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Leather Travel Case - Available here:

 

Hugo 2 is a powerful DAC and headphone amp that builds on the ground-breaking original. Designed for both home and mobile use, Hugo 2 transforms headphones and audio systems’ sound quality with its cutting-edge proprietary DAC technology.

 

In 2014, Chord introduced Hugo, a revolutionary portable DAC and headphone amp that became a landmark product in the audio landscape. Advances in digital technology, including the latest FPGAs and WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filters, have enabled Chord  to introduce a next-generation version, Hugo 2, featuring flexible new features, plus next-generation technical and sonic performance.

 

Chord’s new Hugo 2 digital to analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier continues to inspire a revolutionary high fidelity in portable music listening from the innovative makers at Chord Electronics in Kent England. Timing accuracy, noise reduction, and dynamic range are a few of the sonic performance improvements headphones, and stereo listeners will feel as much as hear with the Chord Hugo 2 DAC and Amp.

 

Hugo 2 can be used both at home and on-the-go, either with headphones or within a conventional audio system. Its line-level output and full-function remote control adds real flexibility in full-size and desktop systems.

 

INPUTS:

The device offers four digital inputs (optical, coaxial and HD USB) plus extended-range Bluetooth, with high-resolution file playback up to 768kHz and up to DSD512 (Octa DSD), via its HD USB input. Analogue outputs include 2x RCA, plus 3.5mm and 6.35mm headphone outputs.

 

OUTPUTS:

A four-function switch filter offers a useful degree of user-selectable frequency-shaping, bringing warm and soft or transparent and incisive presentations, giving additional flexibility and user control. For headphone-listening, Hugo 2 retains the popular digital crossfeed function of the original and offers three operation modes. The system duplicates the effect of listening to speakers and is based on advanced binaural audio research.

 

Hugo 2 features four spherical control buttons, which illuminate with colour-coding information and control power, input, filtering, plus the unit’s crossfeed functions.

Battery playing time is around seven hours and two modes of automatic charging are included using the dedicated Micro USB charging port; an indicator shows charging and battery-charge status.

 

Already a multi-award-winner, find out why What Hi-Fi? made Hugo 2 their Product of the Year 2017 in this video:

 

 

The most advanced field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and highly advanced watts transient aligned (WTA) filters bring vast improvements to the Chord Hugo 2 sound via headphones, in-ear monitors (IEMs) or stereo gear.

 

 

Chord Hugo 2 Do-It-Yourself (DIY)

 

The Chord Hugo 2 brings power and do-it-yourself (DIY) beauty to portable DAC and headphones amplifiers high fidelity sonic performance. Like warm and soft or precise and dynamic when you listen to music? Chord Hugo 2 provides a four-function filter to change the sound and sonic performance by manipulating a simple switch. The Hugo 2 creates listening power and flexibility for listeners - a future audio gear trend we suspect.

 

Chord Hugo 2 and Headphones

If you like the new Focal “speakers on your head” headphones listening experience you’ll be glad to know the Chord Hugo 2 retains Hugo’s popular digital crossfeed function with three options. Hugo 2 cross-feeds a 400-millisecond delay in shaping music from left and right output to the different channel based on advanced binaural audio research to emulate the effect of listening to music in a room with a stereo and speakers.

 

Chord Hugo 2 Portable DAC Can Stay Home Too

The Chord Hugo 2 features a new precision-machined aircraft-inspired aluminum case. A sharper lower profile with four now larger but still round control buttons makes the Hugo 2 a more portable DAC and headphones amp than its predecessor. Clearly, the new Hugo 2 design speaks to the portable DAC success achieved by the Chord Mojo DAC. The company anticipates greater “indoor” usage too by including a full-featured remote control.

 

Chord Hugo 2 Battery Life

Battery life makes a significant contribution to any portable DAC or headphone amplifier. Chord Hugo 2 battery life is around seven hours with two “automatic charging” modes via dedicated Micro USB charging port: fast or 1.8 amperes and slow coming in at less than one ampere. The Hugo 2 includes a battery charge indicator and status gauge.

 

Chord Hugo 2 and Moore’s Law

We loved and agreed with this note from Richard Dale on Head-fi.org:

It's very impressive how Moore's Law is giving Chord more powerful, less power-hungry FPGAs year by year and they are taking great advantage of it. The technology in the regular DAC chips, such as ESS, isn't progressing at such a rapid rate. I listened to the audio recording that Chris put up of John Franks and Rob Watts talking about the new kit. It was incredible to hear that Rob Watts dreamed of a million tap filter in the early 80s and never believed it would be possible, and now 35 years later he's able to announce a product with such a thing in it.

 

 

 

Hugo 2 includes the latest FPGAs and WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filters with new features:

  • 7 Hour Battery Life
  • 49,152 Taps
  • 768kHz Micro USB Input
  • 384kHz Coax Jack Input
  • 192kHz Optical Input
  • Bluetooth Apt X Input
  • 1x 1/4" Headphone Output
  • 1x 3.5mm Headphone Output
  • Unbalanced RCA Outputs
  • DSD512 (8x) Native
  • Native DSD Support
  • 4x Playback Filters
  • 3x Crossfeed Function

 

REVIEWS:

"There isn't another DAC around at anywhere near this sort of price able to communicate so torrentially, so unambiguously, or so effortlessly. It's expensive, but the boost in performance is worth every penny." - What HiFi?, Best DAC £1000+

 

"The finest DAC I've ever seen/heard/used." - John Darko, Knock Out Award

Chord Hugo Features

 

Leather Travel Case Not Included - Available here:

    Hugo 2 - Transportable DAC/Headphone Amplifier - Chord Electronics

    $2,379.00Price
    • Chipset: Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA
      Tap-length: 49,152
      Pulse array: 10 element pulse array design
      Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
      Output stage: Class A
      Output impedance: 0.025Ω
      THD: <0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300Ω
      THD and noise at 3v RMS: 120dB at 1kHz 300ohms ‘A’ wighted (reference 5.3v)
      Noise 2.6 uV ‘A’ weighted: No measurable noise floor modulation
      Signal to noise ratio: 126dB ‘A’ Weighted
      Channel separation: 135dB at 1kHz 300Ω
      Power output @ 1kHz 1% THD: 94mW 300Ω
      740mW 33Ω
      1050mW 8Ω
      Weight: 450g
      Dimensions: 130mm (L) x 100mm (W) x 21mm (H)
      Boxed Dimensions: 220mm (L) x 122mm (W) x 85mm (H)

       

    • Materials: Clamshell precision machined aluminium casing with polycarbonate,buttons, acrylic signal window, and glass viewing portal. Available in a choice of two colours – natural silver, and satin black
      Battery: 2x Rechargeable custom Enix Energies 3.7v 9.6Wh Li-ion (lithium-ion (2600mAh) batteries*
      Tap length filter: 49,152 – 10 element Pulse Array design
      Play time: In excess of seven (7) hours
      Charging: Nominal four (4) hours via Micro USB at 1.8amps (fast charge) – Nominal eight (8) hours at 1amp (slow charge)
      Connectivity (input): Micro USB (White): 44.1kHz – 768kHz – 16bit – 32bit
      Coax via 3.5mm Jack (Red): 44.1kHz – 768kHz – 16bit – 32bit
      Optical (Green): 44.1kHz – 192kHz – 16bit – 24bit
      Connectivity (input wireless): Bluetooth (Apt X) (Blue): 44.1kHz – 48kHz – 16bit
      Connectivity (output): 1x ¼” jack headphone output
      1x 3.5mm jack headphone output
      1x stereo (L & R) RCA output
      PCM support: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 358.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz.
      DSD support: Native playback supported. DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD)
      Volume control: Digital, activated in 1dB increments. Last known state saved upon shutdown, with exception of line-level mode
      Line-level mode: Activated via dual press of middle ‘Source’ and ‘Crossfeed’ buttons. Line level = 3v via all outputs. Reset by power cycle
      Power saving mode: Auto-shutdown after ten minutes of input inactivity
      Driver support: Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS
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