Chord Hugo 2 Transportable Headphone DAC & Amplifier
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Chord Hugo 2 Transportable Headphone DAC & Amplifier
Overview
The Chord Electronics Hugo 2 is a transportable DAC and headphone amplifier built for both home and mobile use. It follows Chord's original 2014 Hugo, and Chord says advances in FPGA technology and its WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filters give Hugo 2 next-generation technical and sonic performance. Chord notes it was a What Hi-Fi Best DAC winner every year from 2017 to 2022.
At its heart is a custom-coded Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA running a 49,152-tap filter with a 10-element pulse array, feeding a Class A output stage. Inputs include HD Micro USB (up to 768kHz and native DSD512), coaxial and optical, plus Bluetooth (aptX). Outputs are 6.35mm and 3.5mm headphone jacks and a pair of RCA line outputs, and Chord rates it to drive headphones up to 800 ohms.
Four illuminated spherical buttons control power, input, filters, and crossfeed. Four digital filters range from incisive and neutral to warm, and the three-level crossfeed recreates the effect of listening to speakers on headphones. A full-function remote and a line-level mode make it just as useful in a desktop or full-size system, and Chord rates battery life at around 6 hours, depending on headphones.
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Hugo 2 earns its place as both a portable rig and a home DAC. At home, the line-level mode (press the Source and Crossfeed buttons together) sets a fixed 3V output on all outputs for a preamp or integrated amp, and the included remote handles volume and inputs from your chair. Note that Windows needs Chord's driver for USB playback, while macOS and Linux are driverless.
More Info
Why the Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Stands Out
Custom FPGA DAC
A custom-coded Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA with 49,152 taps and a 10-element pulse array.
Up to 768kHz and DSD512
High-resolution PCM and native DSD64 to DSD512 via the Micro USB input.
Four Inputs Plus Bluetooth
Micro USB, coaxial, dual-data coaxial, and optical inputs, plus aptX Bluetooth.
Class A Output Stage
Rated at 1050mW into 8 ohms and 740mW into 32 ohms, driving headphones up to 800 ohms.
Filters and Crossfeed
Four digital filters and three crossfeed levels for headphone listening.
Remote and Line-Level Mode
An included IR remote and a 3V line-level mode for home systems.
Buyer's Guide
Who It's For
- The Headphone Enthusiast: Wants a powerful Class A headphone amp with crossfeed.
- The Home-and-Away Listener: Wants one DAC for travel and for a desktop or living-room system.
- The High-Resolution Collector: Plays files up to 768kHz and native DSD512.
How It Compares
Compared with Chord's pocket-size Mojo 2, which goes wireless with the add-on Poly, Hugo 2 builds in Bluetooth and adds RCA line outputs and an included remote. For a home system without a battery or headphone outputs, Chord's Qutest is a standalone DAC with the same 49,152-tap filter length and RCA outputs.
Chord Hugo 2 Transportable Headphone DAC & Amplifier Specifications
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Model | Chord Electronics Hugo 2 |
| Brand | Chord Electronics |
| Product Type | Transportable DAC, preamp and headphone amplifier |
| Audio | |
| Chipset | Custom-coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA |
| Tap Length | 49,152 (10-element pulse array) |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2dB |
| Output Stage | Class A |
| Output Impedance | 0.025 ohms |
| THD | <0.0001% (1kHz, 3V RMS, 300 ohms) |
| Signal to Noise | 126dB 'A' weighted |
| Channel Separation | 135dB at 1kHz, 300 ohms |
| Power Output (1kHz, 1% THD) | 1050mW @ 8 ohms; 740mW @ 32 ohms; 94mW @ 300 ohms |
| Headphone Support | Up to 800 ohms |
| Connectivity | |
| Inputs | Micro USB (44.1-768kHz, 16-32bit); coax 3.5mm (to 384kHz); dual-data coax 3.5mm (to 768kHz); optical (to 96kHz); Bluetooth aptX (44.1-48kHz) |
| Outputs | 1x 6.35mm headphone; 1x 3.5mm headphone; stereo RCA |
| DSD | Native DSD64 to DSD512 |
| Line-Level Mode | 3V via all outputs |
| Drivers | Driverless on macOS and Linux; driver required for Windows |
| Controls & Power | |
| Filters | 4 digital filters |
| Crossfeed | Off plus 3 levels |
| Remote | IR remote included |
| Battery | 2x 3.7V 9.6Wh Li-ion; around 6 hours playtime |
| Charging | Micro USB: about 6 hours at 1.8A or 8 hours at 1A |
| Physical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 2.1cm (H) x 10cm (W) x 13cm (D) |
| Weight | 365g |
| Construction | Precision-machined aluminium casing |
| Colours Available | Natural silver, satin black |
| In the Box | |
| Accessories | Drawstring bag, 5V 2A Micro USB power supply, IR remote, Micro USB to USB-A cable, Micro USB OTG cable, optical cable, optical to 3.5mm cable, 2x AAA batteries |
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