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: 23 June 2014 by Big Bill
Originally Posted by Hmack:
"I notice that you haven't mentioned what music you have been listening to, in these posts, none of you have. That seems a bit sus to me. I wouldn't raise this, however none of you post in the What Are You Listening to section....so for all I know you may be getting very excited over The Carpenters or Lionel Richie albums, instead of Aerosmith or Kiss for example"
I have posted a few of things in the "listening to section" but there never seems to be any discussion about the music there, mainly because your post become history so quickly that you lose track.
I have to say, though that I am not a big metal fan, although I like some early metal - Deep Purple, Led Zep, Back Sabbath. But for me later stuff all seemed to sound the same, noise and blokes waggling their tongues. Thank God for Spinal Tap.
I am more into Classical, Jazz and Psychedelic Rock!
No need to apologise I had not taken offence and I am sorry if I gave that opinion.
I will make a start on my equipment, I assume there is an equipment section in the 'manage', no worries I will find it.
ps I did love Karen Carpenters voice, it was like a bell but they were just too middle-of-the-road for me.
Posted on: 23 June 2014 by Hmack
Char Wallah originally wrote:
"I notice that you haven't mentioned what music you have been listening to, in these posts, none of you have. That seems a bit sus to me. I wouldn't raise this, however none of you post in the What Are You Listening to section....so for all I know you may be getting very excited over The Carpenters or Lionel Richie albums, instead of Aerosmith or Kiss for example"
Bill,
I hasten to add that the above post was not by me - I was just responding to it. I certainly wouldn't attempt to decry anyone's musical tastes.
Karen had a beautiful voice, and I like a few things by the Carpenters, but in moderation. Wat, I will admit to having one Carpenters album - there!, I have made Char Walluh's case for him.
Wat, I am with you on Sandy Denny - a wonderful singer/songwriter! Through n Bridget St John, Jamis Ian and many others of the time. And if I want to raise the volume a little, then it would be Led Zeppelin, the Who or the Stones, with a bit of Ten Years After or Blues 'n' Trouble for me most of the time rather than Aerosmith and Kiss.
Posted on: 23 June 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Wat indeed Close to You,was the Capenters' second album with Offering/Ticket to Ride being the first.
Sandy Denny is truly outstanding with her own folk songs such as the NorthStar Grassman that can still make me rather emotional.. As well as with English folk standards.. But her style couldn't be more different from Karen Carpenters which at its best in my opinion is MOTR US style early 70s pop, albeit still beautiful and poignant at times.. and as was said Close to You is a beautiful album... But cheesy album picture.
Simon
Posted on: 23 June 2014 by KRM
Sure enough, it's not the first. My incomplete knowldge of their oeurve predates the web.
Back on the subject, I visited my dealer on Saturday, having mentioned the Hugo on the phone a few weeks ago. His attitude was a world weary, hear we go again.
Keith
Posted on: 24 June 2014 by Big Bill
For me Sandy Denny was the greatest female singer of all time and coupled with her songwriting elevates her to true greatness. The amazing thing about her songwriting was that her songs sounded as if they had been around for ever just like the traditional songs she covered.
I saw her at Essex Univ in 1969 where they scrawled the cover of their first (and greatest) album on a blackboard, I was absolutely stunned by how good that band was. Not just Sandy's singing but Richard Thompson guitar just blew my mind - what a great guitarist he is. I saw them a few times later, sadly without Sandy. I also saw her when she was with Fotheringay, at the Southbank (Queen Elizabeth Hall??), they weren't as good as Fairport I think.
ps I was just browsing Wiki finding out what year I would have seen Fotheringay (1970 I guess) and I noticed that Fairport Convention with Sandy did in fact do 4 albums, yes you heard it right. They reformed in 1974 to produce the album "Rising for the Moon" the band was part of Fotheringay & what was left of Fairport - I never knew about this one.
Why did no one mention the great Carole King? Eh, what is the matter with you lot? Perhaps not a great singer but certainly a truly great songwriter.
Posted on: 24 June 2014 by Justin9960
Originally Posted by Char Wallah:
I can wait for a few more months to buy a cheap one,when there will be a lot of unwanted ones on the second hand market, for my second system.
Funny you say that, I am doing just that, having bought one that was 6 weeks old with hardly any use! Laying on the bed, iPad via USB, into Hugo, into Grado PS1000, it really is good. I'm trying to recall the performance of the V-1 as a comparison, think the sound was fuller on the V-1, but hearing more detail on the Hugo, it does acoustics so crisply. I know it's a bit of a cliche, but I am genuinely hearing things that I have never heard before, could it be the effects of the Shiraz..........
I'm even getting used to working the thing, from an initial frustration, I am beginning to understand the hype. Particularly as a used purchase, it proves exceptional value for money. It joins the Qute2/Motive 2/PS1000 as definite keepers.
Posted on: 24 June 2014 by Kevin Richardson
Ok. I finally got my Lunar rca -> din for my Hugo. Hooked it up from NDX via a new DC1. Listened for about three hours.
First things first… I've been playing music from my MacBookPro --> Hugo --> HD800 for about 100 hours. The experience is the best headphone sound I remember hearing. I like it so much that I suspect it will remain on my nightstand.
Now about the Hugo as a NDX supplement. Everything everybody else has been saying sounds true. It really has a natural and detailed sound. However, saying it is a little light on the bass seems quite an understatement. It sounds like everything below 30 hz is missing.
Does Naim over emphasize this or is the Hugo lacking? Is this part of the design since it is intended for headphone listening?
Posted on: 24 June 2014 by Kevin Richardson
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Absolutely no shortage of bass frequencies here. It sounds full and tuneful with a nice leading edge - the first time bass has actually sounded like a proper musical instrument.
Naim DC1 (BNC-RCA) from NDX to Hugo and Chord Anthem 2 (RCA-DIN) from Hugo to SN2.
G
Well I have a REL G2 with xover at 30hz and with the Hugo it is nearly silent compared to NDX. It really feels like its filtering out everything lower than that. Is that possible? It is a bit disappointing because everything else is a clear upgrade from the NDX.
Probably better for me this way since I can not go back to the V1 for headphone listening. However I'll give it a few weeks.
Posted on: 25 June 2014 by Mr Frog
Just about to order a Chord Hugo (online) and wondered what were the best connection leads to use from my Naim ND5XS - Coax or TOSLink? Any recommendations as to manufacturer or type would be appreciated 
The ND5XS is connected to my ATC SCA2 preamp using Linn (from a previous system!) RCA phono leads. These should be fine for the Hugo output, unless anyone can suggest an improvement. Also, someone once mentioned using RF chokes (which I am totally unfamiliar with) should I add these to the cables or is it totally unnecessary with my setup?
Appreciate any advice from current Hugo users.
System: Naim ND5XS > ATC SCA2 > ATC SCM 50 ASL (Classic)
