LOL - Yes it's certainly ironic, since Christer is still "umming and ahing " as to whether to upgrade from his Hugo to Hugo2 (and has shared every minute of that still ongoing journey), compared to DrLuna who has bit the bullet and bought the Hugo2
The journey there matters to me.
I love the journey of comparing different dacs with my reference material.
Just as an example of other Dacs too, and not only Chord's, actually being capable of reproducing depth and soundstage accurately,
you should have heard the very lifelike size ,depth and very focussed and pinpoint stable soundstage MOON AUDIO's best DAC delivered via some very good speakers indeed, in a 500K SGD system, at the truly excellent showroom at AVI here in Singapore last night.
Their large showroom at Millenia Walk is a model of its kind IMO.
And as someone suggested recently, if I upgrade from HUGO/DAC2, who knows? I may end up with the new DAC 3 instead of a HUGO 2.
Although I only go by what I hear with my own ears /brain for my FINAL DECISIONS it is also more than a bit interesting to compare both claims and possible manufacturer hype with actual reviews and tests of my own.
And discussing those things is for me what Forums such as this one, are all about.
I just happened to browse through the current issue of Stereophile at the library yesterday where they reviewed DAC 3 very favourably indeed.
And their measurements in some respects even rivalled those they made on DAVE not long ago it seems?
According to Stereophile's measurements, DAC is a SOTA 21 bit capable DAC while DAVE measures just short of 20 bits.
Moreover transient response from DAC 3 looks every bit as good, if not better than DAVE's on paper at least.
I interpreted the reading from DAC 3 as having slightly less pre and post ringing than DAVE.
Maybe wrongly? Correct me if I am wrong.
Atkinson's final word regarding his measurements on DAC 3 was just one word,WOW.
I think his take on DAVE was "beyond reproach".
But he had some reservations about high frequency noise with DAVE. But none such with DAC3.
DAC 3 sells for 2195USD and DAVE for 10500USD
.
Then again if Chord actually delivers a Streamer/M-scaler combo for HUGO 2 at a reasonable price, for a change, I may eventually bite.
Meanwhile I am having a very rewarding and interesting journey.
Cheers Christer
PS Just another of those very long posts again.