Hugo TT 2 by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[musickid]

for anyone powering speakers from tt2 is there any advantage or disadvantage to using high gain or low gain in amp mode? if someone could explain this point that'd be great.

 

[Christer]

It is acting like a preamp or a traditional DAC, and all DACs do a digital-to-analog conversion that has some gain, though it’s usually fixed gain. This is where the TT2 is different (more versatile), as its gain is not fixed (so it can replace the preamp volume control function) and its gain is more powerful (so it can often replace the need for additional amping). It’s a matter of degree, but it is always “double amping” when adding an amp to TT2 (or Mojo2, Hugo2).

It is acting like a preamp or a traditional DAC, and all DACs do a digital-to-analog conversion that has some gain, though it’s usually fixed gain. This is where the TT2 is different (more versatile), as its gain is not fixed (so it can replace the preamp volume control function) and its gain is more powerful (so it can often replace the need for additional amping). It’s a matter of degree, but it is always “double amping” when adding an amp to TT2 (or Mojo2, Hugo2).

Though not with Qutest which needs an amp also for headphone use .
One of the reasons I stuck with it over Dave after having auditioned Dave/Mscaler with Susvara. With some of my non compressed, large scale hi res symphonic masterfiles Dave /HMS did not deliver enough power .
Cheers CC

 

[jarnopp]

for anyone powering speakers from tt2 is there any advantage or disadvantage to using high gain or low gain in amp mode? if someone could explain this point that'd be great.

The advantages of using high gain are more power/overhead for your speakers and more transparency because it removes the resistor from the signal path. The disadvantages are none.

 

[Beyond The Blackwall]

Low gain adds resistance. What can't have a positive effect on SQ.
Besides at low gain, the ratio between loud and quiet sounds decreases, which can only increase relative noise and reduce dynamic range.

Noise

4 uV ‘A’ weighted (high gain), 1.7 uV ‘A’ weighted (low gain) with no measurable noise floor modulation