Free Shipping on US orders above $49
Editors' Choice Award – The Absolute Sound Magazine
Five Stars – What Hi-fi? Magazine
"Recommended" Award – headfonia.com
"Unbeatable for Pure Sound"
Hugo 2 is a powerful DAC and headphone amp that builds on the ground-breaking original Hugo. Designed for both home and mobile use, Hugo 2 transforms headphones and audio systems’ sound quality with its cutting-edge proprietary DAC technology.
In 2014, Chord introduced the original Hugo, a revolutionary portable DAC and headphone amp that hugely popular. Advances in digital technology, including the latest FPGAs and WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filters, have enabled Chord to introduce a next-generation version, Hugo 2, featuring flexible new features, plus next-generation technical and sonic performance.
"Not an inconsiderable sum for a DAC, but Hugo 2 proves well worth it," reports What Hi-fi? magazine, June 26, 2017. "There isn’t another DAC around at anywhere near this sort of price able to communicate so torrentially, so unambiguously or so effortlessly. We like it a lot."
"I honestly can’t think of a single transportable DAC device out on the market today that can beat the Hugo 2 for pure sound," notes reviewer marcus in his September 24, 2017 post for headfonics.com.
Award-Winning Performance
The Hugo 2 earned a "Recommended" award from headfonia.com It sounds really good with all ears and headphones I have used it with, and I am very much looking forward to trying out many more in the future."
"If you are in the game for a high-end DAC that appears to also be used on the go with your smartphone or DAP, the Hugo 2 is definitely worth serious consideration. The Hugo quickly won me over and has become my main DAC/amp at the office and my desktop DAC at home – it simply is that good. A recommended buy? How the hell could it not?!"
"It also bagged an Editors' Choice Award from The Absolute Sound magazine, which calls it "a charmingly eccentric-looking little device that will decode and amplify just about any digital source…. The DAC is an extremely sophisticated custom design that sounds superb." In conclusion, "The Hugo 2 has exceptional resolution of transient detail, striking three-dimensionality, and extremely quiet backgrounds."
"An Essential Audition"
"It’s an essential audition; not just as a portable DAC/headphone amp, but as the best hi-fi digital converter at or near the price," reports Hi-Fi Choice magazine.
"I honestly can’t think of a single transportable DAC device out on the market today that can beat the Hugo 2 for pure sound," notes marcus at headfonics.com.
"I am delighted to say that after spending some time in its company, at last, my expectations have been surpassed," raves Simon Wilce, HiFi and Music Source, February 26, 2021.
At Home or On-the-Go
Hugo 2 can be enjoyed 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 adds real flexibility in full-size and desktop systems.
Hugo 2 offers four digital inputs (optical, coaxial, and HD USB) plus extended-range Bluetooth, with high-resolution file playback up to 768 kHz and up to DSD512 (Octa DSD), via its HD USB input. Analog outputs include 2 x RCA, plus 3.5mm and 1/4" headphone outputs.
Sound Shaping
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.
The three crossfeed modes enhance the listening experience to give a more spatial 'out of the head' stereo sound field. Using advanced filtering and delay, the normal headphone stereo image is converted to give the effect of a much bigger sound stage as though you are listening to large loudspeakers or live music. The modes are indicated by the crossfeed staus indicator light. Choose to light, medium, or heavy filtering, or off.
The advanced digital volume control is activated in precise 1dB increments. The last known state is saved upon shutdown, with the exception of the line-level mode.
Controls and Battery Life
Hugo 2 features four spherical control buttons, which illuminate with color-coding information and control power, input, filtering, plus the unit’s crossfeed functions.
Battery playing time is around seven hours and two modes of automatic charging are included using the dedicated Micro USB charging port; an indicator shows charging and battery-charge status.
File Support
Hugo 2 supports a wide range of digital file formats, including PCM files of 44.1k Hz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 358.8 kHz, 384 kHz, 717.6 kHz, and 768 kHz. The DSD support includes native playback and DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD).
