Chord Electronics Hugo 2 black

Hugo 2 is a powerful DAC and headphone amp. Designed for home and mobile use, Hugo 2 transforms the sound quality of headphones and audio systems with its cutting-edge technology.

Hugo 2 can be used at home and on the go, with headphones or in a conventional audio system. Its line-level output and full-featured remote control add real flexibility to normal-sized and desktop systems.

The device offers four digital inputs (optical, coaxial, and HD USB) plus extended-range Bluetooth, with high-resolution file playback up to 768 kHz and up to DSD512 (Octa DSD), via its HD USB input. Analog outputs include 2 RCA outputs, as well as 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm headphone outputs.

A four-function switch filter offers a useful degree of user-selectable frequency shaping, delivering warm and soft or transparent and incisive presentations, providing additional flexibility and user control.

Hugo 2 features four spherical control buttons, which illuminate with color-coded information and control the unit’s power, input, filtering, and crossfeed functions.

Technical Specifications

Main Specifications

• Class A headphone amplifier / portable digital-to-analog converter (DAC)
• Processor: Chord Electronics FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T)
• PCM 32-bit / 768 kHz - Native DSD512
• Materials: Aluminum casing

Audio Performance

• Pulse array: 10-element design
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 0.2 dB
• Output impedance: 0.025 Ω
• Total harmonic distortion (THD): < 0.0001% at 1 kHz, 3 V RMS, 300 Ω
• THD and noise at 3 V RMS: 120 dB at 1 kHz, 300 Ω, ‘A’ weighted (reference 5.3 V)
• Noise 2.6 µV ‘A’ weighted: No measurable background noise modulation
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 126 dB ‘A’ weighted
• Channel separation: 135 dB at 1 kHz, 300 Ω

Output Power

Measurements at 1 kHz, 1% THD:

• 94 mW at 300 Ω
• 740 mW at 32 Ω
• 1050 mW at 8 Ω

Power Supply

• Dual lithium-ion battery (2600 mAh)
• Battery life: 8 hours (average)

Digital Filters

• Precise neutral (Ultimate reference) (White)
• Precise neutral HF attenuation (Red)
• Warm (Orange)
• Warm HF attenuation (Green)

Digital Filtering (IIR)

• Disabled
• Level 1 - Light
• Level 2 - Medium
• Level 3 - Strong

Connectivity

Inputs

• Bluetooth (aptX): 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz - 16-bit
• Micro USB: 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz - 16 to 32-bit
• Coaxial via 3.5 mm mini-jack: 44.1 kHz to 384 kHz - 16 to 32-bit
• Coaxial via 3.5 mm mini-jack (dual data mode): 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz - 16 to 32-bit
• Optical: 44.1 kHz to 96 kHz - 16 to 24-bit

Outputs

• 1 headphone output 6.35 mm jack
• 1 headphone output 3.5 mm mini-jack
• 1 stereo RCA output (left and right)

Physical Characteristics

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 100 × 21 × 130 mm
• Weight: 390 g

Included Accessories

• Hugo 2 user manual
• Safety instructions
• Cable pouch
• Micro USB power supply 5 V / 2 A
• Infrared remote control
• Micro USB to USB Type-A cable
• OTG (On-The-Go) micro USB to micro USB cable
• Optical cable
• Optical to 3.5 mm mini-jack adapter
• 2 AAA batteries