Chord Hugo 2 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp)

[bruce bababaaaach]

How to achieve only the second harmonic 2k, no 3k 4k 5k 6k behind？

 

[nyxnyxnyx]

Just state "buy this product and if it fails in the first 5 years you'll get a replacement for free within 48 hours". Sorry but I'm not buying anything expensive that's not covered for 5 years. If companies want to rush stuff out untested like it's software that's fine but the handling of any resulting problems should be as painless for me as quickly updating the software too.

fair point, as a consumer I do want to have extended warranty on whatever I buy too. the question I have is, have you seen any audio companies offer a warranty that long? I can only remember of Koss and recently the Ollo headphones company. It'd be really good if they can do that though.

 

[nagster]

Another photo.
This Hugo2 is a one-owner and has never been used outdoors.
The optical jack and headphone jack are unused. I have never turned a screw.
About subjectivity.
The feel of the buttons, knobs and connectors is about the same as the TOPPING PA3S. The accuracy of the case and the quality of the finish are also similar.
Both are ok. However, the setting display by color coding of Hugo2 is the worst thing so far.

 

[sarumbear]

You read my recent replies to you in the DM7 thread so you know I’m a software developer working as a pro for decades. So don’t make comments that I was too young in 2009.

And the examples from me and others are simple examples that your original claim is false.

Don’t move the goal post.

I’m not moving the goal post. It’s obvious we are not communicating well. I suggest we stop this sub thread.

Meanwhile, I add a smiley to my age comment so that you don’t get offended but the emoji have failed to do its job.

 

[PeteL]

USB-C was well established by 2017 and appeared in many flagship phones by then. If Chord was meant to be leading edge, they would have included a USB-C (with adapter, if necessary) port instead of the already outdated micro-USB. If you are buying a $3K portable dac/amp, you own one of the latest model flagship phones.

but hey, a USB-C connector in 2017 was at least 2 bucks, you know... when micro USB was 75c. Margins must have been tight

 

[Trell]

but hey, a USB-C connector in 2017 was at least 2 bucks, you know... when micro USB was 75c. Margins must have been tight

Adding that jack would’ve killed their profit margin for sure. /s

 

[juliangst]

Are you talking about the small white, less than half an inch long adapter or the cable?

The cable iPhones come with. It's not micro USB. But there are micro USB adapters you can buy afterwards

 

[nyxnyxnyx]

This product has been selling very well since 2014 (Hugo and Hugo2), so clearly the price is not an issue for lots of people.

"What can western-based companies do ..." They make DACs with proprietary converters that people seem to enjoy listening to. Few people outside of ASR seem that concerned with SINAD, and I doubt Chord worry about it because it is a very successful and profitable company. As the CEO explains, he was working in a far more expensive area of electronics design (he was a Director of Marconi, a major Defence contractor) and only started Chord when he felt he could make products cheap enough for the consumer market. The Hugo2 is one of their cheapest products. So if you like Chord Electronics, the Hugo2 is a bargain.

John Franks and how Chord Electronics took flight

chordelectronics.co.uk

Topping did not invent the cheap DAC. John Westlake, a consultant engineer, was one of the first western engineers to master Chinese manufacturing for a UK audio company when working with Cambridge Audio. He explains here how he got the CA DacMagic made in China, back in 1995.

John Westlake

One of the most respected digital designers around, in some ways John Westlake is the archetypal definition of a geek – but is highly creative and amazingly fluent talking about his specialist area…

zstereo.co.uk

It sold for £150. The DacMagic 100 from 2012 was probably the most popular, issued in 2012 for £200, and now the DacMagic 200.
So it's a budget DAC product line that's been going for almost 30 years and as popular as ever.

Cambridge Audio DACMagic

One of the last ever digital-to-analogue convertors of the first era of DACs, the DACMagic spent a good part of the nineteen nineties being one of the few such products on sale. Had it been launche…

zstereo.co.uk

I can see your points. People who like Chord products and "Hi-End HiFi" in general will not care about SINAD, objective performances and so on.... They want whatever remaining % to pure satisfaction they can get, and they are willing to pay whatever they feel like for it.

But that's just a group of customers. It'd be fine if that type of customers can easily fulfill the purchases necessary for western-based companies to stay relevant and leveling up. But other consumers, the less wealthy and bold customers are leaning toward more affordable products, the kind of products that at the same time have both strong subjective & objective remarks. And in that standard chinese companies have been doing it so well in recent years. For example JDS Lab Atom once took the spot as probably the best $100 headphones amp one can buy, but now the market is so diluted and competitive I'm not sure out of 10 recommendations how many will go to Atom anymore (although I'm sure JDS Lab is still doing well).

I'm aware that Topping did not invent cheap DAC. My observation is that the recent uprising of products from China changed the landscape quite a bit. Look at headphones, iems, dacs and amps nowadays you will see that they are very popular and probably more profitable than other same price bracket offerings from the West. I also noticed some smaller audio brands here and there (both in asia & west) have dissolved because they cannot adapt to this situation.

 

[Madlop26]

Yes. Even at that price I'd be hard pressed to find a use for it. Does anyone still use wired headphones for mobile listening? When travelling on public transport all I see is the ubiquitous Apple wireless earbuds or wireless noise-cancelling headphones from mostly Sony and Bose ...

yes, you are right, rarely you see something different than apple, Bose or Sony. I am using the 7Hz timeless pair with the FiiO UTWS5 which has Bluetooth 5.2 and aptX adaptive, seems to get above CD quality but still not measured, that is my outdoor gear, but if not a hectic outdoor activity I use my wired Monarch MK II with a good dongle.

 

[Trell]

Are you talking about the small white, less than half an inch long adapter or the cable?

The cable and for the record I don’t have any charger with USB-C jack, so it’s useless for now, unless buying a female USB-C to USB-A male adapter.

 

[Trell]

I can see your points. People who like Chord products and "Hi-End HiFi" in general will not care about SINAD, objective performances and so on.... They want whatever remaining % to pure satisfaction they can get, and they are willing to pay whatever they feel like for it.

But that's just a group of customers. It'd be fine if that type of customers can easily fulfill the purchases necessary for western-based companies to stay relevant and leveling up. But other consumers, the less wealthy and bold customers are leaning toward more affordable products, the kind of products that at the same time have both strong subjective & objective remarks. And in that standard chinese companies have been doing it so well in recent years. For example JDS Lab Atom once took the spot as probably the best $100 headphones amp one can buy, but now the market is so diluted and competitive I'm not sure out of 10 recommendations how many will go to Atom anymore (although I'm sure JDS Lab is still doing well).

I'm aware that Topping did not invent cheap DAC. My observation is that the recent uprising of products from China changed the landscape quite a bit. Look at headphones, iems, dacs and amps nowadays you will see that they are very popular and probably more profitable than other same price bracket offerings from the West. I also noticed some smaller audio brands here and there (both in asia & west) have dissolved because they cannot adapt to this situation.

I think it’s great that so many excellently measuring devices at nice prices are coming from China, but QC, build quality, service & support (including documentation, manuals, drivers etc) are still an issue.

 

[threni]

fair point, as a consumer I do want to have extended warranty on whatever I buy too. the question I have is, have you seen any audio companies offer a warranty that long? I can only remember of Koss and recently the Ollo headphones company. It'd be really good if they can do that though.

Some retailers offer 5 year warranties on some stuff - such as John Lewis in the UK. I have a Schiit amp which has a 5 year warranty (from the manufacturer) in the states but sadly only a two one here, but the fact they offer a longer one anywhere gives me hope it'll last (and I'd already had it a few years). I've not bought stuff just because of the lack of warranty though. And I'd want it for free, too. The point is - I'm already paying for it. I shouldn't have to pay extra for it to last 5 years (or get fixed/replaced for free). The £500 TV I bought failed after around a year and John Lewis replaced it (admittedly with a refurb). Without longer support it's just like you're renting it for a year and are expected to buy a new one after that. It's part of the reason I build my own desktop PCs, and put together Pi-based players rather than some more expensive solution - if a part fails I just swap it out. It's why I don't like expensive non/less-fixable items like laptops; it's why I get cheaper phones.

 

[usersky]

That plastic case looks bad for a product ten times cheaper.

 

[DonR]

I think it’s great that so many excellently measuring devices at nice prices are coming from China, but QC, build quality, service & support (including documentation, manuals, drivers etc) are still an issue.

By the looks of things, Western producers of niche products like Chord aren't fairing too much better in those respects either.

 

[BDWoody]

fair point, as a consumer I do want to have extended warranty on whatever I buy too. the question I have is, have you seen any audio companies offer a warranty that long? I can only remember of Koss and recently the Ollo headphones company. It'd be really good if they can do that though.

"Bryston analog audio products and loud speakers are warranted to be free from manufacturing defects for twenty (20) years from the original date of manufacture. The warranty includes parts and labour. Speaker warranty is limited to the first time buyer and is non-transferable.

Bryston Digital products and cables are warranted for five (5) years from the original date of manufacture. The warranty includes parts and labour."

https://bryston.com/service-and-war...es parts and labour.,-Bryston products having

 

[FTB]

How ugly it looks...
Sorry I had to write it

Thanks for all the works done with reviews btw.

 

[Trell]

By the looks of things, Western producers of niche products like Chord aren't fairing too much better in those respects either.

Personally I would buy devices from an European dealer and not directly from China to take advantage of consumer laws. Same for products made in USA, [edit: as an EU citizen].

But my points stands as they are expensive to implement.

 

[DanielT]

How ugly it looks...
Sorry I had to write it

Thanks for all the works done with reviews btw.

Do not be sorry for that. The taste is like the ass divided but I agree with you. In addition, it looks like a children's toy.

Looks like small colored LED lamps flashing in a plastic casing. Horrible.

 

[DonR]

Do not be sorry for that. The taste is like the ass divided but I agree with you. In addition, it looks like a children's toy.

Looks like small different colored lamps in a plastic casing. Horrible.
View attachment 219021

Definitely has a Fisher-Price vibe to it.

 

[Trell]

Some retailers offer 5 year warranties on some stuff - such as John Lewis in the UK.

The UK has 5 years warranties as part of consumer laws, if I recall correctly.