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

[Cam9102]

Maybe. It hasn't happened with the Mojo in my desktop setup, which includes an Intona isolator, but it does happen with my phone. But it could also be the OTG cable I'm using with my phone. It could be the phone itself. It could be Tidal. Dunno. Too many variables for me to be sure. I've read folks blaming all kinds of things. And it could be the kind of thing that only happens with particular combinations of issues rather than any single one issue.


Yeah, I'm still discovering unexpected feats and applications of this tiny little thing. I mean, I had no intention of driving my HE6's with it, but the little guy drives them no problem. I'm stunned.

So many variables, where to start?

 

[gylyf]

So is there any definitive word on the Chord Mojo 2 white noise blast issue?

Does it only happen with the USB inputs? Can it happen with laptops as well or just mobile devices?

I assume that using the optical or coaxial inputs will bypass this issue completely? What about USB to spdif converters?

I’ll do whatever I need to do to avoid the problem since I’m using the Mojo 2 as a desktop DAC. I don’t care about phone compatibility.

I've owned two Mojos 2. I encountered the white noise issue with the first over coaxial (chain was iPad to DDC to Mojo 2), when switching from PCM to DSD. I'm still not sure what happened there. I encountered the white noise issue with the second unit (which I still own and use as my desktop DAC over optical) using USB from my M2 Macbook Air (the issue there was the cable, I think) and from my iPhone using USB (also a cable issue).

 

[dericchan1]

Maybe. It hasn't happened with the Mojo in my desktop setup, which includes an Intona isolator, but it does happen with my phone. But it could also be the OTG cable I'm using with my phone. It could be the phone itself. It could be Tidal. Dunno. Too many variables for me to be sure. I've read folks blaming all kinds of things. And it could be the kind of thing that only happens with particular combinations of issues rather than any single one issue.


Yeah, I'm still discovering unexpected feats and applications of this tiny little thing. I mean, I had no intention of driving my HE6's with it, but the little guy drives them no problem. I'm stunned.

Actually I got the white noise even with an intona in the chain. Upsampling externally to 705khz fixes it

 

[Andrew Rieger]

I recall one of the rare occasions when the problem happened with my original Mojo was with coaxial.

What was the Coxial source? Was it using a USB to SPDIF converter?

It sounds like optical is the way to go. In my hour of Googling, I have not found any examples of people having the issue with optical connections.

I will say that I’ve never had the issue using my MacBook Pro using Qobuz (everything restricted to 16/44). I’ve been using Thunderbolt 3 cables.

 

[Cam9102]

What was the Coxial source? Was it using a USB to SPDIF converter?

It sounds like optical is the way to go. In my hour of Googling, I have not found any examples of people having the issue with optical connections.

I will say that I’ve never had the issue using my MacBook Pro using Qobuz (everything restricted to 16/44). I’ve been using Thunderbolt 3 cables.

Someone on YouTube recommended a thunderbolt cable.

 

[BS5711]

What was the Coxial source? Was it using a USB to SPDIF converter?

It sounds like optical is the way to go. In my hour of Googling, I have not found any examples of people having the issue with optical connections.

I will say that I’ve never had the issue using my MacBook Pro using Qobuz (everything restricted to 16/44). I’ve been using Thunderbolt 3 cables.

FiiO M11 Plus DAP with a 6 inch Moon Audio cable.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

Someone on YouTube recommended a thunderbolt cable.

That's what I use now. No issues.

 

[Menkau-ra]

In your travels, did you find an alternative to the Mojo 2?

Questyle CMA18 P is coming out soon.

 

[evhvis]

I wonder if using a galvanic isolator like the Intona would fix the white noise blast problem. I think the Intona reclocks the USB signal. It’s crazy that there still isn’t an official word from Chord on this issue.

For now, I’m going to run my Mojo 2 from my Wiim Pro using optical. It’s sounds like optical is the only connection type that hasn’t had this issue.

I remember reading that the coax input on the Mojo 2 isn’t galvanically isolated either. Optical, by its very nature, is galvanically isolated. I also heard that the Mojo 2 sounds best with optical if you aren’t using the Poly.

Most likely an USB issue. I've had white noise with some other DACs and devices and common denominator has been bad connection/output from the source. Typically bad USB cable, bluetooth interference etc. Not had any white noise issues with my Mojo 2 outside of once with a bad adapter from my iphone, but the adapter was broken and didn't work properly with other stuff either.

 

[Derivative]

I wonder if using a galvanic isolator like the Intona would fix the white noise blast problem. I think the Intona reclocks the USB signal. It’s crazy that there still isn’t an official word from Chord on this issue.

For now, I’m going to run my Mojo 2 from my Wiim Pro using optical. It’s sounds like optical is the only connection type that hasn’t had this issue.

I remember reading that the coax input on the Mojo 2 isn’t galvanically isolated either. Optical, by its very nature, is galvanically isolated. I also heard that the Mojo 2 sounds best with optical if you aren’t using the Poly.

I use a Wyred 4 Sound Recovery USB reclocker when using the Mojo2 in by desktop chain (windows laptop as source). No white noise at any point in this set up and I've been running it for close to a year. Got the Recovery used so all in all a relatively affordable upgrade.

 

[Bill Kilgore]

Hi everyone

I’ll chime in on the white noise issue. When I first purchased my Mojo2 I had similar, sporadic white noise. I spoke with the retailer and it was diagnosed as being the usb-c cable. The retailer provided me with a different brand and that solved the issue completely. No more white noise. Ever.

Worth noting that I usually listen on the go with my phone stacked right against the Mojo2; so plenty of opportunity to pull in noise. However, from where I’m standing it would seem the unit is just very sensitive to which ever usb-c cable it is paired with.


Regards
BK

 

[Cam9102]

Hi everyone

I’ll chime in on the white noise issue. When I first purchased my Mojo2 I had similar, sporadic white noise. I spoke with the retailer and it was diagnosed as being the usb-c cable. The retailer provided me with a different brand and that solved the issue completely. No more white noise. Ever.

Worth noting that I usually listen on the go with my phone stacked right against the Mojo2; so plenty of opportunity to pull in noise. However, from where I’m standing it would seem the unit is just very sensitive to which ever usb-c cable it is paired with.


Regards
BK

Interesting. Can I ask what cable you are using?

 

[Bill Kilgore]

Interesting. Can I ask what cable you are using?

Sure, it’s the FIIO LT-TC3 for usb-c to usb-c or the FIIO LT-LT3 OTG for usb-c to lighting.

 

[Hypops]

I’ll chime in on the white noise issue. When I first purchased my Mojo2 I had similar, sporadic white noise. I spoke with the retailer and it was diagnosed as being the usb-c cable. The retailer provided me with a different brand and that solved the issue completely. No more white noise. Ever.

Could be. I just replaced the OTG cable to my phone, and now it doesn't have the same issue that the other cable did. Hmm.

Maybe it also works in the other direction? The Mojo 2 responded surprisingly well to a usb cable upgrade in my desktop setup too.

 

[daveya]

Maybe many USB cables are just poorly made