Hugo TT 2 by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[Heaphy]

I would agree; once I added an m-scaler I would find it very difficult to go back to the TT2 alone, though up to then I had always loved my TT2. Also, I think everyone needs to hear it for themselves, on their rig. It’s not necessarily just a 5% difference to every person, on every chain, with every type of music. For my 2-channel setup, I would characterize the difference, at least to my ears, as more like 15%, but that’s my ears and my setup in my room. For others it may b greater or less. I would definitely try it out for yourself, from a dealer who will let you return it if you feel the difference isn’t great enough on your gear, with your preferred types of music. Whether the difference is worth $3k to you is something only you can decide, but to do that, I think you need to hear it. The nice thing is that the pass-through mode and different steps in scaling make it very easy to hear and evaluate.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

I would agree; once I added an m-scaler I would find it very difficult to go back to the TT2 alone, though up to then I had always loved my TT2. Also, I think everyone needs to hear it for themselves, on their rig. It’s not necessarily just a 5% difference to every person, on every chain, with every type of music. For my 2-channel setup, I would characterize the difference, at least to my ears, as more like 15%, but that’s my ears and my setup in my room. For others it may b greater or less. I would definitely try it out for yourself, from a dealer who will let you return it if you feel the difference isn’t great enough on your gear, with your preferred types of music. Whether the difference is worth $3k to you is something only you can decide, but to do that, I think you need to hear it. The nice thing is that the pass-through mode and different steps in scaling make it very easy to hear and evaluate.

The M Scaler is transformational in a resolving system, I would say it's over 100% difference for me, can't listen to music without it. When I listen to other DACs they sound boring and non-live like, some sound luscious and overly warm, like they are targeting a sound. The TT-2 and M scaler is my ticket, especially now with the HifiRose RS130 on Fiber SFP and Toslink out. This is as close to live music I've heard anywhere.

 

[jjazzy]

The M Scaler is transformational in a resolving system, I would say it's over 100% difference for me, can't listen to music without it. When I listen to other DACs they sound boring and non-live like, some sound luscious and overly warm, like they are targeting a sound. The TT-2 and M scaler is my ticket, especially now with the HifiRose RS130 on Fiber SFP and Toslink out. This is as close to live music I've heard anywhere.

On my hi-fi setup, removing the M Scaler feels like losing control; in the lows, mids and treble. The sense of depth changes significantly. So have to agree, it is more than just a few percentage.

But not everyone has such a revealing system, even my former set which was already very expensive, made me hear it less than current one. The whole chain needs to be in order.

But the moment you hear the difference, you can’t and don’t want to go back, even on the mojo2 it gives a extreme boost (I tried with my own build cable)

 

[mooregs]

Sorry if this has already been covered but I could not find an answer…

The TT2 can deliver 18W in high gain mode from the balanced outputs - is there any detail on the current that it is able to deliver?

My current power amp (Ion Systems MA40) states:
- Power into 8/4/2 ohms stereo: 50/90/150 watts
- Maximum current delivery: ± 32 amps

I am not expecting that it is comparable, just wondering what it is capable of?

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Sorry if this has already been covered but I could not find an answer…

The TT2 can deliver 18W in high gain mode from the balanced outputs - is there any detail on the current that it is able to deliver?

My current power amp (Ion Systems MA40) states:
- Power into 8/4/2 ohms stereo: 50/90/150 watts
- Maximum current delivery: ± 32 amps

I am not expecting that it is comparable, just wondering what it is capable of?

Its 18W into 8ohm load means 1,5 amps.

Ps. Im not sure if 18 wats was stated into 8ohm load or 4, if 4 then its slightly above 2amps

 

[mooregs]

Its 18W into 8ohm load means 1,5 amps.

Ps. Im not sure if 18 wats was stated into 8ohm load or 4

Thank you for that

 

[Heaphy]

And I should have added that think everyone needs to hear it for themselves, on their rig. It’s not necessarily just a 5% difference to every person, on every chain, with every type of music. For my 2-channel setup, I would characterize the difference, at least to my ears, as more like 15%, but that’s my ears and my setup in my room. For others it may b greater or less. I would definitely try it out for yourself, from a dealer who will let you return it if you find the difference isn’t great enough on your equipment, with your preferred types of music. Whether the difference is worth $3k to you is something only you can decide, but to do that, I think you need to hear it. The nice thing is that the pass-through mode and different steps in scaling make it very easy to hear and evaluate.

On my hi-fi setup, removing the M Scaler feels like losing control; in the lows, mids and treble. The sense of depth changes significantly. So have to agree, it is more than just a few percentage.

But not everyone has such a revealing system, even my former set which was already very expensive, made me hear it less than current one. The whole chain needs to be in order.

But the moment you hear the difference, you can’t and don’t want to go back, even on the mojo2 it gives a extreme boost (I tried with my own build cable)

Having not removed the M-scaler from my chain in quite some time, I went back to play around with the upscaling modes a bit and wow,, was that amazing. For some reason to me, the difference is most dramatically noticed when you go directly down to pass-through, rather than as you move up the steps. Everything just collapses on itself and sounds flat and compressed. I don’t have a percentage to put on the change, but it is quite dramatic. I would also echo the point about your whole chain needing to be in order. I already had a pretty revealing 2-channel system (DAC, amp and speakers) when I acquired the M-scaler, but when I finally upgraded the streamer, the improvement was significantly more noticeable. That’s what I’m hearing now- the better chain with and without the M-scaler, and I would definitely never remove it- unless of course someone wanted to give me one of the new Chord Quartet scalers.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

This track on M Scaler and TT-2 . Just wow.

 

[bpcans]

This track on M Scaler and TT-2 . Just wow.

@GuiltyRocker, that’s a good one for sure. What kind of server/streamer are you using in your system these days. I’m trying to get an in-home demo of an Antipodes K50, which I don’t have the cyber coin for right now though it’s nice to dream, so that I can see if I can get some of the powered boxes and cables out of my listening chain.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

@GuiltyRocker, that’s a good one for sure. What kind of server/streamer are you using in your system these days. I’m trying to get an in-home demo of an Antipodes K50, which I don’t have the cyber coin for right now though it’s nice to dream, so that I can see if I can get some of the powered boxes and cables out of my listening chain.

Hey you're looking right at it, it's the HiFi Rose RS130, to me the best streamer with my Chord stuff I've heard, all on Toslink and SFP Fiber into the Streamer is just insane how good it is.

 

[chelseafc]

On my hi-fi setup, removing the M Scaler feels like losing control; in the lows, mids and treble. The sense of depth changes significantly. So have to agree, it is more than just a few percentage.

But not everyone has such a revealing system, even my former set which was already very expensive, made me hear it less than current one. The whole chain needs to be in order.

But the moment you hear the difference, you can’t and don’t want to go back, even on the mojo2 it gives a extreme boost (I tried with my own build cable)

I second you on the M-scaled Mojo2!
This is what I use in my main stereo system and prefer it to TT2 or even DAVE.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

DSD over Toslink is just a game changer, the sound is fabulous. Rob certainly was right about Toslink

 

[zolom]

DSD over TOSLINK up to DSD64? Are you using a specific interconnect fiber?

 

[jjazzy]

I second you on the M-scaled Mojo2!
This is what I use in my main stereo system and prefer it to TT2 or even DAVE.

Hmm never tried the mojo2 and tt2 on my stereo system, propably smoother. Have to try

Although with a Accuphase class A everything is smooth.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

DSD over TOSLINK up to DSD64? Are you using a specific interconnect fiber?

SFP fiber into the Streamer, then Toslink out into the M Scaler, the DSD is sent via DOP over Toslink, it sounds incredible. Better than any other format I've heard.