Our preference was the warmth filter, without any high-frequency roll-off. They change the sound for the better, and if you think that the level of detail the Hugo 2 offers makes it sound a little cold, then at least one of these filters will be able to add a bit of life back into the sound. And here's the thing: unlike so many other digital-to-analog converters, the filters genuinely make a difference. The Hugo 2 uses one button to cycle through four filters, starting at completely neutral before letting you move through a high-frequency roll-off, a warmth filter, and a combination of the two. Say what you like about the Benchmark: it may have had amazing sound, but its filters were almost too subtle to be noticed, and were a total pain to activate. One of those things are the filters that the Hugo 2 comes with. But as we'll explain, there's a lot more going on here than just pure sound quality, and there are plenty of things that the Benchmark can't match. The Benchmark delivers that sound at a lower price - $2,195, a good $500 cheaper than the Hugo.
Benchmark headphone amp full#
The Hugo 2 doesn't quite deliver the best sound in this price range – that would be the incredible Benchmark DAC3 HGC ( full review here). There's such coherence and purity to the sound, such incredible depth, that it made us laugh with delight more than once. It's all down to Chord's Field Programmable Gate Array, a type of conversion circuitry that the company has stuck with for a while, with magnificent results. The Chord Hugo 2 is one of the best DACs we've ever heard | The Master Switch The process of converting digital files to analog sound is a contentious one among those who love audio gear, but even the biggest cynic would be hard-pressed to deny there's something special going on here. You will hear every note, every lyric, every single element of the song with absolutely breathtaking clarity. The circuitry inside this little psychedelic box offers truly unbelievable detail, giving you infinitely more information than just about every other DAC on the market. At $2,695, it had better be, but even considering that lofty price, it manages to impress. The sound quality of the Chord Hugo 2 is ridiculous. To see how it stacks up, check out our list of the best DACs. In this review, we break down the sound, design, packaging and accessories, specs and more of the Chord Hugo 2. We'll give them this: they certainly don't lack ambition. Chord made one, then gave it Bluetooth, then put in a package small enough to slip into a pocket, then made it look like something you'd see in a music video from 1988. Other companies will make a high-end DAC, and call it done.
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