Hugo TT 2 by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[ZappaMan]

Anyone pushing roon to pi4? I can't get the tt2 to make a connection to the thing.
It has volumio on it.

The pi is recognized by my network and seen in roon and ect. But the tt2 doesn't see it. Using USB a to b

Did you install roon bridge on the pi?

 

[InstantSilence]

Did you install roon bridge on the pi?

No I guess not. I guess that's something else I'll need to do. I'll reformat SD card.

 

[dawktah2]

... yes, that is possible.

But it does not diminish in anything that:

a. The supplier is a low-cost device, as well as its cable and plugs.

b. Clearly, Chord could be more careful about that. In my opinion, in such a device such a solution (pulse power supply) should not be chosen.

Ah, the best tasting wine is not always the most expensive!

 

[InstantSilence]

Anyone here using ultrarendu with tt2? Or any other Ethernet in/usb out streamer?

 

[bikutoru]

Anyone pushing roon to pi4? I can't get the tt2 to make a connection to the thing.
It has volumio on it.

The pi is recognized by my network and seen in roon and ect. But the tt2 doesn't see it. Using USB a to b

I still use pi3, started with Volumio, but then switched to https://ropieee.org/xl/ very simple and stable, even pulling the power cable from the PI3 doesn't corrupt it.

 

[Rob49]

Sorry to ask on this thread, but has anyone compared the Hugo TT2 ( With & without the M Scaler. ) to the Sony DMP-Z1 player ? I'm trying to decide between both & unfortunately due to circumstances can't audition them to decide.

 

[Rob Watts]

Good morning Mr. Rob.

It is important that the designer of the wonderful Dac Chord answers the questions, queries and concerns of the buyers of the brand. I honestly appreciate what you're doing, unfortunately we don't see it from other manufacturers. Go on like this!

I understand what you are telling me, but I would like to show you here the measurements of some linear power supplies that include the noise levels. They are at the following link: https://www.alpha-audio.nl/review/multitest-externe-12-volt-voedingen/

I would like to ask you: are there any measurements from an independent switching power supply that accompanies the device, or even from you? It would be very useful I think for all consumers. It would help us to appreciate its quality, and maybe we would not give money to buy others.

Finally Mr. Rob, let me ask you again about the quality of the power cables, as well as the type and quality of the plugs. Do you think that even there they could not be better? Thank you very much again.

P.S .: My intervention Mr. Rob (with the little knowledge I have), aims to help us buyers get better power outlets. Please, neither you nor the members who read my posts would want to misunderstand me. We all ultimately demand that the quality of the products correspond to the large amount of money we give.

Thank you very much again ..

PSU measurements are not very useful as it depends upon the DAC and amp as to how sensitive they are; remember the PSU is part of a system. Remember also that with TT2 the PSU is not the brick that we supply but the system inside TT2 - notably the large inductor, super caps and RF filters and subsequent regulators. The inductor/super caps ensure that only DC current (no AC or signal related components is drawn from the PSU brick at all). The PSU structure is extraordinary complex and has a profound effect on performance - but all of this is inside TT2, not the PSU brick.

You are free to play around with other PSUs but you will either have no effect or degrade SQ performance by making it sound brighter and more artificial due to increased noise floor modulation

Ok so I've made some xlr to banana connectors.
And the sound is marvelous. On my speakers in my room even bass has authority and weight I mean not the best but still enough. But it sounds so good that I want to get it louder but I'm afraid to damage unit.
And my question to @Rob Watts is how hard I can drive tt2 ?
Currently listening at -25H and it's loud pretty enough.
My speakers are rated 88 DB sensitivity nominal impedance is 6ohm, minimal 4 ohm.

I strongly recommend that you use pins 1 and 2 from the XLR - that is single ended mode, as it is much more thermally efficient and more transparent. With SE and the speakers you have you can run it to +7H without clipping or thermal problems at all so -25H is easy to run (if you were using pins 2 and 3 then going to 1 and 2 it would be -19H for the same volume - still easy!)

One issue Chord have seen is that some subs short pins 1 and 3 together on the XLR - this will cause problems, as you will short the negative outputs, so when using XLR cables check that 1 and 3 is not connected together.

It is probably worth re-iterating that the power supply is a combination of the supplied SMPS and components inside the TT2. So any comparison of power supplies would presumably have to be done at some voltage off-take point inside the TT2. Rob can probably explain better.

Exactly! PSU and DAC amp interactions are very complex, and you can't deal with them in isolation.

... yes, that is possible.

But it does not diminish in anything that:

a. The supplier is a low-cost device, as well as its cable and plugs.

b. Clearly, Chord could be more careful about that. In my opinion, in such a device such a solution (pulse power supply) should not be chosen.

But I'm quiet because the Chord tt2 dac is a great product, both in terms of design and performance. I consider myself lucky to have been able to buy it!
At the end of the year I will also buy the M Scaler. I hope it has a different kind of power supply then !! I have nothing more to say on this subject.

Thanks to Head fi for allowing me to share my thoughts. I also thank Rob Watts for his answers, and the excellent design and construction of the Hugo tt2...

Sorry but you are wrong. What about the cabling to the wall? The cabling to local transformer? The sub station? The power source? What about the tens to hundreds of switchers in your house? The thousands in your street? The many millions in your locality?

All of these issues have been resolved within TT2 not the supplied PSU brick.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I strongly recommend that you use pins 1 and 2 from the XLR - that is single ended mode, as it is much more thermally efficient and more transparent. With SE and the speakers you have you can run it to +7H without clipping or thermal problems at all so -25H is easy to run (if you were using pins 2 and 3 then going to 1 and 2 it would be -19H for the same volume - still easy!)

One issue Chord have seen is that some subs short pins 1 and 3 together on the XLR - this will cause problems, as you will short the negative outputs, so when using XLR cables check that 1 and 3 is not connected together.

I'll try to do full speaker cables today using XLR as single ended. Pin 1 is negative and pin 2 stays as positive in such configuration ?
As for balanced out to speakers (pin 2 and 3). I was pushing my TT 2 to -6H for some songs. No thermal problems at all. Unit was warm but I was getting TT 2 much warmer with headphones - so I guess I'm okay.

 

[varadero xl1000v]

PSU measurements are not very useful as it depends upon the DAC and amp as to how sensitive they are; remember the PSU is part of a system. Remember also that with TT2 the PSU is not the brick that we supply but the system inside TT2 - notably the large inductor, super caps and RF filters and subsequent regulators. The inductor/super caps ensure that only DC current (no AC or signal related components is drawn from the PSU brick at all). The PSU structure is extraordinary complex and has a profound effect on performance - but all of this is inside TT2, not the PSU brick.

Good morning Mr. Rob.

I understand what you are telling me. Ask me two questions:

a. As long as everything is done in the dac, could you even use a packet power supply, much like the ones we use to charge our cell phones, tablets, or other cheap devices? I understand this when you tell me that the external power supply is not important, but all the processing that takes place inside the dac. It's like that?

b. Also - I don't know that - it be beneficial for the DAC to connect it to a UPS that has pure sine wave output?

Sorry but you are wrong. What about the cabling to the wall? The cabling to local transformer? The sub station? The power source? What about the tens to hundreds of switchers in your house? The thousands in your street? The many millions in your locality?

.. that's a very good question!

Listen to Mr. Rob what I think: clearly we can't interfere with the electricity distribution system. This is certain. But that doesn't mean there aren't things we can do to dramatically improve the power of the audio / video system in general. Indicatively, I mention to you:

a. separate power line from the electrical panel of the house with a very good quality copper conductor, and with the appropriate awg using one of the 3 phases, in order to avoid any noise from other electrical appliances (refrigerator, washing machine, and many others that use fans).

b. measurement of the ohmic resistance of the ground of the house, so that if it is high, the interventions are made so that it descends, if possible, under 1 ohm.

c. use of suitable high quality cables (pure copper composition, correct awg, perfectly properly finished and absolutely quality plugs, very good quality power strip for their connection). In my opinion, these are basic things that every music lover should do to improve their music reproduction system.

Mr. Rob did it, and let me say that they helped a lot in his overall performance. I hope I was able to describe exactly what I mean. If not here's to answer your questions.
P.S .: I'm very happy Mr. Rob that we're having this discussion, it helps me a lot! I hope all the members who read the posts ..

 

[Mediahound]

Sorry to ask on this thread, but has anyone compared the Hugo TT2 ( With & without the M Scaler. ) to the Sony DMP-Z1 player ? I'm trying to decide between both & unfortunately due to circumstances can't audition them to decide.

Chord is way better. The Sony uses off the shelf AKM DAC chip(s) that simply cannot compare to Chord DACs.

 

[ejt64]

Does sound strange.
Before you return your TT2, email support@chordelectronics.co.uk.
They may suggest you return your TT2, but there is always the slim chance that they will propose a solution that avoids the need to return your TT2.

Good tip! Will try that. Thanks.

 

[ejt64]

Sounds like Exactly the same thing happened to me after only a hour or so of use. Did you happen to see a puff of smoke through the ”porthole”? Does it still play any music Or just pops and static. Just wondering what type of input you were using? I was only using USB. I ended up having to exchange the unit.

I didn't see any puff of smoke. It still does play music, yours didn't?
When i don't play music, you can hear the static sound in the left channel. Input is USB only. Connected to an Aurender N100. If i disconnect the Aurender, static noise is still there.

 

[GMaxx]

I need some advice. I just picked up a used 1 year old TT2 for a good price. Thus, I'm not sure how much time has been put on it. I can't say if I'm in the burn in camp or not but I do believe I've grown accustom to my HPA-4 amp. The HPA-4 gives me the sound I like with my Stellia headphones but I wanted to try the TT2. I listened to the TT2 by itself and then ran the TT2 to the HPA4. The one thing I seem to find is that the TT2 amp seems to have less authority/drive/presentation then the HPA4 and TT2 combo. Am I imagining things. Maybe it is because my brain is use to the HPA4. I initially ran both at -30db and the TT2 only sounded thinner if that is the correct term. I had to kick the TT2 to high gain to sort of equal the HPA4. Even then I still like the combo of the HPA4 and TT2 better then just the TT2. Does the TT2 need some more time or maybe I just need some more time to get use to the TT2 only. Thoughts? TIA!

 

[InstantSilence]

I need some advice. I just picked up a used 1 year old TT2 for a good price. Thus, I'm not sure how much time has been put on it. I can't say if I'm in the burn in camp or not but I do believe I've grown accustom to my HPA-4 amp. The HPA-4 gives me the sound I like with my Stellia headphones but I wanted to try the TT2. I listened to the TT2 by itself and then ran the TT2 to the HPA4. The one thing I seem to find is that the TT2 amp seems to have less authority/drive/presentation then the HPA4 and TT2 combo. Am I imagining things. Maybe it is because my brain is use to the HPA4. I initially ran both at -30db and the TT2 only sounded thinner if that is the correct term. I had to kick the TT2 to high gain to sort of equal the HPA4. Even then I still like the combo of the HPA4 and TT2 better then just the TT2. Does the TT2 need some more time or maybe I just need some more time to get use to the TT2 only. Thoughts? TIA!

Different signature. It's more that you need time to get accustomed to the tt2. But you enjoy what you enjoy.
Only keep what you enjoy.

 

[Whazzzup]

Only you can answer this after giving time to each, i reached my own conclusion involving TT and GSX MK2, no guilt, no fuss no muss