense the battery charge cycle nearing completion.

In short, I cannot categorically state that your Comsol charger will do no harm to Hugo 2, as I don't know all the details about it, and I also don't know the quality of the circuit design, components or manufacturing, so I cannot know if the manufacturer's claimed specs for the charger are truly adhered to by the charger hardware. It should work just fine, if it's decent quality and adheres to the quoted 5v, 2.4A output parameters, but, frankly, if I'd spent 2 grand or so on a Hugo 2, I'd probably choose to play it safe and just obtain a second charger from my Chord dealer, even if it cost me more money, as it might just save me many hundred bucks potential damage (though I should add that Hugo 2 and Mojo do have reasonable circuit protection against over voltage and thermal excesses).

If you still can't bring yourself to buy a spare charger from your Chord dealer, then I suggest you try to find the best quality one you can, from a genuinely reputable brand, but be very sure that it is not a 'smart' or 'turbo' etc. type of USB charger - it needs to be decent quality and as basic and 'dumb' as possible. Additionally, I'd suggest a charger with only one output socket, since the voltage and current of the output are likely to remain more consistent and stable than when other devices are simultaneously at various stages of being charged.

 

[galacticsoap]

What is critical is that the voltage specification of the charger should not exceed the USB spec of 5v.
In principle, the spec you have stated (5v, 2.4A) should work correctly with Hugo 2. Hugo 2 will only draw as much current as it desires.

In the event that the charger supplies insufficient current (perhaps also insufficient voltage), Hugo 2 (and Mojo) will show this by the white charging light blinking.


Note that some chargers try to be clever and charge devices more quickly - these should definitely be avoided, as they may stray above the 5v standard. This may occur with a few present-day smartphone chargers. Such chargers may also modulate their voltage output downwards, as-&-when they (try to) sense the battery charge cycle nearing completion.

In short, I cannot categorically state that your Comsol charger will do no harm to Hugo 2, as I don't know all the details about it, and I also don't know the quality of the circuit design, components or manufacturing, so I cannot know if the manufacturer's claimed specs for the charger are truly adhered to by the charger hardware. It should work just fine, if it's decent quality and adheres to the quoted 5v, 2.4A output parameters, but, frankly, if I'd spent 2 grand or so on a Hugo 2, I'd probably choose to play it safe and just obtain a second charger from my Chord dealer, even if it cost me more money, as it might just save me many hundred bucks potential damage (though I should add that Hugo 2 and Mojo do have reasonable circuit protection against over voltage and thermal excesses).

If you still can't bring yourself to buy a spare charger from your Chord dealer, then I suggest you try to find the best quality one you can, from a genuinely reputable brand, but be very sure that it is not a 'smart' or 'turbo' etc. type of USB charger - it needs to be decent quality and as basic and 'dumb' as possible.

Thank you very much for posting such a thorough and easy to understand response! Much appreciated

Im more than happy to buy a second charger from my dealer, however after scowering the net to see if could source an OEM Chord charger and coming up short I didn't think the charger could be sourced seperately.

I'll give my dealer a call and come back to you all on the outcome.

 

[Deftone]

I got Dave instead of a new car.

I’d be the type of person to get a cheap rusty old set of wheels if it meant I could afford a Dave.

 

[musickid]

place one chord dave as dac attached to a mobile sound system attached to speakers in a small car and hey the car//dave dilema is solved and you can have both..

 

[Chikolad]

I finally decided to get the Hugo 2, and then I saw these 2 less than enthusiastic reviews:

(He says he actually prefers the Mojo, which I already own)


(Says the H2 is lacking in the low end)


Can someone please cheer me up?

 

[musickid]

nonsense to say mojo performs better

 

[dannyvstheworld]

Also have Mojo and just got Hugo 2 last week.

Mojo wins on portability and marginally less hissing (tested with andromeda). Hugo 2 wins on everything else.

 

[435279]

Also have Mojo and just got Hugo 2 last week.

Mojo wins on portability and marginally less hissing (tested with andromeda). Hugo 2 wins on everything else.

Yes, another vote for Hugo 2 sounding better than Mojo from me too.

I notice the difference most with my Sennheiser HD-650. The Mojo drives the HD-650 perfectly OK but the Hugo 2 just sounds so much better, the pairing allows the sound-stage to open up so much more, it sounds as if I'm listening to very high quality speakers placed a few feet in front of the listening position. I'm sure there are other improvements too, but that's what I instantly notice when comparing Mojo to Hugo 2.

 

[musickid]

anyone doing akg k812 with h2?

 

[514077]

I finally decided to get the Hugo 2, and then I saw these 2 less than enthusiastic reviews:

(He says he actually prefers the Mojo, which I already own)


(Says the H2 is lacking in the low end)


Can someone please cheer me up?

Sounds like horse-potatos to I. Read your signature line. And in the first video, when he yips about the inability to turn off the filters: Well, come on!

 

[Satir]

n/a

 

[Chikolad]

Thanks guys, you did cheer me up
I guess I'm expecting the H2 to not only sound better than the Mojo, but to sound a whole lot better than it. Not sure if that's a realistic expectation, since the Mojo is already very good.
Is it enough to justify such a high price when I'm only going to use it at home? We'll see.