Source for Hugo

The point of the Hugo is to be able to provide good sound quality away from one's hi-fi system, isn't it? I think it is reasonable to use a good portable (portable in the sense it can be packed and carried in, for example, hand luggage) music storage system with decent headphones. Apple products do not approach my idea of high quality sound devices. I cannot imagine any universe in which an Apple product trounced even a couple of tin cans connected by damp string.

Are people using a Hugo for portable and serious listening?

Actually, I bought a Hugo to use with my Astell & Kern. When I need walking around portable, I will use the A&K alone. When I need travel portable, as in staying elsewhere, I use them both.

I am sure if you read widely enough, you will find a perverse view somewhere. My iPod Touch lies on the ground panting in comparison to the A&K player.

Without reading the manual, actions such as making playlists can appear elusive. Reading the manual, whilst not an exciting experience, improved the execution markedly. For me, excitement tends to come from the music. But the volume control on the A&K is rather tasty.

Further, listening to the A&K into the Hugo, with high impedance (meaning very good) headphones that normally cannot be driven by any portable devices is very pleasurable.

A further benefit, is that you can throw these two devices in the overcoat pocket along with a few cables, travel to a "foreign" system that has an analogue input, and have a rather nice front end playing your music in no time.

I wish you hadn't told me that

Sorry 

But to be pragmatic, as the A&K players are expensive by any measure, I think it comes down to how you will use it. In my case, I do make long flights, and then when I arrive for a few weeks, it is great to have a good selection of my library with me in an instantly playable form. 

For more occasional listening, the iPod / iPhone source would be fine.