Hugo M Scaler by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[AndrewOld]

A 200 pound old lenovo style/type laptop makes an excellent roon bridge which satisfies bit perfect roon output into dacs/hms. This can be placed anywhere. I'm surprised no one mentions it. Just close the lid on it once up and running and you have an ultra quiet endpoint. Only mac os and windows can be installed so don't think of it as a remote. I feel very lucky that my late 2013 (512gb ssd) imac roon core has optical out directly into my hms.

I use a low powered fanless Acer in much the same way, but I don’t see how you can claim such a thing “can be placed anywhere”. It has to be within the length of a USB lead surely?

 

[musickid]

When you say usb lead you must mean the laptop bridge to the dac? The laptop bridge will be on the same internet network as the core of course. When i tried it i used wifi for the roon bridge and wired for the core.

 

[jarnopp]

I thought chromecast was limited, compared to RAAT protocol, it would not let me listen to the eventual benefits of 24/192 compared to 24/96 Hi-Res files albeit the HMS makes even redbook wonderful there might be a slight difference. And the little chromecast thing might get damaged or u/s some day, so I am looking for something sturdier and more professional comparable to the rest of the setup.

This will work, and is optimized for music (optical out, native RAAT), plus some other features if you need them. It’s the least expensive Roon ready endpoint I’ve found, and sounds great (with Mojo while waiting for TT2). But no USB so limited to optical resolutions:

https://www.elac.com/product/discovery-connect-ds-c101w-g/

 

[AndrewOld]

When you say usb lead you must mean the laptop bridge to the dac? The laptop bridge will be on the same internet network as the core of course. When i tried it i used wifi for the roon bridge and wired for the core.

Yep, you have to connect the bridge to the DAC, so you can’t put the bridge anywhere.

 

[musickid]

Unless you put the dac anywhere.....

The mscaler just injected new air into this on roon. Very very good.

 

[Mediahound]

Should I put my M Scaler on a battery backup in case the power goes out or will a power cut off be okay for it if it's playing?

 

[Jan Tage Holmber]

This will work, and is optimized for music (optical out, native RAAT), plus some other features if you need them. It’s the least expensive Roon ready endpoint I’ve found, and sounds great (with Mojo while waiting for TT2). But no USB so limited to optical resolutions:

https://www.elac.com/product/discovery-connect-ds-c101w-g/

Thanks for the tip! Looks very nice. Will buy it with the Roon Nucleus if the ”little box” we have been talking about does not materialize in time. Some coax interconnects from the drawer might find something to do. Nice touch with the ”native” outputs to HMS avoiding unneccesary upscaling ahead of the champion.

 

[AndrewOld]

There is also the Project Stream Box S2 Ultra.

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/stream-box-s2-ultra/

Around €660. They call it an “Audio optimized network bridge and USB detox device.” The claimed clean USB out is interesting, if true.

 

[supervisor]

expecting an Innuos Zenith Mk3 delivery very soon. if Chord introduces a “little black box,” I will start crying.

 

[koven]

expecting an Innuos Zenith Mk3 delivery very soon. if Chord introduces a “little black box,” I will start crying.

Zenith was eye opening for me moving from a laptop. Hope you enjoy it as much as I am!

 

[AndrewOld]

expecting an Innuos Zenith Mk3 delivery very soon. if Chord introduces a “little black box,” I will start crying.

I’m sure it’s a fine device, and good value, but for me the CD ripping, the DAC, and the storage would be redundant.

 

[koven]

I’m sure it’s a fine device, and good value, but for me the CD ripping, the DAC, and the storage would be redundant.

Innuos does not do DAC. It functions as USB out to a DAC or a network server.

 

[Triode User]

I’m sure it’s a fine device, and good value, but for me the CD ripping, the DAC, and the storage would be redundant.

Andrew, it doesn't have a DAC.

For many (and me) the CD ripping and internal storage in the Zenith is an easy one box solution although as you say will not be needed by all. The squeezebox implementation within Roon with the Innuos servers allowing playing from RAM is also a real attraction for me.

 

[supervisor]

Andrew, it doesn't have a DAC.

For many (and me) the CD ripping and internal storage in the Zen and Zenith is an easy one box solution although as you say will not be needed by all. The squeezebox implementation within Roon with the Innuos servers allowing playing from RAM is also a real attraction for me.

he’s thinking of the Zen Mini. the Zen Mini has a DAC with RCA out.

 

[miketlse]

I ordered and got the ethernet adapter for it, stupidly thinking that 96khz tracks would stop stuttering, sadly not, it looks like upto 88khz will have to suffice u til google takes their foot out their ass.

This 96khz bug is rampant and is well known, not sure if google will breakout the fix soon.

Mike, your Hugo 2 box has the exact cable that you need, toslink cable with a normal connection at one end and at the other something resembling a normal 3.5mm jack, which should be used for plugging into CCA. It’s a very short cable, but it’s in H2’s box.

Thanks for the head up, about the cable.

I tested the device with my H2 playing a track from the CD layer of this disc .
At first the playback didn't feel quite right, but then settled down and sounded fine.
I will try some different CDs tonight - I hope that there is not a google bug to restrict my usage.