Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
Walden High-End Audio Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Digital-to-Analog Converter

Chord Hugo 2 DAC

€2,399.00

On Demo !

Hugo 2 is a powerful DAC and headphone amp that builds on the ground-breaking original. Designed for both home and mobile use, Hugo 2 transforms headphones and audio systems’ sound quality with its cutting-edge proprietary DAC technology.

Key Features: Chord Custom FPGA DAC - 49,152 Taps - 6 hours + Battery Life - 768kHz Micro USB Input - 384kHz Coax Jack Input - 768kHz Dual Data Mode Jack Input - 96kHz Optical Input - Bluetooth® wireless technology - 1x ¼” Headphone Output - 1x 3.5mm Headphone Output - Unbalanced RCA Outputs - Supports up to 768kHz - DSD512 (8x) Native - Native DSD Support - 4x Playback Filters - 3x Crossfeed Function - Supports up to 800Ω - IR Remote Control Included - CNC Aluminium Chassis - Roon tested.

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On Demo !

Hugo 2 is a powerful DAC and headphone amp that builds on the ground-breaking original. Designed for both home and mobile use, Hugo 2 transforms headphones and audio systems’ sound quality with its cutting-edge proprietary DAC technology.

Key Features: Chord Custom FPGA DAC - 49,152 Taps - 6 hours + Battery Life - 768kHz Micro USB Input - 384kHz Coax Jack Input - 768kHz Dual Data Mode Jack Input - 96kHz Optical Input - Bluetooth® wireless technology - 1x ¼” Headphone Output - 1x 3.5mm Headphone Output - Unbalanced RCA Outputs - Supports up to 768kHz - DSD512 (8x) Native - Native DSD Support - 4x Playback Filters - 3x Crossfeed Function - Supports up to 800Ω - IR Remote Control Included - CNC Aluminium Chassis - Roon tested.

On Demo !

Hugo 2 is a powerful DAC and headphone amp that builds on the ground-breaking original. Designed for both home and mobile use, Hugo 2 transforms headphones and audio systems’ sound quality with its cutting-edge proprietary DAC technology.

Key Features: Chord Custom FPGA DAC - 49,152 Taps - 6 hours + Battery Life - 768kHz Micro USB Input - 384kHz Coax Jack Input - 768kHz Dual Data Mode Jack Input - 96kHz Optical Input - Bluetooth® wireless technology - 1x ¼” Headphone Output - 1x 3.5mm Headphone Output - Unbalanced RCA Outputs - Supports up to 768kHz - DSD512 (8x) Native - Native DSD Support - 4x Playback Filters - 3x Crossfeed Function - Supports up to 800Ω - IR Remote Control Included - CNC Aluminium Chassis - Roon tested.

In 2014, we introduced Hugo, a revolutionary portable DAC and headphone amp that became a landmark product in the audio landscape. Advances in digital technology, including the latest FPGAs and WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filters, have enabled us to introduce a next-generation version, Hugo 2, featuring flexible new features, plus next-generation technical and sonic performance.

Winner of Best DAC (£1,500+) in the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022, and a What Hi-Fi? Best DAC winner every year its inception (2017-2022), Hugo 2 is a proven class leader.

Hugo 2 can be used both at home and on the go, either with headphones or within a conventional audio system. Its line-level output and full-function remote control add real flexibility to full-size and desktop systems.

The device offers four digital inputs (optical, coaxial and HD USB) plus extended-range Bluetooth® wireless technology, with high-resolution file playback up to 768kHz and up to DSD512 (Octa DSD), via its HD USB input. Analogue outputs include 2x RCA, plus 3.5mm and 6.35mm headphone outputs.

A four-function switch filter offers a useful degree of user-selectable frequency-shaping, bringing warm and soft or transparent and incisive presentations, giving additional flexibility and user control. For headphone listening, Hugo 2 retains the popular digital crossfeed function of the original and offers three operation modes. The system duplicates the effect of listening to speakers and is based on advanced binaural audio research.

Hugo 2 features four spherical control buttons, which illuminate with colour-coding information and control power, input, filtering, plus the unit’s crossfeed functions.

Battery playing time is around 6 hours + (depending on headphones) and two modes of automatic charging are included using the dedicated Micro USB charging port; an indicator shows charging and battery-charge status.

    • Chipset: Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA

    • Tap-length: 49,152

    • Pulse array: 10 element pulse array design

    • Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.2dB

    • Output stage: Class A

    • Output impedance: 0.025Ω

    • THD: <0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300Ω

    • THD and noise at 3v RMS: 120dB at 1kHz 300ohms ‘A’ wighted (reference 5.3v)

    • Noise 2.6 uV ‘A’ weighted: No measurable noise floor modulation

    • Signal to noise ratio: 126dB ‘A’ Weighted

    • Channel separation: 135dB at 1kHz 300Ω

    • Power output @ 1kHz 1% THD: 

    94mW 300Ω

    740mW 32Ω

    1050mW 8Ω

    • Weight: 365g

    • Dimensions: 2.1cm (H) 10cm (W) 13cm (D)

    • Boxed Dimensions: 8.5cm (H) 12.2cm (W) 22cm (D)

    • Materials: Precision-machined aluminium casing with polycarbonate buttons, acrylic signal window, and glass viewing portal. Available in a choice of two colours – natural silver, and satin black

    • Battery: 2x Rechargeable custom Enix Energies 3.7v 9.6Wh Li-ion (lithium-ion (2600mAh) batteries*

    • Tap length filter: 49,152 – 10 element Pulse Array design

    • Playtime: 6 hours (Avg.time)

    • Charging: Nominal six (6) hours via Micro USB at 1.8amps (fast charge) – Nominal eight (8) hours at 1amp (slow charge)

    • Connectivity (input): 

    Micro USB (White): 44.1kHz to 768kHz – 16bit to 32bit

    Coax via 3.5mm jack (Red): 44.1kHz to 384kHz – 16bit to 32bit

    Coax via (same) 3.5mm jack (Dual data mode: Yellow): 44.1kHz to 768kHz – 16bit to 32bit

    Optical (Green): 44.1kHz to 96kHz – 16bit to 24bit

    • Connectivity (input wireless): Bluetooth® (APTX) (Blue): 44.1kHz to 48kHz – 16bit

    • Connectivity (output): 

    1x ¼” jack headphone output

    1x 3.5mm jack headphone output

    1x stereo (L & R) RCA output

    • PCM support: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz. 16 – 32bit

    • DSD support: Native playback supported. DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD)

    • Volume control: Digital, activated in 1dB increments. Last known state saved upon shutdown, with exception of line-level mode

    • Line-level mode: Activated via dual press of middle ‘Source’ and ‘Crossfeed’ buttons. Line level = 3v via all outputs. Reset by power cycle

    • Power saving mode: Auto-shutdown after ten minutes of input inactivity

    • Driver support: Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS

    • * Non-user-serviceable batteries are covered by a limited 18-month warranty from initial date of purchase. For full terms and conditions please visit https://chordelectronics.co.uk/product/hugo-2

    User Configurable Options:

    • Filters (Digital):

    Incisive neutral (Ultimate reference) (White)

    Incisive neutral HF roll-off (High Frequency roll off) (Green)

    Warm (‘Smooth’) (Orange)

    Warmer HF roll-off (High Frequency roll off) (Red) 

    • Crossfeed (Digital IIR):

    Off – No Crossfeed

    Level 1 – Light

    Level 2 – Medium

    Level 3 – Heavy 

    • Control options:

    Manual

    Remote control (included)

  • User Manual