Audio T Verdict
Hugo 2 occupies an interesting middle ground in the Chord Electronics range. It's compact and battery powered enough to travel with you, yet its RCA outputs, remote control and dedicated line-level mode make it equally comfortable sitting at the heart of a serious home Hi-Fi system.
Inside is Chord Electronics' custom-coded FPGA DAC architecture with a 49,152-tap WTA filter and 10-element Pulse Array. Add powerful headphone amplification, four digital filter settings, three levels of crossfeed and playback up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512, and there's an awful lot packed into this relatively small aluminium box.
It can also grow with the system. Add 2go for network streaming or Hugo M Scaler for Chord Electronics' million-tap upscaling, making Hugo 2 considerably more than a portable headphone DAC.
Chord Electronics Hugo 2
Hugo 2 is a transportable DAC, headphone amplifier and digital preamplifier designed for both portable and home use.
Its core features include:
- Custom-coded Chord Electronics FPGA DAC
- 49,152-tap WTA digital filter
- 10-element Pulse Array DAC architecture
- PCM playback up to 768kHz
- Native DSD playback up to DSD512
- Micro USB, coaxial and optical digital inputs
- aptX Bluetooth wireless input
- 3.5mm and 6.35mm headphone outputs
- Stereo RCA line outputs
- Four digital filter settings
- Three-stage headphone crossfeed
- Rechargeable battery operation
- Full-function IR remote control
Chord Electronics FPGA DAC Technology
Rather than using an off-the-shelf DAC chip, Hugo 2 is based around a custom-coded Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA programmed with Chord Electronics' proprietary digital conversion architecture.
The current design uses a 49,152-tap Watts Transient Aligned filter feeding a 10-element Pulse Array DAC, with Chord Electronics retaining direct control over the filtering, noise shaping and digital conversion process.
Digital Inputs and High-Resolution Playback
Micro USB
Supports PCM from 44.1kHz to 768kHz at 16 to 32-bit, together with native DSD playback up to DSD512.
Coaxial
The 3.5mm coaxial input supports PCM up to 384kHz, or up to 768kHz when used in compatible dual-data mode.
Optical
Current Chord Electronics specifications rate the optical input for PCM from 44.1kHz to 96kHz at up to 24-bit.
Bluetooth
Extended-range aptX Bluetooth provides convenient wireless playback at 44.1kHz or 48kHz, 16-bit.
Headphone Amplifier
Hugo 2 provides both:
- 1 x 3.5mm headphone output
- 1 x 6.35mm headphone output
Chord Electronics specifies headphone support up to 800 ohms, with a very low 0.025-ohm output impedance.
Published output figures are:
- 94mW into 300 ohms
- 740mW into 32 ohms
- 1050mW into 8 ohms
Four Digital Filters and Crossfeed
Hugo 2 offers four selectable digital filter settings:
- Incisive Neutral
- Incisive Neutral with HF roll-off
- Warm
- Warmer with HF roll-off
For headphone listening, a separate digital crossfeed function offers Off, Light, Medium and Heavy settings. Crossfeed is intended to recreate some of the spatial interaction between left and right channels that occurs naturally when listening to loudspeakers.
DAC and Digital Preamplifier
Hugo 2 isn't restricted to headphones. A stereo pair of RCA outputs allows it to connect to a conventional Hi-Fi amplifier or active loudspeakers.
The digital volume control operates in 1dB increments, or Hugo 2 can be switched into a fixed:
3V line-level output mode.
Portable or at Home
Use variable output when Hugo 2 is controlling the system volume directly, or line-level mode when feeding an integrated amplifier or conventional preamplifier with its own volume control.
Add 2go for Network Streaming
Chord Electronics 2go connects directly to Hugo 2 and adds network-streaming functionality, allowing the combination to operate as a compact wireless and wired network music player.
It's a useful route for anyone who wants Hugo 2's DAC and headphone stage without keeping a computer or phone physically connected to it.
Add Hugo M Scaler
Hugo 2 is also designed to work with the Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler.
Using Hugo 2's dual-data coaxial mode, Hugo M Scaler can feed it with upscaled PCM at up to 705.6kHz or 768kHz.
View Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler
Battery Powered
Hugo 2 uses two custom rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with an average playback time of around:
6 hours.
Charging is through a dedicated Micro USB connection, with approximately six hours required using a 1.8A fast charge or eight hours at 1A.
An automatic power-saving mode switches Hugo 2 off after ten minutes without an active input.
Precision-Machined Aluminium Construction
The compact enclosure is precision machined from aluminium and finished in either Natural Silver or Satin Black.
Dimensions are:
- Width: 100mm
- Depth: 130mm
- Height: 21mm
- Weight: 365g
Chord Electronics' illuminated spherical controls provide colour-coded information for power, input, filter, crossfeed and volume, while a full IR remote control is also supplied.
Key Features
- Transportable DAC and headphone amplifier
- Digital preamplifier function
- Custom-coded Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA
- 49,152-tap WTA filter
- 10-element Pulse Array DAC
- Class A output stage
- PCM up to 768kHz
- Native DSD up to DSD512
- Micro USB digital input
- Coaxial digital input
- Dual-data coaxial mode
- Optical digital input
- aptX Bluetooth
- 3.5mm headphone output
- 6.35mm headphone output
- Stereo RCA outputs
- 3V line-level mode
- Four digital filters
- Three-stage crossfeed
- Supports headphones up to 800 ohms
- Approximately six-hour battery life
- IR remote control included
- 2go compatible
- Hugo M Scaler compatible
- Natural Silver or Satin Black
- Three-year manufacturer warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hugo 2 portable?
Yes. It contains rechargeable batteries and is compact enough for transportable headphone use, although its RCA outputs and remote control also make it particularly well suited to desktop and home Hi-Fi systems.
What is Hugo 2's maximum resolution?
Up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512 through compatible digital inputs.
Does Hugo 2 support Bluetooth?
Yes. It uses extended-range aptX Bluetooth supporting 44.1kHz and 48kHz 16-bit audio.
What headphone sockets does Hugo 2 have?
One 3.5mm and one 6.35mm headphone output.
Can Hugo 2 drive high-impedance headphones?
Yes. Chord Electronics specifies compatibility with headphones up to 800 ohms, although the required power varies considerably between headphone designs.
Can Hugo 2 connect directly to an amplifier?
Yes. It has stereo RCA analogue outputs and a fixed 3V line-level mode for connection to a suitable amplifier or preamplifier.
Can Hugo 2 control the volume of a power amplifier?
Yes, provided the amplifier and overall system are suitably matched. Hugo 2 has variable digital volume control as well as its fixed line-level mode.
Does Hugo 2 stream music by itself?
No. Bluetooth is built in, but full network streaming requires a separate source or Chord Electronics 2go.
Can I use Hugo M Scaler with Hugo 2?
Yes. Chord Electronics specifically lists Hugo 2 as compatible with Hugo M Scaler, using dual-data coaxial connection for the highest upscaled rates.
How long does the battery last?
Chord Electronics currently specifies an average playback time of around six hours, depending on usage and headphones.
What colours are available?
Audio T currently offers Natural Silver and Satin Black.
What warranty does Hugo 2 have?
Hugo 2 carries a three-year manufacturer warranty. Chord Electronics separately specifies an 18-month limited warranty for the non-user-serviceable internal batteries.
Related Chord Electronics Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Headphone matching and demonstrations
- Portable and home-system setup advice
- 2go network-streaming guidance
- Hugo M Scaler demonstrations
- Digital input and source advice
- In-store demonstrations where appropriate
- Home demonstrations where appropriate
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store if you would like to demonstrate Chord Electronics Hugo 2 with your own headphones or discuss using it within a home Hi-Fi system.