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CHORD ELECTRONICS Hugo 2 Digital to Analogue Converter

In 2014, we 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.

$4,500.00

DESCRIPTION

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.

Features

Chord Custom FPGA DAC

49,152 Taps

7 hour Battery Life

768kHz Micro USB Input

384kHz Coax Jack Input

Bluetooth Apt X Input

192kHz Optical Input

1x ¼” Headphone Output

1x 3.5mm Headphone Output

Unbalanced RCA Outputs

Supports up to 768kHz

DSD512 (8x) Native

Native DSD Support

4x Playback Filters

3x Crossfeed Function

Supports up to 800Ω

IR Remote Control Included

CNC Aluminium Chassis

Specifications

Specification

What's In The Box?

Hugo 2
User Instructions
Power supply (5 V, 2.1 A)
Remote control
AAA batteries x2
20 cm USB micro-micro
1 met USB A-micro
20 cm optical toslink-3.5mm
1 met optical toslink-toslink

Specifications

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
Play time	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 ¼” 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 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)

Technical Specifications

Chipset	Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA
Tap-length	49,152
Pulse array	10 element pulse array design
Frequency response	20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
Output stage	Class A
Output impedance	0.025Ω
THD	<0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300Ω
THD and noise at 3v RMS	120dB at 1kHz 300ohms ‘A’ wighted (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 300Ω
Power output @ 1kHz 1% THD	94mW 300Ω 740mW 33Ω 1050mW 8Ω
Weight	450g
Dimensions	130mm (L) x 100mm (W) x 21mm (H)
Boxed Dimensions	220mm (L) x 122mm (W) x 85mm (H)