Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler

The Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler does one thing, and it does it better than anything else on the market: it upscales digital audio. Over a million WTA filter taps running on a Xilinx XC7A200T FPGA with 740 DSP cores reconstruct the analog waveform between digital samples with a precision that no off-the-shelf DAC chip can touch. Connect it to a Chord DAC via dual BNC, and the difference is not subtle.

Key Features of the Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler

• 1,015,808-tap WTA filter on a custom-coded Xilinx XC7A200T FPGA running 740 DSP cores in parallel
• Upscales to 705.6kHz or 768kHz from standard 44.1kHz/48kHz sources (16x native resolution)
• Five digital inputs: 1x galvanically isolated USB Type B (to 384kHz/32-bit), 2x BNC coaxial (to 384kHz), 2x optical (to 96kHz)
• Dual BNC output for 768kHz upscaled delivery to compatible Chord DACs (Qutest, Hugo 2, Hugo TT2, DAVE)
• Single BNC S/PDIF and optical outputs for use with any DAC (limited to that DAC's maximum input rate)
• Video mode reduces latency for film and TV content
• Stackable with the Hugo TT2 and BerTTi in a matched Table Top system
• Available in Black and Silver with precision-machined aluminum chassis and illuminated spherical controls

What the Hugo M Scaler Actually Does

Every digital audio file is a series of samples taken at fixed intervals. CD quality captures 44,100 samples per second. Between those samples, the original analog waveform has to be reconstructed by a digital filter. The quality of that reconstruction determines how accurately transients, spatial cues, and tonal decay reach your ears. Most DACs use off-the-shelf filter chips with a few hundred taps. The Hugo M Scaler uses over a million.

Rob Watts' WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filter theory holds that accurate transient timing requires extremely long tap-length filters. The M Scaler's 1,015,808 taps represent the longest implementation of this theory outside Chord's reference BLU MKII transport. The filter upscales 44.1kHz to 705.6kHz and 48kHz to 768kHz, filling in the gaps between original samples with mathematically reconstructed data points. The result is passed to the DAC as a much higher-resolution stream than the source file contains.

Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler FPGA Architecture

The processing power required for a million-tap filter is enormous. The Hugo M Scaler uses a Xilinx XC7A200T FPGA, the largest in the Artix 7 family, running 740 DSP cores simultaneously. For context, the Hugo TT2 runs 86 cores and the Hugo 2 runs 49. The M Scaler needs nearly nine times the processing power of the TT2 just for the upscaling filter alone. This is why the M Scaler exists as a separate box rather than being built into a DAC: no single FPGA can run both the upscaling filter and the DAC's own processing at this tap length.

Dual BNC Connection to Chord DACs

The M Scaler's dual BNC output splits the upscaled signal across two cables, one for each channel, delivering 705.6kHz or 768kHz data to any Chord DAC with dual BNC inputs. The Qutest, Hugo 2, Hugo TT2, and DAVE all accept this connection. The combined tap length of M Scaler plus DAC exceeds one million taps, approaching the spatial resolution and timing accuracy of Chord's flagship BLU MKII/DAVE reference stack at a fraction of the cost.

Single BNC S/PDIF and optical outputs let you use the M Scaler with non-Chord DACs, though the output rate is limited to whatever that DAC can accept (typically 96kHz or 192kHz). You still get the benefit of the million-tap filter, just at a lower output resolution.

Hugo M Scaler Input Flexibility

Five digital inputs cover most source scenarios. The galvanically isolated USB Type B handles computer, server, and streamer connections up to 384kHz/32-bit. Two BNC coaxial inputs accept up to 384kHz from CD transports, streamers, or other digital sources. Two optical inputs handle up to 96kHz for TV, Blu-ray, or legacy sources. The galvanic isolation on the USB input breaks ground loops and rejects electrical noise from the source device, keeping the signal clean before upscaling begins.

Building a Table Top System

The Hugo M Scaler shares the Table Top series dimensions and stacking design with the Hugo TT2 and BerTTi power amplifier. A three-box stack of M Scaler, TT2, and BerTTi creates a complete digital front end and amplification system with over a million taps of processing, balanced and single-ended outputs, and 130 watts per channel. The M Scaler sits on top, feeding the TT2 via short dual BNC cables, with the BerTTi handling speaker drive.

Hugo M Scaler Video Mode

A dedicated video mode reduces processing latency for film and TV content, keeping audio synchronized with the picture. The polychromatic spherical controls on the front panel indicate input source, incoming sample rate, and output mode at a glance. The same control interface used across the Hugo and Table Top ranges applies here: input selection, output sample rate, and mode switching all happen through the illuminated spheres.

Where the Hugo M Scaler Fits in the Chord Lineup

The M Scaler is the upgrade that makes the biggest single difference in any Chord digital system. Adding it to a Qutest multiplies the effective tap length from 49,152 to over a million. Adding it to a Hugo TT2 or DAVE does the same, pushing those DACs closer to their theoretical ceiling. It is designed to pair with any Chord DAC that has dual BNC inputs, and it works with non-Chord DACs at reduced output resolution.

The Listening Room Difference

We're a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on exceptional service and relentless passion for hifi. At this level, every detail matters, and we're here to make sure you get it right. Whether you need help with system matching, setup guidance, or just want to talk through your options before pulling the trigger, owner Mike Hoaston is a phone call away. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, and our support lasts well beyond the sale. Call or text 410-239-2020.

Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler Specifications