NDX and Chord Hugo
Posted by: Foxman50 on 18 April 2014
I have been contemplating adding a DAC to my NDX/XPS2 to see (or should that be hear) what it can bring to the party. And so thought it about time i made inroads into Having a few home demos. After looking around at products that are within my budget i came across the Chord Hugo DAC.
Although it is meant to be a portable headphone unit, it can be used as a full line level fixed DAC.
The dealer lent me a TQ black digital coax lead, which have twist grip plugs. This was required as the present batch of Hugo's have a case design fault that wont allow any decent cable to fit, soon to be rectified. Thankfully the TQ just manages to hang on to the coax port.
Once all connected and gone through the minimal setup procedure of the Hugo, what does the red LED mean again, i left it to warm up for half an hour.
Poured a beer and sat down for an evenings listening.
What was that, where did that come from, that's what that instrument is. OMG, as my little'n would say, Where is it getting all this detail from.
After spending last night and today with it, all i can say is that it has totally transformed my system from top to bottom. I never considered my NDX to be veiled or shut in, not even sure that's the correct terms. All i can say is its opened up the sound stage and space around instruments. Everything I've put through it has had my toes, feet and legs tapping away to the music.
Even putting the toe tapping, the resolution the clarity to one side, what its greatest achievement for me has been in making albums that I've had trouble listening too enjoyable now.
One added bonus is that it has made the XPS redundant. I cannot hear any difference with it in or out of the system.
While i thought a DAC may make a change in the degree of the jump from ND5 to NDX, i was not prepared for this. Anyone looking at adding a PSU to there NDX may want to check this unit out first.
For me this has to be the bargain of the year.
Posted on: 27 May 2014 by Foxman50
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Antici.....pation.
Hurry up postie!
G
Graeme
If you have a new unit don't expect too much. I was really disappointed with my new one, it took about a week and half of playing 24/7 before it sounded like the loan unit.
Thanfully now it sounds, well for the first time i don't want to change a thing in my setup. Was thinking of changing speakers but i keep saying what for.
Good luck with it
Graeme
Posted on: 27 May 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Graeme,
Was thinking of changing speakers but i keep saying what for
spooky, I am exactly at that same point and thought process...
Simon
Posted on: 27 May 2014 by Foxman50
It is all very bizarre, and made even more so when you look at it and its puny little psu. But then you sit back and listen with a huge grin on your face.
Graeme
Posted on: 27 May 2014 by GraemeH
It is a new unit and that's one thing I've learned....patience. Thanks for the 'about a week' tip though - gives me some parameters.
G
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by dave4jazz
Originally Posted by Foxman50:
It is all very bizarre, and made even more so when you look at it and its puny little psu. But then you sit back and listen with a huge grin on your face.
Graeme
Reminds me of when I first started to use my Squeezebox Touch. 
Dave
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by PepsiCan
Anyone compare the Hugo against the DAC-V1? Any differences? Things one can do and the other can't?
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Aleg
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Antici.....pation.
Hurry up postie!
G
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
... one thing I've learned....patience. ...
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by Aleg:
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Antici.....pation.
Hurry up postie!
G
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
... one thing I've learned....patience. ...
One of these couriers that tells you every millimeter of your tracked parcel movements....enticingly close but yet possibly so far...G
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by GraemeH
"Aglen is currently making delivery number 1, you are delivery number 52."
Good to know it will be 5:00 grrrr!
G
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by cvrle
Originally Posted by PepsiCan:
Anyone compare the Hugo against the DAC-V1? Any differences? Things one can do and the other can't?
I moved from V1 to Hugo. First of all, it is a significant step up in SQ that Hugo brings in. V1 was nice and I was happy for a while, but Hugo makes me feeling that I spent pile of money on the front end. It's not an accident that people here compare it to NDX, NDS and nDAC. All these are supposed to be better than V1, especially with external PS.
Beside SQ, Hugo has 24bit and 32bit container integrated, plus DSD format, V1 was only for 24bit container.
In the other hand, V1 has much nicer Volume control (analog section), and remote control integrated too. I wish Hugo could be controlled remotely, but I wouldn't trade it for SQ either.
There are some other differences, but these would be my major points.
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Martin B
Apparantly some people use Hugo directly into their speakers. Some guy says he can drive b&w 805d without using any amp at all.. And with a good result.
Rob Watts states that:
I use one directly into small active loudspeakers, and another one feeding my power amp in my main system. There is no point in using a pre-amp, unless you want to use analogue sources. You will get much better transparency and musicality by avoiding pre-amps of any nature. Have fun with your Hugo!
Does this mean that a naim NAC is not needed?
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by David S Patterson
Sounds like a Supernait2 etc with AV bypass might be perfect unless the full bandwith causes the Naim power amp problems. Caution here I think.
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:
still can't get over the fact there is no sonic difference between battery only, and battery under trickle charge from a SMPS.
It's best to leave the charger plugged in all the time.
On two occasions where I was testing it in battery mode (and forgot to switch it off), it ran down to the point of playing dead. The first time required an hour with the charger plugged in before the unit stirred to life. The second time, the charger light simply blinked at me ominously, but through a combination of unplugging and replugging, with the unit switched on and switched off - along with the appropraite incantations - it came back to life.
Is it fed by the battery when left plugged in - and the battery is topped-up from the mains?
G
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by PepsiCan
Originally Posted by Martin B:
Apparantly some people use Hugo directly into their speakers. Some guy says he can drive b&w 805d without using any amp at all.. And with a good result.
Rob Watts states that:
I use one directly into small active loudspeakers, and another one feeding my power amp in my main system. There is no point in using a pre-amp, unless you want to use analogue sources. You will get much better transparency and musicality by avoiding pre-amps of any nature. Have fun with your Hugo!
Does this mean that a naim NAC is not needed?
Correct. It seems that just like the DAC-V1, a Hugo has a build in pre-amp.
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Arjan
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Not Correct, you can't discharge and charge a battery at the same time. The battery is either powering the DAC or it is being charged and kept full while the charger powers the DAC.
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Originally Posted by Arjan:
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Not Correct, you can't discharge and charge a battery at the same time. The battery is either powering the DAC or it is being charged and kept full while the charger powers the DAC.
According to the designer, Rob Watts (and who am I to argue) :
On the PSU charger - if plugged in, and batteries are fully charged, it will either trickle charge (constant current mode) or do nothing. The batteries always supply power to Hugo. I can't hear much difference in plugging the charger in or out.
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Arjan
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Originally Posted by Arjan:
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Not Correct, you can't discharge and charge a battery at the same time. The battery is either powering the DAC or it is being charged and kept full while the charger powers the DAC.
According to the designer, Rob Watts (and who am I to argue) :
On the PSU charger - if plugged in, and batteries are fully charged, it will either trickle charge (constant current mode) or do nothing. The batteries always supply power to Hugo. I can't hear much difference in plugging the charger in or out.
If the batteries were supplying power to the DAC they would not stay full but discharge. This is obviously not the case. Current cannot flow in and out of the battery at the same time. When the battery is full, charging stops and the charger only powers the DAC. If the battery would be used the charge level drops in which case the charger would charge it again and so the battery cannot power the DAC at the same time. Current either flows in or out of a battery. I'm sure the power requirement for the Hugo is very low and therefor making a quiet power supply from the charger is very well possible these days. There are other (better) ways then to use big Toroids and Caps 
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by GraemeH
Hugo up and running. All very straightforward.
G
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Steve J
Leaving the semantics of battery 'mechanics' aside, if it is true that the battery is used to power the Hugo whether connected to the mains or not begs the question how long the batteries lasts for and are they replaceable? I wouldn't want to fork out £1400 if the life expectancy of the unit is dependent on the longevity of the battery, like iPods. Can someone with a Hugo clarify as it's a possible DAC solution for me too.
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by lovethatsound
Hi steve j, the battery should last a very long time, I myself just leave it plugged in all the time, if you ever need a replacement battery,you can get 1 from your chord dealer . its not a problem.
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Pev
Originally Posted by Arjan:
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Not Correct, you can't discharge and charge a battery at the same time. The battery is either powering the DAC or it is being charged and kept full while the charger powers the DAC.
Not saying you're wrong but how come my motorcycles can recharge their batteries when they are running - same goes for cars in my experience?
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by DavidDever
Originally Posted by Steve J:
Leaving the semantics of battery 'mechanics' aside, if it is true that the battery is used to power the Hugo whether connected to the mains or not begs the question how long the batteries lasts for and are they replaceable? I wouldn't want to fork out £1400 if the life expectancy of the unit is dependent on the longevity of the battery, like iPods. Can someone with a Hugo clarify as it's a possible DAC solution for me too.
The batteries are soldered in, but eminently replaceable.
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Arjan
Originally Posted by Pev:
Originally Posted by Arjan:
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Not Correct, you can't discharge and charge a battery at the same time. The battery is either powering the DAC or it is being charged and kept full while the charger powers the DAC.
Not saying you're wrong but how come my motorcycles can recharge their batteries when they are running - same goes for cars in my experience?
Same principal as the Hugo, when your engine is running the alternator is charging your battery AND supplying all the electrical power for your motorcycle/car. The battery is not used once the engine is running, same as the Hugo when it's connected to the mains. But i'll stop my electrical lessons, i just wanted to point out the Hugo runs on mains when it's connected. Apparently it has very good power regulation since there is no reported audible difference.
Posted on: 28 May 2014 by Foxman50
Arjan
i think you are correct. I read this about the Hugo and wondered how this would be possible, but then im no electronic engineer. I for one cannot hear any difference between mains or battery. Even if you repeatedly get someone to pull the charger in and out, no audible change at all as far as i can tell.
very clever man indeed Mr Watts
Graeme
