Hugo TT 2 by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[Christer]

well yeah, the utopia are incredibly efficient and the WA33 would be overkill

One combo where the WA33 was definitely NOT overkill was with DAVE/BLU2 and Susvara.
It was actually one of the very best headphone digital combos I have ever auditioned.

Without the WA33 the DAVE/BLU2 clipped and sounded rather horrible at climaxes with non compressed symphonic material.
It would be very interesting to A/B TT2/HMS and Susvara with DAVE/HMS WA33.

I suspect that in spite of higher distortion levels added by the WA33 the end result could still be a fuller even more effortless and ultimately more realistic sound quality via the DAVE/HMS/WA33 than Susvara directly via TT2/HMS.
Some here use the HEKSE directly and it is also very good.HEKSE is imo a rather better version of the HEKV2.
And definitely much easier to drive than the HEKV2.
But imho and judging by what I have heard from both my own HEKV2 and the HEKSE and Susvara, the Susvara is to me and with my reference material an audibly better headphone than either of the HEK versions.

Cheers CC

 

[jlbrach]

most definitely the susvara requires an amp with the dave....no dispute there.....the utopia however surely does not

regarding the SE vs the susvara as one who owned the susvara and now owns the SE I can say that there is a big advantage to being able to drive the SE directly from the dave/blu2.....the susvara is better properly amped etc but the difference isnt what I expected it to be...I am very happy with the SE

 

[betula]

When did you first realise you are an audiophile?

"An audiophile is a person who is enthusiastic about high-fidelity sound reproduction. An audiophile seeks to reproduce the sound of a live musical performance, typically in a room with good acoustics." Wikipedia

My first step was a Sony in-ear in the mid 90s when I realised bass exists. The journey in the last 20 years was long and full of learning/waiting. I often had to wait years for upgrade due to my financial circumstances. The last two years was a boost giving me my dream combo: Empyrean + TT2. The first time ever I am content and satisfied. The first time ever I have got everything I wanted.

Sure, the MScaler improves clarity, resolution and imaging quite a lot. But I can't afford another 3.5K at the moment.
I am a very happy camper for now. There are times when you just have to stop and enjoy what you have.

 

[musickid]

I started in 1992 at 17 with a nad amp, dual turntable and celestion 3 speakers with titianium domes. After 4/5 years the system was dispersed and there was a long gap. In 2005 i started file sharing music with aries and back then it took hours per track. In 2012 as a mature undergrad i bought a yulong u100 headphone amp for £190 and an AKG 550 headphone and now here i am in 2019 with an mscaled TT2 and my beloved PM1. Next maybe a Dave or a TOTL headphone and call it a day?? Or a holiday. Something to look forward to always. Here's a pic of the u100 from the web. This little thing uses a cirrus logic CS4398 dac chip. They still sell now and it got me hooked.

 

[jarnopp]

When did you first realise you are an audiophile?

"An audiophile is a person who is enthusiastic about high-fidelity sound reproduction. An audiophile seeks to reproduce the sound of a live musical performance, typically in a room with good acoustics." Wikipedia

My first step was a Sony in-ear in the mid 90s when I realised bass exists. The journey in the last 20 years was long and full of learning/waiting. I often had to wait years for upgrade due to my financial circumstances. The last two years was a boost giving me my dream combo: Empyrean + TT2. The first time ever I am content and satisfied. The first time ever I have got everything I wanted.

Sure, the MScaler improves clarity, resolution and imaging quite a lot. But I can't afford another 3.5K at the moment.
I am a very happy camper for now. There are times when you just have to stop and enjoy what you have.

I’m not sure I agree with that definition. I would add something about loving music. But then, maybe being an audiophile and seeking better reproduction is a failing in perception; the inability to be moved by the music in less than optimal conditions. Many people, like my wife, are perfectly happy listening over poor sounding speakers, but get great enjoyment and engagement when a piece they like is played. Sure, they notice the difference, but that’s not what it’s about for them; for the audiophile it is. So maybe my definition would be, “An audiophile is a person who enjoys music and appreciates that high fidelity reproduction of music offers the, more enjoyment.”

Edit: oh, and I was on the path, but really started in college with a PS Audio integrated amp and GNP speakers.

 

[Hooster]

Next maybe a Dave or a TOTL headphone and call it a day??

Why? Isn't the Hugo TT2 plus mscaler superior to Dave? Would Dave not be a step backwards from where you are now?

 

[mightyKyn]

ELAC NAVIS ACTIVE SPEAKERS with TT2???

Anybody try this config?

NO internal DAC in Navis so the SQ should be great.

 

[Triode User]

Why? Isn't the Hugo TT2 plus mscaler superior to Dave? Would Dave not be a step backwards from where you are now?

I think it is down to personal opinion whether one considers TT2 + Mscaler superior to Dave by itself or vice versa. For me the unchallenged transparency of the Dave is not outdone by adding an Mscaler to TT2. This is very much a YMMV thing though so for anyone considering the options I strongly suggest a demo of both options side by side in the same system.

 

[AndrewH13]

I think it is down to personal opinion whether one considers TT2 + Mscaler superior to Dave by itself or vice versa. For me the unchallenged transparency of the Dave is not outdone by adding an Mscaler to TT2. This is very much a YMMV thing though so for anyone considering the options I strongly suggest a demo of both options side by side in the same system.

I suspect MK means keeping Scaler and upgrading to Dave. Might be wrong

 

[jlbrach]

Why? Isn't the Hugo TT2 plus mscaler superior to Dave? Would Dave not be a step backwards from where you are now?

the DAC in the Dave is significantly better

 

[bluenight]

the DAC in the Dave is significantly better

But the amp in the TT2 seems significally better, with the Dave it seems like you will have an TOTL external HP amp to get most out if it. Maybe not so much for very easy to drive HP.

 

[jlbrach]

that applies only to a couple of HP's otherwise the Dave drives just about everything fine...the susvara and abyss need the added amp very few others do

 

[x RELIC x]

that applies only to a couple of HP's otherwise the Dave drives just about everything fine...the susvara and abyss need the added amp very few others do

This!

 

[jarnopp]

that applies only to a couple of HP's otherwise the Dave drives just about everything fine...the susvara and abyss need the added amp very few others do

And speakers!

 

[Hooster]

Looks like we can look forward to a revised Dave soon with better amp and on board mscaler! Now that would really be a dac to rule all dacs!