Where has the NDX into Hugo thread gone?

I think it's a burn in issue. Mine sounded slightly harsh when new and after 100 hours or so the harshness disappeared. It's the most analogue sounding digital system I've heard.

I had a Hugo that sounded quite hard and un involving and didn't improve after burn in.. The dealer took it back and swapped for another new device.. That one was fine, and the dealer sent the other back to Chord as faulty.. So perhaps there are some faulty ones out there?

but I think it's quite easy to spot.. Because a correctly functioning Hugo is anything but harsh.. In fact some have said it's too laid back and smooth..

To me when it's working correctly it just seems to 'disappear'

Well Leonard Cohen is sounding very smooth here ATM. 

Hugo and my 82 don't get on too well, tending to be a touch harsh and tiring at times. Different story with the SN2. James Palmer doesn't mention run-in time or the preamp he used in the review (sloppy...), but I concur completely with his take on using the Hugo at work. It's wonderful, and very hard to get any work done, but sure makes me forget about the noise from the neighboring cubicles. Sigh. Only 10 months more to go then r e t i r e m e n t

Jan 

Please don't tell me you've got a copy of Popular Problems...

For the ones who still have doubts, listen to Clapton's "Gotta get over" on a Hugo  

Ive only had the little fellow a few days now ( i bought it from another chap but it is as new)- i purchased a Lunar cable and got a friend to burn it in for me 

For the price its a total bargain - its barking at the heels of my Cds3 with similar characteristics . Presently im using a Mac/Amarra but im going to audition several streamers to see if improvements can be made 

I have a Vertere PULSE-E HD usb cable , but have been informed that spdif may be a better option 

So to sum it up im really happy with the Hugo and dont mind if it takes me another 6 months to find a source that i really like 

Its taken me 3 years to find a Dac that i could live with 

Thanks everyone - a day on and things already improving. Looks like a bit of patience and a better analogue lead may be all that's required.

hugh

Things don't change you just become accustomed to the new sound.

H

Both!

Don't 'attack' someone's observation and opinion just because you or your system didn't get along with the Hugo.

If he's ever heard one in the first place. There was a distinct lack of detail in his previous posts which suggests he's just trolling this thread. 

Hi Hugh - indeed it does take a little to bed in. But I did find the interconnects do make a large variation on the sound produced, but try not  judge on the final interconnect until the Hugo has burnt in otherwise you might make a premature choice - which I nearly did... 

Simon

Which components in a solid state dac will take time to 'burn in', eventually parts  will drift from their initial specification as they wear out but that is quite different .

When you first hear a new component that is what it genuinely sounds like, after a short time your ears become accustomed to that sound, it is easy to test  just compare to a new' un burnt' in unit.

H

A number of us have, so we're talking from actual experience. 

Indeed.. Usually quite evident when comparing a demo unit borrowed from the dealer followed by a brand new unit that you then purchase...

+1 it would appear

Not sure if this has been posted before but from a recent Rob Watts interview with TheProAudioWebBlog

he mentions the following on future products,

" Q - Now Hugo has created a storm, what’s next and what would be your ultimate obtainable achievement?

A - It's no great secret that the replacement to the QBD DAC is well under way. This has an FPGA with nearly 10 times the capacity of Hugo's and it is proving to be very interesting.

The next big thing to me are DAC's that can drive loudspeakers directly, and that have a single global feedback path from loudspeaker OP to digital domain. Hugo is a 1W digital amp, so upping the power is very much the goal. I have been working on digital power amps for the last ten years, and there will be some interesting developments in the coming years.

I have no idea what the ultimate is - a perfect product would be one that was completely transparent with no added audible changes. Since the perfect product doesn't exist, we have no real idea what is possible. What treasures remain to be heard from ones old recordings? I don't know. What I do know, is that I am still learning new things, and making sound quality improvements, and I will keep doing this until I lose my faculties, or can no longer dream up ways of making improvements! "

Interesting times ahead. 

SamS that is an interesting interview .. Interesting about the evolution of his DSD techniques from the early days in the mid 90s until ending up with the Hugo in recognition of the current limitations of DSD compared to DXD. It's also interesting to read that the performance of the Hugo prototype was so much better than anticipated, even though it contained all the newly rewritten reference DAC code.

His one word summing up the Hugo - ' musicality ' is certainly one I can relate to.

"What would you like to say to the people who have a lot to comment on Hugo, but are yet to hear it in the flesh?

Listen to it!"

Rob must have been reading this thread

Agree Simon, very informative for a brief interview. Also interesting that he thinks there is more to squeeze out of standard red book, " I am sure that red-book, properly implemented, will out perform DSD."

That would be nice!

Red-book sounds extremely well through hugo, especially with minimalist player I'm using (same as Aleg do), but DSD is definitely better. I just downloaded Duke Ellington's Indigos in DSD 128 format from High Definition Tape Transfers, just stunning. That is my reference for digital at this moment. According to their advertisement, there was no PMC editing at all. I would encourage everyone, especially people who listen to jazz to get that album.

cvrle

Which site did you download it from

Graeme

We can't post links here, sorry. Just google "High Definition Tape Transfers", it'll take you right there, can't miss it. It is worth every penny, and teaches you what could be done with digital music if the source of analog is right and everything is done in right order to transfer and preserve original recording. 

Please, comment here, whoever gets it. I would like to know if it's just me, or that album in that particular format is unreal, especially it was recorded in 1957, couple of years older than me.

Thanks found it. May purchase, but not able to play DSD at present.

What limits you?