Hugo M Scaler by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[Reactcore]

The SPDIF standard protocol applies to both optical and coaxial transmission, with max 192khz.
Anything higher is non-compliant with the standard.

Good luck trying to find a SPDIF chip that operates at a higher sampling rate.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/chord-electronics-qutest-dac-official-thread.869417/post-15830091

The link u post is about optical limits which are caused by the wavelength and easy misalignments of the fiber.
I'm not shure if the Spdif data protocol itself is also limited to this.. there numerous dacs and converters sporting 384khz Spdif over coax..(not optical ofc)

 

[griff500]

Can anyone confirm from autopsy that powering M Scaler with battery solves the "RFI problem" and ferrite cables are no longer necessary ?

I would imagine that cleaner power can only help but I also believe that the construction will help to prevent the cables picking up interference.

 

[jarnopp]

I see you run from a R-pie.. i use a Wyse fanless thinclient PC with minimalistic Win7.

I sold my mojo.. i would've tried this too.
If you use the coax in u can go up to 384khz from 48khz source🖒

My CMA400i does 384 only via usb.. but the (also coax) Spdif in is limited to 192. probably cause of the combination with optical. I might modify seeing if i can bypass the USB driver chip.. just for fun sake lol.

Serious listening will always be with Qutest offcourse

Yes, it’s the RPi with the HiFiBerry Digi+ hat. I was running DietPi but switched to the HiFiBerry OS recently. FWIW, I cannot tell the difference between end points with optical out (Elac Discovery connect, RPi, etc.).

it’s early days (2) with the mScaler, but playing with the OPSR button, the most noticeable change for me is the first green scaling. Might change with more brain burn in.

 

[dac64]

Can anyone confirm from autopsy that powering M Scaler with battery solves the "RFI problem" and ferrite cables are no longer necessary ?

Does the M Scaler needs a surgical procedure to sound it best?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsy

 

[jlbrach]

Ok.. did some playing around with Ms and my AK120.. it doesn't like the scaled signal via optical. I get only crackling noise on any upsampled rate and any source.

Passthrough (red) works all ok.. even if the source is 192/24.. so its not the cable. (0,5m Audioquest Forest)

Then i tried my Questyle dac via coax and optical.. it takes max 192/24 on its Spdif inputs.. this works
Though when i start a music in 192 upsampled.. it gives the 1st second the same crackling.. then plays normal further.

Qutest has no issues.
Any suggestions on this @Rob Watts ?

Anyone else tried non chord dac's with Ms?

in order to play 192 with my h2 and my 120 i had to get a different optical cable...I was having all sorts of crackling noises until I got a better cable

 

[bikutoru]

Does the M Scaler needs a surgical procedure to sound it best?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsy

First you need to have a problem. I tried to get this RF, first on Mojo, 2Qute, Qutest, iPhone 5/6/7/8, Pixel, TT2 & HMS.
I'm not saying it is not a problem for some, but it is NOT a problem for me.

 

[Reactcore]

in order to play 192 with my h2 and my 120 i had to get a different optical cable...I was having all sorts of crackling noises until I got a better cable

This is the other way round.. AK feeding dac.. this works flawlessly.

 

[iamoneagain]

If anyone is interested I just put my mscaler up for sale. I’m also selling my Dave as well. Bought end game system with inheritance money and now realized it was beyond my means. Both will be sorely missed.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fs-chord-hugo-mscaler.951023/

 

[jlbrach]

This is the other way round.. AK feeding dac.. this works flawlessly.

my 120 connects to my hugo 2 with an optical cable...with the first cable I could only play 24/96 but not 192...with the better cable I can play 192

 

[Reactcore]

If anyone is interested I just put my mscaler up for sale. I’m also selling my Dave as well. Bought end game system with inheritance money and now realized it was beyond my means. Both will be sorely missed.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fs-chord-hugo-mscaler.951023/

.

 

[iamoneagain]

How u like your €50K OrpheusII?

I actually got a Focal Arche to go with my Utopia’s. It’s a fun setup and obviously doesn’t compare for critical listening or lifelike sound but works for my needs. I am glad I got own the Dave/mscaler for the time I had it. Just really out of my budget but got as a form of grieving. Both my parents died within 2 months of each other at beginning of the year.

 

[The Jester]

I actually got a Focal Arche to go with my Utopia’s. It’s a fun setup and obviously doesn’t compare for critical listening or lifelike sound but works for my needs. I am glad I got own the Dave/mscaler for the time I had it. Just really out of my budget but got as a form of grieving. Both my parents died within 2 months of each other at beginning of the year.

So sorry to hear that,
always a tough time losing a parent, especially both in the same year.

 

[varadero xl1000v]

I wish everyone in this group lots of luck for 2021!
Happy New year to all of you!

 

[THGM]

If anyone is interested I just put my mscaler up for sale. I’m also selling my Dave as well. Bought end game system with inheritance money and now realized it was beyond my means. Both will be sorely missed.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fs-chord-hugo-mscaler.951023/

I actually got a Focal Arche to go with my Utopia’s. It’s a fun setup and obviously doesn’t compare for critical listening or lifelike sound but works for my needs. I am glad I got own the Dave/mscaler for the time I had it. Just really out of my budget but got as a form of grieving. Both my parents died within 2 months of each other at beginning of the year.

I too am sorry for your loss. Grief affects people in so many ways and perhaps you wanted to have something tangible, something of value, with which to remember your parents. As such, it seems such a shame that you now are thinking of parting with the Dave and MScaler because with every piece of music played through them you will be mindful of your parents. I wonder if there is another option for you?

 

[iamoneagain]

I too am sorry for your loss. Grief affects people in so many ways and perhaps you wanted to have something tangible, something of value, with which to remember your parents. As such, it seems such a shame that you now are thinking of parting with the Dave and MScaler because with every piece of music played through them you will be mindful of your parents. I wonder if there is another option for you?

It’s not quite like that. They were both older and my dad’s death wasn’t unexpected but still sad. My mom was still full of life at his funeral, so to see her deteriorate within 2 month was kind of shock. She had stage 4 dementia.

But basically got insurance money and additional money from selling of their house. So had more money than I ever had and was still getting over there death and thought why not get the Dave and the mscaler, I have the money but is it financially the right thing to do. At the time I didn’t care. Now as the year comes to a close, I’ve come to my senses. If my parents were still alive, they would have killed me for spending that kind of money on audio equipment. So actually listening to it came with some guilt for not being smart with my finances.