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Chord Electronics Hugo TT 2
Hugo TT 2 has been radically redesigned from the ground up, not only with beautiful new casework by Chief Designer, John Franks, but with 5x the processing power of the original Hugo TT and double that of the multi-award-winning Hugo 2. Hugo TT 2 distils over 20 years of digital development by Rob Watts and takes advantage of the very latest technology.
As expected, it delivers radically improved technical specifications and measurements across the board and exhibits drastic sonic benefits over its predecessor with 768kHz PCM and DSD 512 playback. Hugo TT 2 sets a new benchmark in table top audio, only being eclipsed by DAVE.
Delving deeper, in comparison to the 256-tap filters that traditional chip DACs may run at, Hugo TT 2’s beating heart is a powerful Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA, custom-coded by Chord Electronics’ Rob Watts, with 86x 208MHz cores running in parallel to create an advanced 16FS WTA 1 filter with 98,304-taps. Double that of its multi-award winning transportable brother, Hugo 2 (49,152). Hugo TT 2 also benefits from an upgrade from a 4-element design to a 10-element design, which works in harmony with the radically upgraded FPGA and code to deliver unrivalled audio.
A brand new high-power discreet output stage coupled with second-order noise-shaping integrated between the DAC output and filter is also employed to massively reduce distortion. Further improvements have also been made to the power delivery. Hugo TT 2 eschews the Li-Po battery power supply of the original and ushers in six super capacitors capable of delivering huge, linear dynamic currents when the music demands it with peak output of 5A, 9.3V RMS.
Hugo TT 2 also brings home the much loved four-stage user-selectable filter controls introduced with Hugo 2 and retains the three-stage user-selectable digital crossfeed function for headphone users who want to improve the perception of depth, similar to that of speakers.
Hugo TT 2 can be upgraded at any time with the addition of M Scaler, our 1M-tap digital upscaling device.
‘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 TT 2 – SPECIFICATIONS:
Materials: Precision machined aluminium casing with steel ball bearing buttons, gloss black acrylic signal window, glass viewing portal, and dot matrix display. Available in a choice of two colours – silver, and satin black
Tap length filter: 98,304-tap 16FS WTA 1 – 10 element design
Connectivity (input): 1x USB Type-B, 2x Coax BNC & 2x Optical
Connectivity (output): Stereo XLR, Stereo RCA, 2x 6.5mm Headphone jack & 1x 3.5mm Headphone jack
Connectivity (digital output): 2x DX BNC (expansion outputs)
Weight: 2.53kg
PCM support: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz. 16 – 32bit
DSD support: DoP DSD 64 to DSD 512 – native via Windows
Volume control: Digital
Line-level mode: Activated within the menu
Driver support: Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS
Key Features
Roon tested
Included Accessories
Hugo TT 2 Quickstart guide
Safety instructions
15V 4A Switching barrel type power supply
IR remote control
Type-A USB to Type-B USB cable
Optical cable
2x AAA batteries
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Chord Electronics Hugo TT 2 — a high‑resolution, high‑power desktop DAC/headphone amp
The Hugo TT 2 combines Chord's advanced FPGA processing with real-world driving muscle to deliver a class‑leading blend of speed, detail and musical engagement. Reviewers from The Ear, What Hi‑Fi? and Pursuit Perfect System note breathtaking clarity and agile transients, with a slightly warm tilt that keeps treble inviting while preserving microdetail. Its dynamics are formidable (up to 18W balanced into 8Ω), and an ultra‑low noise floor and 0.04Ω output impedance make it versatile across sensitive IEMs to demanding planars. The redesigned aluminium 'clamshell' case, polychrome display and refined controls underscore premium build and usability. With abundant digital inputs, crossfeed and filter options, the TT 2 suits audiophiles seeking a single, high‑performance hub for headphones, preamp duties or even driving efficient speakers—a compelling proposition in its price band.
Pros
- Exceptional, highly detailed yet musical sound driven by an FPGA-based DAC and extended digital filtering.
- Immense dynamics and headphone-driving power (plentiful single‑ended and up to 18W balanced) for planars and demanding loads.
- Premium build and thoughtful industrial design — machined aluminium case, larger backlit volume roller and improved display.
- Comprehensive feature set: driverless USB, dual BNC/coax/optical, aptX Bluetooth, crossfeed and selectable filters (PCM768/DSD512 support).
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Cons
- Menu and front‑panel ergonomics can be fiddly; navigating inputs and settings may frustrate users without the remote.
- No dedicated 4‑pin XLR headphone socket — some users prefer a single balanced headphone connector for convenience.
- Bluetooth convenience is supported but reviewers found wireless sonic performance inferior to wired digital inputs.
Sound Quality
93/100
Reviewers praise the TT2's impressive voltage-swinging ability and dynamic authority, noting seismic dynamic shifts, punch and rhythmic confidence (What Hi‑Fi?, The Ear, Audiophilepure). Its high power output—especially balanced 18W into 8Ω—translates into effortless control and impactful transient response across demanding headphones. Several reports emphasise its ability to drive planars and big dynamic swings without compression.
Noise Floor
91/100
Measured specs and reviewer impressions point to a very low noise floor: factory figures cite 1.7–4 µV A-weighted and 'no measurable noise floor modulation', and no reviewer reports audible hiss. The combination of solid-state topology with Chord's implementation yields a black-background-like silence appropriate for sensitive IEMs and full-size cans. Given the explicit low-noise measurements and lack of negative commentary, this rates as virtually silent in typical listening scenarios.
Headphone Compatibility
92/100
Extremely low output impedance (0.042 Ω), very high balanced and single-ended power (up to 18W balanced into 8 Ω / 7.3W SE) and reviewers testing a wide gamut of cans (HE6, Abyss Diana Phi, Susvara, Audeze, Utopia, HD600) demonstrate real-world versatility. Reviewers specifically note it can drive demanding planars and reference high-impedance loads, yet remains suitable for sensitive headphones. Multiple gain settings and front-panel headphone outputs add practical flexibility for varied headphones.
Build Quality
94/100
Reviews consistently describe premium, exquisitely contoured aluminium casework, superb craftsmanship and a solid luxurious feel (Audiophilepure, The Ear, What Hi‑Fi?). The attention to mechanical design, legible (polychrome) display and refined controls contributes to a high-end tactile and visual experience. Overall finish and fit-and-finish are repeatedly praised.
Features Connectivity
95/100
The Hugo TT2 is richly featured: high-quality FPGA DAC supporting PCM up to 768kHz and DSD512, driverless USB, USB‑B, dual optical, dual BNC coax, aptX Bluetooth, balanced XLR line outputs and multiple headphone jacks, plus crossfeed and modes for DAC/pre/amp operation (multiple review sources). It also provides DX BNC outputs for expansion and flexible operating modes (DAC/Amp/Headphone). Given the high-end DAC, diverse digital inputs, balanced outputs and practical extras, the feature set is among the strongest in its class (capped to the schema maximum).
Value for Money
91/100
Across reviews the TT2 is repeatedly described as justifying its price and representing strong value in Chord's lineup and the broader market (What Hi‑Fi?, The Ear, Audiophilepure). Reviewers state the performance and features make the price difference to lesser models easily justifiable and several explicitly say they don’t regret the purchase. Given the premium price band, reviewers still frame the TT2 as a competitively justified premium buy.
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