Chord Hugo 2 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp)

[JSmith]

I've seen products finished better than this for a fraction of the price. This thing might sound okay, but it's looks and finish are terrible considering the cost.

Agreed... which is why I voted "poor", that and the cost as performance must be weighed with value.

You are on the go, you want to carry as less as possible.

Yep and one certainly wouldn't want to drop this on the ground when raining and getting off the bus, otherwise... 'doh, I just lost $3K.


JSmith

 

[Liya]

When I think 'music on the go' I see appropriate headphones (earbuds or closed back; wired or witeless) + a mobile phone. Job done. You are on the go, you want to carry as less as possible.

 

[Matias]

I would get a dongle and, if needed, a power bank for on the go, to use with a cell phone. And obviously there are a lot better and cheaper alternatives for desktop. Actually with the price of this Hugo 2 one can get both an OTG dongle and a desktop DAC+amp, and still leave money to buy full sized headphones and very good IEMs. Needless to say, the Hugo 2 is a terrible value!

 

[digicidal]

Hmmm... so for about the same money I could get great laptop, and a similarly performant DAC/HPA combo, and some mid-range headphones... or just this.

Seems legit.

Although I wouldn't be able to see the chip through a little window if I went the first route... I guess I'll just have to live with regret. LOL.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Hmmm... so for about the same money I could get great laptop, and a similarly performant DAC/HPA combo, and some mid-range headphones... or just this.

Seems legit.

Although I wouldn't be able to see the chip through a little window if I went the first route... I guess I'll just have to live with regret. LOL.

I bet for most of the DAC/HPA combos you buy, we could neatly cut a place in the cover and attach some plexiglass neatly so you could see the chip it has.

 

[vkvedam]

I expected it to be better, if you really want it to be a Chord one I think Qutest is their sweet spot one. USB sensitivity is disappointing given Rob's expertise. It is not portable by the way, you might as well carry Qutest and power bank I suppose . Thanks for the review @amirm!

PS: If you need a headphone amp and portability look at Mojo 2 assuming they fixed all RFI, whistling caps noise issues from Mojo

 

[Matias]

Here is an example of what I would buy with 3k usd:

RME ADI-2 DAC fs for desktop: 1k.
Hifiman Edition XS planar headphones: 500.
Moondrop Kato dynamic IEMs: 200.
Moondrop Moonriver 2 dongle: 200.
And a generic power bank and Y cable.

And still have 1k usd left for music and beer!

 

[PeteL]

The moral of the story, the moral coming out of this device is simply that you should not go offering four distinctive choices that turn out meaning nothing. For me, seriousness comes first, then show me good performance and a deal will be made. Not this time.

What are the four distinctive choices?

 

[Jimbob54]

I expected it to be better, if you really want it to be a Chord one I think Qutest is their sweet spot one. USB sensitivity is disappointing given Rob's expertise. It is not portable by the way, you might as well carry Qutest and power bank I suppose . Thanks for the review @amirm!

Its also not got a head amp but yes, as a DAC it seems to be the obvious choice if you want to spend $1700 more than needed on a "good" DAC ;-)

 

[Jimbob54]

Here is an example of what I would buy with 3k usd:

RME ADI-2 DAC fs for desktop: 1k.
Hifiman Edition XS planar headphones: 500.
Moondrop Kato dynamic IEMs: 200.
Moondrop Moonriver 2 dongle: 200.
And a generic power bank and Y cable.

And still have 1k usd left for music and beer!

Which is exactly one of my set ups. But I have to say, I would get the L&P W2 over the Moonriver dongle if you want to but an uber dongle. The independent volume control and display plus more sound options give it the edge.

 

[AndreaT]

Fit & Finish less than stellar: for that price I want Swiss Tool look. Plus the RCAs plugs are “kind of loose”?!? Pass, in my book. Thank you Amir for a great review.

 

[respice finem]

Fine. The "ergonomics" seem a little awkward though... And there is one zero too many in the price tag IMHO

 

[Dial]

The price should be divided by twelve.

 

[Rednaxela]

At US $2,950 I expect a DAC topping (no pun) absolutely every ASR chart in existence.

After that we can discuss design language, build quality, usability, heritage, and maybe even sound if we can’t help ourselves.

But be careful what you wish for.

I wish for an industry where every high end DAC manufacturer raises bars. Also if those bars don’t need further raising. If your device ends up at two places in @amirm’s SINAD chart depending on chosen input you know your $3k whatever-the-use-case-DAC-product doesn’t do that.

For the record, I love expensive stuff. I’m a strong believer in top quality demanding top prices. Not everything has to be a commodity. I’ll never own a Maserati but I’m glad Maserati exists. Chord could be in the same place. To some they may be, but based on this review, not to me. At least not at the moment.

Sorry for the rant.

 

[hsertic]

Maybe I am just too narrow-minded - but what would be the "portable DAC&Headphone Amp" intended use?
I associate "portable" with smth you either carry in your backpack, or are able to use in plane/train. So I assume you need some player/source on top of this thing so that you are able to enjoy your big planars travelling in TGV. And if we are talking train scenario - you would most probably use your laptop and USB out, and not Toslink, so poor USB performance is kind of weird. Hotel/Office - why not have smth proper with you?

Not a headphone specialist - while in the plane, I am happy to connect myself to Iphone/Ipad via dongle[Hifiman headphones].

I have one, and I use it around the house - mostly on my balcony with IEMs, without the need to plug separate amp to the power socket. Also, I carry it around when I go working with my laptop outside.

 

[hsertic]

A portable DAC, with micro USB?? I would not have it even if it were free. 3K really??

It is a five year old device, introduced in april 2017.
I have no problem with micro-usb socked, connector as any other. Please note that I have several micro-usb devices (mostly Garmin bike computers/lights) that i charge daily and I had no problems with micro-usb socket for years.

 

[hsertic]

I'm having a hard time understanding why people hell bent on having a portable Chord product would not rather get the very similar performing Mojo 2 at around a quarter of the cost https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...hord-mojo-2-review-portable-dac-hp-amp.34160/

Because Hugo2 sounds better
I do not know about the Mojo, but my Hugo2 is several steps above in sound quality than my Ifi xdsd Gryphon.

 

[JSmith]

Look, all I want to know is can this Chord faithfully reproduce a power chord and which power cord should I use with this Chord for the best power chords possible? Sorry...

It is a five year old device, introduced in april 2017.

Sure... but it's still being sold as a current product, right? Other manufacturers seem to be able to update their models... a shame Chord can't. Maybe they don't make enough money off these DAC's... plus they seem fine with milking the WhatHiFi "award" from 2021;

Hugo 2

Experience the power of the multi-award winning transportable Hugo 2 DAC, Preamp & Headphone amp designed for HiFi and headphones. Made in Great Britain.

chordelectronics.co.uk

JSmith

 

[KxDx]

While measurements are good, I don't understand how a $3k product have such poor finish, not centered RCA plugs and the upper and lower casing parts are not perfectly aligned:

View attachment 218929

When likely 80% of the price is pure profit...

 

[Rednaxela]

JSmith

You mean

Chordially, JSmith

?