Chord Hugo TT 2 and M Scaler
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- The Chord Hugo TT 2 look like it’s the Table Top version of the Hugo 2 portable DAC. It is of higher quality though. And despite it’s already on the market for some time, I got frequent requests to do a review without and with the M Scaler.
Contents of this video
00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Start of program
02:57 - Where to use
04:35 - The front
05:51 - The rear
06:59 - The inside
07:51 - In use
07:46 - In use
09:57 - How tested
10:56 - Sound quality
12:33 - With M Scaler
13:33 - The wrap
Manufacturer:
chordelectronics.co.uk/
Equipment lent by:
x-fi.nl
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Review Chord Hugo M Scaler: • Chord M Scaler on more...
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Thanks Hans - I've just picked up a TT2 and will be saving up for the M-scaler!
👍🏼
Great video Hans, I listen exclusively using headphones, so love to see a high end DAC with a headphone amp. I can only imagine how good this combo might sound. Just need to win the lottery! Keep up the good work Sir.
Thanks for watching!
I own with mscaler, if you try it you cant go back ,i use lcd5 headphones
I am really impressed by Mojo 2's output stage for headphones. It really sound like a decent AC powered device.
I can't wait to see Chord Electronics update other product lines with Rob Watt's new circuit design.
What are you driving with the Mojo 2?
👍🏼
Thanks a lot Hans, I highly appreciate your really good reviews. What i'd love to see, what you think and even you may perform tests in regards of the over-hyped LINN and Lumin DACs/Streamer. I'm from Germany and of course everyone is always pointing to LINN and how unique it is. Keep going and stay healthy!!
Linn won't react to review sample requests. And the Dutch distributor of Lumin thinks it can influence reviews with add money. Apart fromm that, I can't imagine anything sound better than the Grimm Audio MU1....
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thanks for your feedback! Will ask Dr. Gert Volk, because he is tuning all LINN DACs and he is a genius, if he has any relation to LINN. Grimm is on my top3 list for this year to purchase, but i'm struggling between Linn, Lumin and Grimm (unfortunately Cary Audio has no Tidal Connect support).
Great video 🙏 would love a Chord DAC
I understand
Thank you.
Welcome!
Love the XLR plus RCA outputs.
if you need them both...
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
always good to have both
Subscribed. Gangsta. :)
Thanks Hans for the interesting review.
I'd be very interested to hear your impressions of the Dave/m-scaler combo vs some high end competition such as the mola mola tambachi, weiss 502 or a dcs offering... :). Another interesting comparison would be against a similarly priced Audio Note or Lampizator tube based design.
You find reviews of the DACs in that price range here: ua-cam.com/video/mhi1iFKRyB4/v-deo.html
Hello Hans and thanks for your work.
I own a Hugo TT2 since November , the streamer is a 2GO/2YU, and I’m now trying to power the TT2 with a Sean Jacobs DC3 psu: it makes a huge difference in sound quality , the TT2 gains a lot in spatial definition and everything sounds much more natural and real . I observed a similar gain also powering the streamer with an Ifi iPower X .
This make me think that Chord should provide better psu than the cheap switching ones they give with their products, they are not cheap and they are not working at their full potential with the provided psu .
I’m going to test the M-Scaler soon and if I’ll keep it as I believe I’ll have to think to another psu to buy ….
Since you know what a really good PSU costs, given you tried the Sean Jacobs, you should know why it doesn't come with the TT2....
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Hans, I'm not pretending an SJ with each Chord, I know it would make it too much expensive.
I'm just not happy to not see a decent linear psu included with the device. Unless an expensive linear psu is needed to make a significant difference (unfortunately I don't have experience on this matter).
Anyway thanks for your interesting and honest reviews.
I enjoyed a very satisfying year with the TT2 and M-Scaler but the call of the DAVE was too much and I traded in the TT2 following a home audition with the DAVE. From the first five seconds of the DAVE it was obviously a significant (costly!) upgrade. However, I can see why you could be content with the TT2 because of a certain warmth and 'bloom' which it gives the music. Even with the M-Scaler. The DAVE gives absolute clarity and detail and removes that bloom, but is also more sensitive (neutral?) when it comes to the recording quality, it won't smooth over problems.
Thanks for sharing
Well done Hans!
Thanks
Hans love your review. I have a Holo Audio May KTE and finally build a music server that allows me to use HQPlayer. The sound difference between the May with Sony XA4500ES and the HQplayer set up is unreal. The May is head a shoulders better now. In audio I learned that subtle changes are usually the best you can hope for. The HQPlayer shattered that misconception for me. Have you had a chance to try HQPlayer ? if not, you really need to do yourself a favour and get one
I do have an HQPlayer license but I don't like the complexity of having a PC do the number crunching and it's to complex for normal consumers. But it can do miracles to the sound.
I do appreciate your time put into these reviews, thank you, but i also feel that because you have issues with wearing headphones we are getting half a review, just my thoughts on this
I'm sorry but that is what I can do.
Enjoyed your review. Do prefer the Hugo TT2 Over the Terminator Plus?
yes
Someday I hope to be able to afford these kind of Chord gear. The asking price is so out of range for many.
For years it was for me too....
Great video as always. I have question that might be interesting for most readers.
What is purpose of external DAC when all modern integrated amplifier and AV receivers
Transcode input analog signal to digital again for post processing?!
Usually this ADA converters inside are not good enough as in external DAC.
We must use pure analog Amplifier to has benefit of extraordinary external DAC or pure direct mode.
On class D amps this problem can’t be avoided on any way.
Am I right or You or any other have other opinions?
An external DAC is not needed when your am or AV receiver has digital input and thus a DAC built-in. In some cases an external DAC can improve the sound quality and of course if your amp doesn’t have digital inputs it will enable digital playback if your digital source doesn’t have a DAC built in. Or if your CD-player or network player has a poor DAC built-in, an external DAC can improve the sound quality.
Thank you for this video Hans.
A friend is trying to use HQP with Roon to do upscaling, but much too complicated for me.
Have you ever try this solution?
Cheers
Julien
I stopped trying HQP for it is indeed too complex for the average audiophile.
I just got HQPlayer working with my Holo Audio May. HQplayer improved it by such a margin that I was dumfounded? Not sure that every Dac will improve as much but for the May it was truly jaw dropping. Best money I ever spent on a piece of audio equipment. HQplayer is a PIA to set up but oh so worth it
Thanks Mr. Hans for the review. One question please. Which do you prefer most TT2 + MSC or DAVE alone? Could you please tell why?
I think the TT2+MSC
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you Mr. Hans for reply. Kindly, why you do think the TT2 and MSC is better?
Hi there ,will adding a Mscaler to venus2 or adding a digital to digital converter to venus2 a better option in attaining audio nirvana
In general both will improve sound quality. If all other equipment is of decent quality, the M Scaler would be my choice.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you ,it's an awsome channel that u have .
Hi would this combo be good working with a Dac like Rossini?
You don't need the Hugo TT is you own a Rossini. The M Scaler might improve sound quality, I. have never tried.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel OK,thank you!
Another solution, as qualitative and much cheaper, is to bypass the USB of the Chord, not very good, and to use an SRC DX USB to double BNC converter and the HQPLAYER software instead of the M scaler!Have you analyzed this solution?
Yes, too complex for the average consumer.
Dear Hans
I am following your videos with many thanks
I actually would like to ask you if music servers like antipodes cx or Melco n1z can improve the sound drastically ? I am asking because currently using MacBook Pro running Audirvāna and Roon as server to my Bricasti M1SE with network player card
Thanks to you
Yes, of course
Can you directly connect it to an amplifier without a preamp? Because I think I just fried my Hugo tt2. When you say amplifier, maybe you should be saying integrated amplifier
It should work with bot an integrated amp and a power amp. Sinc most people use 'amplifier' for integrated amplifier and 'power amp' for that, I use these terms.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I plugged the Hugo tt2 directly into a BelCanto mono blocks set up, with no pre amp. Things went terribly wrong and now the Hugo tt2 sounds harsh, 2 dimensional, with lots of distortion. Not sure what to do.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thanks. I guess my unit I just received the other day, must be damaged. It’s a used item,bought on Canuckaudiomart. No way to get my money back. I was told that there might had been an issue with impedance mismatch that cause a melt down. I asked Chord about it and they kind of dance around the question by saying the manual was correct, but that wasn’t the question.
I’ve had so many issues with the windows drivers that it’s taken away my enjoyment and I may have to sell my TT2. A real shame because I love the sound when it works.
Isn't 384 kHz enough then? What music do you play that has a higher sampling rate?
I had the same issue and Chord did not respond with a solution, even they did not respond to emails. I found a solution by using ROON. It is working excellent with ASIO for all sampling rates, for both PCM and DSD
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel The device would sometimes produce sounds at the wrong pitch if left unattended for more than 30 minutes. Very odd. Also ASIO driver would not respond in Roon unless I played a song in roon via WASAPI first. Led to a poor user experience. I was able to resolve the issue by uninstalling the windows drivers but leaving the ASIO drivers intact. I am now enjoying the TT2 again, now with the Ferrum HYPSOS.
10 years of this channel is for members only?
No, you can watch all 450 videos but the most recent one for free. That will become free next Friday.
I am sure you receive many demands for reviews, now here is a new one. What about a review of the Weiss Engineering DAC 501 or 502. I have listened very good comments about it, but non as rigorous and professional as yours.
I'll see what I can do.
I don't like the rotating ball since dust and debris might be transfered inside the dac body .
A static ball is much prefered.
😮😮
There is no danger it will cause problems