Chord Hugo TT2

The Chord Electronics Hugo TT 2 is the reference desktop DAC and headphone amplifier, built around a Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA running 98,304-tap WTA filtering, six super capacitors for linear peak power delivery, and a new discrete high-power output stage that makes the Hugo TT 2 a complete reference source and headphone amplifier in a single chassis. Made in the UK.

Type and Technology

Reference desktop DAC, headphone amplifier, and preamplifier, solid-state. Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA with 86x 208MHz cores running a 16FS WTA 1 filter at 98,304 taps, double the tap count of the Hugo 2. 10-element noise-shaping design. Second-order noise-shaping between DAC output and filter for dramatically reduced distortion. Six super capacitors delivering 5A peak at 9.3V RMS for linear dynamic current. PCM support: 44.1kHz to 768kHz, 16-32bit. DSD support: DSD64 to DSD512 (native via Windows, DoP otherwise). Four user-selectable digital filters. Three-stage digital crossfeed for headphone listening. Bluetooth input. 1x USB Type-B, 2x coaxial BNC, 2x optical digital inputs. Stereo XLR and RCA line outputs. 2x 6.35mm and 1x 3.5mm headphone outputs. 2x DX BNC expansion outputs for M Scaler connection. Made in the UK.

Sound Character

Vast, precise, and technically beyond what most listeners have heard from a digital source before the Hugo TT 2 arrived in their chain. The 98,304-tap filter recovers timing information from digital recordings with a level of accuracy that meaningfully improves the perception of space, depth, and micro-detail. The super capacitor power supply delivers the instantaneous current that musical transients demand without the sag or compression that characterizes battery and conventional capacitor-based designs. The Hugo TT 2 is only eclipsed in Chord's lineup by the DAVE.

Build and Finish

Precision-machined aluminium casing with steel ball bearing buttons, gloss black acrylic signal window, glass viewing portal, and dot matrix display. Available in Silver or Satin Black. Upgradeable with the Chord M Scaler for 1M-tap upscaling via the DX BNC expansion outputs.

Best For

Serious audiophiles who want Chord's most accomplished desktop DAC and headphone amplifier, and those building a reference digital source system with the optional M Scaler upscaler.

What's in the Box

• Chord Hugo TT 2 DAC/headphone amplifier
• Power supply
• Remote control
• Documentation

Specifications