Hugo TT 2 by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[musickid]

The mscaler completely transforms the sound of hugo2. I mean totally. I can't understand how some of us are not hearing it. Instruments go from sounding flat and lifeless to becoming full of definition and new emotion.

 

[Toonartist]

The mscaler completely transforms the sound of hugo2. I mean totally. I can't understand how some of us are not hearing it. Instruments go from sounding flat and lifeless to becoming full of definition and new emotion.

Once you've used an Mscaler or equivalent with a TT2 or H2, it would be a struggle going back to a bare DAC. As you say, it suddenly loses the 3d realness... a big drop in soundstage depth and height.

 

[bpcans]

As a user and unabashed fan of the Chord TT2 DAC, and the M Scaler in particular, I’d like to say that I’m in favor of the HMS/TT2 pairing. Especially when they are used in conjunction with the superb WAVE Storm BNC’s or other good quality interconnects. I started with the Qutest which I very much enjoyed. The Qutest literally pales in comparison to the TT2 for depth and breath of sound quality and musicality. Whence I added the M Scaler to the TT2 its positive impact was apparent to me almost immediately. And that was just using the stock Chord BNC cables. For me the M Scaler was a great investment. The HMS and TT2 go together like peas and carrots . For those trying to wait until Chord introduces new products that will render both the HMS and TT2 considerably less expensive, you are apt to be sorely disappointed because of the way the world economy is changing. Supply chains and production costs will definitely add to the prices of anything coming out of either the UK , China , or Japan for the foreseeable future.

 

[CaptainFantastic]

Hm, so we are saying that the TT2 and the Hugo 2 sound lifeless and 2D without the M Scaler? Not my experience. Are you perhaps running them off USB and hobbling them somehow in your particular systems? I find it hard to believe your experience with these €4k and €2k units is so poor. €4k worth of Chord Rob Watts mastery = lifeless? Are we sure about that?

 

[Spawn300Z]

The mscaler transforms the presentation of the tt2 from a flat 2D listening experience to a vivid 3D listening experience full of musical energy and an unmistakable and inexpressible sparkle IMHO. With 1 million taps it is 10 times more accurate than dave. Mscaled tt2 is far more vivid and engaging than dave solo IMHO. If it were me i would ditch the nimbus and use what would amount to around the same financial outlay (i.e. adding a dac to the nimbus) and buy an mscaler with tt2 and become the proud owner of an incredible headphone system and be done. The mscaler affects headphones just as positively as speakers IMHO.

I agree with this. I have the TT2/M-Scaler combo and paired it with the Riviera AIC-10. This allows me to also deal with hard to drive headphones. Paring this combo with a good amp or intergtate will make a great setup.

If you add a good tube amp and SS amp or Integrate you will be fully covered.

 

[Womaz]

Some great posts so thanks for all of the input.
Although I have time to change my mind as the dealer has been great I am pretty sure the Niimbus will be kept by me.
I have the Qutest and I need to decide whether to really push the finances and get a TT2 instead of the Qutest, or get an MScaler with the Qutest. Right now the TT2 and MScaler is just not an option.

There will be different views on the best way to go but I have got some good pointers and information from the above

 

[Toonartist]

Hm, so we are saying that the TT2 and the Hugo 2 sound lifeless and 2D without the M Scaler? Not my experience. Are you perhaps running them off USB and hobbling them somehow in your particular systems? I find it hard to believe your experience with these €4k and €2k units is so poor. €4k worth of Chord Rob Watts mastery = lifeless? Are we sure about that?

The TT2 & H2 on their own are great... it's just once you've lived with an MScaler or well setup HQPlayer for a while, they just feel like they're missing something. Neither one require the MScaler to sound good... it's just that they do sound better with it. I remember going from the Qutest to the TT2 (no MScaler) and it sounded brilliant, such a big upgrade.

 

[Womaz]

The TT2 & H2 on their own are great... it's just once you've lived with an MScaler or well setup HQPlayer for a while, they just feel like they're missing something. Neither one require the MScaler to sound good... it's just that they do sound better with it. I remember going from the Qutest to the TT2 (no MScaler) and it sounded brilliant, such a big upgrade.

I may just keep the Qutest for now. However if you were in my position and you had a choice of adding an MScaler to the Qutest, or replacing the Qutest with the TT2 which way would you go?

 

[bpcans]

@Womaz, no wonder you’re going to keep the Niimbus. Because that is a pretty stiff outlay, at least for me, for just one piece of audio kit. Now I definitely have to audition one. Carry on sir.

 

[Toonartist]

I may just keep the Qutest for now. However if you were in my position and you had a choice of adding an MScaler to the Qutest, or replacing the Qutest with the TT2 which way would you go?

If it were me, I would go straight for the TT2. Enjoy it for what it is, a great DAC, knowing it has the option to be improved even further later on. By an MScaler or, experiment with HQPlayer. If you do try HQplayer, try to avoid connecting it directly via USB though, I didn't think it sounded very good that way at all.

 

[Womaz]

@Womaz, no wonder you’re going to keep the Niimbus. Because that is a pretty stiff outlay, at least for me, for just one piece of audio kit. Now I definitely have to audition one. Carry on sir.

I guess its a little bit more reasonable price wise for me in the UK , but yes I like what I hear. Its very early days as I have only had it 3 days and I am not good at making quick comparisons , but in a few days I will put my old amp back in the chain and see what I hear then. However i feel the Niimbus seems a big step up at this stage.
For me this is a big spend too hence why I have to make a choice with the DAC .

 

[bpcans]

I may just keep the Qutest for now. However if you were in my position and you had a choice of adding an MScaler to the Qutest, or replacing the Qutest with the TT2 which way would you go?

@Womaz, you can add an M Scaler to the Qutest. You can. And many have. But IMHO it’s a waste of money because even with adding an HMS the two will never sound as good as the TT2 by itself. Believe me, I’ve tried.

 

[Spawn300Z]

Some great posts so thanks for all of the input.
Although I have time to change my mind as the dealer has been great I am pretty sure the Niimbus will be kept by me.
I have the Qutest and I need to decide whether to really push the finances and get a TT2 instead of the Qutest, or get an MScaler with the Qutest. Right now the TT2 and MScaler is just not an option.

There will be different views on the best way to go but I have got some good pointers and information from the above

Womaz is correct.

I have a 2Qute and the TT2 was a major upgrade. I would say get the TT2 and use for a while then if you want get the M-Scaler at later time. Also I don’t believe you really need to spend that much for BNCs IMHO. I use the Moon Audio Silver Dragon BNC with outstanding results, Hard to think it would be any better. I decided to spend the extra in a good power conditioner.

 

[musickid]

I feel the tt2 would be a superior headamp to the nimbus. It doesn't make sense adding a chord dac to the nimbus when for the same price you can have the mscaler and tt2. TT2 can drive any headphone with more linearity and transparency than anything else.

 

[Spawn300Z]

I feel the tt2 would be a superior headamp to the nimbus. It doesn't make sense adding a dac to the nimbus when for the same price you can have the mscaler and tt2. TT2 can drive any headphone with more linearity and transparency than anything else.

This is also very true. The only headphone I need my Riviera for is my Susvara. But you can get a balanced connector adapter made to runs harder to drive headphones of the TT2 XLR. But I really wanted to add a tube to the system.