Is anyone not impressed by the Hugo

You'll always find someone who doesn't like a particular piece of kit so just get a demo. Most of those with negative comments about the Hugo on this forum haven't even heard one.

I bought blind on the basis that you can return almost anything these days.

It stayed - and more than paid for itself with the sale of the then redundant 555PS.

G

It disappointed me immensely when I opened the box : " That's all there is? What, no carrying case!" But disappointment turned to considerable interest when I plugged it in and started listening. It's providing long-term satisfaction into the SN2, but not into the 82 (as I've described elsewhere on this forum). 

Jan

I'm damned impressed with mine.  The only downside is that it has given me upgraditis as I now want amplification worthy of it

I have a feeling I've asked this before...has anyone tried one with an NDS? 

To link in with the OP, was you impressed...or....?

I've tried a Hugo with an NDS/555PS combination.  Another Naim veteran was there to listen also.
It was a tremendous upgrade.  Hard to believe, but very conclusive.

Hi Peter, 

Thank you. In keeping with the OP, how would one connect a Hugo with an NDS & Mac Mini in the mix so as not to be disappointed? 

Also, does it come in black...so as not disappoint the wife!!

Hi Dustysox,

With the NDS/555PS, we simply connected the digital S/PDIF output of the NDS to the S/PDIF input of the Hugo.  The cable you use is also important, and the Hugo's jacks are not the most accommodating.  We tried several digital-spec cables, including a Luminous Audio Allegro Digital and a Naim DC-1.  The Naim DC-1 was the better of those two.  The best results were with a single piece of Von Gaylord Audio's Chinchilla II audio interconnect (not their digital-spec cable).  We had to use an adaptor at both ends, but the results were spectacular.

As far as i know, the Hugo is only available in silver, but it's so small, you won't really find that objectionable — it's not much larger than an iPhone.

You can also "push" music from your library on your Mac Mini via USB (which is how I run it on my desktop system).  The Hugo has S/PDIF coax and optical inputs, as well as a USB input, and with Mac OS (I use Mavericks), no drivers are needed.  The input switching is done via a very small push button switch on the side of the Hugo.

For Gods sake analog audio audition it first! When the local naim dealer auditioned it against the nds the sound was met with gales of derisive laughter. the hugo may be the best thing since sliced bread but make sure you like it in your system. Trust your own ears and avoid the hype.

I've heard Dr Steve's Hugo, and I thought it was exceptional. You wouldn't believe you were listening to a digital source. If I had the readies, I'd get one.

But, as others have said, make sure you audition one yourself - it might not be for you.

But if you had used Von Gaylord's Chinchilla, it would have been the dog's bollocks.

OK, I am going to play the total Luddite here and ask where in the listening chain does the Hugo place itself?  I know it is a DAC & apparently also a headphone amp, but does it do the same or similar as a Squeezebox Touch?  Would it serve that kind of function with my Vortexbox and SN?  My VB runs SB Server, would I need to change that to another software?  Or run 2 different software on the VB? Can another software access the FLAC files stored by SB Server...and particularly is this something this Hugo can do.

(Hangs head in embarrassed shame.)

and make sure you use AudioQuest Cinnamon Ethernet cables ;-)

Seriously guys, the quality of the digital cable does make a very important difference.  I suspect that one reason for the Hugo's outstanding performance in this particular system was the excellent digital data it received from the NDS — some of the tracks used in the Hugo audition were from Redbook CDs ripped by an HDX, while others were 24-192 downloads from HDTracks, stored on a Netgear ReadyNAS Duo NAS and served to the NDS via the HDX. 
All the comparisons were carefully level-matched (the Hugo's built-in volume control makes this easy).  We ran both the output of the NDS and the Hugo through the same type of interconnect cables to an NAC252/SCAP, then to an NAP300.  The speakers were Dynaudio Confidence C4s, connected to the NAP300 with NACA5.

I think the color coded volume is awful.

I like the color coded volume control.  Since I use mine in a desktop system, directly into a power amp, the color coded volume control is a very useful visual cue.  I also like the way the window changes color depending on the bit rate.  Nice "eye candy!"

I too think the colour coded displays are a great innovation. For a small device having an alphanumeric display would have been in appropriate - especially if you need reading glasses . The colour displays provide an indication at a distance and clearly identify the DAC data rate being used and the input selection. The volume colour display allows a easy precise setting to be set.. works for me after you get used to it.

Red for Redbook, Blue for Bluetooth etc some are quite logical when you think about it.

Simon

....but make sure you use a Von Gaylord interconnect with adaptors, otherwise you will be "met with gales of derisive laughter" according to snother dealer, apparently ;-)

Keith

and be prepared for the sarcastic comments from a number of people on this forum if you do decide to go down this route!

In fact, probably best to buy the Hugo, but don't tell anyone that you have done so.

To the OP - If I was interested in one then i'd buy from Amazon (or get on loan from dealer), audition at my leisure and then send it back if it didn't meet my expectations.

Simple.

I bought mine without audition for my birthday and it sits perfectly between my ND5XS and SN2. I can't imagine having a better source for my set up and I love the lights/looks .

I would imagine it has made any companies developing new DAC's seriously re-evaluate their products because it is just awesome and great value .

Chord have heard that you are interested in purchasing and have produced a special version for you.

Now I'm jealous - I'm going to need to upgrade!

Do yourself a favour and audition it. As my Naim dealer said "it's a wonderful sound but not necessarily right for everyone. My Naim sales haven't dried up."

It also depends on the system you use it in. In the more revealing and "clean" (as in, low jitter low rf) systems it seems to make more of a difference. When I listened and compared it to a DAC-V1, the two were actually a lot closer to each other than one would expect on the basis of the language in the reviews. Hugo won the contest but it is not like it totally blew the DAC-V1 out of the water. It was more a win on points after 15 rounds. But my demo system was with AudioPhysic speakers and a NAP 100 while an ND5 XS was feeding both DACs. Different players, different results.