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Chord Mojo(1) DAC-amp ☆★►FAQ in 3rd post!◄★☆

Oct 24, 2015 at 9:24 PM Post #2,103 of 42,916
sandalaudio said:
Some people prefer to use Mojo as a dedicated line level DAC and add their favourite headphone amp. Things like tube amps add nice harmonic distortion and variable impedance across the frequency range, which gives pleasant sounding sensation when matched with particular headphones. It's all about the music and personal preference.

On most DAC+headphone amp combo, the fixed line output is offered because the headphone amp section often adds analogue volume (attenuator) and headphone gain + buffer amps, which adds to the noise and distortion. For example on things like Fiio DAP, the dedicated line output will bypass the headphone amp so it gives better THD at the cost of very high output impedance (so it can't drive headphones).

Mojo doesn't need to worry about these because the volume is controlled within the FPGA oversampling, and the analog output is as minimal as possible.

The concern with Mojo is that you can't use the popular old fashioned trick of "maximum volume" = "line output", which was possible on weak little DAPs that caps out at around 2V (e.g. that's what you would do on iPhone etc). Mojo's output is very powerful and it could fry the preamp that you are connecting it to (at max volume can output 14Vp-p). (Imagine connecting your power amp's speaker wires to your preamp...).
That's why Mojo offers a special "Line Output" mode that fixes the output voltage to 3VRMS (9Vp-p).

The fixed 3VRMS is still quite high compared to the average line output from CD players etc (most CD players are around 2VRMS) so you have to be careful not to get the sensation that Mojo sounds "more exciting" simply because of the louder volume compared to most other consumer Hi-Fi line outputs.
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JF With mojo you have volume level memory recall so set the volume to two balls cyan and every time you switch back on you'll be outputting about two volts RMS.
 
Oct 24, 2015 at 10:41 PM Post #2,105 of 42,916
Oct 24, 2015 at 10:50 PM Post #2,106 of 42,916
Oct 24, 2015 at 11:00 PM Post #2,107 of 42,916
I just dont like it when members spread false information. I had the AKJr for a short period and since I was told it did not have optical out i never tested. I asked Alex from AK who is the head of their marketing and he told me AKJr does not have optical out.
 
If it did I would have kept it, it sounds as good as AK120 (maybe just a little behind). 
 
Oct 24, 2015 at 11:44 PM Post #2,108 of 42,916
Damn, this thing is stupid good right out of the box. 
L3000.gif

 
Clean all across the range, with great resolution that's smooth, not overly analytical with deep and very controlled bass, smooth highs and mids - well the mids are where where the magic happens for me, and there's magic in there baby - mojo indeed.
 
Naturally many more things to play with, test, and write about but wanted to share my very first impression. 
 
Thanks to RELIC, Duncan and others for helping get us all hyped up for in this case it's the real deal, and at a great price-point. 
 
Well done Chord, well done. 
 
Oct 24, 2015 at 11:50 PM Post #2,109 of 42,916
mython said:

I'm curious as to why AK100/AK120 is being favoured as a partner for the Mojo, when there are cheaper options like DX50/DX90, X5, Soundaware Esther, etc.

Maybe it's because the dark brushed aluminium casework of the Mk1 AKs matches the Mojo well?
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The AK100 (and slightly less so) the AK120 are perfectly matched to the MoJo from a stack / size perspective, feels lighter and neater in the pocket than a QP1R or X5 stack for example...

On another note, someone asked for headphone / IEM combination recommendations, that (to me) is like asking someone what their favourite cheese is, and expecting it to be yours too...

Oh, and question, what makes IEMs not require an off board amp / DAC when running a DAP? I see that (IMO) misconception banded around quite a bit, maybe I have strangely golden ears, and I should get them insured, but the difference between the HO of the AK120 or the QP1R to an off board DAC (grant you I only have three here, Mojo, Hugo, and a lowly E17) is relatively significant in all cases.

Edit: grr, mobile browser editing, hate iOS!!
 
Oct 25, 2015 at 12:04 AM Post #2,110 of 42,916
mscott58 said:
Damn, this thing is stupid good right out of the box. :L3000:

Clean all across the range, with great resolution that's smooth, not overly analytical with deep and very controlled bass, smooth highs and mids - well the mids are where where the magic happens for me, and there's magic in there baby - mojo indeed.

Naturally many more things to play with, test, and write about but wanted to share my very first impression. 

Thanks to RELIC, Duncan and others for helping get us all hyped up for in this case it's the real deal, and at a great price-point. 

Well done Chord, well done. 
Click to expand...


Thanks. FWIW I never hype something that truly doesn't deserve it. Mojo deserves it IMO.

Enjoy!

:beerchug:
 
Oct 25, 2015 at 12:19 AM Post #2,111 of 42,916
mscott58 said:
Damn, this thing is stupid good right out of the box. :L3000:

Clean all across the range, with great resolution that's smooth, not overly analytical with deep and very controlled bass, smooth highs and mids - well the mids are where where the magic happens for me, and there's magic in there baby - mojo indeed.

Naturally many more things to play with, test, and write about but wanted to share my very first impression. 

Thanks to RELIC, Duncan and others for helping get us all hyped up for in this case it's the real deal, and at a great price-point. 

Well done Chord, well done. 
Click to expand...
Congrats on joining the club! :D

That is the main point (I've just put in bold in your post above), the musicality for the price, pretty darned good :)

To be fair, so good that it made me go against one of my own head-fi principles and get an AK player to marry with it, so Chord is giving to the audio community in more ways than one (undoubted increase in sales of baby sized players as per this example, and for companies like sysconcepts for their baby sized cables as another)...

Keep us up to date with your impressions :)
 
Oct 25, 2015 at 12:33 AM Post #2,112 of 42,916
When will a nice casing be out for the mojo? I seriously need it. :P
 
Oct 25, 2015 at 12:37 AM Post #2,113 of 42,916
Duncan, you've got me so close to grabbing an AK120 Titan!!!! :veryevil:
 
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