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Why would a firm choose such a counter-intuitive and unorthodox design approach? Chord’s simple answer is that it has been using FPGA-based DACs through several generations of its products and that they have consistently yielded better sound quality than conventional DAC chips do. Instead, Hugo employs a Xilinx Spartan-6 field programmable gate array (FGPA) repurposed for use as a dedicated DAC. In sharp contrast to the overwhelming majority of DACs on the market, the Hugo does not use a standardised DAC chipset of any kind.
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I did most of my review listening through a PC-based computer audio system running Windows 8 with jRiver Media Center 19 music management software and I am pleased to say Chord’s Windows driver installed and functioned with nary a glitch.Ĭompared to most portable DACs and even some full-sized DACs, the Hugo offers a very broad range of inputs, including an A2DP aptX Bluetooth input, a TOSLink optical input (24/192), a coaxial S/PDIF input (24/384), a driverless ‘standard’ USB input (16/48) intended primarily for use with smartphones and tablets, and an HD USB input (32/384 and DSD64/128-capable).
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Hugo’s DAC section requires no drivers for use in Mac OS, iOS iPhone/iPad, and Android environments, but does require installation of Chord’s included ‘Hugo – Mobile DAC’ device driver for use in PC (Vista or Windows 7 and 8 environments). The Hugo can handle almost any type of high-resolution digital audio file you’d care to throw at it, including PCM files ranging from 44.1/16 on up to 32/384 resolutions, DXD, and DSD64/128 files. Before we talk about the Hugo’s sound, about which there is much to say, let’s first look at how the component is configured and at the technologies that make it special.Ĭhord’s Hugo is a high performance portable DAC/headphone amplifier that comes with an impeccable sonic pedigree and the elegant good looks and self-evident build quality to match. In fact, as I’ll explain in this review, both the DAC and headphone amplifier sections of the Hugo sound like high quality, full-size components, which is remarkable considering the Chord is roughly the size of a small reporter’s notebook.
When Chord’s press releases say the Hugo is the world’s first “reference-level portable,” they aren’t kidding around. Honestly, I couldn’t have put it any better than that. The price tag gave me ‘sticker shock’ at first, but that Chord really could be considered an alternative to a high-end DAC and desktop headphone amplifier.” Once the track finished, the listener quietly removed the headphones, then turned to me and said, “Now I understand. As the track unfolded, the listener’s eyes grew progressively wider, indicating what I took to be a certain measure of disbelief. The skeptical young man put on the state-of-the-art Abyss planar magnetic headphones I had connected to the Hugo, picked a selection from the music library on my PC, turned up the volume on the Hugo, and then listened in rapt silence. “It’s certainly not cheap,” I agreed, “but give it a listen and see what you think.” “That’s an awfully steep price for a portable.” Are those people crazy?” asked a high-end audio/headphone enthusiast who had just learned the suggested retail price of Chord’s new Hugo portable DAC/headphone amplifier.