Hugo M Scaler by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[Scrum92]

Are the cables connecting M Scaler to TT2 a particular type of digital coaxial cable?

Yes.

Are there any readily available, good options over the stock, or do most people use the stock? I'm not into spending thousands on cables!

 

[Triode User]

Are the cables connecting M Scaler to TT2 a particular type of digital coaxial cable?

Any 75 ohm bnc to bnc cable will ‘do’ in the sense that it will (should) provide a reliable connection. Try experimenting though and you will probably find that you prefer the sound of some cables compared to others.

 

[OrenT]

Are the cables connecting M Scaler to TT2 a particular type of digital coaxial cable?

Yes.

Are there any readily available, good options over the stock, or do most people use the stock? I'm not into spending thousands on cables!

I'm parting from a pair of Moon Audio Silver Dragon BNCs if you'd like to try them.

 

[bpcans]

@OrenT, I’ve also got a pair of the FormFit Moon Audio Silver Dragon BNC’s that I used with my M Scaler and TT2 before I went to the dark side of interconnects with ferrites on them. They are definitely better than the stock cables that Chord supplies.

 

[Scrum92]

I have the M Scaler now on demo. Immediate impressions are that I am struggling to notice a difference, let alone an improvement. Let's see...

For stacking the TT2 and M Scaler, what length cables are optimal?

 

[Jawed]

Don't stack, because that spoils the sound quality.

 

[Scrum92]

Don't stack, because that spoils the sound quality.

Could you elaborate please?

 

[bpcans]

I have the M Scaler now on demo. Immediate impressions are that I am struggling to notice a difference, let alone an improvement. Let's see...

For stacking the TT2 and M Scaler, what length cables are optimal?

@Scrum92, which BNC cables are you using, and what is your music source, laptop, DAP, dedicated streamer, or something else? When I got my M Scaler all I had were the stock Chord BNC’s, and my MacBook Pro was my music source that I fed the HMS using an AudioQuest Carbon USB cable. I immediately noticed a sound quality improvement that I fell in love with. Initially I had to stack the TT2 and HMS because of a lack of space. But this practice does not yield the best sound because the HMS generates a lot of RFI (radio frequency interference) that will compromise the sound of the music.

 

[Scrum92]

@Scrum92, which BNC cables are you using, and what is your music source, laptop, DAP, dedicated streamer, or something else? When I got my M Scaler all I had were the stock Chord BNC’s, and my MacBook Pro was my music source that I fed the HMS using an AudioQuest Carbon USB cable. I immediately noticed a sound quality improvement that I fell in love with. Initially I had to stack the TT2 and HMS because of a lack of space. But this practice does not yield the best sound because the HMS generates a lot of RFI (radio frequency interference) that will compromise the sound of the music.

I was using the optical out of my computer with an KabelDirekt cable. Quite popular amongst Chord owners.

I have swapped to the USB out, using the TT2's supplied cable to see if my motherboard's optical controller was causing some quirkiness by way of re-sampling before delivering the signal to the M Scaler. I'm now using the supplied USB cable and I can't tell an obvious difference, but for the sake of my own OCD, I'll stick to USB and grab a slightly-more-premium USB cable. I have owned the Carbon USB more than once and never found it to be any better than a Supra or Chord's entry-level USB (not Chord Electronics) - sorry!

I am using the supplied BNC cables, and whilst I am not dismissive of the idea that an upgrade would possibly make a difference, I find it hard to reconcile some of the hyperbole I read online on that topic. Nevertheless, I think that I will likely buy some better BNC cables. Perhaps the Chord Clearway. That said, surely I shouldn't need cables for the M Scaler to bring about improvements...

Finally, is the idea that the HMS being stacked compromises sound quality substantiated at all? I am not completely dismissing it, but it strikes me that the devices were literally designed to work this way and so that - to me - falls into a grey area with power supply discussions. If it is evidenced in some way, or recommended by Chord themselves, then I'll take that seriously.

 

[naynay]

Are these at the right frequency? I thought we wanted ones at 2Ghz.

I no longer use those.
I have another type that are dimensionally the same size as on the Wave Storm and at 2Ghz may even be the same my ears will tell.
I will know how they perform when I receive them.

 

[bpcans]

@Scrum92, I found that when using my laptop as my source the SQ was quite dependent on which music software that I was running. As an example Audirvana sounded better than JRiver, JRiver sounded better than Apple Music, and ROON + Tidal and Qobuz sounds better than all of them. I noticed a big improvement when I switched to the AQ Diamond USB cable.
But let’s look at where you are right now. The stock BNC’s are supplied just so that you can make sure that everything works, and really that’s all. Anything, and I mean absolutely anything, is better than the stock cables. RUN as fast as you can to grab something better from anywhere that’s still open.
Yes the HMS and TT2 look good stacked on top of each other. But this should be avoided if at all possible because both units generate heat when in use, and too much heat can lead to sonic distortion.

 

[The Jester]

Chord are no different to other manufacturers, indeed better than some as they supply with the MScaler basic Dual BNC, optical and USB cables and a PSU that enables us to “get it working” straight out of the box, and with their target market why would they supply one brand of “quality cable” with the added cost when some customers would strongly prefer a different brand ?
With the PSU though I think there’s a place in the market for a “high end” switch mode unit as they have the expertise to make something as good or better than the best linear PSU’s ?

 

[Sampajanna]

Due to EMF & RF Mscaler should ideally be as far away from other components as possible.

 

[Scrum92]

I have ordered a Chord (cable company) C-USB and two C-Digital coaxial cables, along with four Atlas (gold) RCA-BNA adapters to replace the stock cables. Let's see how far this takes me... perhaps a more expensive cable "upgrade" is on the cards in the future.

 

[bpcans]

@Scrum92, are there good hi-fi audio gear stores a plenty in the UK for you to demo different things?