[OK-Guy]

  Does your Hugo rattle if you gentle shake it?

 
only if I'm rattle & rolling...

 

[Sunya]

  Yes the new QBD does have a remote and balanced OP's.
 
Rob

 
Will the VC be analog or digital? Estimated release date?

 

[Rob Watts]

The volume is digital - its the only way of making it completely transparent. Release date - sometime in 2015!
 
Rob

 

[SpiggyTopes]

Rob,
 
I'm waiting for a desktop version of Hugo - should I wait?
 
Cheers.

 

[OK-Guy]

  Rob,
 
I'm waiting for a desktop version of Hugo - should I wait?
 
Cheers.

 
as you're already waiting, feel free to carry on...

 

[Sunya]

  The volume is digital - its the only way of making it completely transparent. Release date - sometime in 2015!
 
Rob

 
Will there be a way to trim the max output in the analog domain as well to avoid using too much digital attenuation?

 

[Rob Watts]

   
Will there be a way to trim the max output in the analog domain as well to avoid using too much digital attenuation?

What problem are you worried about?
 
Rob

 

[isquirrel]

Can't wait for the new QBD and its Hugo like SQ, I am sure it will be stunning

 

[Sunya]

  What problem are you worried about?
 
Rob

 
Well, most power amps have an input sensitivity of around 1V; if the QBD outputs 6V on the balanced outs you will have to attenuate a lot in the digital domain for normal listening levels and not clip the amp. Won't this affect the resolution of the DAC?
 
dCS for example, which also uses a digital volume control, has a switch on the back of their converters that lets you select between 2V and 6V max output at 0dbFS. Weiss also lets you set the max out voltage at 0dbFS in the analog domain with four settings of 1V, 2V, 4V and 8V to match the sensitivity of the power amp and use as little digital attenuation as possible for the VC.

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

I really look forward to the new QBD as Rob stated that it will have an built in isolator which will be really convenient for me. I currently use usb isolator with red book material connected to the SD port. If I dont need to switch input for DSD and Highres PCM, it will be really ideal!

 

[Rob Watts]

   
Well, most power amps have an input sensitivity of around 1V; if the QBD outputs 6V on the balanced outs you will have to attenuate a lot in the digital domain for normal listening levels and not clip the amp. Won't this affect the resolution of the DAC?
 
dCS for example, which also uses a digital volume control, has a switch on the back of their converters that lets you select between 2V and 6V max output at 0dbFS. Weiss also lets you set the max out voltage at 0dbFS in the analog domain with four settings of 1V, 2V, 4V and 8V to match the sensitivity of the power amp and use as little digital attenuation as possible for the VC.

OK, its the resolution problem. No this isn't an issue with the QBD as the problem of low level resolution is a major issue with DAC's, particularly in terms of being able to reproduce sound stage depth, when one needs extraordinary resolving accuracy of very small signals. Frankly, adjusting gain by say 10dB won't solve this problem, as we are trying to reproduce very small signals very accurately. QBD has an extremely complex noise shaper optimized to solve this problem. If you directly adjust the gain in the analogue signal path, you could actually degrade soundstage depth as the extra analogue components degrade transparency.
 
Rob

 

[Sound Eq]

  OK, its the resolution problem. No this isn't an issue with the QBD as the problem of low level resolution is a major issue with DAC's, particularly in terms of being able to reproduce sound stage depth, when one needs extraordinary resolving accuracy of very small signals. Frankly, adjusting gain by say 10dB won't solve this problem, as we are trying to reproduce very small signals very accurately. QBD has an extremely complex noise shaper optimized to solve this problem. If you directly adjust the gain in the analogue signal path, you could actually degrade soundstage depth as the extra analogue components degrade transparency.
 
Rob

is the qbd going to be portable sorry for me not knowing anything about it, is it and amp only or amp/dac

 

[OK-Guy]

it's a home-system based DAC... think you can also use it as a desktop as it is not as big a full-sized case if'n you get my drift.
 
part of Chord's Choral range, link: http://chordelectronics.co.uk/products.asp?cat=11

 

[isquirrel]

 
is the qbd going to be portable sorry for me not knowing anything about it, is it and amp only or amp/dac

This should give you an idea.
 

 

[jwbrent]

  OK, its the resolution problem. No this isn't an issue with the QBD as the problem of low level resolution is a major issue with DAC's, particularly in terms of being able to reproduce sound stage depth, when one needs extraordinary resolving accuracy of very small signals. Frankly, adjusting gain by say 10dB won't solve this problem, as we are trying to reproduce very small signals very accurately. QBD has an extremely complex noise shaper optimized to solve this problem. If you directly adjust the gain in the analogue signal path, you could actually degrade soundstage depth as the extra analogue components degrade transparency.
 
Rob

Hi Rob,
 
Given the size of the chassis on the Hugo, was there a specific reason why it has two 3.5mm outputs other than allowing two listeners? Also, is the crossfeed more noticeable with certain types of music or headphones? 
 
Just got my Hugo and I'm quite happy with it.