Where has the NDX into Hugo thread gone?

Posted by: Simon-in-Suffolk on 19 June 2014

Any ideas? 

There were some heated debates, but no more so than other recent exchanges on the forum, and those threads are still there...

i can only think of negative defensive reasons which I don't associate with Naim at all.. I hope it wasn't to do with that..perhaps the thread can go back into padded cell? It was a fairly useful resource for those wanting to use their Naim equipment with a Hugo source..

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by Foxman50
Originally Posted by Kevin Richardson:
Originally Posted by DHT:

I tried the 'Hugo here, just to see whether the immense hype was justified, sadly it isn't what a poor device it is, difficult to use,neither fish nor fowl, is it meant to be portable?

Very disappointing in all respects in terms of resolution it sounded thick and I'll defined.

H.

  FInally!  Some brave soul finally has to guts to post the truth behind the Hugo hype.  The Hugo is neither a fish nor a fowl.  That, friends, is not an opinion its a fact.

Kevin

i agree my Hugo is definitely not a fish or a fowl. My Hugo was easy to set up and connect, but how would you connect a fish or a fowl. Now i cant see either of those sounding very good. My vote goes to Hugo and just eat the other two 

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by Foxman50
Originally Posted by DHT:

Chord have always been more abut the case than the engineering, I also read an interview with their designer Rob Wats?

I will try and post a link, his answers to some of the questions posed simply did not make sense and showed a basic lack of understanding of sample theorem, I will see if I can find a link.

H

Oh dear i think you are gonna start Marky Mark off again.

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by Mr Frog
Originally Posted by DHT:

I tried the 'Hugo here, just to see whether the immense hype was justified, sadly it isn't what a poor device it is, difficult to use,neither fish nor fowl, is it meant to be portable?

Very disappointing in all respects in terms of resolution it sounded thick and I'll defined.

H.

Okay that's fine 

What do you use that sounds better and what do you suggest for similar cost that will outperform the Hugo. I'm genuinely interested because I haven't found anything to beat it but I'm certainly open minded and happy to try other products 

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by tonym
Originally Posted by DHT:

Chord have always been more abut the case than the engineering, I also read an interview with their designer Rob Wats?

I will try and post a link, his answers to some of the questions posed simply did not make sense and showed a basic lack of understanding of sample theorem, I will see if I can find a link.

H

Wow! Just imagine how good his DACs would sound if he knew what he was doing!

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by Big Bill
Originally Posted by tonym:
Originally Posted by DHT:

Chord have always been more abut the case than the engineering, I also read an interview with their designer Rob Wats?

I will try and post a link, his answers to some of the questions posed simply did not make sense and showed a basic lack of understanding of sample theorem, I will see if I can find a link.

H

Wow! Just imagine how good his DACs would sound if he knew what he was doing!

That's a good point Tony!

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by George J

Same here except that I am using the DAC V1.

 

The new stuff is just so good that you stop worrying what might be better.

 

ATB from George

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by dayjay
Originally Posted by DHT:

Chord have always been more abut the case than the engineering, I also read an interview with their designer Rob Wats?

I will try and post a link, his answers to some of the questions posed simply did not make sense and showed a basic lack of understanding of sample theorem, I will see if I can find a link.

H

Interesting, when will you be marketing your game changing dac then?

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by m0omo0
Originally Posted by Wat:
[...] Others play rap, i am of a more musical (or should that be music hall) persuasion. [...]

Sorry, completely off topic, but that's very interesting. I wouldn't say more musical, I would say more melodic. My problem with rap in general is the lack of melody, not the lack of music. It's just a kind of music that, for a number of reasons including the one just mentioned, I have problems to relate to. But that is very personal. This doesn't allow me to say that it's bad music*, because most probably it is not. It is just that I'm not able to create a bound to it, and that is because of the lack of melody.

 

To be fair, I must say that the English language, not being my mother tongue, is not the first thing that relates to me in a song sung in any other language than French. In French, the first thing that I hear is the lyrics; in any other language it's the music. So it happens that, sometimes but not that often, and the reason would mostly be because of the meaning of the lyrics, I'm able to relate to a French rap song, but not to an English or American rap song. That doesn't mean I like it though.

 

Strangely, I have not the same problem with, say, free jazz, which is completely devoid of melody (ok, mostly; at least repetitive patterns of melody).

 

It may sound as a criticism to Wat's arguments, but it is not. It is just to illustrate that the way we forge an opinion, about a DAC, some flat panel speakers or a selection of music, or anyting else, is often a lot more intimate than we may think at first, and the way we put it is always built on the lack of better words. Melodic over musical is not a better truth, it's just that it's closer to my truth in this particular matter.

 

Sorry for the distraction. You may now return to a normal activity.

 

* Is rap more generally different to, say, rock, than the music from Bach is different from 20th century atonal music ? I'm not litterate enough in this particular matter to defend my opinion with a proper demonstration, but, intuitively, I don't think so.

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Originally Posted by m0omo0:
It may sound as a criticism to Wat's arguments, but it is not. It is just to illustrate that the way we forge an opinion, about a DAC, some flat panel speakers or a selection of music, or anything else, is often a lot more intimate than we may think at first, and the way we put it is always built on the lack of better words.

Beautifully stated Maurice. I fell for the Hugo, but in a somewhat mental, rational way, and spilled a lot of words over it. The Resonessence Mirus, on the other hand, has grabbed me in ways that I have not experienced since my first exposure to Naim. This DAC has just got under my skin. How do you say *addictive* in French? 

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by m0omo0

Oh here you are !

 

Addictif, simply.

Posted on: 19 August 2014 by Steve J

Changing the subject somewhat. Nobody has mentioned AFAIK how good internet radio sounds with the Hugo.

Posted on: 20 August 2014 by Richard Dane
Originally Posted by DHT:

Chord have always been more abut the case than the engineering, I also read an interview with their designer Rob Wats?

I will try and post a link, his answers to some of the questions posed simply did not make sense and showed a basic lack of understanding of sample theorem, I will see if I can find a link.

H

No links please.  You can quote, paraphrase and summarise though.

Posted on: 20 August 2014 by lovethatsound
Hi guys , their's a new topic on head-fi which I think will be of interest 2 some of you guys it's called Disruptive Technology-A-Frank(s) Discussion
Posted on: 20 August 2014 by Big Bill
 

m0omo0 I agree with you 100%.  I have broad music tastes but I hate rap in any language.  It is now totally unoriginal, that is it all sounds exactly the same.  Time to go IMHO.

 

Like you I am a big fan of Avante Garde or Free or Acid Jazz and there are some great young musicians out there pushing the boundaries.  Tale a listen to 'Roller Trio', for example.

 

I love Romantic/Late Romantic French music, one of my top five composers is Debussy - could listen to him all day.  Likewise Ravel.

 

I am sitting at the moment listening to a Bach cantata btw - BWV 4, lovely stuff.

 

Keep your rap or as I call it C Rap!

Posted on: 20 August 2014 by dayjay

Agree with you on rap but I'd rather tattoo my eyeballs than listen to jazz, I once heard it refered to as musical masturbation which seemed quite apt to me, of course if you change the vowel......

Posted on: 20 August 2014 by Mr Frog
Originally Posted by Wat:
Originally Posted by Mr Frog:
Originally Posted by DHT:

I tried the 'Hugo here, just to see whether the immense hype was justified, sadly it isn't what a poor device it is, difficult to use,neither fish nor fowl, is it meant to be portable?

Very disappointing in all respects in terms of resolution it sounded thick and I'll defined.

H.

Okay that's fine 

What do you use that sounds better and what do you suggest for similar cost that will outperform the Hugo. I'm genuinely interested because I haven't found anything to beat it but I'm certainly open minded and happy to try other products 

Mr Frog - I think you may find the Antelope Platinum DAC with Atomic Clock playing Quad DSD shades it. Ah, but you asked for similar cost so best forget that suggestion. The only reasonably priced DAC i have heard to rival Hugo is from ExaSound, but I think that is double the price. In the end, i think would I enjoy listening to Cradle of Filth on one if these DACs anymore than i would on Hugo and have to answer no. 

 

As George says, when you have found what works for you why worry. 

Absolutely spot on 

Posted on: 26 August 2014 by Hugh Craig

I have had my Hugo for 4 days and at the moment am a bit disappointed. Though detailed, the soundstage doesn't seem quite so big and there is a bit of harshness that I didn't pick up on when I home demo'd.  I was staggered by the improvement during the demo period so was wondering how long it should take the new unit to run in (or is this not an issue with Hugo?).

The problem could also be the phono lead. I auditioned with Chord Chorus but thought I would try a Flashback lead I found buried in a drawer. Turned out to be a 4pin din (schoolboy error!) I have now ordered a Chord Chorus (about as far as my budget can stretch) and my dealer has loaned me Atlas Element until it arrives.

ATB

Hugh

 

Posted on: 26 August 2014 by Frostjones
Originally Posted by Hugh Craig:

I have had my Hugo for 4 days and at the moment am a bit disappointed. Though detailed, the soundstage doesn't seem quite so big and there is a bit of harshness that I didn't pick up on when I home demo'd.  I was staggered by the improvement during the demo period so was wondering how long it should take the new unit to run in (or is this not an issue with Hugo?).

The problem could also be the phono lead. I auditioned with Chord Chorus but thought I would try a Flashback lead I found buried in a drawer. Turned out to be a 4pin din (schoolboy error!) I have now ordered a Chord Chorus (about as far as my budget can stretch) and my dealer has loaned me Atlas Element until it arrives.

ATB

Hugh

 

Hi Hugh, I have had my Hugo for three weeks now and have not detected any improvement per se, however, in auditioning output cables, the variations appear quite large. The Chord cobra convinced me of the Hugo's potential and the Chord Sarum has made me question whether or not to sell my cds 2. The jury is still out on the Chord signature ( not tried the chorus yet -waiting for demo cable to arrive) I am trying to source a suitable Hi-line but none of my local dealers have one and a return phone call promised by Salisbury has yet to materialise.... Still hopeful though. 

 

Ps. Have also ordered a vertere dfi usbA to micro cable - hopeful of further gains.

 

Posted on: 26 August 2014 by cat345

I had two Hugos and both took around a month to reach maximum SQ. Choice of analog and digital cables is irrevelant compared to the huge step in sound quality that Hugo brings compared to other sources.

Posted on: 26 August 2014 by Steve J

The Hugo takes about 100 hours to 'burn' in. Just leave it playing for a few days. 

Posted on: 26 August 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Originally Posted by cat345:

I had two Hugos and both took around a month to reach maximum SQ. Choice of analog and digital cables is irrevelant compared to the huge step in sound quality that Hugo brings compared to other sources.

Past tense...Have you sold the Hugo(s)?

Posted on: 26 August 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Originally Posted by Frostjones:
...however, in auditioning output cables, the variations appear quite large....

I agree, I ended up with a Naim Hiline phono to DIN and I really think that sounds rather smashing. It has detail and bite with out being overly so and has great bass depth and mids seem to be beautifully enhanced such as with voices etc.

It does appear however quite easy to get a relatively rather flat or bright sound from the Hugo with a non optimal interconnect... Perhaps a flaw from the beloved Hugo??

Simon

Posted on: 26 August 2014 by Steve J

+1 for the Hiline. The analogue output cable will have the greatest effect on sound quality and I think it's more important to invest in this cable than the USB input cable, though I will look at appropriate USB cables when the time is right.

Posted on: 26 August 2014 by cat345
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:
Originally Posted by cat345:

I had two Hugos and both took around a month to reach maximum SQ. Choice of analog and digital cables is irrevelant compared to the huge step in sound quality that Hugo brings compared to other sources.

Past tense...Have you sold the Hugo(s)?

Of course not! My comprehensive dealer decided to exchange my first Hugo for a brand new one with the modified chassis after a small round window decided to pop into the casing.. That is the kind of service you don't get when you buy online...

 

As for the cables I use 24 years old Chord phono to Din cable I got when I bought my Nait 2. I would probably get a 2% sq increase if i'd use Hilines or Chord Sarum Tune Array's but I don't give a damn. What I want now is value for money. 

Posted on: 26 August 2014 by Foxman50

Has something changed in Hugo.

 

There is a review on Wigwam by a "James Palmer", not aware of him, but he has mentioned the same issues Hugh has found, a harshness.

 

I read his review earlier and thought it odd as i have never found Hugo to be harsh, far from it. And now Hugh has basically found similar.

 

So has a change been made i wonder

 

Graeme