Chord Electronics Hugo 2
The Hugo 2 turns digital playback into a fast, holographic and remarkably quiet experience, pairing low-level detail with crisp timing, controlled bass and organic neutrality. The Absolute Sound praised its three-dimensionality and silent backgrounds, while HiFi News found it equally accomplished as a headphone DAC/amp and main-system source. Filters, crossfeed and broad connectivity deepen its transportable appeal.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
91/100
Features Usability
93/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Exceptional low-level resolution, quiet backgrounds and convincingly three-dimensional imaging.
Clean, pacey and dynamic sound remains musically engaging rather than clinical.
Versatile DAC, preamp and headphone amp with useful filters, crossfeed, remote control and high-resolution connectivity.
Cons
Exceptionally demanding planar headphones, including Susvara- and LCD-4-class models, benefit from a more powerful dedicated amplifier.
Its neutral presentation can sound slightly lean, with less tonal weight and dynamic ease than larger desktop alternatives.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
Reviews consistently describe an exceptionally clear, fast and spatially convincing presentation, combining high detail retrieval with a largely neutral yet musical character. It is notably quiet with sensitive earphones and drives a wide range of headphones well, though the most demanding planars need a larger dedicated amplifier and some listeners find its presentation slightly lean.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
Reviewers repeatedly praise startling clarity, incisive resolution and abundant low-level detail. SoundStage Solo calls it “stunningly resolute,” while The Absolute Sound highlights exceptional transient and textural detail, and several reviewers describe highly precise imaging and separation.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
The Hugo 2 is widely heard as neutral, clean and natural rather than sterile; Hi-Fi News says it remains rewarding and captivating rather than technically soulless. Its filters provide useful scope to soften rough recordings or add warmth, although several reviewers hear the default character as a little light, lean or less tonally saturated than larger alternatives.
Dynamics
91/100
There is strong praise for speed, punch, timing and transient attack, with Fidelity finding no dynamic limitation through Focal Utopia and Soundnews noting substantial headroom with LCD-4Z and HD660S. Compared with Chord’s larger TT 2, however, The Ear finds it less effortless dynamically, while Soundnews felt some leading edges and decays could sound overly abrupt.
Noise Floor
92/100
The Ear reports a deeply black background, and The Absolute Sound found the Hugo 2 quiet enough for high-sensitivity Noble and Audeze earphones. Its low-noise presentation is also repeatedly credited with helping low-level detail, ambience and three-dimensional imaging emerge clearly.
Headphone Compatibility
89/100
Reviewers found it capable with IEMs, high-sensitivity earphones and most full-size headphones; Audiophilepure used it successfully with all of its headphones and IEMs, and Fidelity praised its authority with demanding acoustic headphones. The limits are clear with exceptionally difficult planars: LCD-4, Susvara and Abyss-class loads are cited as better served by a powerful desktop amplifier.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
The aluminum enclosure receives repeated praise for its solidity and machining, with reviewers describing it as ultrasolid, beautifully made and superbly finished. Comments specifically mention crisp edges, clean seams and flawless case machining, although the compact, weighty form is more transportable than pocket-portable.
Features Usability
93/100
This is a notably flexible DAC/amp: USB, optical, coaxial and aptX Bluetooth inputs support high-resolution PCM and DSD, while RCA line output and both 3.5mm and 6.35mm headphone outputs suit home and mobile use. Remote control, selectable digital filters, effective crossfeed and configurable line-level output add genuinely useful ownership flexibility.
Value for Money
94/100
At roughly £1,800 to €2,290 at the time of review, it is an expensive transportable unit, but reviewers repeatedly regard the performance as justified. The Absolute Sound considers it competitive with much costlier DACs, while What Hi-Fi? calls it worth the asking price and among the most valuable system upgrades for an appropriately capable setup.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Chipset
- Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA
- Tap-length
- 49,152
- Pulse array
- 10 element pulse array design
- Frequency response
- 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
- Output stage
- Class A
- Output impedance
- 0.025Ω
- THD
- <0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300Ω
- THD and noise at 3v RMS
- 120dB at 1kHz 300ohms ‘A’ wighted (reference 5.3v)
- Noise 2.6 uV ‘A’ weighted
- No measurable noise floor modulation
- Signal to noise ratio
- 126dB ‘A’ Weighted
- Channel separation
- 135dB at 1kHz 300Ω
- Power output @ 1kHz 1% THD
- 94mW 300Ω 740mW 32Ω 1050mW 8Ω
- Weight
- 365g
- Dimensions
- 2.1cm (H) 10cm (W) 13cm (D)
- Boxed Dimensions
- 8.5cm (H) 12.2cm (W) 22cm (D)
Manufacturer's Description — Chord Electronics
In 2014, we introduced Hugo, a revolutionary portable DAC and headphone amp that became a landmark product in the audio landscape. Advances in digital technology, including the latest FPGAs and WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filters, have enabled us to introduce a next-generation version, Hugo 2, featuring flexible new features, plus next-generation technical and sonic performance.
Winner of Best DAC (£1,500+) in the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022, and a What Hi-Fi? Best DAC winner every year its inception (2017-2022), Hugo 2 is a proven class leader.
Hugo 2 can be used both at home and on the go, either with headphones or within a conventional audio system. Its line-level output and full-function remote control add real flexibility to full-size and desktop systems.
The device offers four digital inputs (optical, coaxial and HD USB) plus extended-range Bluetooth® wireless technology, with high-resolution file playback up to 768kHz and up to DSD512 (Octa DSD), via its HD USB input. Analogue outputs include 2x RCA, plus 3.5mm and 6.35mm headphone outputs.
A four-function switch filter offers a useful degree of user-selectable frequency-shaping, bringing warm and soft or transparent and incisive presentations, giving additional flexibility and user control. For headphone listening, Hugo 2 retains the popular digital crossfeed function of the original and offers three operation modes. The system duplicates the effect of listening to speakers and is based on advanced binaural audio research.
Hugo 2 features four spherical control buttons, which illuminate with colour-coding information and control power, input, filtering, plus the unit’s crossfeed functions.
Battery playing time is around 6 hours + (depending on headphones) and two modes of automatic charging are included using the dedicated Micro USB charging port; an indicator shows charging and battery-charge status.
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Chord Electronics is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.
‘Plays with Audirvāna’ hardware products are certified to play music from Audirvāna software over USB or network with the best level of integration and audio performance.
HUGO 2 – SPECIFICATIONS:
Materials: Precision-machined aluminium casing with polycarbonate buttons, acrylic signal window, and glass viewing portal. Available in a choice of two colours – natural silver, and satin black
Battery: 2x Rechargeable custom Enix Energies 3.7v 9.6Wh Li-ion (lithium-ion (2600mAh) batteries*
Tap length filter: 49,152 – 10 element Pulse Array design
Playtime: 6 hours (Avg.time)
Charging: Nominal six (6) hours via Micro USB at 1.8amps (fast charge) – Nominal eight (8) hours at 1amp (slow charge)
Connectivity (input): Micro USB (White): 44.1kHz to 768kHz – 16bit to 32bit
Coax via 3.5mm jack (Red): 44.1kHz to 384kHz – 16bit to 32bit
Coax via (same) 3.5mm jack (Dual data mode: Yellow): 44.1kHz to 768kHz – 16bit to 32bit
Optical (Green): 44.1kHz to 96kHz – 16bit to 24bit
Connectivity (input wireless): Bluetooth® (APTX) (Blue): 44.1kHz to 48kHz – 16bit
Connectivity (output): 1x ¼” jack headphone output
1x 3.5mm jack headphone output
1x stereo (L & R) RCA output
PCM support: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz. 16 – 32bit
DSD support: Native playback supported. DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD)
Volume control: Digital, activated in 1dB increments. Last known state saved upon shutdown, with exception of line-level mode
Line-level mode: Activated via dual press of middle ‘Source’ and ‘Crossfeed’ buttons. Line level = 3v via all outputs. Reset by power cycle
Power saving mode: Auto-shutdown after ten minutes of input inactivity
Driver support: Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS
* Non-user-serviceable batteries are covered by a limited 18-month warranty from initial date of purchase. For full terms and conditions please click here.
User Configurable Options:
Filters (Digital):
Incisive neutral (Ultimate reference) (White)
Incisive neutral HF roll-off (High Frequency roll off) (Green)
Warm (‘Smooth’) (Orange)
Warmer HF roll-off (High Frequency roll off) (Red)
Crossfeed (Digital IIR):
Off – No Crossfeed
Level 1 – Light
Level 2 – Medium
Level 3 – Heavy
Control options:
Manual
Remote control (included)
Key Features
Chord Custom FPGA DAC
49,152 Taps
6 hours + Battery Life
768kHz Micro USB Input
384kHz Coax Jack Input
768kHz Dual Data Mode Jack Input
96kHz Optical Input
Bluetooth® wireless technology
1x ¼” Headphone Output
1x 3.5mm Headphone Output
Unbalanced RCA Outputs
Supports up to 768kHz
DSD512 (8x) Native
Native DSD Support
4x Playback Filters
3x Crossfeed Function
Supports up to 800Ω
IR Remote Control Included
CNC Aluminium Chassis
Roon tested
Included Accessories
Hugo 2 user manual
Safety instructions
Drawstring bag
5V 2A Switching Micro USB power supply
IR remote control
Micro USB to Type-A USB cable
Micro to Micro USB OTG cable
Optical cable
Optical to 3.5mm optical cable
2x AAA batteries
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Chord Electronics Hugo 2
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 110Hz — online and in-store — Kielce, Województwo świętokrzyskie, Poland (website)
- Accent On Music — in-store — Mount Kisco, New York, United States (website)
- Acoustic Designs Inc. — in-store — Scottsdale, Arizona, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustic Streams — in-store — Lower Drift, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Ajasom — online and in-store — Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal (website)
and 202 more verified dealers