The Chord Mojo 2 is 2022's BEST DAC
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
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🎬 Editor: John Darko
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Chord Mojo 2
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Chord Mojo 2 'review'
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Podcast: Rob Watts on the Chord Mojo 2
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Short Lightning to USB-C cable
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WiiM Mini (US$99)
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AudioQuest Carbon digital coax cable
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Zu Audio Event digital coax cable
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#DAC #Bestof2022 #hifi
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Thanks for this John. Great video. I've recently started listening to your podcast as well. I find the episodes featuring speaker designers to be extremely enlightening. Top notch work across the board.
Im just blown away by this , your description of leaning in when playing music is so true , i cant believe how good this is for the price im now a chord fan , trust me i went through so many dacs and i could never find my sound until now , added ot to my lcx amp and omg , truly amazing .
No matter if on the go with headphones, or a part my desktop setup at home, music listening is so sublime now. I adore mine. Purchased it for $680 back in February in the states.
Always good to hear you talk about equipment John. Thanks for the video!
been waiting for this. did not disappoint. thank you, John, thank you!
Got the mojo2 and poly and it’s a brilliant combo for home systems and on the go. I am continually delighted by the performance and the way Rob Watts has voiced it. Completely agree about perseverance with the buttons, but it’s more than worth it. Thanks for your excellent reviews of all products.
I replaced my Qutest with a HugoTT2 and (later) MScaler. I eventually sold my Qutest and acquired a Mojo2 with Poly for powering headphones while out and about (office, travel, etc.). What a great product, I LOVE the sound of the Mojo2 and am very pleased with the drive of the headphone amp.
I can 100% concur JD, as I use the Mojo 2, WiiM Mini combo. Love your channel/reviews. Keep 'em coming buddy.
Got my mojo 2, loving it!
Audio quality on my iems and headphones is brilliant. And love the build quality and design.
Great video John (as always :)
I have the Mojo2 and I, and many others, have found the best way to achieve portability with less bulk is to pair the Mojo2 with the Chord Poly. Place them both in a case and you're good to go with just one IEM or headphone cable. The phone in one pocket, Mojo2Poly in another, and you're off!
Just FYI, the Chord goes for $775 usd, which changes the cost equation in the US when compared with the Node ($599 usd).
Wow, I see prices have gone up. I purchased mine for $680 back in February.
Hope you keep reviewing the odd DAC here and there, for those of us who like to play with add-ons / separates etc. Great video as always.
Sadly I am red green colour blind and memorising all these colour adjustments is rally difficult. I bought one …. But couldn’t use those, over complicated colour button combinations. Got to agree, even in default it sounds brilliant. Thanks for you amazing reviews that help all of us decide what products to buy. 😀
Nice Video again.. i use a Topping NX2 and a Gamer Headphone that i mixed accidentally and it came out as the best listening option i have access to and after a while i start using/adding the BOOM 3D App on Iphone and Macbook and that is my perfect listening setup all the last (5) years.. every time i have the chance to check out all the High price and rated stuff i go back to my own system with a big smile in my face.. so i think everybody has a favorite Bundle of equipment that works for em .. thanks for spending your time to show us a lot of nice stuff and stay well to show us more of them in the next years..
Great review. Great work 😎👍🎵🎶
Great review, as always…;-). Will buy the Chord Mojo 2 together with Audese lcd-x in order to create a fantastic home headphone combo!
I agree! Its the single most versatile (competent) audio device of "all time". What you may have missed, is that the amp inside has enough current delivery to power high efficiency speakers directly (even on battery). Add a poly and you have a portable, highly-resolving superintegrated/streaming amp for hours of off the grid listning. Perfect for enjoying your diy high-eff horns at the cabin :D
this is my favorite audio channel now! I just dont subscribe to everyone...you truley earned my SUB! Great channel!
I am using cord mojo2 as a dac for powered amp input and with audeze lcd2 headphone amp. It's awesome.i love the music coming out of mojo2.
I think some of the best buy DACs of 2022: Topping E50, Topping D30 Pro, SMSL DO200, SMSL M500 MK2 (or MK3), SMSL SU-9n, iFi Zen Signature V2, iFi Zen Dac V2, Geshelli Labs J2, Khadas Tone 2 and Denafrips Ares 2, Schiit Modi+ Schiit Modius 2 and Schiit Modi Multibit 2. Maybe the new Topping E70 Velvet is worth a look too.
"Size of a gerbil" haha! Takes my vote for audiophile description of the year ;-). I bought the Mojo 2 recently and am very happy with it. The coloured button interface is quirky, but easy to learn - except I assume for anyone who is colour blind.
I just got mine today, amazing sound
Bought one. Simply love it. Got an integrated OTG lightning to USB C cable from aliexpress and it works great.
I miss some battery indicator, you have no idea how much power in on the device. Suddenly (after many hours) it just dies.
Would like to be able to dim the glowing domes even more. In a dark room they are BRIGHT.
Sound quality is great. It can play LOUD and clean. It can really drive headphones.
The USB-C port looks like an afterthought. It's hosted in a plastic off center bit. They should've just moved to USB-C only on both Mojo and Poly.
then old poly won't work
Always impressed by your reviews and recommendations and I am considering the Mojo2 as well as the Astell and Kern Kann Max and was intrigued by the fact that you need a special 3.5mm cable to connect the Mojo 2 to SPDF. Based on your link, it costs an additional $300 which puts it much closer to the A&K in price. So was wondering what your thoughts are on value and also which one is better at driving Planar Headphones suchs as the HiFiman Edtiion XS?
The Qudelix 5K does all this, for a fraction of the price. Plus it has a fantastic app that has a lovely granular parametric EQ built-in. Can't speak to the sound comparison to the Chord Mojo. but my desktop DAC is an RME Adi2Pro, and the Qudelix is no slouch in comparison.
I love your style of reviewing!
Questions:
Does this dac top the internal dac in the Argon Solo ( to a large degree? ) in 3D imaging, layering & seperation?
How does this dac compare to the denafrips aires 2 dac in 3D imaging, layering & seperation?
Would love to hear your opinion. Keep up the good work!
I have Mojo 2 and it has significantly improved the sound of my IEMs. But my god, when I connected it to my old Klipsch R41-PM bookshelf speakers it basically transformed them into something much much better.
I wonder if anybody else has compared Mojo (1) with Mojo 2. This would be very intriguing for me. Mojo has become my beloved object, for many years now, for listening to music with my different earphones, especially during my travels. When I learned that Mojo2 arrived, I was excited to hear, how it could be even better. However, eventually, I decided to keep the original Mojo.
The comparisons were made after I gave Mojo 2 at least 250 hours of run-in time. Mojo2 has somewhat more detail than Mojo(1) and a tighter bass. However, I was disturbed from the first sessions on that I could not do long hours of listening. I sensed some fatigue after a while. Moreover, the music did not give the same kind of satisfaction I got from Mojo(1). Later on, I realized, this was the result of a certain overemphasis of the leading edges of notes. When you're listening to the piano, the strokes are not expressions of strength and excitement, but more like hammering on your head! This never happens when you're listening to a live piano performance. When the emphasis is not on the FLOW of the music, but on single notes, the inner dynamic and the "drama" of the music vanishes. Emotionally, I was not being moved so deeply, like I was with the same music on Mojo (1).
Boy that NAD with those green speakers make for a smart looking system.
Hi, very interesting review.
I am thinking of using this dac with my hifi Amp. What adapter did you use. From 3.5 headphone 2 rca? Do you recommend any headphone until 500 euro? Thank you for your great reviews 👍👍
To use the coax, I purchase an inexpensive phono to 3.5mm jack plug which works well. Love the portability of my Mojo (with my Poly) but if anyone from Chord is reading this, please put it in a case with a volume pot so that I can leave it in my system.
John, I was always undecided about the first Mojo but just as I'm thinking it's time to go wireless along comes another Chord gem. Ho hum. Perhaps the new Campfire Audio Orbit earphones will make a better case for wireless? You'll tell us, no doubt😉 Informative and enjoyable reviews as always. Thank you
John, given your last in depth review of the Mojo (and Poly) was four years ago, would you have any different recommendations for a software to play files from the micro SD card in the Poly? Thanks.
I order it today with leather case can’t wait to hear better sounding music on UA-cam
Hi, I use it also in my car stereo aux input to stream Tidal via my phone. Once you’ve heard in a automobile it’s hard to go back.
I printed the guide for the various colors (both sample freq and battery charge) and taped it to the bottom of the Mojo. Works!
Helpful review thanks.
Would you recommend the Chord mojo 2 over the Cayin ru7 - listening with HFi Man XS and Sennheiser IE600- liking all genres.
You got the Fiio FF3 ? Interesting! Those are my absolute favorites - and a few days ago the FF5 were shown, but not yet available in germany.
Really like the mojo 2 but have given up on it (and any dongle to be honest) as a portable solution. I have the same Fiio cable and iPhone mini 13 but as good as it sounds, the frequent blasts of white noise (not sure if this is an issue with the Fiio cable?) as well as the bulk has lead me to just be happy/content with my AirPods Pro 2 when I’m out and about. However for hotel and desktop use, I’ve found the Mojo to be great, super AND smashing. Thank eff I’m not colourblind.
fantastica review
Am I missing something? In Canada at least, just the Mojo 2 costs night onto twice as much as the Node, at street prices. $935 cdn for the Chord vs $499 for the Node. Streamer on top of that for the Chord. It's a dramatic price difference.
@@razisn yeah man I've been drooling over the magnepan LRS for years but here in Denmark you can't get it for under 1300-1400 dollars
The very best Dac for me.
Bought it two weekse ago.
The sound is amazing.
Hi John. Love your stuff! However, I’m slightly surprised that you’re off pairing an integrated amp with an outboard DAC of better quality. When I put a Qutest in my system that was driven by a CA CXA81 the system jumped a level that was not insignificant. Now in this case the DAC cost more than the amp which might partially explain the good (and worth it!) result, but I’d be hard pressed to give up what the Qutest does for music, at least in my system with my ears. Plus, I love the build-quality and look of the Qutest. I’d so love to have me a DAVE. ☺️
Great product, I had the V1 and I would upgrade again to the V2 but lack of a 4.4 mm balanced makes it a deal breaker...
Hi John. can you suggest an alternate lossless lightning to USB-C short cable? The. FiiO LT-LT1 does not seem to be available in the USA. love your work. jeff
When you played a few bass notes to edit over your misstatement it sounded exactly like the bass from the opening to New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle". Is that where they were sampled from?
I'm curious about the special coax cable that was mentioned in the review. I didn't see it listed in the description yet. However, what's the use case for this cable? To hook up the MOJO 2 to a HiFi system don't we need a 3.5 to RCA cable instead?
thanks for the content.... Are Pacific Valve dac's any good?
Hey Darko, just seen the 3050 le on the background. Out of interest - any idea when the review to come out? Cheers
I have the ifi zen DAC 2 that works perfectly between my MacBook and Audiolab ❤
Hey John - First of all a big thanks for all your great videos and stand-up character! I always look forward to your opinions and entertainment 😊 I currently own a Hifiman Ananda and am considering upgrading/complimenting my DragonFly Cobalt with the Mojo2, and not just for my headphones but also my Bluesound Node2i & Primare i15 Prisma + BW705 S2’s. I heard some other reviewers stating that the Mojo2 would struggle to drive planar headphones: Is there any truth to this?
I bought a Hegel H390 because I liked its sound and it had a dac. I bought a streamer without dac alongside it and couldn’t afford to buy the dac I wanted at the time, so it was a perfect stop gap. However the amp is better than the dac, so in the future the plan is to replace the dac with a tube dac. I personally like only as many boxes as I need, however ideally I want each box to be doing it’s own thing, as I feel the quality will be higher. Whether that’s OCD I don’t know, but to me that sounds the most sensible.
God bless you John🙏, you just solved something that’s been bugging me for ages, why do I hear very random, very intermittent interference whilst listening to my iPad Pro through a Dragonfly Red into a Graham Slee Voyager 🤦 iPad’s Ariel trying to connect to a cell tower🤣🤣🤣
If a DAC can be called a jack of all trades this is the one. Will it challenge a Holo in a desktop hi-fi system….no but it won’t embarrass itself either. It is one of the best portable DACs and can fill in for desktop use when required and still do a decent job. I’m totally blown away by its sound. Yes it’s not top tier but it’s really good.
"It has a tremendous talent with layer separation" Did it go to Julliard?
Huh?
What cable is used for the far left INPUT of this unit ? That input has to be used to transfer files greater than 96 such as 24/192. I have absolutely no idea what the cable for that is and where to purchase one. Does anyone ? The cable should be whatever the hell that is on one end and a RCA / digital coax on the other.
John, you are such a tease - is that a Rega P10 I see behind you? I do hope you are going to review it soon. And what about the Buchardt A700s?
Hi John. I’m using a THX Onyx (out of my iPhone XS) which I find very high quality and very musical, feeding my Aonic 50 (wired and passive) and my fabulous Advar.
Like many, I’d love to upgrade to a better DAC and I’ve been considering the Mojo2 or the xDSD Gryphon.
The only thing still gripping me to the Gryphon is MQA which I enjoy a lot out of Tidal and which the Mojo2 does not do, sadly.
I also like the screen but that’s a detail.
On the other hand, all I read is the Rob Watts device is just a better DAC!
Are these “diminishing returns” considering they’re the same price?
Any of the two is a budget stretch for me but hey, we’re always aiming for the best. So… my main question is: which should I buy? Which one is REALLY the best one?
Thanks a bunch for your reply.
@johndarko any input you can give me on Mojo2 vs Gryphon? Thanks.
My favourite aspect of the Chord Mojo are the digital input options which gives it a lot of flexibility. The colour scheme of the buttons is a bit “geeky” but if you’re a science / physics nerd it makes sense as it mimics the increasing frequency of each colour in the light spectrum. My only real complaint is the cost of replacing the battery which can be a bit pricey depending on where you source the battery from. However it is possible to remove the battery and power it directly from USB charging port.
Really easy to change battery yourself if you can source the same model
You mention the coax digital input being 3.5mm instead the more common RCA socket. And you explain the cable you recommend or have but it is only RCA to RCA ( Carbon Coax Digital). So did you find a adapter RCA to 3.5mm with an audio pedigri such as copper with rhodium/gold/silver plated? if so tell me please which one because I can not find such as audiophile adapter
Hi and Thanks for the video, I was wondering about your EIM'S, what are they? Seems like they are not going Into the ear canal which interests me a lot since Iam very IEM sensitive, is there good products like that? Thanks again(mojo 2 arrives home tomorrow!)
Hi John, thanks for the review! Could you tell what are the earbuds? I don’t like iems, always on the lookout for good sounding good old buds…
They’re from Fiio
Hi, great video as always! What kind of white speaker stands do you have in the background?
Solidsteel SS-7
SS Series speaker stands (White)
Did you noticed that the colour of the lights corresponds with the resistance colour code? Once you know it it will make more sence.
I was reading a review that said having balanced output wouldn’t play well with the Chord way of doing DAC. Given there are two 3.5mm outs could you use two cables, one for each driver? And if so would this be a bad idea/ dangerous?
I remember the dual XLR balanced cables on high end phones, maybe the K1000 IIRC.
Great review. Now I think I maybe need a new DAC. I am set-it-and-forget-it person; but maybe I’m not 😅
Doesn't putting velcro on the bottom of the Mojo 2 stick to, and cover, the label that has the serial, which would make any future warranty requests difficult?
Looking forward to your thoughts on the NAD 3050LE. You’ve teased us with it a couple of times now. I’m still waiting on mine to deliver 😕
Sorry to be a pain but would it be possible to have a link to the AudioquesT and zoo audio cables you mentioned?
Loving the sound signature of the mojo 2 but can’t life with the auto shutdown without wake-up and all the colorful led buttons.
Use my Mojo 2 only as a DAC. paired with Drop THX 789 and SMSL DA9 going to Kef LS50 or Hifiman Arya. Amazing little thing!
would it make a difference compared to an astell and kern sr15?
how well does it run hd660s, is it a good pairing?
how about tinhifi P1? This IEM set is notorious for needing current
Hello I couldn’t find the Fiio LT-LT 1 in my country, i found Fiio LT-LT3 and it looks same the LT1 ( lighting yo USB C) do you think it works ?
What's your favorite DAC / Amp in the 2-3K range? I have the newest upgraded version of the RME ADI 2/4 but it sounds like there are better options for just pure sound quality of the DAC and headphone amp. It was around $2500.00 I use LCD-5, Stellia, clear mg pros, DT1990 and 1770. Soon to add or swap for MM-500, Arya organic, and Empyrean II. What would be your choice to have the cleanest accurate sound. I produce music and a musician so I want to hear all the details of my recordings. I am going to upgrade my portable Apogee Groove to a Mojo 2 to start. Then upgrade a desktop DAC/AMP and the phones I listed. Any Suggestions or thoughts?
Is Mojo 2 as capable as my Heed Canamp so as to drive my AKG K701? Is it worth the upgrade as far as amplification for "hungry" headphones?
Thank you
I love the quirky look of this, John. I have a Bluesound Node as I know you do. Would you buy a Mojo to improve its sound quality?
I have a 2021 Bluesound Node and I tried the Qutest and the MoJo 2. Not worth the price to upgrade, in my opinion, if indeed it is an upgrade.
I live in U.S. and I did not buy Mojo 2 because its retail price is about 40% over U.K. It takes less than $10 for the international shipping and custom included. To me, it made no sense what-so-ever to pay such a premium.
How does it compare to the old Hugo? I have the first gen Mojo and don't feel moved for the new version.
Been following your videos for a while and respect your expert analysis and opinion. Wanting to buy a portable DAC to also improve sound of HiFi system. Very interested in your views about how the sound quality of the Mojo2 compares to the IFi Gryphon (which I note you mentioned in another video, you own and use weekly and which won the EISA 22/23 Mobile DAC, headphone amplifier award?) Also, is the best connection (for sound quality) from portable DAC to hifi system a 3.5mm to 2 RCA?
I own both and each has its merits. For pure sound quality I believe the Mojo2 edges out the Gryphon but the Gryphon has a broader menu of features, and implementing some features (e.g. changing the output level for use with IEMs) is the simple flick of a small switch on the Gryphon, more involved on the Mojo2 with reference to the manual at your side. So, the Gryphon user interface is better.
Moon Audio from Cary, North Carolina, did what they characterized a blind listening session with their staff between the Mojo2 and the Gryphon - they sell both - and the Mojo2 came out ahead by one vote, the only criterion being sound quality. If you go to their website you can see the video of the blind listening session.
i needed the info about the OTG lightning-usb-c cable :-)
I found out the hard way that it couldn't be any cable for my hidizs s9 pro dongle dac...
If i buy the fiio câble usb to lightning i dont have to use the apple usb to Lightning adaptator with thé black câble delivered with the mojo 2 correct ? Thanks
5:35 I'm naming that overdubbed bleep in one, it's the start of New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle.
Well done ! (I think ;-)
For usb c connectivity with Android smartphones, any cable will do?
Intro is always ASMR :-)
What co-axial cable do you suggest that will allow me to still use the USB-C?
Congratulations! This way, you got to make a video about the Mojo 2 despite not having made a video review about it (when it was released), like you said. 🙂
Please tell me more about those Fiio ear phones. I’m fed up IEM that don’t stay in place for more than 10 mins then start hurting.
Had you said "the most versatile", you might have had a better case. For £300 less, you should try the Aune 8 viii magic DAC (also a non sigma-delta FPGA DAC) upgraded with a Sparkos op-amp. Not portable, but it sounds so very good and has balanced outputs.
The Aune competes with, and some say betters (in my view at least equals, though a different sound signature) my Tradutto DAC, which is itself currently £100 more than the Mojo. For anyone not interested in the portability, the £300 saving of the Aune could be put towards something else or simply left unspent.
one can buy a REAL gerbil and some Richard Gere DVDs with the leftover cash!
Do you think it would be worth upgrading from a Liberty Dac used with speakers?
Hi John, hope you are well. Can't believe you didn't mention Poly as a natural companion for Mojo 2.
Curious if you have tried and have thoughts about the Qudelix 5k?
Nice sub bass at 1:44
Wtf at micro usb. Automatic no purchase. So extremely tightass for something so very expensive
Yeah, those connectors are very delicate and prone to being damaged. Plus spacing between wires is too small.
Hi John,
A lovely video again. As always.
But, and a big but, if you use velcro. I should switch the "hooky" part on your phone for the soft part of the velcro and the "hooky" part of the velcro on the Mojo.
(I once had a mummy sleeping bag with the same reversed configuration (for an internal pillow in the hood) as your velcro configuration on your phone. So I had to pull my hair out of this sleeping bag every morning, to get myself out of that sleeping bag. So I don't know how you manage to pry your phone out of your pocket with the "hooky" part of the velcro mounted on that phone?!).
Just saying ;-)
Not sure if you’ll read this John but would I notice a significant difference between the mojo 2 and the Qutest?
6:15
Instead of using velcro, maybe you can go get a sheet of Magsafe sticker, costing less than 10USD, stick it to mojo, effectively making Mojo a MagSafe device
One thing I think nobody really talks about with the Mojo line is the build quality. On UA-cam and Instagram, to me personally, they look cheaply made. But in person, they are highly engineered aircraft aluminum with a wonderful look and feel.
Mine is built like a Bosh washing machine sounds even better 👌
Why Ifi Gryphon was not considered it is also UK made product? it has bluetooth IE match, filters etc.
I addressed this elsewhere in the comments.
Programmable logic chips allow progressive improvement of the DAC software. That said, "integrated" hard coded chip based DACs are attaining a quality level that gives software programmable devices a run for their money.
I love the Mojo from a tecnical point of view, but is it truly competitive?