CHORD 2GO/HUGO 2
The Chord 2go is a brilliant way to add streaming capability to the company’s Award-winning Hugo 2 DAC. Together, they add up to one of the most capable premium music streamers on the market. This pairing is portable, and capable of running up to 12 hours on its internal batteries. It’s too large for most pockets, but small enough to fit into a bag or rucksack.
The 2go is more than just a DLNA streamer. Its two microsd card slots can handle up to 4TB of stored music files, which means this Chord can work as a server too – any device on the same network can play the songs stored on the Chord. Add Tidal and Qobuz capability alongside Internet radio, Bluetooth (4.1, A2DP) and Airplay, and you have a highly versatile digital music source.
Minimal physical connection
Physical connectivity is limited to an ethernet port and a pair of micro-usbs that plug directly into the partnering Hugo 2. One of these is for power and the other for the signal output. If you’re out and about, the 2go can be set to wi-fi hotspot mode, or use Bluetooth if you don’t mind a compromised performance. The 2go won’t work with any DAC other than a Hugo 2, unless you add the company’s 2yu interface (£449).
The 2go can play PCM music files up to 32-bit/768khz and DSD up to DSD256 – we can’t imagine many people having files outside the Chord’s abilities. It builds on the software foundations laid for Chord’s first such streaming module, the Poly, using the company’s Gofigure app for set-up and certain aspects of control. Chord doesn’t have a dedicated
UPNP streaming playback app, leaving the 2go user to find a third party app alternative such as mconnect.
The 2go’s intricately machined aluminium case may be the size of a pack of cards but it feels far classier than the traditional bent-metal chassis used by most alternatives. It would be nice to have a display to show what the product is doing rather than relying on the apps. Chord’s software engineering appears more robust than it was in the early days of the Poly, and the 2go isn’t far behind the industry majors when it comes to stability and responsiveness.
It’s easy enough to plug directly into a power amplifier or pair of active speakers, making a clutter-free set-up. It is worth doing, considering the Hugo 2’s output section is more transparent than all but the most capable preamplifier.
Our reference system consists of Gamut’s D3i/d200i pre/power with Proac’s Response D2R speakers, but we also use Nagra’s PL-P preamp and Audiovector’s R1 Arreté speakers. The Hugo 2 is an excellent headphone amp, so we use the Beyerdynamic T1 and Grado’s classic RS1.
It’s fair to say this Chord combination makes for one of the most capable music streamers we’ve heard. We stream Massive Attack’s Paradise Circus from Tidal and are captivated by the amount of information this streamer resolves. We’re more aware of the various textures than we would expect from anything at this level and love the focused way this combo renders the leading edge of notes.
It’s hard to think of anything outside the range-toppers from the likes of Naim or Linn that can do these things as well.
We switch to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, from a micro SD card, and are pleased by the level of resolution. We can track low-level instrumental strands no matter how demanding the music gets – the Chord pairing never sounds flustered even when pushed. Stereo imaging is as precise as you like and expansive enough to convince.
Never less than entertaining
The story is similarly positive whether listening to Airplay or Bluetooth. There are differences in quality between these options, but the 2go/hugo 2 combo is never less than entertaining.
There’s no denying the 2go/hugo 2’s class-leading sonic talents, but its presentation errs on the clinical side, with a lean sound that lacks an element of natural warmth and richness. You can change the filter option on the Hugo 2, but it’s never truly convincing. There is also a relative lack of muscularity to the presentation that shows itself in a degree of restraint and an overall loss in authority compared with rival streamers.
The 2go/hugo 2 pairing isn’t as slick as rivals to use or set-up, and needs a good amount of care in partnering. But work around these things and you’ll have a revealing and versatile music server/ streamer that can deliver a level of clarity that is hard to match anywhere near this price. There’s no doubt that the 2go is a stunning achievement.