Hugo TT 2 DAC/head amp From Chord Electronics

Chord Electronics has revealed the Hugo TT 2, its next-generation Table-Top (TT) DAC/headphone amplifier

It is based upon new Artix 7 FPGA chip, custom-coded by Chord Electronics’ Digital Design Consultant, Rob Watts plus large power reserves via a new “super-capacitor-based power supply unit” designed to drive “even the most difficult headphones”.

The Hugo TT 2 offers five times the processing power of the original Hugo TT (offering a 98,304-tap 16FS WTA 1 filter) and deploys 86x 208MHz DPS cores in parallel to create the WTA filters.

The Hugo TT 2 eschews the battery supply used in its predecessor and instead uses six super caps in the power supply unit, capable output currents of 5A and 9.3V RMS.

In addition theHugo TT 2 also benefits from a number of external improvements such as HD USB-B, two optical and two coaxial BNC (up from one each on the original) plus extended-range aptX Bluetooth. Three headphone outputs are also included: two 6.35mm and one 3.5mm, with simultaneous operation.

The casework has been “significantly redesigned” to include front-panel buttons (i.e. Menu, Set and Power) to cycle between and select filtering and crossfeed modes plus switch inputs and control power. The new design also includes a larger, top-mounted viewing window for the internal circuits, a larger volume control sphere plus an improved LED display. The device retains its remote control functionality sharing a handset with Hugo 2.

Further outputs include balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analogue connections plus dual BNC DX outputs for use with future Chord Electronics’ devices.

The new Hugo TT 2 now offers user-selectable audio controls, accessible both on the front panel and remote control, including a four-stage filter.

For headphone listening, the Hugo TT 2 retains the digital crossfeed function of the original and offers three operation modes (min to max) from its dedicated control sphere.

The galvanically isolated HD USB-B connection is capable of decoding 768kHz PCM data and DSD 512. The unit’s two optical TOSLink inputs are 24bit/192kHz-capable (with the appropriate source and cabling) and the dual BNC coaxial inputs are 24bit/768kHz-capable for connection to Chord Electronics’ M-Scaler technology as seen in the BLU MKII digital/CD transport.

Hugo TT 2 can be used in pure DAC mode, enabled for high-power (including low- and high-gain modes) when headphones are connected or used in amp mode for use as a digital preamp or when directly driving efficient loudspeakers.

Price is around £3,996

To leanr more, click www.chordelectronics.co.uk

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