Chord Hugo

[CosmicHolyGhost]

Last nite, I tried comparing DSD in DoP format and PCM in 24/88 FLAC format for an SACD rip.... I have to confess not a huge difference between the two

 

[sutjahjo]

This is not what I understand. I think it was told that they do not see the demand to warrant investing in such product. They have other good things in their pipeline anyway.

There is no overkill in audiophile, its cool to use AK240 as a transpprt.

And it does make a difference. Many believe all transport sound the same. My personal personal experience say otherwise.

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

And it does make a difference. Many believe all transport sound the same. My personal personal experience say otherwise.

I agree. I hear difference from DX50 coaxial vs HM-901 coaxial. All these little things in our hobby (cable, power, etc etc) contribute subtle differences in sonic...

 

[pekingduck]

I'd like to see a shootout of AK240 vs X5 vs DX50/90 vs HM901 vs .... as transports feeding the Hugo... 

 

[estreeter]

Hahaha. Many things but the hugo does have me interested. But I wish it was a complete product as in dap.
Al

 
I see it 180 degrees the other way - I really wish Chord had released it as a dedicated DAC with a larger footprint and better connections.  

 

[sutjahjo]

I agree. I hear difference from DX50 coaxial vs HM-901 coaxial. All these little things in our hobby (cable, power, etc etc) contribute subtle differences in sonic...

To me personally, even AK120 and AK240 sound different as a transport (supposedly the same hardware as transport, I was told. I believe otherwise.

 

[zachchen1996]

  I'd like to see a shootout of AK240 vs X5 vs DX50/90 vs HM901 vs .... as transports feeding the Hugo... 

 
Agreed, and the QLS QA360 too when it releases.

 

[Sam Edwards]

I have heard very appreciable differences in transports.
My ideal for the Hugo would be a unit with USB out so that DSD could be supplied natively. I would also like several SD cards slots so you could carry 256GB times the number of slots, hopefully four. I'd also want great front end on iPhone, iPad, or Android with control over bluetoooth -- would be awesome because you don't really need to carry around a second display and you don't want to change network just to hear some music. A single charger for both would also be great. 
I hope Chord is listening. Meridian could also downscale their Sooloos and it would be amazing. 

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

  I have heard very appreciable differences in transports.
My ideal for the Hugo would be a unit with USB out so that DSD could be supplied natively. I would also like several SD cards slots so you could carry 256GB times the number of slots, hopefully four. I'd also want great front end on iPhone, iPad, or Android with control over bluetoooth -- would be awesome because you don't really need to carry around a second display and you don't want to change network just to hear some music. A single charger for both would also be great. 
I hope Chord is listening. Meridian could also downscale their Sooloos and it would be amazing. 

 
controlling the player from cellphone would be great!

 

[Currawong]

 
The guideline also stay: "the owner of the Chord Hugo and Audio-gd Master-7 is due to post a comparison as soon as reasonably possible"
:-D

 
 

A comparison of the Hugo to the master 7 I would very much want to read as well. As per a headfi friend the hugo is really special.
Al

 
Using my Digital Interface to feed both, the Master 7 via I2S (using an internal cable through the top of the M7) and the Hugo via coax, I could A/B them easily, volume matched, through the Studio Six. I felt that the Hugo was a bit smoother/cleaner/clearer sounding than the Master 7. I think that to get the same with the M7 I'd probably need to use an OR5. What I sometimes want in a DAC was one with the clarity of the M7 but the smoothness of the NOS1704, so I've long been pondering getting an OR5 to remove that last touch of hardness. The Hugo is that IMO. The Master 7 is for me, everything I wanted in a DAC, without having to compromise. The Hugo is that, but a bit more so still.
 

  I'd like to see a shootout of AK240 vs X5 vs DX50/90 vs HM901 vs .... as transports feeding the Hugo... 

 
Anything that uses a TRS to RCA adaptor for a transport, in my experience, isn't going to be so great. Mind you, I felt there was more of a loss using an iPhone or iPad vs. USB from my MacBook Air with the Algorithm Solo than there is with the Hugo (with my iPad and CCK into low-res USB vs. my Air via high-res USB).

 

[estreeter]

   
I hope Chord is listening. Meridian could also downscale their Sooloos and it would be amazing. 

 
I suspect that you'll need to upscale your wallet first

 

[ALRAINBOW]

Currawong can you explain the i2s input method used for the M7. ? I use the offramp or USB only. With the offramp and HDMI input from dac ladder it bests the USB .
Also do have the latest USB flash on the USB card and drivers in the CPU ?
The Hugo seems to get a high praise I am interested where it sits compared to the M7 sound .
Al

 

[Clemmaster]

IIRC it is explained in the review of the Master-7 on the site.
There are pictures of the DI on top of the M7.

Thanks Amos, that is VERY promising!

 

[ALRAINBOW]

Can you post a link please . I could not find it.
Al

 

[kkcc]

Using my Digital Interface to feed both, the Master 7 via I2S (using an internal cable through the top of the M7) and the Hugo via coax, I could A/B them easily, volume matched, through the Studio Six. I felt that the Hugo was a bit smoother/cleaner/clearer sounding than the Master 7. I think that to get the same with the M7 I'd probably need to use an OR5. What I sometimes want in a DAC was one with the clarity of the M7 but the smoothness of the NOS1704, so I've long been pondering getting an OR5 to remove that last touch of hardness. The Hugo is that IMO. The Master 7 is for me, everything I wanted in a DAC, without having to compromise. The Hugo is that, but a bit more so still.

Amos, this does me in... finally broke down and get myself one!! I blame you for another hole in my porous wallet!

Btw, any optical cable that can carry higher than 24/96 besides the sysconcept one? I can't get my stock optical cable to work with 24/176 or 24/192 though I thought I saw someone posting stock optical cable works...