Hugo to Naim Amp - Which Interconnects?

You'll need an RCA to 5 pin DIN cable - Chord etc will have exactly what you need and yes this will work on your 282 (or you could use RCA to RCA at a push)

From source to Hugo - might be worth stating what the source will be which will somewhat dictate your choice of digital input 

Thanks, and a good point.

My main source is a Bluesound Node which I connect optically to my Naim DAC.

My father uses Sonos via RCA into a Nait XS.  Unless someone tells me otherwise I'd arrange for him to go optically from Sonos into the Hugo.

Good choice - I'd go optical with the Sonos. 

James

I use a Naim Hiline Phono to DIN lead between Hugo and Naim preamp input - really works well - most natural and great bass and low level detail of the leads I have tried.

Digital transport lead - it depends on whether the transport source is galvanically isolated. If not then go optical such as with Sonos. If it is galvanically isolated like NDX transport go coax.

Simon

I use Chord Signature, digital and analogue cables from NDX> Hugo> 282 - as recommended by Chord. More detail and air, loses a small amount of bass drive compared with the Hi-Line/ DC1 alternatives...

endlessnessism posted:

I have just ordered a Hugo as a gift for my father.  He has a Nait XS and I'd like to make sure he's got the right interconnects.  

From the source into the Hugo, do Hugo users recommend optical or coaxial (or something else)?

From the Hugo to a Nait XS is it RCA to DIN?  I'd be grateful if someone could tell me exactly which interconnect I need (how many pins on the DIN, for example) as I have made mistakes with this in the past.

Would it be the same interconnect from the Hugo to a 282?  I assume so, in which case I will take the opportunity to do a quick comparison with my Naim DAC.

That's a very generous and kind gift! He obviously broughtbyou up well!

Well the Hugo has arrived, and I'm very impressed and will find it difficult to pack it off to my father but will manage.

I have got all the interconnects sorted - thanks to all for the help with this.

A couple of further questions:

There's an option to select line level volume output.  I have tried this and it doesn't seem to make a huge difference when listening via my 282 and 250.  Also, the Hugo user manual says the volume control is still active with line level output, and it is, which is not really what I understand line level to be - I thought it gave a fixed volume output and I would then control volume via my 282, or alternatively via Sonos (which is how I'm experimenting, given that's what my father uses).  What do others do - line level or not?  Generally I like to minimise my volume control options, as it's very easy to get out of sync.

There's also something called crossfeed.  I'll try playing with it but it reads like something for headphones only.  Does anyone use it?

Crossfeed is indeed for headphones, in effect reducing the extreme separation between left and right, supposedly making it sound more like listening through speakers.

I only used in non line level mode, when first using with a preamp I set to allow reasonable volume control motion on the pre, but then when I abandoned using a preamp Hugo's voume control was the sole control. That said, popular opinion seems to be thta when used into a preamp setting atbturquise sounds best.

The line level on the Hugo sets it to the same output level every time,kind of a starting point if you power it down,yet the volume is still active if you turn the little wheel.Just set it and use the 282 to control the volume.I used to leave mine powered on all the time,along with the rest of my Naim gear.

Atbturquise?  Is that a typo or a word I don't understand?

My father will keep his DAC (i.e. his new Hugo) inside a cupboard with his amp, so it will be a case of fixed volume on both of them and he'll use his Sonos to control the volume of what he's listening to.   I do the same at my place.  It sounds like line level on the Hugo is a bit of a red herring.  

endlessnessism posted:

Atbturquise?  Is that a typo or a word I don't understand?

Turquoise - greenish blue color

I see (said the blind man). 

Peter Dinh posted:

endlessnessism posted:

Atbturquise?  Is that a typo or a word I don't understand?

Turquoise - greenish blue color

Yes, apologies for not checking what the ipad recorded when I thought I had typed "at turquoise"!

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I use a Naim Hiline Phono to DIN lead between Hugo and Naim preamp input - really works well - most natural and great bass and low level detail of the leads I have tried.

...

Simon

 

I use exactly the same (largely because Simon spoke so highly of it...)

endlessnessism posted:

My father will keep his DAC (i.e. his new Hugo) inside a cupboard with his amp, so it will be a case of fixed volume on both of them and he'll use his Sonos to control the volume of what he's listening to.   I do the same at my place.  It sounds like line level on the Hugo is a bit of a red herring.  

So he will be using the Sonos to alter the volume digitally before he sends to the DAC (Hugo) via SPDIF? This will lead to below par performance i am afraid in my opinion. The Sonos works best at line level digital output (i.e. The digital signal is not adjusted) and a downstream preamp adjusts the volume. I suggest in your fathers set up it might not  be worth using a DAC like the Hugo but use a cheaper variant . The quality of the digital signal will be such that the most of the benefits of using the Hugo will most likely be eclipsed.

Simon

Innocent Bystander posted:

Crossfeed is indeed for headphones, in effect reducing the extreme separation between left and right, supposedly making it sound more like listening through speakers.

I only used in non line level mode, when first using with a preamp I set to allow reasonable volume control motion on the pre, but then when I abandoned using a preamp Hugo's voume control was the sole control. That said, popular opinion seems to be thta when used into a preamp setting atbturquise sounds best.

I agree about the preamp setting, but to be clear the turquoise line level setting is the optimum setting for many with Naim  NACs and not neccessarily with non Naim preamps.