Chord Electronics Hugo 2 | Transportable DAC and Amp

Transform Your Headphone and Audio System’s Sound Quality with the Hugo 2 from Chord Electronics

• Machined aluminum casing with polycarbonate buttons, acrylic signal window, and glass viewing portal
• Available in a choice of natural silver or satin black
• (x2) Rechargeable custom 3.7v 9.6Wh Li-ion batteries with 6 hour playtime
• PCM and DSD native playback support, DSD64 to DSD512
• Bluetooth® APTX: 44.1kHz to 48kHz, 16bit

From Chord Electronics

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, with flexible new features and 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 true flexibility for full-size and desktop systems.

The Bells and Whistles

The device offers 4 digital inputs (optical, coaxial and HD USB) plus extended-range Bluetooth, with high-resolution file playback up to 768kHz and up to DSD512 via USB input. Analog outputs include (x2) RCA, and both 3.5mm and 6.3mm headphone outputs.

A 4-function switch filter offers user-selectable frequency-shaping, bringing warm and soft or transparent and incisive presentations for additional flexibility and user control. For headphone-listening, Hugo 2 retains the popular digital cross feed function of the original and offers 3 operation modes.

Hugo 2 features 4 spherical control buttons which illuminate with color-coding information that controls power, input, filtering, and cross feed functions.

Power Management

The Hugo 2 uses (x2) rechargeable custom Enix Energies 3.7v 9.6Wh (2600mAh) Li-ion batteries with play time around 7 hours. Two modes of automatic charging are available using the dedicated Micro-USB charge port with an indicator showing battery-charge status.

Full charge time is a nominal 4 hours via Micro-USB at 1.8A (fast charge), and a nominal 8 hours at 1A (slow charge.)

Features

Connectivity

• Input
  • Micro USB (White): 44.1kHz to 768kHz | 16 to 32bit
  • Coax, 3.5mm (Red): 44.1kHz to 384kHz | 16 to 32bit
  • Coax, Dual Data Mode (Yellow, using both BNC coax jacks together): 44.1kHz to 768kHz | 16 to 32bit
  • Optical (Green): 44.1kHz to 192kHz | 16 to 24bit
  • Input, Wireless: Bluetooth (Apt X) (Blue): 44.1kHz to 48kHz | 16bit
• Output
  • 6.3mm ¼” headphone
  • 3.5mm headphone
  • Stereo (L/R) RCA

General

• PCM Support: 44.1kHz / 48kHz / 88.2kHz / 96kHz / 176.4kHz / 192kHz / 358.8kHz / 384kHz / 717.6kHz / 768kHz
• DSD Support: Native playback, DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa)
• Volume Control: Digital, 1dB increments | Last known state saved on shutdown (exception: line-level mode)
• Line-level Mode: Activated via dual-press of ‘Source’ and ‘Crossfeed’ buttons | Line level is 3v via all outputs | Reset by power cycle
• Power-saving Mode: Auto-shutdown after 10 minutes of input inactivity
• Driver Support: Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, required for Windows

Specifications

• Chipset: Chord custom-coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA
• Tap-length: 49,152
• Pulse Array: 10 element design
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz, +/- 0.2dB
• Output Stage: Class A
• Impedance: 0.025Ω
• THD: < 0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300Ω
• THD + noise at 3v RMS: 120dB at 1kHz 300Ω ‘A’ weighted (reference 5.3v)
• Noise 2.6 uV ‘A’ weighted: No measurable noise floor modulation
• SNR: 126dB ‘A’ weighted
• Channel Separation: 135dB at 1kHz 300Ω
• Power Output (1kHz 1% THD): 94mW 300Ω | 740mW 33Ω | 1050mW 8Ω
• Weight: 15.87 oz
• Dimensions: 5.12” x 3.94” x 0.83”
• Chord Hugo 2 Three year product warranty

In the Box

• 2A USB Charger
• 1.2m Micro-USB cable
• 15cm Micro USB Cable to Micro USB OTG Cable
• Hugo 2 Owner Manual
• IR Remote