[kkcc]

Yes that is my finding too that stock ak240 similar to Hugo. Purely headphone DAC/amp I would buy Hugo, but they do different things. Have you heard stock ak240 and how does rwa mod change the sound?

I think Mic means, and I agree with him, that the AK240 has a similar signature to Hugo, but they perform at different levels - Hugo has every strength SQ-wise that AK240 has and better at almost everything, maybe except soundstage width (which ak240 is wider, burials sound flatter).

This is in contrast say comparing Calyx M or HM901 to Hugo where they don't have similar signature making it harder to compare. Personally I think Hugo also is more transparent and present music in a more lifelike way that M or HM901.

I heard @holeout's rwak240 and it has a fuller sound than stock, but doesn't really make it as transparent or as musical as the Hugo IMO.

 

[flaco]

 
Tried Amarra for a few hours today, my feeling is that Audirvana is cleaner, has more clarity, its certainly easier to use!!
 
Amarra sounds coloured and thicker through its presentation. I can see why people like it.  
 
My preference is Audirvana - I ran back to it...

You should give it more time. After a few hours you can't decide because they are obviously to different. You should try it for a couple of days and then decide, it's wort it. Amarra 3.0 definitely improved over the last versions and is imho the best Amarra yet released.

 

[Mimouille]

I think Mic means, and I agree with him, that the AK240 has a similar signature to Hugo, but they perform at different levels - Hugo has every strength SQ-wise that AK240 has and better at almost everything, maybe except soundstage width (which ak240 is wider, burials sound flatter).

This is in contrast say comparing Calyx M or HM901 to Hugo where they don't have similar signature making it harder to compare. Personally I think Hugo also is more transparent and present music in a more lifelike way that M or HM901.

I heard @holeout's rwak240 and it has a fuller sound than stock, but doesn't really make it as transparent or as musical as the Hugo IMO.

Actually the RWAK240 does not really give a fuller sound, I find it stays on the thinner side, but gives weight and depth to the bass.

 

[LFC_SL]

Yes the transparency of Hugo is excellent. The RWA site says they only adjust bass. Was expecting other "benefits" as otherwise the mod seems expensive for an already top dollar product

 

[holeout]

I think Mic means, and I agree with him, that the AK240 has a similar signature to Hugo, but they perform at different levels - Hugo has every strength SQ-wise that AK240 has and better at almost everything, maybe except soundstage width (which ak240 is wider, burials sound flatter).

This is in contrast say comparing Calyx M or HM901 to Hugo where they don't have similar signature making it harder to compare. Personally I think Hugo also is more transparent and present music in a more lifelike way that M or HM901.

I heard @holeout's rwak240 and it has a fuller sound than stock, but doesn't really make it as transparent or as musical as the Hugo IMO.

 
 

Actually the RWAK240 does not really give a fuller sound, I find it stays on the thinner side, but gives weight and depth to the bass.

 
IMO, RWAK240 has a touch more "presence" across the range when compared with stock and is most noticeable in the lower frequencies. To my ears, the Hugo is definitely more musical with better layering and dynamics when using full size headphones compared with the AK. With the right iems, the gap narrows.

 

[OK-Guy]

anyone is the UK used the BBC's playlister service?
 
link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/playlister
 
is it broadcast standard streaming?

 

[Rob Watts]

If you right click over the running player, it comes up with 128 kbps aac. It is not the so called HD audio, which is 320 kbps aac.
 
But HD audio is supposed to be on radio 3 iplayer "through the night", which I play a lot. But adobe flash reports it as 128 kbps aac...  
 
So something is not right here. But it sounds much better than it has any right too! Very musical.
 
Rob 

 

[Currawong]

  FYI - I'm compiling a list of cables and connectors that worked for Hugo

 
You can add the Moon Audio Silver Dragon to that list.

 

[isquirrel]

  You should give it more time. After a few hours you can't decide because they are obviously to different. You should try it for a couple of days and then decide, it's wort it. Amarra 3.0 definitely improved over the last versions and is imho the best Amarra yet released.

Okay I went back and ran Amarra for hours, maybe I have it configured wrong (entirely possible because the UI is such a mess) I am struggling to find a good guide on how to set it up best. TBH its PITA. I will mess about with it some more. I managed to get DSD 128 files to run okay.  

 

[dnnaudio]

  FYI - I'm compiling a list of cables and connectors that worked for Hugo

Good idea. You can add this Silver Dragon from Moon Audio have to pick Cardas GCRN option, I am getting this so would know in a week or so.
 
http://www.moon-audio.com/silver-dragon-cables/moon-audio-silver-dragon-v1-digital-cable.html
 
Also, Chord Company now offers a Hugo-modified version of their digital cables, from the Prodac up to the Sarum line.
 
http://www.chord.co.uk/products/usb-and-digital-audio-interconnects/

 

[isquirrel]

  FYI - I'm compiling a list of cables and connectors that worked for Hugo
 

Great idea!, you can add the ALO line of RCA's to that.

 

[Duncan]

Cables are definitely where I'm at now, this patch cable I'm using can easily be bettered I'm sure...

Waiting for a 'studio grade' BNC cable to pitch up (to use with the included adapter) - will see how that changes things before going for the more esoteric cables you guys are tempting me with!

...Still in awe of what my portable rig as a whole is capable of, whether it be Vivaldi, Jazz or EDM, just doesn't put a foot wrong...

...Happy, Happy chappie

 

[TokenGesture]

Will the other thread be re-opened?  I want to ask people's opinions/recommendations on using a desktop amp with Hugo, but this isn't the place for it

 

[dnnaudio]

Cables are definitely where I'm at now, this patch cable I'm using can easily be bettered I'm sure...

Waiting for a 'studio grade' BNC cable to pitch up (to use with the included adapter) - will see how that changes things before going for the more esoteric cables you guys are tempting me with!

...Still in awe of what my portable rig as a whole is capable of, whether it be Vivaldi, Jazz or EDM, just doesn't put a foot wrong...

...Happy, Happy chappie

Totally agree. I am fairly new into headphones and definitely more of a speaker guy, with my primary speaker system the result of multiple upgrades and tweaks over a period of probably 15 years to achieve optimum listening pleasure. Yet what I experience from my relatively new transportable Hugo setup is a listening enjoyment that rivals this speaker system. Currently I am using a cheap digital coax cable and excited on what improvement a decent SPDIF cable would bring. I am also thrilled on what further listening pleasure I will get when I move from the Shure 846 IEM to more serious headphones with the Hugo.

 

[Duncan]

Will the other thread be re-opened?  I want to ask people's opinions/recommendations on using a desktop amp with Hugo, but this isn't the place for it

Thanks avl06 for respecting the ethos of this thread

Re the other thread, it is on cooldown for a couple of days, I don't see any reason why it won't be re-opened, worst case scenario if not opened within a couple of days, would be to start a new thread, and then - once / if re-opened, the two threads could be merged...