Chord Hugo 2 £1895
We’re so used to seeing Chord’s DACS feature in our Awards issues that it’s easy to forget just how impressive these devices are. Nowhere is that more true than with the Hugo 2 – a DAC that now bestrides this category for a remarkable fifth year in succession.
The Hugo 2 is portable in that it has a battery (providing around seven hours from a single charge) and you can pick it up (it’s only 450g); it’s not portable in the sitting comfortably in a pocket sense. And Chord acknowledges the likelihood of it being used as a desktop DAC by including a remote control.
Its digital optical input (full-size TOSLINK) is good for digital audio up to 24-bit/192khz, while the digital coaxial (3.5mm socket) goes to 24-bit/384khz.
The final physical input is a mini-usb able to deal with information up to 32-bit/ 768khz and DSD512. Music can also be fed to the Hugo 2 via aptx Bluetooth.
There are 3.5mm and 6.3mm headphone socket outputs, and a pair of stereo RCAS for connection to an amplifier.
As well as input selection and volume, the Hugo 2 features inscrutable colourdependent controls for cross-feed and filtering. Chord’s bespoke, highly developed Field Programmable Gate Array is back in supercharged form.
The bigger the file and the more information the Hugo 2 has to play with, the greater the detail and fidelity of its performance. But in all circumstances this DAC serves up a detailed, dynamic and punchy performance. Timing is perhaps its strongest suit of all – it brings absolutely believable unity to ensemble music. There’s crispness and clarity, admirable management of tempos and an unequivocal layout to the soundstage.
It doesn’t overstate, it doesn’t underplay. It simply arranges the pieces into a convincing whole where bass is balanced against treble in the most unforced and crystal-clear manner.
There isn’t another DAC around at anywhere near this price able to communicate so unambiguously.