DAC/AMP Combo to Drive Abyss Diana Phi (£1500 second hand budget)

[moleman183]

Hey,

I've recently upgraded from my LCD X's driven by a Woo Audio WA8 - however I think I need much more juice to get the most out of the Abyss.

I'm currently looking at either the RME ADI 2 DAC, or the Chord Hugo TT.

My budget is around £1500 (The Chord hugo TT seems to come in at around £1400 second hand)

For the same price I could get the RME ADI 2 DAC for cheaper and add in a separate headphone amplifier (if it would benefit - I've heard good things about the main headphone output amp)

Many thanks in advance.

 

[JP the Elder]

I am loving my Chord Hugo2 with Moon Audio modded Fostex 900 and Focal Utopias with Silver Dragon cables. You may want to at least audition one to hear for yourself.

I am a big Chord fan, and would definitely try out the original TT before deciding. One other alternative to consider is a Chord Mojo/Poly combo which should come in a little below the TT price, and is portable. I have enjoyed the Mojo on my PC for a few years. I know it does not have all of the se and balanced input/output options of the TT, but it sounds like you do not need them.

You may want to find a Chord dealer and hear the differences for yourself.

You can confirm this with the Chord Electronics website or a Chord authorized dealer, but it is my understanding that a Hugo2 may be a better fit for you than an original TT. I think the Hugo2 has more updates and maybe more “taps” than the original TT. Of course, the TT2, at around $5,700 usd, would be better still, and then you could add the Hugo M Scaler. . . . Or the DAVE with the M Scaler.