Chord HUGO: Mobile DAC for Headphones
Regular readers of our Facebook page probably already know— the little Chord Hugo is currently giving us a lot of fun. And not just us, as the daily enthusiastic reviews from all over the world prove. In the first German test, Dirk Sommer from hifistatement, otherwise actually known as a passionate fan of analog recording and playback technology, comes to a clear conclusion: So far, I have not heard a mobile converter/headphone combination that sounds even remotely as fantastic as Hugo. Anyone who wants to enjoy or even edit HiRes-PCM or DSD files on the go in the highest quality can’t avoid the fine Chord. But that’s not all: as a completely normal stationary converter, Hugo is also among the best in its class. For me, the little Chord is the audiophile discovery in the digital field! Traditionally, the first tests of products from a British manufacturer naturally take place in the busy magazine scene of the island, and Hugo is no exception. And on the other side of the Channel, the unanimous verdict is also great enthusiasm. Above all, the result from the influential magazine What Hi-Fi should be mentioned here. Not only did Hugo receive the coveted 5/5 star award, it also won the test in a comparison! Here’s the reasoning of the British testers: The Chord’s neutral, even-handed approach to music is as evident whether you’re using it as a DAC or headphone amp – the Hugo is a device of many talents and plenty of charm. – ***** The strength of the mobile Hugo lies in the fact that, despite its compact size, it makes no compromises in terms of features and reproduces music brilliantly even in the highest resolutions. It’s all the more pleasing when, in France, the experts from Qobuz, the pioneers of music streaming in hi-fi quality, also celebrate Hugo with just as much enthusiasm: Pour conclure, le DAC Chord Hugo est presque le couteau suisse de la musique dématérialisée, en tout cas, en tant que DAC on ne voit pas ce qui lui manque. Les technologies propriétaires, Pulse array DAC et le filtre numérique WTA mises au point par Rob Watts procurent des résultats sonores qu'on peut qualifier d'excellents et pour le moins très flatteurs même si nous ne sommes pas pour autant persuadés que cela soit une approche de la vérité sonore mais cela importera donc peu à ceux dont la reproduction sonore est avant tout le plaisir et là il est clairement au rendez-vous avec ce DAC pas comme les autres. With the Chord Hugo, the British have really hit the mark—impressing not only reviewers but also long-time hi-fi sales professionals! Curious? Find out more information!
