Hugo M Scaler by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[Meridian7]

Saw a YT about western hifi users being a declining market, a brand realising that 40% of its clients would die in the next decade.

At first glance supply-demand balance would make it cheaper but when the demand shrinks too much the supply could collapse into niche deeply.
If prices rise recently due that effect (is it?) it wouldn't be nice to blame manufacturers for the effect.

I hope we don't end up in only-shelf chifi products or exuberant overly unpayable dubai situations.

Maybe I see it naively idk, just spinning some thoughts.

 

[jjazzy]

Saw a YT about western hifi users being a declining market, a brand realising that 40% of its clients would die in the next decade.

At first glance supply-demand balance would make it cheaper but when the demand shrinks too much the supply could collapse into niche deeply.
If prices rise recently due that effect (is it?) it wouldn't be nice to blame manufacturers for the effect.

I hope we don't end up in only-shelf chifi products or exuberant overly unpayable dubai situations.

Maybe I see it naively idk, just spinning some thoughts.

Maybe it is the other way around, they made it niche by making it more and more expensive… month after month, year after year.

I still remember I bought my first martin logans in 2007 for 6800 euro that was already quite expensive back than, now martin logans offers something similar for almost 15-22k range. And yes my salary has gone up, but not tripled over the years. Like gryphon diablo 300, they come with a new model the 333, they just almost doubled the price… ‘really’?

So maybe the whole hifi world caused the declining market them selves… not everyone was willing to spend so much money, but they kept raising and raising…

 

[Meridian7]

Maybe it is the other way around, they made it niche by making it more and more expensive… month after month, year after year.

I still remember I bought my first martin logans in 2007 for 6800 euro that was already quite expensive back than, now martin logans offers something similar for almost 15-22k range. And yes my salary has gone up, but not tripled over the years. Like gryphon diablo 300, they come with a new model the 333, they just almost doubled the price… ‘really’?

So maybe the whole hifi world caused the declining market them selves… not everyone was willing to spend so much money, but they kept raising and raising…

I read you there.
It's likely a mixed bag of contributing factors.

 

[Digital Enigma]

True, I was having fun throwing out a high number. My guess is that it'll be between 18-20k USD.

25k

 

[GuiltyRocker]

25k

Then I was right the first time

 

[AndrewOld]

25k

Good luck with that. Not going to fly in my opinion.

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

so I have DAVE
do I need add Hugo M Scaler?
I strive for maximum transparency
I love max detailed high frequencies

I heard that with maximum upsampling a little transparency is lost - is this true?

I heard that it adds "weight to the sound, more fullness", but at the same time transparency suffers - what do you all think about this?

 

[jcn3]

so I have DAVE
do I need add Hugo M Scaler?
I strive for maximum transparency
I love max detailed high frequencies

I heard that with maximum upsampling a little transparency is lost - is this true?

I heard that it adds "weight to the sound, more fullness", but at the same time transparency suffers - what do you all think about this?

i don't know where you got the loss of transparency comment, but that's not true. the mscaler creates a black soundstage with precise imaging. the most striking thing to me is the increased texture in every instrument or voice.

 

[dguitarnut]

I added the M-scaler to the Dave after many years of just the Dave. It adds a slight more 3D to the sound. I’m glad I got it but I could have lived without that extra 5%…..just saying……it’s worth it if you get it at a used price but I would not at a new price.

 

[number1sixerfan]

Good to confirm that I should stop paying attention to Quartet price speculation, as it seems to just change week to week lol. I just saw something that hinted at around $10k in the main thread... any higher than that and it just makes no sense whatsoever imo, but best of luck to Chord. I'll just wait and see.. I personally have a gut feeling it won't be anywhere near $20k + and I'm optimistically holding out for that.

@dguitarnut I added the M-scaler to the Dave after many years of just the Dave. It adds a slight more 3D to the sound. I’m glad I got it but I could have lived without that extra 5%…..just saying……it’s worth it if you get it at a used price but I would not at a new price.

Same experience here. A nice last 5% but can easily live without it. A bit overpriced at retail, but a nice pick up at used cost. Everything it does is welcomed, just not a transformation of any kind.

 

[Daorom]

so I have DAVE
do I need add Hugo M Scaler?
I strive for maximum transparency
I love max detailed high frequencies

I heard that with maximum upsampling a little transparency is lost - is this true?

I heard that it adds "weight to the sound, more fullness", but at the same time transparency suffers - what do you all think about this?

Judging by the reviews and explanations from RW systems with noise level modulation distortion create pseudo transparency and added harshness that may be perceived as an improvement, but it is an addition, a distortion to the original sound, that gives exactly HMS + DAC Chord.

 

[jjazzy]

Judging by the reviews and explanations from RW systems with noise level modulation distortion create pseudo transparency and added harshness that may be perceived as an improvement, but it is an addition, a distortion to the original sound, that gives exactly HMS + DAC Chord.

Mscaler makes everything less harsh instead of the other way around, I hear more micro details (not distortion) of instruments, can’t talk for every genre but for jazz and classical with real instruments (not fake electronic instruments).

By this reaction I already know, you never heared the mscaler or understand what it does. I know what you mean with the distortion partt, but mscaler is something else

 

[GuiltyRocker]

Mscaler makes everything less harsh instead of the other way around, I hear more micro details (not distortion) of instruments, can’t talk for every genre but for jazz and classical with real instruments (not fake electronic instruments).

By this reaction I already know, you never heared the mscaler or understand what it does. I know what you mean with the distortion partt, but mscaler is something else

I also can see this individual has never heard the M Scaler, or may have heard it in a crappy system. The majority of people that criticize the device have never used it in their system, and going to a mediocre dealer with poorly set up equipment doesn't cut it. The majority of dealers are truly mediocre and do not know anything about setting up equipment, I recently went to an audio event where a "Chord rep" set up a system, he had the M Scaler with the video delay mode on in a two channel system demoing two channel sound, no TV or video, in essence he was crippling the WTA filter, I had to stop the demo and school him on what that mode was doing to the M Scaler. After turning it off and restarting the song the crowd was shocked at the difference, the guy was also making other mistakes with the DAVE I had to correct. This is why you need to take the device home and intimately listen in your system. Most people just read crap online and form an opinion without hearing anything, hilarious.

 

[jjazzy]

I am also can see this individual has never heard the M Scaler, or may have heard it in a crappy system. The majority of people that criticize the device have never used it in their system, and going to a mediocre dealer with poorly set up equipment doesn't cut it. The majority of dealers are truly mediocre and do not know anything about setting up equipment, I recently went to an audio event where a "Chord rep" set up a system, he had the M Scaler with the video delay mode on in a two channel system demoing two channel sound, no TV or video, in essence he was crippling the WTA filter, I had to stop the demo and school him on what that mode was doing to the M Scaler. After turning it off and restarting the song the crowd was shocked at the difference, the guy was also making other mistakes with the DAVE I had to correct. This is why you need to take the device home and intimately listen in your system. Most people just read crap online and form an opinion without hearing anything, hilarious.

I even tried it with a selfmade cable on the mojo2, bizar… would buy a portable mscaler or close to it in a instand if it in a normal price range for mojo2/poly

 

[bhobba]

Hi All

I am purchasing a DEQX which does everything at 96K and the DAC output is 96K. I have some 96K material and I know it will have no issues with the DEQX then into the M Scaler. But also I have a lot of 48k and 44.1k material. What effect will that have on the M Scalers performance if any? I suspect its drop dead noise floor will not be as good as Rob's upsampling filters, so degrade the performance. The question is, will it be audible?

Thanks
Bill