Hugo TT 2 by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

Jun 9, 2025 at 8:27 AM Post #19,816 of 19,821
DSD over Toslink is just a game changer, the sound is fabulous. Rob certainly was right about Toslink 😂 😆 😂
Hmm, please do not take this personally,it is not intended as an attack on you or anyone else who likes DSD. I have quite a few DSD masterfiles in my collection myself, but I still feel the need to ask, if you are also aware of what Rob actually thinks of DSD?
A "fundamentally flawed format" according to Rob if my memory serves me right and it normally does.
Rob has not exactly made it a secret that he strongly prefers PCM over DSD.
Unless I have misunderstood how his dacs work, DSD is internally converted to PCM and then output as DSD?
My understanding of why his dacs also playback DSD files being more of a courtesy to customers needs, or for marketing reasons but not for any SQ benefits? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Cheers CC
 
Jun 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM Post #19,817 of 19,821
Hmm, please do not take this personally,it is not intended as an attack on you or anyone else who likes DSD. I have quite a few DSD masterfiles in my collection myself, but I still feel the need to ask, if you are also aware of what Rob actually thinks of DSD?
A "fundamentally flawed format" according to Rob if my memory serves me right and it normally does.
Rob has not exactly made it a secret that he strongly prefers PCM over DSD.
Unless I have misunderstood how his dacs work, DSD is internally converted to PCM and then output as DSD?
My understanding of why his dacs also playback DSD files being more of a courtesy to customers needs, or for marketing reasons but not for any SQ benefits? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Cheers CC
You're definitely right that he doesn't like DSD, I love his DACs but I disagree with him there, I love DSD. While his DACs do convert to PCM internally in order to use sinc function, whatever he's doing is working. The sound is warm, very detailed without harshness, I can perceive the starting and stopping of notes, the tonality and timbre are very natural and the depth is fantastic. So while I love Rob's work, I completely disagree with him on DSD, to me it sounds amazing.
 
Jun 9, 2025 at 9:37 AM Post #19,819 of 19,821
Hmm, please do not take this personally,it is not intended as an attack on you or anyone else who likes DSD. I have quite a few DSD masterfiles in my collection myself, but I still feel the need to ask, if you are also aware of what Rob actually thinks of DSD?
A "fundamentally flawed format" according to Rob if my memory serves me right and it normally does.
Rob has not exactly made it a secret that he strongly prefers PCM over DSD.
Unless I have misunderstood how his dacs work, DSD is internally converted to PCM and then output as DSD?
My understanding of why his dacs also playback DSD files being more of a courtesy to customers needs, or for marketing reasons but not for any SQ benefits? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Cheers CC
Thats what i also remember him saying.
His WTA code is built for PCM processing. And he cant totally overcome the drawbacks of DSD in a transient reconstruction pov.

I also have quite some albums in both DSD and PCM. DSD always sounds the softer of the two formats while PCM breathes more with a clearer and deeper stage. Warm and bright instruments keep their distinctive tones. On my battery fed dual optic setup its very easy to hear these differences.

But it doesnt mean i dont like DSD, specially with (too)bright/dry recorded modern music it can sound really smooth.
 
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Jun 9, 2025 at 10:44 AM Post #19,820 of 19,821
Thats what i also remember him saying.
His WTA code is built for PCM processing. And he cant totally overcome the drawbacks of DSD in a transient reconstruction pov.

I also have quite some albums in both DSD and PCM. DSD always sounds the softer of the two formats while PCM breathes more with a clearer and deeper stage. Warm and bright instruments keep their distinctive tones. On my battery fed dual optic setup its very easy to hear these differences.

But it doesnt mean i dont like DSD, specially with (too)bright/dry recorded modern music it can sound really smooth.
I enjoy both formats, but there is something about DSD that I really enjoy. It is what it is.
 
Jun 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM Post #19,821 of 19,821
I enjoy both formats, but there is something about DSD that I really enjoy. It is what it is.
As you should😉 im just posting my personal impressions. I'm not saying what others should or shouldnt do.

Just enjoy the music :)
 

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