Chord Hugo 2 DAC and Headphone Amplifier

"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.

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).

Overview

• Chipset: Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA
• 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
• Play time: In excess of seven (7) hours
• Charging: Nominal four (4) hours via Micro USB at 1.8amps (fast charge); Nominal eight (8) hours at 1amp (slow charge)
• PCM support: 44.1k Hz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192kHz, 358.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz.
• 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

• Input: Micro USB (White): 44.1 kHz – 768 kHz – 16-bit – 32-bit
• Input: Coax via 3.5mm Jack (Red): 44.1kHz – 768 kHz – 16bit – 32bit
• Input: Optical (Green): 44.1 kHz – 192 kHz – 16-bit – 24-bit
• Input (wireless): Bluetooth (Apt X) (Blue): 44.1 kHz – 48 kHz – 16-bit
• Output: 1 x 1/4" jack headphone output
• Output: 1 x 3.5mm jack headphone output
• Output: 1 x stereo (L & R) RCA output

• 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)

• Off – No Crossfeed
• Level 1 – Light
• Level 2 – Medium
• Level 3 – Heavy

• Clamshell precision machined aluminum casing
• Polycarbonate buttons
• Acrylic signal window
• Glass viewing portal
• Natural silver or satin black finish

• 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’ weighted (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;
• Dimensions: 5.1" (L) x 3.9" (W) x 0.83" (H)
• Weight: 1 lb.

"I have long wanted to hear Chord’s celebrated Hugo 2 DAC/headphone amplifier for myself, and I am delighted to say that after spending some time in its company, at last, my expectations have been surpassed. I am in complete agreement with many other hi-fi reviewers that managed to get their hands on a Hugo 2 before me – the Hugo 2 does indeed sound truly great and its eye-catching design and format support are outstanding. It’s desktop and portable versatility (with practical battery life) make it quite an exceptional hi-fi product, and for a proper high-end audio experience with a decent pair of headphones, there’s nothing I’ve heard that achieves a more immersive sound at the price. It is an easy Editor’s pick for me, thank you Chord Electronics."

- Simon Wilce, HiFi and Music Source, February 26, 2021

2019 Editors' Choice Award – The Absolute Sound

"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."

"The Hugo 2 has exceptional resolution of transient detail, striking three-dimensionality, and extremely quiet backgrounds."

- The Absolute Sound, March 2019

"When Chord’s first Hugo portable DAC/headphone amplifier was launched at CES in January 2014, I instantly knew it was special – it looked, sounded and worked like nothing else, and was so good that many bought it to use as their main domestic digital converter, rather than a mere travelling accessory."

"If you’re fortunate enough to be able to consider one, then 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."

- Hi-Fi Choice, November 15, 2017

Five Stars – What Hi-fi? Magazine

"Not an inconsiderable sum for a DAC, but Hugo 2 proves well worth it… 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."

- What Hi-fi? magazine, June 26, 2017

"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."

- Marcus, Headfonics, September 24, 2017