If you can’t listen and compare them can you decide based on features etc.?
I moved from a Mojo mk1, through Hugo mk1 to TT2. Each move was great. I had the opportunity to listen to the TT2 at home, and knew immediately it was a great upgrade to the Hugo mk1. I kept all three, and still use the Hugo for headphone duties. The mojo is on permanent loan to a friend. I move my Hugo around the house and it’s a great headphone solution. If I still had to have it in my system it would be a great sounding DAC in that context too.
Ease of use within a static system was at least partly my reason to go with a TT when I upgraded. The mk1 Hugo was a bit awkward to use like that, it’s on/off button is small, and it forgot it’s volume setting each time. The mk2 has a much nicer on/off control though. The intelligent desktop mode is also supposed to be much nicer on the battery if the Hugo mk2 is left permanently powered. In other words I think the issues running a Hugo mk2 as a desktop DAC are minimal.
I think your choice is hard, as I think the Qutest and Hugo are not necessarily a range or iteration apart.
I wish Chord would bring out a supercharged Qutest - sort of TT2 without the pre and headphone amps. I’d buy that in a flash. The fact that their product range has not altered spec wise for quite a time makes me think that improvements are now difficult engineer at reasonable cost. Very different to the constant updates from the various Chinese manufacturers. Refreshing really.
When comparing Chord DACs in a Naim system you should take care to ensure that the system is set up optimally, as this does affect performance:
Keep the Chord DAC and its SMPS some distance away from the large toroidal power supplies in the Naim boxes.
Keep the supplied DIN cable connected between Naim streamer and preamp. Obviously it will not carry a signal, but it will maintain the correct signal ground arrangement that Naim systems use.
Try different output levels on the Chord DAC. With the Hugo, dial down the volume control to a bit below max and see if you prefer the sound that way. The Qutest fixed output can be set to 1, 2 or 3V. Higher levels reduce the usable range on Naim volume pots.
I already had the opportunity to hear a Chord DAC with on a similar system (272/250DR) the problem is I can’t remember which chord DAC it was… Howver have not had the opportunity to compare directly with the nDAC.
It just find my nDAC a little bit boring with my system. As strange as it may sound, I prefer thee punchier and faster presentation of my ND5XS2. I don’t use my nDAC anymore.
Do you mean that I the Hugo 2 batteries should last for years (over 5-7 years) if used on desktop mode? I’m afraid Chord won’t continue to offer battery replacement in the future.
From memory (I don’t have the TT2 any more) the resolution was noticeably greater. That’s the main thing. I would say it was maybe more neutral than the Qutest too, i.e. slightly less prat.
Overall the TT2 was more compelling but the Qutest is still outstanding. If you feed it from a good streamer like an Innuos it’ll do justice to revealing speakers like ATC 40s.
Yes I believe so, depending on how you use the device (ie degree of static vs portable). Any battery is ultimately a consumable item because of chemistry (like electrolytics). I would contact Chord themselves to get the exact details.
Either way almost certainly you will find batteries are generally available for you to replace just like most other electronic components… as with Hugo 1 for example.
A quick look on the WWW confirms the Hugo 2 batteries are easily user replaceable… as well as several companies offering to do it in addition to Chord themselves for those who are squeamish about such things.
It will also depend on your speakers, room size and preferred listening level, as a higher output level from the source will further reduce the already very limited usable range of the volume pot on a Naim preamp. Just choose the level that suits you best in terms of both sound quality and usability.
I think that’s fair. Just to be clear it’s not as much prat as a Naim CD player, but within the context of Chord DACs which I find neutral it has the most prat.
Thank you for all your replies. Would you consider the TT2 a “higher” end DAC than the nDAC? Is the Qutest more on the level of the nDAC (even if their sound signature differs).
I’d love to compare the Qutest and TT2 but it’s unfortunately not possible where I live (France). I can only home demo the Qutest (Hugo 2 and TT2 not available).
You might find that that is more a matter of people’s preferences in music presentation. IIRC @Richard.Dane is one who has compared Hugo and nDAC, preferring different for different music. Some prefer the sound from Chord DACs, others prefer the Naim. Not sure how you judge “higher end”: based on cost TT2 would probably count as higher end.
Difficult if you can’t do any comparisons yourself. Is it worth a short trip over to UK where you might have more chance of comparing things? Or some suppliers will send you things and allow you to try and keep just the one you like best, though in my experience you’d have to expect to pay the full cost of each upfront and have it refunded upon return. One in UK that does that is called Nintronics: I had a home comparison of TT1 and Dave against my own Hugo1 facilitated by them.
Yes, I have both a Naim DAC and also a Chord Hugo, although I realise that it has been some years since I used the latter (looking a bit dusty), which may tell you something. Of course, the Naim DAC has plenty of upgrade options available to it to take it even further - Powerline, XPS, 555PS. Oh yes, and also bear in mind that the Olive XPS works really well with the Naim DAC, especially if you have an S-XPS Burndy cable to hand, so with secondhand Olive XPS prices starting around £700, upgrades need not cost an arm and a leg…
