Hugo TT 2 by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[teknorob23]

By the end of this weekend I have to make a tough and very first world decision as to which DAC/amp will
be staying in my living room.

Option 1 (wife’s favourite) - TT2

Option 2 - Venus 2 & Bha1

Option 3 - TT2 & Bha1

Mmmmm.

 

[nwavesailor]

She is part of the decision making process in what is sitting on a table in your living room.

If, as a couple, you both need to agree on how much $$$ is spent on audio goodies then it's a pretty easy call!

 

[teknorob23]

She is part of the decision making process in what is sitting on a table in your living room.

If, as a couple, you both need to agree on how much $$$ is spent on audio goodies then it's a pretty easy call!

None of them will be sitting on side board after this weekend. Heard not seen is a hard and fast rule in this house. Cost and as it turns out performance or listening pleasure-wise option 1 and 3 are on a par. But each excels in contrasting but equally enjoyable areas.

Tt2 wins out on ultimate resolution and control especially in the lower register. Faster, harder transients and probably closer to tonally right for my tastes too. The denafrips/ Bha1 has wider staging, better texture and shape, bigger bass and depth. I’ve only briefly listened to the Tt2 with Bha1, so more of that when the kids retire tonight.

 

[rkt31]

Mola Mola Tambaqui Vs MS/TT2 (powered by Keces P8)
I'm not using headphones.
The DACs are connected to Chord Ultima 5 directly with kimber KS 1136 XLR and Albedo Metamorphosis driving Megico A1.

Just set it up this morning. Quick A-B for a few songs. The differences are obvious.
MS/TT2 is mellow and relax. Mola Mola... more revealing and exciting.

Mola mola while good in measurements still can't recreate the wave form to the accuracy of tt2. Tt2 has much better and advanced digital filtering which results in smooth and relaxed sound. Details are there in Tt2 but without any harshness. Tt2+HMS to benchmark ahb2 with good amt tweeter speakers is the path to musical heaven.

 

[Opstck]

Mola mola while good in measurements still can't recreate the wave form to the accuracy of tt2. Tt2 has much better and advanced digital filtering which results in smooth and relaxed sound. Details are there in Tt2 but without any harshness. Tt2+HMS to benchmark ahb2 with good amt tweeter speakers is the path to musical heaven.

But, I believe everyone in this forum loves the Dave more then TT2/HMS combo.

 

[Vyyy]

HI, is there any easy way adapter to test TT2 powering passive speakers with its 17W output? I would like to try that with 8ohm and 88,5db proac d20r speakers at my dealer. THanks.

 

[Articnoise]

But, I believe everyone in this forum loves the Dave more then TT2/HMS combo.

I'm not so sure about that. DAVE lack power to drive many headphones and has a dryer and leaner sound IMO. I didn't like it driving LCD4.

Flame suite on.

 

[bpcans]

But, I believe everyone in this forum loves the Dave more then TT2/HMS combo.

If I thought the DAVE sounded better than my HMS/TT2 combo I would’ve bought the DAVE. The combo to me sounds more musical than the DAVE by itself. My $0.02

 

[Triode User]

HI, is there any easy way adapter to test TT2 powering passive speakers with its 17W output? I would like to try that with 8ohm and 88,5db proac d20r speakers at my dealer. THanks.

Many of us have made short xlr to banana adapters and indeed I and also Rob Watts have posted detailed instructions for how to do this on separate occasions. It is not difficult. However it was quite some time ago and I’m afraid I would not know where to look myself!

With powering speakers such as the ones you suggest it is probable you will be fine but you must realise that an element of common sense is needed and you cannot expect to drive them to high volume levels and they will be more suited to near field listening or for smaller rooms.

 

[Triode User]

If I thought the DAVE sounded better than my HMS/TT2 combo I would’ve bought the DAVE. The combo to me sounds more musical than the DAVE by itself. My $0.02

And that is the joy of this hobby. It is really down to what one is looking for in the character of the music and as I value transparency I favour solo Dave as opposed to the tt2/HMS combination (followed as soon as financially possible of course by adding the HMS to Dave!).

As long as we are both happy then that is all that counts.

 

[rkt31]

I'm not so sure about that. DAVE lack power to drive many headphones and has a dryer and leaner sound IMO. I didn't like it driving LCD4.

Flame suite on.

I'm not so sure about that. DAVE lack power to drive many headphones and has a dryer and leaner sound IMO. I didn't like it driving LCD4.

Flame suite on.

Seen so many posts about Dave or other chord dacs not powering the headphones enough. How do you find that headphones are not getting enough power ? If you go by the sensitivity figures quoted by the manufactures Dave can drive LCD4 to decent levels. Imo if you are not clipping it should be ok as Dave has very low output impedance.

 

[Vyyy]

Wait time aside, I think preconceived notions about Chord coupled w/ the Head-Fi hype train and a $5K price tag already comes w/ a pretty strong confirmation bias placebo. Chord aside, I don't think I've ever seen anyone make regretful/negative comments after acquiring new toys of sizeable cost. This either means that every higher end product release is God's next gift to audiophiles or that people are generally adverse to feeling like they made a poor purchase and will find ways to rationalize it (burn-in, peripheral gear, etc) consciously or not. I don't mean this in a cynical manner but more in regards to self awareness.

I

 

[DJJEZ]

Seen so many posts about Dave or other chord dacs not powering the headphones enough. How do you find that headphones are not getting enough power ? If you go by the sensitivity figures quoted by the manufactures Dave can drive LCD4 to decent levels. Imo if you are not clipping it should be ok as Dave has very low output impedance.

DAVE won't cut it for power hungry planars like 1266tc/susvara. Just doesn't have the power. Would be pretty good with a utopia though

 

[rkt31]

That's what I am asking ? How do you know Dave has not enough power, when you have not reached to clipping ever.

 

[tomita]

I agree - to me R2R sound as bad as they measure, and when you measure them they are not fit for purpose. So I too don't understand where fans of this are coming from.

Subjective assessment does not need to be impossible - if you are very careful, and evaluate different parameters separately, it is entirely possible to objectively quantify subjective listening tests - but it is very hard to do accurately.

Would you say this R2R DAC measures badly?