Qutest, Hugo TT2, Mscaler

Yeah… sounded really good. Of course, I’ll be able to review a lot better when I get it back home!

The thing about the Aries G1 is that you don’t really notice it. That is, it’s very transparent and clean sound and doesn’t seem to add additional character… just lets the DAC do its thing. I seen the Aries G2 which looked incredible but I wouldn’t make use of the additional features… other than looking great.

Yes,what are the additional features again? I think it was internal storage and the milled from billet case, is that it? I do not need storage, since I have the Naim Core.

These are the differences.

The milled billet body that now also has a copper inner case G2.1 I think
Anti vibration stabilising feet.
Weight balanced design?!?
The lightening Link socket to connect multiple Auralic devices
Galvanic Isolation. I think this is USB.
Option for internal storage

Everything else is the same. Link to the comparison https://downloads.artsexcellence.nl/brochures/Auralic-G1-vs-G2.pdf

Apparently, the bulk of the extra cash is for the body design. All the streaming, networking etc are the same. Same upscaling system + filters and has DSP features, which I haven’t used them but the upsampling isn’t bad. Very similar to HQPlayer but built into the hardware. Both G1 & G2 can use the Naim remote control and, you can attach a USB CD ripper to rip or play CDs as well. It needs it’s own power supply though.

I have no need for the storage as I use a QNAP Pro NAS.

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just to let you know worked how to use the ROON squeezelite player experimental mode on the zenith with the MScaler/TT2 hugo combo (is meant to be better SQ running this way as RAM buffers before sending it over USB) will test later and post findings

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This is all quite interesting.
I am personally recalibrating my experiences and what drives SQ.
I am listening to Empyreans, and my music sounds so different … it sounds like I am almost listening to the monitor out in a studio…
And what am I using to drive this… a MacBook driving a Hugo or Hugo 2 in exclusive mode (this I have discovered is really important for SQ performance) via Roon via inbuilt DAC amps to the Empyreans … now I am fairly sure the weak link now is the headphone amp, and these are well regarded…
I need to look into this further … but I do wonder if have been sensitive to room or speaker amp colourations that can be over sensitive to certain aspects in the replay chain… and with headphones these become more normalised.
What I do notice with the Empyreans big time is differences in DACs, recordings and sample rates and the Rob Watts DACs Mandelbrot effect is even more noticeable.

I will have a play later with the Roon scaler to see what if anything that does to the proceedings.

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Look forward to hearing about it.

Well it makes a subtle difference - the balance in the Hugo2 changes slightly in the mids - there appears more space around instruments and more ambience - I know cliche alert - but I don’t know how else to describe it.
Now it may be the slight change in balance through the inbuilt headphone amp causes this I don’t know - but there is a change - and I am not wanting to change it!! I am oversampling running 44.1 at 705.6 (note to power of 2 so not upsampling - which I believe is the same approach as the M Scaler albeit achieved differently)

However I think I can detect a little bit of lack of control in the bass/lower mid on the Hugo2 - you more notice because of the incredible transparency and neutrality of the sound - I am listening to early 60s jazz recordings.

Wow listening to Mose Allison singing Your Mind Is On Vacation - and you can hear him quietly humming and softly making timing noises and nodding his head in time waiting to come into the verse again… talk about being infectious and atmosphere - great fun. Never noticed this before and I have had this CD for over 10 years - this is like PRaT on steroids

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Hi Simon, interesting observations - and indeed the effect of room is one thing you can’t get away from with speakers, including differences with head position. What output do you use from the Mac - optical? I assume not USB given your view of USB, and needing isolation. And have you compared with the Macbook running on its batteries disconnected from mains vs powered?

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Nope using USB currently - though USB3 i believe, and that doesn’t suffer the issues of USB2 in terms of unbalanced signalling which I believe I have mentioned before. [edit although the Mac reports speed limited upto 480 Mbps albeit via the USB3 controller - and the Hugo2 uses USB3]
As far as running Mac on batteries or on its PSU - not one iota of difference that I have noticed

I wonder if an isolator would make a difference: when I used Mac Mini (exclusive mode) USB into Hugo1 it was vastly improved going through a Gustard U12 isolator/converter, but it seemed that the magnitude of effect as reported by others (though not using the same isolator) was variable, some finding no benefit. Interesting your observation re battery powering of Mac, as Rob Watts had noted that he could hear a difference even with Dave - though that may vary according to the specifics of connections.

isn’t there a difference between the Hugo1 and Hugo2 USB interfaces? I am listening via a Hugo2 right now.

As far as hearing a difference on PSU or batteries on the Mac it might depend on what you are connecting to - remember I am not linked to ground at all and using headphones.

Perhaps you need to invite Dave round again? :wink:

possibly - but I think I need to find a top headphone amp - the TT2 might be worth a listen again as that is mooted at having a more controlled headphone amp than DAVE for low impedance phones … to be honest as far as what I am hearing on Hugo2 its sounding all pretty good (well jaw dropping actually) - it just i might need an amp with a bit more current for my Empyreans for some tracks and mixes. Its the speed and bass slam and smooth textured mids that get you… I am searching out tracks that have tenor saxophone in - as for just about the first time ever - these sound gorgeous - as opposed to strident or thin… you can hear all the subtle tones and textures - like you do when you are standing a few meters from a non amplified saxophonist in a jazz set etc.

I wonder if anyone here has used a HPA4 - might start a new thread…

I experienced a similar journey a year ago:-

1 Bare ND5XS2 - nice quality but bland - similar to the Linn Majik DS/2 it replaced (ND5 XS2 bought via eBay for a good price). I did upgrade interconnects and to a Powerline (which is now on my Atom in System#2) to get genuine improvements.
Spoke to a Chord/Naim dealer about S/h nDAC vs Hugo 2 - the H2 was recommended. TT2, NDX2 etc not in budget at the time.

2 + Hugo 2 - eBay

3 ++ MScaler [HMS] which was a real eBay ‘bargain’, I heard the TT2 bare at the same time in my system from the seller who brought both HMS and TT2 to demo. I Immediately preferred the TT2 bare, (couldn’t afford that with the HMS, and that particular TT2 was not for sale) but I had committed to the HMS.

4 +++ TT2 new ! (replacing H2 and HMS combination, with no financial loss due to my eBay ‘magpie’ tactics ) and decided to re-rip my CD’s via Buffalo ripper onto a Melco to get the most from them.

  1. ++++ Ultimately I replaced ND5XS2 with Allo DigiOne Sig + LPSU running MoOde (after diversions via Melco, roon Nucleus+, and Ropiee on the DigiOne/ Pi) . This, playing via the TT2, is a nice balance - I prefer it to the ND5 XS2.

  2. Increasingly using Qobuz hi-res streaming after significant network reconfiguration and running of cables (Cat 6a and fibre optic), and upgrading ISP connectivity. Less playing of ripped CD’s.

Less capital tied up in audio gear and network although still just into 5 figures.

This morning I have just used ‘SSH’ to configure MoOde to run as roon endpoint (with Zen Mini III as roon Core, arrived yesterday to displace my NUC 7i5 in that role).

PS. I always try to meet the seller and even demo when buying over eBay to reduce risks for all.

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I don’t know about the TT2, only that on the few occasions I’ve listened to my Dave headphone output it seemed a long way ahead of my Hugo1. That’s using Shure SE846 IEMs though, so not a demanding headphone.

Yes the Hugo1 is not in the same ball park other than its luscious mids - when driving the Empyreans - its more curtailed in the extremes, softer deep bass, less sound stage, slightly slower sound and less dynamic (BUT that is via USB which is not its strong card - I can’t compare its SPDIF input until my NDX2 returns) - possibly the Hugo 1 is more suited to driving the main system via the 552 with my ATCs- where its less prone to exciting room artefacts. Don’t know at the moment… The Empyreans have caused me to reassess things… the only downside to having an open mind :grinning:

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your post is thought provoking…

This is one of the reasons why I opted for a near field listening setup (4ft Triangle). With it being a smaller room I wanted to try to avoid any reflections from walls and other surfaces. For critical listening, all monitors are covered and I have wooden blinds that are normally pretty much closed as I need to avoid reflections on my screen when drawing, processing images.

My speakers are toed in to form a perfect 4ft triangle. Took some tweaking to get the right balance. I have my chair so my head/ears are level with the tweeters. The PMC Twenty5 22 are quite forgiving and you can move around a bit from that point and still get excellent soundstage and imaging. You can pickup on really fine detail… if a guitarist or other musician makes subtle movements or turns around, the soft creaking of a leather chair as they move their weight in the chair… little noises in the background that make you think someone has come into your room. This level of detail I find really intriguing and makes you feel part of the performance. Very addictive.

I’ve tried moving my system into a larger room before and, to be honest, I didn’t like it. It lost all that detail and intimacy. I guess this is mainly down to each part of my system being built around near field listening and the room I use. At first I thought the small room was a curse, now I see it as a godsend… it has lead me to this listening style that I really enjoy.

Now… looking forward to that TT2 arriving. It will also give me the option to buy a good pair of headphones in the future. By all accounts (from Head-Fi), the TT2 headphone amp is supposed to be better than the one in Dave. Whether this is accurate or not, who knows. That will require someone with both to confirm. All in all, loving the Chord journey though!

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Haha, that sounds like me… I never pay full price, look for ex-demo etc at a very good price so if I sell it on it’s not at a loss. I actually made 250 on selling the nd5 xs2 and had the pleasure of using it for a month or two!

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Thank you Simon.

I am not suggesting that my approach / system front-end is better than say a NDX2/555PS combination, or a NDS/555PS for local streaming, but I have now reached a good ‘resting point’ if not end-game for a moderate outlay and via extended evaluation time in my own home set up.

If I could only have one simple system it would be with my current Atom+power amp or a Nova. Having choices in life is important :grinning: