Chord Hugo 2 on NAC282 system

It is unfortunate you did not receive any response on this. I do not have experience with the Hugo 1 or 2 but use the Chord QBD76 with the 282/250. There are few here who find Chord DACs to be an excellent match with Naim amplifiers. As for the Hugo, if you visit Headfi (Rob Watts often posts there), the general consensus is the Hugo 2 is a significant upgrade over Hugo 1.

I recently tried Hugo 2, compared to the TT which in itself is not a huge departure from Hugo 1. I have to say I preferred the TT, the Hugo 2 was somehow unnatural and almost trying too hard. Depends what you like so you would need to compare the two of them.

Wow

but how is Dave compared to TT and Hugo 2

Base on the new design of 3.5mm coaxial input on Hugo 2, what will be the recommended cable to use from NDX to Hugo 2?

Possible to customize Naim DC1, from BNC to 3.5mm?

analogmusic posted:

Wow

but how is Dave compared to TT and Hugo 2

Ah now DAVE is in a different league all together, as well you know sir.

How far you have come from the disbeliever to the heady heights of DAVE 

Lol...... 

indeed now any source other than chord Dac won't do for me

i now realize all your enthusiasm for Hugo was 110 percent valid. Good to see you again on the forum.

suprised that hugo 2 isn't better than TT?

some ppl say it sounds very close to Dave ? 

As always you need to listen to hear for yourself. I would like to know the systems they compared in. Not sure DAVE shows its capabilities if the other components are not resolving enough.

Im sure many will like what Hugo2 does, but I found it has a different presentation to previous Hugo derivatives, which didn't appeal to me. I'm sure I would find it fatiguing on extended sessions. 

Indeed or too resolving perhaps??... DAVE did didn't significantly do it for me on a Statement system. I suspect it's more a case of taste and preference over other considerations.

Foxman, good to see you back.

Hi Simon which speakers and was is SL full loom?

did u hear another source with that statement amp ?

Interesting, you're not the only one Foxman that found Hugo 2 to be potentially fatiguing. I've read similar reports elsewhere and also found this myself when I connected my H2 to ATC SCM19A active speakers. The jury is still out for me as I'm swapping back to my more forgiving SCM40A actives, they are currently with ATC for repair.

I will say however that Hugo 2 sounds wonderful with AQ Nighthawk headphones, I could listen all day and all night without fatigue. Nighthawks are very dark sounding headphones. Initially you might think too dark and dislike them until you listen further for another 20 minutes or so and then you might think they sound just perfect, and fall in love with them.

I suspect H2 is very sensitive to the system in which it's connected. For the brief listen I had with my SCM40A actives it sounded wonderful and there was no fatigue after an hour or so of listening. H2 is more sensitive to a noisey USB or coax input than TT or Dave which could introduce listening fatigue so a well isolated source us a must.

Simon, H2 for sure is more resolving than H1 or TT.

Hi Ali, I suspect it was a SL loom though I didn't specifically look at that - but it was my dealer's reference system. The speakers were the newer Kudos Titans which if I had a larger listening room I think I would be seriously interested in. Yes I have heard NDS through the Statement and I think a vinyl source at some point but cant remember specifics. Don't get me wrong I can hear what DAVE is doing - but in a way it doesn't seem to be relevant to me to for me to enjoy my music if that makes sense.... after all recorded music replay is still a choice of compromise... and I find the current Hugo1 via SPDIF hits that sweet spot for me. I am sure its not perfect and after all its a few years old now - but it just seems to tick the boxes for me...

Now what I perhaps should do on my home system at some point is compare DAVE to Hugo1 and do a report like I initially did when comparing the Hugo to NDAC and NDS several years ago - which can still be read on the forum... because I suspect the devices may have differing strengths and weaknesses....

HM but if its resolving and fatiguing at the same time - how do you know its real resolution you are hearing and not some sort of artefact? If you read some of the tomes of material on the subject in the AES library - you will see generally the more resolving and natural a recording and reproduction system is the less fatiguing it is - i.e. the brain is working less hard to decode the audio and map to real life cues

S

I guess the keyword there is system. The music system has to work well as a whole, any part of the system, including the room itself, could introduce listening fatiguing.

I think this is where it does indeed come down to personal preference. One man's, or woman's, resolving is another's fatiguing. We all have different ears, rooms, systems and tastes, god only knows how any of us agree on anything in this hobby.

DAVE for me just sounds nice, which is maybe what Simon eludes too above. I find that it also has greater soundstage precision, than the Hugo's, which really appeals to me.

Halloween Man posted:

H2 is more sensitive to a noisey USB or coax input than TT or Dave which could introduce listening fatigue so a well isolated source us a must.

Sorry, this is not quite correct, I should have said that USB is more sensitive because galvanic isolation on USB input is missing from Hugo 2 when compared to TT and Dave. Not sure about differences with coax input.

Freddie Kee posted:

Base on the new design of 3.5mm coaxial input on Hugo 2, what will be the recommended cable to use from NDX to Hugo 2?

Possible to customize Naim DC1, from BNC to 3.5mm?

Have ND5XS & Mojo & Just ordered a BNC to 3.5mm Coax cable from Flashbacksales, will update once it's here...

Singlespeed posted:

Freddie Kee posted:

Base on the new design of 3.5mm coaxial input on Hugo 2, what will be the recommended cable to use from NDX to Hugo 2?

Possible to customize Naim DC1, from BNC to 3.5mm?

Have ND5XS & Mojo & Just ordered a BNC to 3.5mm Coax cable from Flashbacksales, will update once it's here...

Hi, bro, do you mind telling me the cable you purchased from Flashbacksales?

Thanks!

The cable was a custom made one which David has now added to the range. You can find it under Coax Digital cable section 

Great service & very fast turnaround!