Chord Electronics Hugo TT2
High-end DAC and headphone amplifier
If you want the ultimate in digital signal processing, Chord has equipment that is far, far more expensive than the Hugo TT2. However, if you’re looking for a DAC that is unrivaled in its price range, the Hugo TT2 is what you need.
It's hard not to love Chord. Their quirky product names (Dave, Hugo, TToby, etc.) and their almost extraterrestrial, industrial design language stands out. The large glowing spheres that serve as buttons, the almost 80s-style displays, and the ever-present window into 'the most sacred' add to its uniqueness. Chord's design choices are polarizing, but one thing everyone can agree on is that they excel at making Hi-Fi products. The level of detail is reference-worthy, and they possess an incomparable talent for breathing life and soul into what is merely a series of zeros and ones.
Hugo TT2 is Chord Electronics smallest DAC that approaches full-width size without the price exceeding 50,000 DKK. However, Chord hasn't cut corners to achieve the high performance of the Hugo TT2—they have created the very best DAC in its price category. The Hugo TT2 is based on the portable Hugo 2 DAC/headphone amplifier, which defined an entire product category: the combined DAC/headphone amplifier. The larger form factor of the Hugo TT2 allows for additional features and connections, and it naturally offers higher performance than its portable counterpart. In addition to wired sources, the Hugo TT2 can receive streaming via Bluetooth, supporting the aptX format, which accommodates up to 16-bit 48kHz. While Bluetooth may not be the most obvious choice for quality, you can be assured that this device offers the best possible treatment for that format.
A Digital Multi-Talent
The Hugo TT2 can handle almost any format you feed it. It supports studio-quality DXD and accepts DSD up to DSD512 via its USB input. We often get lost in details about sample rates and bit rates, forgetting that most of us primarily listen to music in CD quality, whether purchased online or ripped from our CD collections. In this regard, the Hugo TT2 holds its own, and even standard 16-bit/44.1kHz files are processed through the Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA chip set, delivering the vibrancy and life often missing from digital music formats. The Hugo TT2 can be combined with the Hugo M Scaler via dual coaxial S/Pdif.
Super Serious Headphone Amplifier
On the output side of the Hugo TT2, you will find three headphone outputs: one 3.5mm and two 1/4" outputs. It can effortlessly drive even the most power-hungry headphones. If you wish to connect the Hugo TT2 to your system, you can do so via single-ended RCA or balanced XLR. If you've decided that digital sources are the way forward and do not need analog inputs, the Chord Hugo TT2 is one of the absolute best options in its price range. You can even create a complete system by combining it with Chord's TToby power amplifier, designed for a life with the Hugo TT2. The Chord Hugo TT2 is an outstanding DAC but can be even better in combination with the Chord Hugo M Scaler. **Reviews** - What Hi-Fi? - Read more.
| Measurements | 23,5 x 22,3 x 4,6 cm |
| Weight (net) | 2,53 kg |
| Input, optical (TosLink) | 2 |
| Input, coaxial (S/Pdif) | 2 |
| Input, USB | 1 |
| Output, Stereo RCA | 1 |
| Output, Stereo XLR | 1 |
| Output, Headphone | Yes, 3,5 mm TRS, Yes, 1/4" TRS |
| Pre-out (stereo) | Yes |
| Network features | Bluetooth aptX |
| Audio decoding | DSD128 / 5.6 MHz, DSD256 / 11.2 MHz, DSD512 / 22.5 MHz, DXD |
| Supported sample rates, kHz | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352, 384, 768 |
| Supported bit depth | 16 bit, 24 bit, 32 bit |
| Audio chipset | Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA |
| In the box | Power supply, Remote control, Users guide |
| Other included accessories | 1.5 meter USB-A to USB-B cable |
