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: 11 June 2014 by GraemeH

Mine is on permanently with only NDX digital out as the single source, so no worries regarding 'fiddlyness'.

 

Fit and forget...until you listen to it and remember what a brilliantly engineered Dac it is!

 

G

Posted on: 11 June 2014 by pete T15

I turned mine down a notch last night too so its the same as the ND5XS , unfortunately I start worrying about the neighbours from 830 onwards  . Ordered TQ black interconnect with DIN adaptor today which should show me what HUGO is really capable of and I'm on the lookout for a small isolation shelf too? 

 

As Graeme has said it once its fitted you forget about it and just hear the music. 

Posted on: 11 June 2014 by Steve J
Originally Posted by Foxman50:
Originally Posted by Steve J:
Originally Posted by T38.45:

at 6moons they reviewed the new PS Audio DAC, it's got an award ....nice reading....seems that

Hugo and PS have something in common...

 

Ralf

I'm hoping to have a home demo of the PS Audio DirectStream DAC around the end of the month. I am also trying to arrange a home demo of the Hugo before then.

Keep us posted Steve, be interesting to hear your thoughts

 

Graeme

I will Graeme. I spoke to the UK distributor today and I could possibly be getting one for home demo at the end of next week.

 

The Hugo is still an option for me. I have one question; does the Hugo run warm when used for an extended time in a static system? I still have a little concern about the presence of the battery and the longevity of the unit.

 

Thanks.

 

Steve

Posted on: 11 June 2014 by GraemeH

Mine is lukewarm at most.

 

G

Posted on: 11 June 2014 by Steve J

Thanks for the info Graeme. 

 

Wat, you have email.

Posted on: 11 June 2014 by Foxman50
Originally Posted by Steve J:

Thanks for the info Graeme. 

 

Wat, you have email.

When idle but powered it is cold, but as Graeme said it gets luke warm to warm when being used. My blu ray player gets warmer.

 

Graeme

Posted on: 11 June 2014 by Sloop John B

 

Hugo - lukewarm: not a supposition we've seen much of. 

 

Reminiscent of the buzz a few years back with a Lavry DAC. 

 

Seems to to be a bit more substance to the Hugo though, very interesting to see an advance that seems to take a leap like this. 

 

Now glad I didn't buy the KDS that was tempting me s/h.  

 

SJB

 

Posted on: 11 June 2014 by cvrle

Thinking about how much I would need to spend to get this kind of SQ, and joy, makes me to stop thinking about battery or any other imperfection related to Hugo.

Personally, I could only dream about it, if there was no Hugo...

Cheers!

Posted on: 11 June 2014 by Kevin Richardson

12 hours until my Hugo arrives…  I really hope this is the last dec i buy in a long long time.

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Rockingdoc

I have settled to just using the Hugo, set up in line-out mode, dedicated to just one input from the music streamer. So no fddling with changing inputs.

For other sources, such as; Tivo box, BluRay etc, I am using another conventional DAC with easily accessible input switching, because the sound quality is less critical to me.

The batteries look very easily (compared to say an iPad) replaceable, should they fail, but with the power supply connected all the time I would hope for a long life from them anyway.

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Hmack

Hi Rockindoc,

 

I notice from your profile that you also use a Teddy DAC in one of your systems. This was a DAC that interested me before I decided to get the Hugo. Have you had a chance to compare these 2 DACs?

 

Hmack

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Originally Posted by Shanks:

A couple of things on the Hugo. 

 

The manual isn't very clear, and hence I just want to make sure I am doing this right.

 I keep the crossfeed button pressed while I power on the Hugo. This activates the line out mode and volume bypass, which is a bit annoying as it took me some time to figure out this is not actually true. So the volume control on the Hugo still works, when I experimented by increasing the volume on the Hugo, something my speakers did not like at all. I then press the crossfeed button three times for it to go back to off. The volume switch on the Hugo is set at a light blue. 

 

So far so good?? 

Hi Shanks,

 

1. There is no need to press the cross feed after switch on. The procedure you describe (in blue) will set the cross feed to maximum. The cross feed LED is the one on the right seen through the view portal. When the LED is off, there is no cross feed.

 

2. As you note, the volume bypass does not bypass the volume, it simply sets it at a suitable level for feeding a preamp.

 

Jan

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Kendrick

+1 for Hugo/Teddy DAC comparison.

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by pete T15

Part of the deal when I ordered the TQ black RCA lead was a 20% discount if I traded in any interconnect, I found the lavender DIN cable that came with my streamer and thought it best to test it before posting. I removed the TQ black DIN lead and replaced it with the lavender and played some music and thankfully the cable is fine. This also gave me the perfect opportunity to compare the internal DAC and the HUGO with similar interconnects . I love the ND5XS but WOW!!!!!! what a difference , masses more of everything and also showed what a great interconnect the TQ is .

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Kevin Richardson

Just got my Hugo 2 hours ago.  Currently running JRiver converting to dsd with HD800 and I love it.

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Foxman50
Originally Posted by Kevin Richardson:

Just got my Hugo 2 hours ago.  Currently running JRiver converting to dsd with HD800 and I love it.

Welcome to club Hugo. Enjoy 

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Your quest is over

 

until the new version of the QBD76 is perfected... or Naim surprises us

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by GraemeH

"I love it"...I agree.  

 

The first truly 'loveable' digital source I've heard.

 

Enjoy.

 

G

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Despite the world cup opening match being fed through the Hugo (via optical), Croatia still lost to Brazil, but at least perhaps the Hugo helped Croatia take the initial lead.

 

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Kevin Richardson
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:

Your quest is over

 

until the new version of the QBD76 is perfected... or Naim surprises us

Not quite...  I'm waiting for my RCA->DIN Lunar.  Should be here next week.  Another problem also needs some fix.  The power cord from the Hugo is too short.  Also, I need to construct some kind of black box to contain the Hugo.  The aesthetics are just too crazy to not pique my wife's interest.  All small details.

 

I am very very close...

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Kevin Richardson

I want to connect my Hugo  via either RCA->RCA or RCA->Din cable in a NDX->HUGO->SN2.  Is there any issue leaving the NDX connected to SN2 via Din?

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Originally Posted by Kevin Richardson:
Also, I need to construct some kind of black box to contain the Hugo.  The aesthetics are just too crazy to not pique my wife's interest.  

Now why would you want to do that, and deprive yourself of the best headphone experience you've ever had. Be a man. I shall assume my quest and take it into the realm of the headphone.

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Originally Posted by Brilliant:

4th day with Hugo here. I do not have an NDX and have never heard it. I have heard  the NDS (sorry can't remember the PS) at a demo. I  currently have a Qute and the Nait 2 from way back.

 

The Hugo impresses greatly with resolution and imaging. Instruments sound real and it is easy to follow them in a mix. A highly resolved and polished presentation, both melodically and rhythmically and seemingly free of any harshness or 'hardness'.

 

But IMHO it sounds 'polite' for lack of a better word. I do not get the usual goose bumps nor the adrenalin flow that I am addicted to. I hope this will change with more break in, but I am now anxious to hear the next gen Naim DAC, hopefully soon!

 

Any better after a week?

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Kevin Richardson
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Originally Posted by Kevin Richardson:
Also, I need to construct some kind of black box to contain the Hugo.  The aesthetics are just too crazy to not pique my wife's interest.  

Now why would you want to do that, and deprive yourself of the best headphone experience you've ever had. Be a man. I shall assume my quest and take it into the realm of the headphone.

I don't think its the best headphone experience.  It sounds amazing but…  It really won't work for me as a desktop hp amp.  There is no mute button or remote.  I am constantly interrupted during the day with phone calls and the V1's remote gives it the win.  However, if my spiral into insanity continues, I might get a 2nd hugo for my night stand.

Posted on: 12 June 2014 by Foxman50
Originally Posted by Kevin Richardson:
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Originally Posted by Kevin Richardson:
Also, I need to construct some kind of black box to contain the Hugo.  The aesthetics are just too crazy to not pique my wife's interest.  

Now why would you want to do that, and deprive yourself of the best headphone experience you've ever had. Be a man. I shall assume my quest and take it into the realm of the headphone.

I don't think its the best headphone experience.  It sounds amazing but…  It really won't work for me as a desktop hp amp.  There is no mute button or remote.  I am constantly interrupted during the day with phone calls and the V1's remote gives it the win.  However, if my spiral into insanity continues, I might get a 2nd hugo for my night stand.

Kevin

 

Surely when a phone call comes in you just take the head phones off. Voila sound muted.

 

But seriously i agree with you i can't really see how this could be used as an effective desktop hp amp without a remote, not that ive tried.

 

to your earlier question regarding connecting the NDX via two ways to your amp, i cant see why that should be a problem. A very good way to do comparisons also.

 

 Graeme