[Kazenagi]

Just got word from my dealer that my Hugo will ship directly from Chord on Monday. Hopefully its sound warrants the cost.

 

[BrainFood]

Thanks for the nice, measured impressions!
 
 
Quote:

The comparison between the Lavry and Hugo was fairly close. There were times the switch would be thrown and I had no idea which DAC we were coming/going to.

 
Well, with all the buzz currently sweeping the internet over Chords FPGA DAC lower end models, I'm surprised the SQ of the two dacs is so close.  Yeah, I know the Lavry is very well-regarded, but still...I would have expected the Hugo to comprehensively beat it.
 

 All in all, the Hugo impressed me. While different than the Lavry, I would say it was an equal which is impressive given how portable it is

 
Impressive, yes, considering how portable it is.  But the Hugo probably has around equal SQ to the desktop Qute EX, if not beat it with its upgraded spec and 'off-grid' operation.  So, extrapolating from that, the DA11 (2009) is roughly equal to, or better than, the desktop Qute Ex (late 2013) with suppaduppa FPGA technology. Hmm...
 
Incidentally, I've yet to hear the Hugo, EX or indeed the DA11.

 

[verber]

Quote:

   
Well, with all the buzz currently sweeping the internet over Chords FPGA DAC lower end models, I'm surprised the SQ of the two dacs is so close.  Yeah, I know the Lavry is very well-regarded, but still...

 
Glad you found my notes useful. I was hoping the Hugo lived up to the hype because it had the potential to simplify my life. It is certainly amazing for a battery powered device.  For my ears (I don't claim to be a golden ear, I just know what I like) my preference varied by track with me being split maybe 55% Hugo, 45% Lavry.  Some golden eared folks might see it different that I, but I won't want to bet which they would prefer.
 
--mark

 

[charliebrown88]

SQ from coax input is very good. However, Hugo only support native DSD decoding from HD USB input, so this is the only option if you have a lot of SACD rips. This being said, I really wish Chord can put a USB-B connector instead of the micro USB. The micro usb connector is too fragile and I lost the USB handshake quite a few times when I touch on the USB cable or move the Hugo around. Wonder if anybody have the same experience?

I did have the similar experience before, go to buy a better micro usb cable with tight head. I changed to a better cable head and now did not encounter the same problem again. Just would unplug my whiplash 3.5mm ear phone cable a bit easy.

 

[Sam Edwards]

I got mine today. 

 

[holeout]

I did have the similar experience before, go to buy a better micro usb cable with tight head. I changed to a better cable head and now did not encounter the same problem again. Just would unplug my whiplash 3.5mm ear phone cable a bit easy.

Yep, took me awhile to source better cables and micro usb connectors
 
 


 
Didn't have any handshake problems with these connectors. Also mod a Wireworld Starlight USB for my portable rig, SQ much better than before. Just got a Nordost Heimdall 2 USB cable coming in this afternoon, will see how it'll work out

 

[Hifi Nutter]

Stone audio rang chord Thursday and they will receive the hugo on Monday so should get it Tuesday now,6 weeks wait!

 

[zenpunk]

Great news and it looks like the old ones are already starting to be discounted by some retailers, or at least sold at their  original prices. 

 

[Audiowood]

Got it and have been testing.. The bluetooth with both note 3 and Itouch have got too much electrical noise on the right side, anyone has the same issue?

 

[Hifi Nutter]

I will probably only use my hugo for portable but you know how things change so with the new chassis I've got the option without being limited to what cables I can use.Just wish I could get a high quality UK cable rather than use the iPhone lightning cable which doesn't seem very good quality, definitely the weak point in the chain

 

[PhilW]

  Just got word from my dealer that my Hugo will ship directly from Chord on Monday. Hopefully its sound warrants the cost.

 
It will, don't worry!

 

[podeschi]

SQ from coax input is very good. However, Hugo only support native DSD decoding from HD USB input, so this is the only option if you have a lot of SACD rips. This being said, I really wish Chord can put a USB-B connector instead of the micro USB. The micro usb connector is too fragile and I lost the USB handshake quite a few times when I touch on the USB cable or move the Hugo around. Wonder if anybody have the same experience?

I did have the similar experience before, go to buy a better micro usb cable with tight head. I changed to a better cable head and now did not encounter the same problem again. Just would unplug my whiplash 3.5mm ear phone cable a bit easy.

Similar issue here. When I unplugged the moon audio usb cable yesterday the usb connector came off the circuit board. Kapoot. No more hd usb input capability. When i looked at actual connector it is not connected by much to the hugo board. Two sharp metal protrusions into two small holes on the board. Chord should improve the micro USB seating. Or better yet do away with 2 micro inputs and replace with one hd regular size usb input.


My dealer was super responsive. Waiting to hear from NA Distributor on monday to see how they will get this fixed. Will report back. Even though this is a pain, the hugo is so perfect sound and footprint and function wise i will gladly put up with some hassle.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[holeout]

Similar issue here. When I unplugged the moon audio usb cable yesterday the usb connector came off the circuit board. Kapoot. No more hd usb input capability. When i looked at actual connector it is not connected by much to the hugo board. Two sharp metal protrusions into two small holes on the board. Chord should improve the micro USB seating. Or better yet do away with 2 micro inputs and replace with one hd regular size usb input.


My dealer was super responsive. Waiting to hear from NA Distributor on monday to see how they will get this fixed. Will report back. Even though this is a pain, the hugo is so perfect sound and footprint and function wise i will gladly put up with some hassle.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Ouch! Sorry to hear this. Same thing happened to my JH3A amp a couple of years back. Luckily, my company's technical director with much experience in circuit boards was near by and did an excellent job resoldering the connector back on. All it took was 20 minutes and never had any problem since.
 
Having seen this problem with your Hugo I'm more and more inclined on modding the I/Os on the Hugo - USB B to replace the micro USB, chassis mounted RCAs for line out and spdif in and a power switch with easier access. Only thing hindering me is the time needed to rework the chassis if required...

 

[Sam Edwards]

That really sucks about the USB connector. Something that is supposed to be portable should have sturdier connections. Isn't the idea of the product to be able to take it with you? Wouldn't that necessarily mean plugging and unplugging regularly? Maybe a right angle plug would give less leverage on the tiny jack... 

 

[SleepyOne]

 
podeschi - Ouch x 2! Thanks for letting us know. Looks like we have to be very careful.
 
holeout - Sounds like a great idea re: mod. Maybe small mod services might just spring up if the revised chassis doesn't work out