Which non-Naim Dac are you using?

MacMini Audirvana > Hugo TT > monoblocs

tonym posted:

The Chord DAC was better than my 555, to my surprise. I've since added a Melco N1-Z which has improved things further.

What type dac

I was a very happy Hugo user. Now I am an even happier Dave user.

Hugo was great, very 'musical' (some people say analogue-like), and I would be happy with it now, but I heard Dave and had the opportunity to buy - and it is in another league, making me just want to play music, sneaking a listen whenever I have time to squeeze in an album, or sometimes less. As I stated on another thread, its a bit like having a mistress secreted in the house...!

robert- posted:

tonym posted:

The Chord DAC was better than my 555, to my surprise. I've since added a Melco N1-Z which has improved things further.

What type dac

See previous posting...

Dave is awesome. CD555 isn't even plugged in.

I used to have the Naim Classic dac. Then I demoed Chord Hugo and went for it.

Self confessed Hugo-naut. 

Another Chord Mojo here, in Spain.

Gary Shaw posted:

Dave is awesome. CD555 isn't even plugged in.

Wow, and wow  your cd555 is acting as a paper weight.

I use a Schiit Yggdrasil with my system .. the only drawback with it that I've experienced is that it's silver and not black.  The company will tell you they produce black ones every so often.  You can't order a black one mind you, you have to keep looking at the order page on their web site and wait for a black one to be listed.  

It feels almost like the black ones get produced as some sort of genetic defect ..

PS Audio Directstream Jr.  to my olive Nait 2...sublime!

Have used Lavry DA10, Weiss (DAC2 and 202) and Metrum Octave with Naim amps and now Devialet (without Naim)

GraemeH posted:

Chord Hugo TT direct to 250DR.

G

Graemeh,

how do you find the Hugo directly into the 250Dr compared to using a pre-amp? 

Im also very interested in your thought re sound quality at lower volumes when compared to using a pre-amp  

many thanks in advance

David

Elevensheep posted:

GraemeH posted:

Chord Hugo TT direct to 250DR.

G

Graemeh,

how do you find the Hugo directly into the 250Dr compared to using a pre-amp? 

Im also very interested in your thought re sound quality at lower volumes when compared to using a pre-amp  

many thanks in advance

David

 

 

I'm not Graemeh :-) but I did the same- DAC with volume control direct connect to a 250DR. For me, it sounds much more open with an incredible good sound stage. Bass is tighter, more swing without any pressure in the mids.  I came from NAC 282 and later on 252, before that Linn Klimax pre. You should give this set-up a try imho....

David I have been told it is impressively and surprisingly good and this is from a Naim dealer  - and if I did not want any analogue inputs I would be seriously considering it. The point of note is that Naim amps can be a little fussy on what drives them - not all non Naim preamps are necessarily well suited - but the Hugo / TT preamp  seem to work very well with Naim amps - well apparently at least the 250DR and 300DR

S

Elevensheep posted:

GraemeH posted:

Chord Hugo TT direct to 250DR.

G

Graemeh,

how do you find the Hugo directly into the 250Dr compared to using a pre-amp? 

Im also very interested in your thought re sound quality at lower volumes when compared to using a pre-amp  

many thanks in advance

David

 

 

Hi David

It's excellent - Very transparent and rhythmic at all volumes.

I do use Chord Signature TA 2RCA-XLR which is not exactly cheap mind. I couldn't comment on other configurations.

G

I wonder if a Chord Dave into a 250 dr would be better than a 272/555dr into a 250 dr?

No quarter posted:

I wonder if a Chord Dave into a 250 dr would be better than a 272/555dr into a 250 dr?

Maybe the question should be how does Dave compare with NDS/555 through 552 into any power amp?

GraemeH posted:

Elevensheep posted:

GraemeH posted:

Chord Hugo TT direct to 250DR.

G

Graemeh,

how do you find the Hugo directly into the 250Dr compared to using a pre-amp? 

Im also very interested in your thought re sound quality at lower volumes when compared to using a pre-amp  

many thanks in advance

David

 

 

Hi David

It's excellent - Very transparent and rhythmic at all volumes.

I do use Chord Signature TA 2RCA-XLR which is not exactly cheap mind. I couldn't comment on other configurations.

G

Graeme / Simon / T38

Thanks so much for your replies  

Im very interested in trying the Hugo TT into NAP250DR set up especially as cost of the TT is actually less than a 282, and it appears from what I read the sound quality is at least comparable in skipping the pre-amp  

If connecting directly to a power amp, does the TT have a programmable default start up volume setting (couldn't find it in the manual)? If this is not programable, how loud is the TT's default volume from start up when connected directly into a power amp in your experience?

I'm concerned that the default start up volume may be too loud, as wife and kids would also use this set up and they may forget to turn down TT's sound volume immediately after start up, which may result in shock and damage to speakers  

Thanks again

David

Happy Chord TT user: CORE/userve -> HugoTT -> 272 -> 250DR

A while back, I found the 2Qute more natural than the NDS (I did blind listening tests!), thus moved to 272 and later Hugo TT.

Minor woes: With the Core, Internet radio will no longer be possible. Also, I wonder when I'll need to have the batteries replaced on the TT. And I wish there was an external 'DAC loop' on the 272. As it happens, the new unitis have no digital output (except Core), thus making external DACs more difficult.

Elevensheep posted:

GraemeH posted:

Elevensheep posted:

GraemeH posted:

Chord Hugo TT direct to 250DR.

G

Graemeh,

how do you find the Hugo directly into the 250Dr compared to using a pre-amp? 

Im also very interested in your thought re sound quality at lower volumes when compared to using a pre-amp  

many thanks in advance

David

 

 

Hi David

It's excellent - Very transparent and rhythmic at all volumes.

I do use Chord Signature TA 2RCA-XLR which is not exactly cheap mind. I couldn't comment on other configurations.

G

Graeme / Simon / T38

Thanks so much for your replies  

Im very interested in trying the Hugo TT into NAP250DR set up especially as cost of the TT is actually less than a 282, and it appears from what I read the sound quality is at least comparable in skipping the pre-amp  

If connecting directly to a power amp, does the TT have a programmable default start up volume setting (couldn't find it in the manual)? If this is not programable, how loud is the TT's default volume from start up when connected directly into a power amp in your experience?

I'm concerned that the default start up volume may be too loud, as wife and kids would also use this set up and they may forget to turn down TT's sound volume immediately after start up, which may result in shock and damage to speakers  

Thanks again

David

 

 

 

 

TT does not remember the previous volume setting. It starts up on either red or green which for my ATC scm40a active speakers is loudish but not loud enough to cause any problems. It's about as loud as I ever listen, I never go past green.

Halloween Man posted:

Elevensheep posted:

GraemeH posted:

Elevensheep posted:

GraemeH posted:

Chord Hugo TT direct to 250DR.

G

Graemeh,

how do you find the Hugo directly into the 250Dr compared to using a pre-amp? 

Im also very interested in your thought re sound quality at lower volumes when compared to using a pre-amp  

many thanks in advance

David

 

 

Hi David

It's excellent - Very transparent and rhythmic at all volumes.

I do use Chord Signature TA 2RCA-XLR which is not exactly cheap mind. I couldn't comment on other configurations.

G

Graeme / Simon / T38

Thanks so much for your replies  

Im very interested in trying the Hugo TT into NAP250DR set up especially as cost of the TT is actually less than a 282, and it appears from what I read the sound quality is at least comparable in skipping the pre-amp  

If connecting directly to a power amp, does the TT have a programmable default start up volume setting (couldn't find it in the manual)? If this is not programable, how loud is the TT's default volume from start up when connected directly into a power amp in your experience?

I'm concerned that the default start up volume may be too loud, as wife and kids would also use this set up and they may forget to turn down TT's sound volume immediately after start up, which may result in shock and damage to speakers  

Thanks again

David

 

 

 

 

TT does not remember the previous volume setting. It starts up on either red or green which for my ATC scm40a active speakers is loudish but not loud enough to cause any problems. It's about as loud as I ever listen, I never go past green.

thank you, very helpful feedback

I am a recent Hugo convert playing off my NDX into a 282.  As Simon says there is a definite synergy between Naim and the Hugo, similar to the synergy between the LP 12 and Naim amps. I am absolutely loving my music again.

Hugo TT and Nap250 DR seems to be A fascinating combo, quite expensive though.

There are some second hand 250's (non DR) around. How would TT sound with these?

Would it beat Hugo plus SN2 which is my current setup? I use my SN2's pre amp due to its handy and family friendly volume control.

If you have a non Naim DAC and no Naim streamer or CD player in the system in the system what are you doing for a signal earth?