Description
Chord Electronics HUGO 2 Transportable DAC / Headphone Amplifier
Chord – Hugo 2 Transportable DAC / Headphone Amplifier
The Chord Hugo 2 Transportable DAC / Headphone Amplifier 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 us to introduce a next-generation version, Hugo 2, featuring flexible new features, plus next-generation technical and sonic performance.
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.
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.
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.
Chord Hugo 2 Transportable DAC / Headphone Amplifier Features
Colors: Black, Silver
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
Playtime: 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 Ľ” 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 a 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
User Configurable Options:
Filters (Digital): Hugo (Ultimate Reference) (White)
Hugo HF+ (High Frequency roll off) (Green)
Mojo (‘Smooth’) (Orange)
Mojo HF+ (High Frequency roll off) (Red)
Crossfeed (Digital IIR): Level 1 – Light
Level 2 – Medium
Level 3 – Heavy
Control options: Manual
Remote control (included)
Chord Hugo 2 Transportable DAC / Headphone Amplifier Technical Specifications
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz +/- 0.2dB |
|---|---|
| Output Impedance | 0.025 Ω |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | <0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300 Ω |
| THD & Noise at 3v RMS | 120dB at 1kHz 300ohms ‘A’ weighted (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 300 Ω |
| Power output @ 1kHz 1% THD |
|
| Chipset | Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA |
| Tap-length | 49,152 |
| Pulse array | 10 element pulse array design |
| Output stage | Class A |
| Weight | 450 g |
| Dimensions | 130mm (L) x 100mm (W) x 21mm (H) |
| Packaging Dimensions | 220mm (L) x 122mm (W) x 85mm (H) |
Chord Hugo 2 Transportable DAC / Headphone Amplifier Included Accessories
- 2amp USB Charger
- 1.5m Micro USB Cable
- Micro USB to Micro USB OTG Cable
- Hugo 2 Owners Overview Manual
Add WiFi streaming to the Hugo 2 by also getting the 2go streamer.
