Chord’s New Hugo TT 2 DAC & Headphone Amplifier

It hasn’t been that long since everyone’s favorite UK audio maker released its Hugo line of desktop DACs and headphone amplifiers. The reception to the original lineup was firmly positive, starting with the original portable Hugo and then on to the TT (table top). Now at the open of Munich’s high end audio show, Chord has announced a follow up to the TT, with plenty of new tech and spec along for the ride.

The Chord Hugo TT 2 (£3,996, that’s the British pound) comes ripe with new digital filters from the prolific mind of digital designer Rob Watts on top of a Artix 7 FPGA chipset. A presentation from the company claims the new digital section is only outdone by the manufacturer’s own DAVE flagship DAC ($13k) in terms of measurable performance. From the press release:

“The Hugo TT 2 offers five times the processing power of the original Hugo TT (offering a 98,304-tap 16FS WTA 1 filter) and deploys 86x 208MHz DPS cores in parallel to create the WTA filters. The Hugo TT 2 also benefits from an extremely low noise floor of -178dB with no measurable noise floor modulation. The device’s highly advanced 12th-order noise-shaper, which uses 10 Pulse Array elements, is much improved over the original with well over 100,000 times more resolution than before, resulting in greater detail resolution and perception of soundstage depth.”

Rob’s bespoke approach to digital certainly appears to have won over some of the hifi faithful in a world filled with off-the-shelf programming and default three letter converter chips. Additional handiwork to the new guts include 6 total digital inputs, new casework, bigger peek-a-boo window and a revisited LED display. The relatively small box packs on the features which just about everything you could need in an all-in-one unit for the desk or office, and leaves very little on (or perhaps off) the table.

Street date for the new Hugo is projected for autumn of this year, plenty of extra info in the full PR release below.

 

“Unrivalled performance: Chord Electronics’ new Hugo TT 2 DAC/headphone amplifier is unveiled at High End 2018

The world’s most advanced Table Top (TT) DAC receives extensive upgrades inside and out and sets new standards for technical performance, surpassed only by Chord Electronics’ reference-level DAVE. Find us at High End: A3.1, room C122

10th May, High End 2018, Munich: Chord Electronics has revealed the Hugo TT 2, its next-generation Table-Top (TT) DAC/headphone amplifier and one which sets a new technical benchmark, eclipsed only by Chord Electronics’ flagship DAVE. The device also offers incredible output power, flexible new features and redesigned casework; the Hugo TT 2 makes its international debut at High End and is scheduled for launch in the autumn.

The new Hugo TT 2 is the world’s most advanced desktop DAC/headphone amp. It offers unrivalled technical performance and is based upon new Artix 7 FPGA chip which has been uniquely custom-coded by Chord Electronics’ Digital Design Consultant, Rob Watts.

In addition to class-leading digital audio processing, the Hugo 2 TT offers enormous power reserves courtesy of a new super-capacitor-based power supply unit, designed to drive even the most difficult headphones, including high-impedance IEMs/CIEMs. There’s even enough power to drive efficient compact loudspeakers given suitable cabling!

The Hugo TT 2 offers five times the processing power of the original Hugo TT (offering a 98,304-tap 16FS WTA 1 filter) and deploys 86x 208MHz DPS cores in parallel to create the WTA filters. The Hugo TT 2 also benefits from an extremely low noise floor of -178dB with no measurable noise floor modulation. The device’s highly advanced 12th-order noise-shaper, which uses 10 Pulse Array elements, is much improved over the original with well over 100,000 times more resolution than before, resulting in greater detail resolution and perception of soundstage depth.

A high-power discrete output stage with distortion-reducing second-order noise-shaping is integrated into the DAC output amp and filter. The Hugo TT 2 eschews the battery supply used in its predecessor and instead uses six super caps in the power supply unit, capable of delivering huge, linear dynamic currents: peak output currents of 5A and 9.3V RMS.

All-new, improved casework

In addition to its internal upgrades, the Hugo TT 2 also benefits from a number of external improvements. For added versatility, the number of digital inputs has risen to six and includes HD USB-B, 2x optical and 2x coaxial BNC (up from one each on the original) plus extended-range aptX Bluetooth. Three headphone outputs are also included: 2x 6.35mm and one 3.5mm, with simultaneous operation.

The casework has been significantly redesigned to include front-panel buttons (Menu, Set and Power) to cycle between and select filtering and crossfeed modes, plus switch inputs and control power. The new design also includes a larger, top-mounted viewing window for the internal circuits, a larger volume control sphere, plus an improved LED display. The device retains its remote control functionality, sharing a handset with Hugo 2.

Further outputs include balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analogue connections, plus dual BNC DX outputs for use with future Chord Electronics’ devices.

Four-stage filtering

The new Hugo TT 2 now offers user-selectable audio controls, accessible both on the front panel and remote control, including an advanced four-stage filter offering incisive/neutral to warm sonic signatures with high-frequency roll-off, giving additional flexibility for a wide range of digital music files, such as DSD and High Res Audio.

Crossfeed feature

For headphone listening, the Hugo TT 2 retains the popular digital crossfeed function of the original and offers three operation modes (min to max) from its dedicated control sphere. The system cross-feeds a partial 250 micro-second-delayed and equalised signal from each left and right output to the opposite channel. The system duplicates the effect of listening to speakers and also improves the perception of depth when listening via headphones.

Comprehensive digital connectivity

The Hugo TT 2’s comprehensive digital connectivity suite includes a galvanically isolated HD USB-B connection capable of decoding 768kHz PCM data and DSD 512. The unit’s two optical TOSLink inputs are 24-bit/192kHz-capable (with the appropriate source and cabling) and the dual BNC coaxial inputs are 24-bit/768kHz-capable for connection to Chord Electronics’ M-Scaler technology as seen in the BLU MKII digital/CD transport.

Flexible operation

Hugo TT 2 is highly flexible, too. It can be used in pure DAC mode, enabled for high-power (incl. low- and high-gain modes) when headphones are connected or used in amp mode for use as a digital preamp or when directly driving efficient loudspeakers.

Despite its technical complexity and powerful output, the unit’s topology remains simple with just two resistors, two capacitors and one global feedback path, so the connection from the digital domain to analogue is very direct for maximum transparency.

Technical specifications

• Dynamic range: 127 dB A wt.

• Noise: 4 uV A wt., (high gain) 1.7 uV A wt., (low gain) no measurable noise floor modulation

• Distortion: 0.00008% at 2.5 V 300 ohms; 0.00016% at 6 W 8 ohms

• Single-ended OP power (@1% THD) 288 mW RMS 300 ohms; 7.3 W RMS 8 ohms

• Balanced XLR OP power: (@1% THD) 1.15 W RMS 300 ohms; 18W RMS 8 ohms

• Output impedance: 0.042 ohms

• Stereo separation: 9 V RMS 300 ohms -138 dB

• 98,304 tap-length 16FS WTA 1 filter

Price and availability

The Hugo TT 2 will available in the autumn priced at c.£3,996

About Chord Electronics Ltd

Chord Electronics Ltd is a world-leading manufacturer of high-performance hi-fi and audio products. Since 1989, from its spectacular riverside base in Kent, England, Chord Electronics has been creating some of the planet’s finest hi-fi, home cinema and professional audio equipment. A technology-driven innovator, Chord Electronics continues to deliver excellence through exemplary audio engineering, cutting-edge design and a true aesthetic understanding. Chord Electronics is trusted and admired inte¬rnationally and its global customer base includes: Abbey Road Studios (London); Sony Music Studios (New York) and Skywalker Sound (California). For an extensive client list and more information on the full Chord Electronics range, please visit www.chordelectronics.co.uk“