Chord Mojo 2 Thread ___ [product released January 31, 2022 -- starting on page 95 of thread]

[trickyRoadsDummyTOOL]

I am now running my Mojo2 into a Headamp GSX Mini via a Moon Silver Dragon 3.5 to stereo RCA wire. Out 5 pin balanced to my TH900. The results are great, but only when Mojo2 is set to double deep blue, a good bit above indigo unity gain. Anyone else finding this to be the case in this use case situation of running into an amp?

Apart from the fact that my headphone amp does not provide balanced output and may not come close to GSX mini, this is pretty much my configuration. OK, I have a preamp between Mojo2 and Headphone amplifier. Indigo not only being the proposed voltage level, but also leading to the best sounding results to my ears, i adjust HPA-output between 60% and 75%. Interconnects from Mojo2 to preamp is 3.5/RCA and balanced from preamp to HPA.
HPA in GSX mini price range is my next acquisition, alternatively v550 (violectric). How was the difference if you use GSX mini with SE output?

 

[dericchan1]

Has anyone tried connecting the mojo2 3.5mm out to RCA directly to active monitors? I am looking to hook up the mojo2 to a pair of genelec G3, set the mojo2 volume to indigo = 2 vrms and use software to do volume control.

Cheers

 

[tlcocks]

Apart from the fact that my headphone amp does not provide balanced output and may not come close to GSX mini, this is pretty much my configuration. OK, I have a preamp between Mojo2 and Headphone amplifier. Indigo not only being the proposed voltage level, but also leading to the best sounding results to my ears, i adjust HPA-output between 60% and 75%. Interconnects from Mojo2 to preamp is 3.5/RCA and balanced from preamp to HPA.
HPA in GSX mini price range is my next acquisition, alternatively v550 (violectric). How was the difference if you use GSX mini with SE output?

Slight but noticeable difference between the two with slightly more forward and dynamic mids and smoother treble in balanced output. But my Th900 is fairly easy to drive, so presumably the difference would be bigger with harder to drive phones.

 

[tlcocks]

The part curious to me was that to get best sound through Mini I have to drive the Mojo2 about 3-4 db louder than indigo, namely exactly 5 clicks above indigo. Playing at “line out” and compensating with the amp just isn’t as good. Mids more recessed that way.

 

[tlcocks]

But man, when locked on with the settings this method of listening clearly sounds better than straight out of Mojo2. Mojo2 I now know is an amazing dac for the price point. And to have the lossless EQ? Well it’s just perfect.

 

[ctrlm]

I am now running my Mojo2 into a Headamp GSX Mini via a Moon Silver Dragon 3.5 to stereo RCA wire. Out 5 pin balanced to my TH900. The results are great, but only when Mojo2 is set to double deep blue, a good bit above indigo unity gain. Anyone else finding this to be the case in this use case situation of running into an amp?

I'm trying the Mojo 2 as a desktop DAC in the following config:

• HQ Player via NAA with iFi NeoStream from my Macbook Air @705/768khz
• Sinc-mx filter
• USB from NS to M2 via Intona 7055-C isolator
• 3V output to Violectric V281 HP Amp - 41 clicks from menu light and dark brown
• Hifiman Edition XS headphones

Sounds fantastic to me

 

[trickyRoadsDummyTOOL]

Slight but noticeable difference between the two with slightly more forward and dynamic mids and smoother treble in balanced output. But my Th900 is fairly easy to drive, so presumably the difference would be bigger with harder to drive phones.

Interesting. Looking forward to going balanced soon.

The part curious to me was that to get best sound through Mini I have to drive the Mojo2 about 3-4 db louder than indigo, namely exactly 5 clicks above indigo. Playing at “line out” and compensating with the amp just isn’t as good. Mids more recessed that way.

Distortion drops in when I go above indigo+1, so this is my maximum. It depends on (quality of the circuits of) feeded device mosty. I am pretty sure I read it pages above explained by Rob Watts, mojo2's maxed output is highly stable, even after adjustments with EQ. I don't think we can compare it with similar priced HPA's, which request a certain amount of headroom (20%?).
I do not have his exact explanation at hand, thread search is (y)our friend

But man, when locked on with the settings this method of listening clearly sounds better than straight out of Mojo2. Mojo2 I now know is an amazing dac for the price point. And to have the lossless EQ? Well it’s just perfect.

Call it careless or bloody silly, lazy or something else, I never tested Mojo2's direct output, even for device check. I would have, if somethings sounded "problematic". I thought about upgrading to another DAC, but to be honest, it has to be a huge step.

 

[tlcocks]

Interesting. Looking forward to going balanced soon.


Distortion drops in when I go above indigo+1, so this is my maximum. It depends on (quality of the circuits of) feeded device mosty. I am pretty sure I read it pages above explained by Rob Watts, mojo2's maxed output is highly stable, even after adjustments with EQ. I don't think we can compare it with similar priced HPA's, which request a certain amount of headroom (20%?).
I do not have his exact explanation at hand, thread search is (y)our friend


Call it careless or bloody silly, lazy or something else, I never tested Mojo2's direct output, even for device check. I would have, if somethings sounded "problematic". I thought about upgrading to another DAC, but to be honest, it has to be a huge step.

Yes, the plus 5 clicks above indigo for me is perfect. No distortion to my ear. 5 clicks is not far below where it sets in though. Another 2 or 3 clicks and it has distortion, shrinking of stage, and weaker bass. But at indigo plus 5 it’s pefect

 

[tlcocks]

I honestly think with the Fostex TH900, which is known to be slightly mids recessed, that those few extra clicks above indigo somehow pushes the saturation enough to reverse the slight mids recess. Perhaps that is why the th900 sounds better amplified beyond the M2 alone. And it’s balanced, which helps.

 

[Pulcino]

Has anyone tried connecting the mojo2 3.5mm out to RCA directly to active monitors? I am looking to hook up the mojo2 to a pair of genelec G3, set the mojo2 volume to indigo = 2 vrms and use software to do volume control.

Cheers

Yes, works fine

 

[evhvis]

thank you. what price are you comparing for Mojo 2? the price varies Country to Country.

Prices are also dependent on exchange rate and more. List price, with the exchange rate at the time when I bought it, would have been about 550 euros or so. That is the price I would use for comparing to it.

 

[hakunamakaka]

I had more time to play around Mojo2 now. compared to my desktop combo Qutest/L30 II, Qutest still manages sound little bit smoother, yet with better treble and slightly more depth, but it's scary close. Replacing amps on Qutest (L30II to Luxman), it pushes a good notch further, but I would say it's maybe 15% Max better than mojo2 in technical realm using Utopia's. Different flavour yes, but technically quite close considering price differences

The other thing Mojo2 is not that sensitive to my noisy laptop. It's still better with Intona usb in chain, but differences are way smaller than with Mojo 1 which I actually did not enjoyed plugged directly into laptop.

I have many other portable dac/amps, but if someone values stage depth, good instrument placement M2 & M1 (with good source) is easily tier above in that category against any portable solution known for me.

Tried M2 with my Abacus active speakers, it works very good as a desktop DAC for them. The only problem is powering M2 for a desktop use. In my case it decreased SQ and gave me a slight electric noise once I plugged mojo2 to my iphone charger. Ifi Power x was better, but I still preferred M2 via battery

 

[LeonidK]

@hakunamakaka Could you compare Mojo 2 to Qutest both as desktop dacs with speakers? I'm currently using M2 with Hegel H200 and thinking about upgrading to Qutest. Didn't like RME ADI-2 FS that much.

 

[hakunamakaka]

@hakunamakaka Could you compare Mojo 2 to Qutest both as desktop dacs with speakers? I'm currently using M2 with Hegel H200 and thinking about upgrading to Qutest. Didn't like RME ADI-2 FS that much.

I can definitely test over the weekend with my actives

 

[mainguy]

Has anyone had any issues with volume jumping with Mojo 2 on iOS or MacOS?

I've had a few occassions where i plug the mojo into my mac/iphone and it starts at green volume, I dial it all the way to the lowest setting. Then twenty seconds later it jumps right back to green.

Very scary stuff. I had this same issue with Mojo 1 and Apple products occasionally. Just wondering if anyone else noticed this madness? I really wish the Mojo wouldn't default to such a high volume. It really should default to minimum. On that note, does anyone know how to set it's default volume?