Chord Hugo TT High End DAC Amp Impressions Thread

[miketlse]

  Take your time, their seems to be new products introduced every so often.

 
Yes Rob Watts must be working flat out, to keep the new products being released at such a rate.
 
I find that playing around with 'what ifs' in my mind for a few months, has worked out far cheaper than rushing out to buy something on impulse, and then discovering that in reality i would have been better off buying something different. 

 

[JaZZ]

 

  Take your time, their seems to be new products introduced every so often.

 
Yes Rob Watts must be working flat out, to keep the new products being released at such a rate.
 
I find that playing around with 'what ifs' in my mind for a few months, has worked out far cheaper than rushing out to buy something on impulse, and then discovering that in reality i would have been better off buying something different. 

 
If you have lots of money at your disposal, I would recommend DAVE with the upcoming ultra-accurate digital power amp. No need for electronics upgrades anymore after that.

 

[GreenLeo]

No offence JaZZ.  I don't think "No need for electronics upgrades anymore after that" could be true.  No best but only better and better.  

 

[miketlse]

   
If you have lots of money at your disposal, I would recommend DAVE with the upcoming ultra-accurate digital power amp. No need for electronics upgrades anymore after that.

 
In principle I could go and buy DAVE today, but I want to spend a few months exploring music with the Mojo first. 
It will still be interesting to read how the ultra-accurate digital power amp performs and is received on this forum.
 
I would also need to hear DAVE and the amp in the flesh, before I spent that sort of money. 

 

 

[AlanYWM]

That's a power amp for speakers.

Nope. I was not referring to the speaker amp but a device from HF that you use with your headphone. Some folks think the sound coming out of Dave cannot be improved. We will see if this theory is true when this new device us msde available

 

[JaZZ]

 

That's a power amp for speakers.

Nope. I was not referring to the speaker amp but a device from HF that you use with your headphone. Some folks think the sound coming out of Dave cannot be improved. We will see if this theory is true when this new device us msde available

 
So we're speaking of cables. I absolutely agree that those make a difference. But that doesn't have to do with DAVE. As little as the headphones you attach to it.
 
BTW, said device meant for improving the signal transmission between headphone output and headphone can also be used with the TT. I'm somewhat interested in it (at least theoretically), but still have some (theoretical) reservations.

 

[ubs28]

I have a question regarding the Chord Hugo TT. Is it a true balanced DAC or simply a single ended DAC with a XLR port on it? If not, is the Dave a fully balanced design or also a single ended design with simply a XLR port on it? 
 
(I suppose there shouldn't be any difference when using RCA or XLR cables when it goes into a balanced amplifier if a DAC is not a true balanced design?)

 

[JaZZ]

  I have a question regarding the Chord Hugo TT. Is it a true balanced DAC or simply a single ended DAC with a XLR port on it? If not, is the Dave a fully balanced design or also a single ended design with simply a XLR port on it? 
 
(I suppose there shouldn't be any difference when using RCA or XLR cables when it goes into a balanced amplifier if a DAC is not a true balanced design?)

 
All Chord DACs (of the latest generation at least) are single-ended internally. Rob Watts thinks it is the superior design if done carefully, but when they're connected to a balanced amp it may be beneficial to use the DACs' balanced outputs, thus to let the TT balance the signal instead of the amp.

 

[ubs28]

   
All Chord DACs (of the latest generation at least) are single-ended internally. Rob Watts thinks it is the superior design if done carefully, but when they're connected to a balanced amp it may be beneficial to use the DACs' balanced outputs, thus to let the TT balance the signal instead of the amp.

Shouldn't it sound the same since the XLR output is the exact same signal as the RCA output? 

 

[JaZZ]

 

   
All Chord DACs (of the latest generation at least) are single-ended internally. Rob Watts thinks it is the superior design if done carefully, but when they're connected to a balanced amp it may be beneficial to use the DACs' balanced outputs, thus to let the TT balance the signal instead of the amp.

Shouldn't it sound the same since the XLR output is the exact same signal as the RCA output? 

 
The electronics components necessary for balancing make their contribution to the sound.

 

[ubs28]

   
The electronics components necessary for balancing make their contribution to the sound.

Ok thanks. I suppose I'll stick to the RCA output if I get Chord Dave or Chord Hugo TT 2. Else I have to buy a new high-end XLR cable. 

 

[Whazzzup]

Im hearing good things about TT #3 if you are still alive Yes the tt comes with balanced xlr output
And yes orderd my chaparone 3 xlr fusion conectors from dhc with a four month wait maybe. Will oder the made to order amp in july when i get back from europe river cruise. Maybe deliveries might sync up sort of

 

[rgs9200m]

The quality of the interconnect to my ears is much more important than whether it's balanced or not. I use an RCA Stealth Indra (for the TT and the Hugo previously) and it sounds *great* and is worth every penny.

 

[Whazzzup]

  The quality of the interconnect to my ears is much more important than whether it's balanced or not. I use an RCA Stealth Indra (for the TT and the Hugo previously) and it sounds *great* and is worth every penny.

Totally agree, the dhc chaperone 3 xlr is no slouch interconnect either. This way you can se or balance out hp

 

[Pier-Fi]

My finances won't like it either when the Chord Hugo 2 or Chord Hugo TT 2 is released  . I'm obviously going to upgrade then.

I have the impression that your finances are safe for a while. There's no sign of a planned upgrade, as apparently Rob is working on his Davina project. I would personally prefer if Chord was revising its chordette range to suit the 2qute rather than upgrading the Hugo and Hugo TT who don't need it.