Hugo TT 2 by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[Christer]

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

 

[GuiltyRocker]

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.

 

[LiamBurns]

Dang, TT 2 lookin' serious that spec sheet goes hard. Rob Watts really out here doing wizard stuff lol.

 

[Reactcore]

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.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

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.

 

[Reactcore]

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

 

[Farli]

Finally today I had a chance to compare my Hugo TT2 amp section with some good tube amp (Feliks Audio Euforia Evo). I listened both with my ZMF Verite Open which I like a lot. I’m more than satisfied with sound of Verite on Hugo TT2. Beautifull, rich and deep bass (feelling like drums are in my room with me). Highs detailed, spark but not sharp. Mids perfectly textured. Every instrument well seperated with geat sence if space.

But I have also read many times, that ZMF headphones are best with tubes. So finally I had chance to hear it and compare. I have to say, that to me was Hugo TT2 clear winner. Euforia Evo was really good, but bass was not that presize and defined. Highs were little sharp. Sound was maybe little more open but I missed that feel of impact and control at the sime time which TT2 has. So to my ears, I definetelly prefer TT2. And I have to only say that Hugo TT2 doesn‘t stop to impressed me.

 

[Alucard1]

I have a little bit a problem with hp amp in my TT2. I like listen electronic music very loud and this amp is fast detailed, you can see thru music etc, but i cant fully enjoy my music the way i like. He's not do the justice when you listen loud this kind of music. Its not kind of gear you can listen hours nad hours. I can read the music in perfect way and see the patterns, but i cannot feel emotions in the way i like. I decide i go for new hp amp constructed by my friend. I once owned his gear and he knows how to make music emotional, but TT2 stays as outstanding DAC and extra amp hole to headphones so i always have a choice and comparision. TT2 its a great gear, i think he works the best with Audeze LCD2 type headpones.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Finally today I had a chance to compare my Hugo TT2 amp section with some good tube amp (Feliks Audio Euforia Evo). I listened both with my ZMF Verite Open which I like a lot. I’m more than satisfied with sound of Verite on Hugo TT2. Beautifull, rich and deep bass (feelling like drums are in my room with me). Highs detailed, spark but not sharp. Mids perfectly textured. Every instrument well seperated with geat sence if space.

But I have also read many times, that ZMF headphones are best with tubes. So finally I had chance to hear it and compare. I have to say, that to me was Hugo TT2 clear winner. Euforia Evo was really good, but bass was not that presize and defined. Highs were little sharp. Sound was maybe little more open but I missed that feel of impact and control at the sime time which TT2 has. So to my ears, I definetelly prefer TT2. And I have to only say that Hugo TT2 doesn‘t stop to impressed me.

I agree that it take a really excellent amp to get improvement in sound compare to TT2's headphone out. At one time my desktop set up consist of Verite Open and TT2 too (back at 4 years ago). If you have chance to plug Feliks Envy to Verite + TT2, that's a really beautiful pairing.

 

[Farli]

p amp in my TT2. I like listen elect

I agree that it take a really excellent amp to get improvement in sound compare to TT2's headphone out. At one time my desktop set up consist of Verite Open and TT2 too (back at 4 years ago). If you have chance to plug Feliks Envy to Verite + TT2, that's a really beautiful pairing.

I would like to try Envy, but I'm afraid that I would like it and after that... it's just too much for my budget..

 

[zolom]

On my set, the TT2 HP out is the best for details and separation.
For me it is the closest to the original recorded/mixed sound track, without being analytical.
I switch my TT2 input via either Optical (more warml or USB at maximum DSD Roon upscale.
But when I want additional warmth, stage and tuby distortion. I connect the HP out via my Cayin C9ii, with its variety of sound profiles.
I mostly listen via the Fir Xe6 iem and sometimes, via the Focal Stelia.

 

[hypnos1]

As a follow up to my recent (rather lengthy!) update on my TT2 and mscaler, and especially on the subject of the latter, I would just add that I personally view RW's achievement as insurance for any and all future system upgrades, thereby ameliorating its not inconsiderable cost.

Re my own upgrades over the years enjoying what this Chord combo can deliver, I'm sure my (hopefully) last project once again confirms this belief...but even more so as in the process it has provided one of the biggest surprises so far (and there's been a good few already) - viz addressing all the gripes/criticisms aimed at the original Meze Empyreans.

After discovering the significant performance improvements from upgrading the hp cable to Neotech UP-OCC solid silver and copper in combination, I suspected this could well apply to the drivers' wiring (as I found in the past with my Beyer T1s).

Anyway, in short, my OG Empys are now almost a completely different animal - or, rather, the same but different, showcasing to perfection all the positive praise attributed to mscaler especially...ie....

1. A supreme clarity throughout the (extended) FR. Every note, even the deepest, most solid bass I've ever heard is wonderfully clear and distinct. Tonal range is further enhanced, with the finest/most delicate treble notes for example able to compete with lower frequencies that no longer hold them back. There's now no hint whatsoever of bass bloom/bloat/smearing/ingression...but still with more than enough 'slam' and drive.

2. Rw's masterly work in handling transients is even more in evidence now, with impressive sharpness of attack and abrupt finish when called for. Decay and sustain are also further enhanced, even (impressively so) in panned reverb/echo. Everything is displayed with supreme definition, and with class leading precision and control...along with masterly separation and placement, leading to :

3. An impressively expanded, more 'holographic' 3 dimensional stage that doesn't sacrifice imaging and focus.

And so, in conclusion I personally believe that mscaler (with TT2!), and in my system have helped achieve a minor (major!) miracle in bringing much greater 'technical' attributes to the much under-rated IMHO original Meze hps, while still maintaining their famous welcoming, comforting 'warmth', 'musicality' and emotional involvement. Hence my assertion that mscaler should be considered 'insurance' for one's future system upgrades...if not there already lol! ...HAPPY LISTENING!

 

[jarnopp]

Finally today I had a chance to compare my Hugo TT2 amp section with some good tube amp (Feliks Audio Euforia Evo). I listened both with my ZMF Verite Open which I like a lot. I’m more than satisfied with sound of Verite on Hugo TT2. Beautifull, rich and deep bass (feelling like drums are in my room with me). Highs detailed, spark but not sharp. Mids perfectly textured. Every instrument well seperated with geat sence if space.

But I have also read many times, that ZMF headphones are best with tubes. So finally I had chance to hear it and compare. I have to say, that to me was Hugo TT2 clear winner. Euforia Evo was really good, but bass was not that presize and defined. Highs were little sharp. Sound was maybe little more open but I missed that feel of impact and control at the sime time which TT2 has. So to my ears, I definetelly prefer TT2. And I have to only say that Hugo TT2 doesn‘t stop to impressed me.

Just a note that the TT2’s “amp” cannot be bypassed, as it is integral with the digital-to-analog conversion. Line out simply fixed the voltage to a certain point (and, also does this on low gain, so adds a resistor to the signal path). Adding an amp to TT2 is truly double amping. That said, it may sound better to you, or be required for harder to drive applications. Just know that. Also, there are other filters if you find the TT2 too incisive, like the orange/red.

 

[musickid]

when used with say tt toby or bertti amplifiers is the tt2 not acting as a preamp in the traditional sense. so in this case double amping is not applicable here?

 

[jarnopp]

when used with say tt toby or bertti amplifiers is the tt2 not acting as a preamp in the traditional sense. so in this case double amping is not applicable here?

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).