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	94mW 300 Ω 740mW 33 Ω 1050mW 8 Ω
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