DAC-V1 vs. Hugo

Posted by: thijazi on 05 May 2016

After reading a number of posts on the forum that praised the Hugo, I got a demo unit and set it up in my system in parallel to the DAC-V1, I have 2 PCs, one driving the DAC-V1 and one driving the Hugo, Roon is playing back my music and I have it setup in such a way whereby it is playing back simultaneously on both PCs. Both DACs are set to Fixed Output in order to disable their volume control and hand this over to my NAC282

I therefore can simply switch back and forth between them at the touch of a button on my preamp remote control and get a better instant comparison of sound.

Before I start testing, I noticed that there is a very notable difference in volume level between the DAC-V1 and the Hugo, not sure what that is, I would have thought that since both PCs have been set to max volume and the DACs at Fixed Output that I will get identical volume levels when listening through the NAC-V1, any idea why that is not so?

What would those that tested these two DACs say was the main thing that they found the Hugo excelled at versus the DAC-V1?

Cheers,

Tareq

 

 

 

 

Posted on: 09 May 2016 by eazyryder
DynFan160 posted:

I'm posting to agree with those who want NAIM to drop a hint about future DAC plans. The V1, and to a lesser extent, the nDac, are both dinosaurs. They cost too much relative to the performance of better and cheaper competition. 

My wish list would be...

1. Update the nDac to the latest and greatest.
2. Stuff it into a box the size of V1.
3. Permit an external PSU upgrade.
4. Remove the Pre- / HP pre-amp. DAC only.
5. USB input / galvanic isolation, etc. is a must.

+1

 

Posted on: 09 May 2016 by Knipester

My Hugo fed by an auralic Aries sounds sublime especially since now using a tellurium q black diamond USB cable.

Posted on: 09 May 2016 by dayjay
Knipester posted:

My Hugo fed by an auralic Aries sounds sublime especially since now using a tellurium q black diamond USB cable.

+1 I'm sat here with my headphones on and the sound quality is nothing short of astonishing.  Unlike others I prefered USB from the off although it is clearly possible to improve upon the sound for not a lot of money on either end of the USB cable.  I very rarely use headphones but gosh it sounds good when you do!