Chord Electronics Hugo TT2

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$5,695.00

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The Chord Electronics Hugo TT2 takes the same FPGA architecture as the portable Hugo 2 and doubles everything that matters. Double the tap length (98,304 versus 49,152), double the DSP cores (86 versus 49), and a super capacitor power supply that can dump 5 amps of peak current into the output stage. It is a desktop DAC, preamplifier, and headphone amplifier built to be the center of a serious system, with XLR balanced outputs, three headphone jacks, and enough power to drive anything you connect to it.

Key Features of the Chord Electronics Hugo TT2

Custom-coded Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA with 98,304-tap WTA filter and 10-element Pulse Array DAC, running 86 x 208MHz DSP cores in parallel
Six digital inputs: USB Type B (PCM to 768kHz/32-bit, DSD512), 2x BNC coaxial (to 384kHz, 768kHz in dual-data mode), 2x optical (to 96kHz), and Bluetooth
Balanced and single-ended outputs: stereo XLR, stereo RCA, plus 2x DX BNC expansion outputs for the M Scaler daisy chain
Three headphone outputs: 2x 6.35mm and 1x 3.5mm, delivering serious current from the discrete output stage
Super capacitor power supply with six super capacitors delivering 5A peak current and 9.3V RMS for instantaneous dynamic headroom
Full preamplifier functionality with digital volume control, dot matrix display, and IR remote
Dual-data BNC mode for connection to the Hugo M Scaler, unlocking million-tap upscaling
Available in Black and Silver with precision-machined aluminum chassis, steel ball bearing buttons, and glass FPGA viewing portal

98,304 Taps: What Hugo TT2 Does Differently

Rob Watts' WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filter in the Hugo TT2 runs twice the tap length of the Hugo 2 and Qutest. More taps means the filter can reconstruct the analog waveform between digital samples with greater accuracy, particularly the timing of transient edges. The difference is audible on percussive instruments and anything with sharp leading edges: snare hits, plucked strings, consonants in vocals. The TT2's 10-element Pulse Array DAC distributes the conversion across multiple elements to reduce noise floor distortion, and the 86 DSP cores running at 208MHz handle the processing load that makes this tap length possible.

Super Capacitor Power Supply

The Hugo TT2 uses six super capacitors instead of conventional capacitors in its output stage power supply. Super capacitors store and release energy much faster than electrolytics, delivering peak currents of 5A at 9.3V RMS. In practical terms, this means the Hugo TT2 never compresses dynamics during loud, complex passages. The output stage has the instantaneous current available to track the music without running out of headroom. Chord feeds the super capacitors from a 15V switching power supply, keeping the chassis cool and the noise floor low.

Chord Electronics Hugo TT2 Connectivity

Six digital inputs cover every source scenario. USB Type B handles hi-res files up to 768kHz PCM and native DSD512 from a computer, server, or streamer. The dual BNC coaxial inputs accept up to 384kHz individually, or combine in dual-data mode for 768kHz when paired with the Hugo M Scaler. Two optical inputs handle up to 96kHz each for TV, CD player, or legacy sources. Bluetooth provides wireless convenience. On the output side, stereo XLR balanced and stereo RCA single-ended feed any power amplifier or active speaker system. Two DX BNC expansion outputs allow the Hugo TT2 to pass its processed signal downstream in more complex Chord configurations.

Headphone Amplifier

Three headphone jacks (two 6.35mm and one 3.5mm) deliver the Hugo TT2's high-current output stage to headphones of any impedance. The discrete output stage runs from the super capacitor supply, giving it the current delivery to control planar magnetic drivers and the low noise floor to pair with sensitive IEMs. The Hugo TT2 drives full-size headphones that portable units struggle with, making it a genuine desktop headphone reference.

Preamplifier Mode

The Hugo TT2 functions as a standalone preamplifier with its digital volume control, feeding balanced XLR or single-ended RCA directly to a power amplifier. The dot matrix display shows volume level and input selection, and the included IR remote handles everything from the listening position. For desktop systems, the Hugo TT2 replaces a separate DAC and preamp in a single chassis.

Chord Electronics Hugo TT2 DAC headphone amplifier quarter view

Hugo M Scaler Upgrade Path

Chord Electronics Hugo TT2 stacked with Hugo M Scaler in silver

The Hugo TT2's dual BNC inputs were designed specifically for the Hugo M Scaler. The M Scaler upscales incoming audio using a million-tap WTA filter, then passes both channels to the TT2 in dual-data mode at 768kHz. This combination multiplies the effective tap length to over 1,000,000, approaching the spatial resolution and transient accuracy of Chord's flagship DAVE. For anyone building toward a reference-level digital front end, TT2 plus M Scaler is the most cost-effective path to near-DAVE performance.

Where Hugo TT2 Fits in the Chord Lineup

The Hugo TT2 sits between the portable Hugo 2 and the flagship DAVE in Chord's DAC range. It takes the Hugo 2's FPGA platform and scales it for desktop use with doubled tap length, balanced outputs, a super capacitor power supply, and more headphone drive. The Qutest offers the same 49,152-tap processing as the Hugo 2 in a pure DAC format at a lower price point, while the DAVE uses a 164,000-tap filter with even greater processing depth.

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 TT2 Specifications

Specification	Detail
DAC Technology	Custom-coded Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA, 10-element Pulse Array, 98,304-tap WTA filter, 86 x 208MHz DSP cores
Digital Inputs	USB Type B (to 768kHz/32-bit, DSD512), 2x BNC Coaxial (to 384kHz, 768kHz dual-data), 2x Optical (to 96kHz), Bluetooth
Analog Outputs	Stereo XLR balanced, Stereo RCA single-ended, 2x DX BNC expansion
Headphone Outputs	2x 6.35mm, 1x 3.5mm
Headphone Power	288mW @ 300 ohms (single-ended), 7.3W @ 8 ohms (single-ended), 1.15W @ 300 ohms (balanced), 18W @ 8 ohms (balanced)
Output Impedance	0.042 ohms
Output Stage	High-power discrete, super capacitor supply (5A peak, 9.3V RMS)
THD	0.00008% (2.5V, 300 ohms)
Dynamic Range	127dB (A-weighted)
Channel Separation	-138dB @ 9V RMS, 300 ohms
Noise Floor	4 µV A-weighted (high gain), 1.7 µV A-weighted (low gain)
Frequency Response	20Hz - 20kHz (+/- 0.2dB)
Volume Control	Digital, with dot matrix display
Remote Control	IR remote included
Power Supply	15V/4A switching power supply (included)
Dimensions	235mm (W) x 52mm (H) x 238mm (D)
Weight	2.53 kg (5.6 lbs)
Finishes	Black, Silver
Warranty	3 years

"To state things simply, the Hugo TT 2 is different from and better than the original Hugo TT in every way. It is quieter, yields unmeasurable levels of noise, offers greater dynamic range, provides a different and better power supply, produces much more output power, and incorporates a markedly improved DAC section." "Heard in isolation, the Hugo TT 2 sounds exactly like what it is: one of the finest headphone amp/DACs available today. While it is not quite on a par with the more than twice as expensive DAVE, the Hugo TT 2 takes worthwhile steps forward relative to its predecessor in resolution, clarity, focus, and coherency, while also offering quieter backgrounds and more dynamic muscle." "My point is the Hugo TT 2 and Hugo M Scaler fit together like a sonic hand in a glove; once you hear them together, you won't ever want them to be apart."

Chris Martens,The Absolute Sound · September 2019

"It has been 2 years since Chord launched the TT2 but it is still 100% relevant and class-leading in 2021. The price is not for the faint of heart at £3995, but like the dCS Bartok, this could be potentially someone's fabled end game." "The output power of the amp here is very strong at 7.3W into an 8Ω RMS load in single-ended mode or a huge 18w RMS into a similar load balanced." "The TT2 a DAC, a preamp, and a headphone amplifier desktop all in one. Normally it is considered 1 part of a triple component stack alongside the Hugo M-Scaler and the TToby power amp. A super-charged Hugo 2 if you will and a sizeable upgrade on the original TT in 2015."

Headfonics,Headfonics · June 2021

"The WTA filter does offer rather high time resolution and low time smearing. Great texture in the lows, proper spatial projection with ditto focusing and a deep black background." "I have a preference for the Hugo TT2 over the Denafrips Venus 2, my other favorite in this class. Quality wise, they are about equal, but they do have different characters. Where the Hugo TT2 is analytical, the Venus is slightly more engaging." "The result is an increased spatial projection, a further opening of the stereo image, more focusing, more textures in the lows and a cleaner sibilance. Overall, it places the DAC plus scaler in a class close to the DAVE solo. It is really special to hear what the M Scaler achieves." "Today, the Hugo TT2 is so much better, so much closer to the truth, and all that in 12 years. Chord is not the only company progressing FPGA technology, but they have been the first and are still on it. With fantastic products, I must say."

Hans Beekhuyzen,Hans Beekhuyzen Channel · November 2021

"I have spent time with and/or reviewed every single Chord Electronics DAC that they have manufactured and made in the last few years, and this one, the Hugo TT2 is without a doubt my favorite. And I actually think it is the perfect modern hi-fi component." "The sound quality from the Hugo TT2 as a standalone DAC is exceptional. It is clean, it is clear. The sound stage it creates is very open, very wide, ultra detailed, and the layering is absolutely fantastic. And one of the things that it has got for me over the more expensive Dave DAC is smooth. It is a very smooth, engaging, and easy listen." "It is probably the best DAC you are going to buy at this price point. And the fact that it can be at the center of your hi-fi system delivering an outstanding DAC performance is fantastic. But also the fact that it can be pretty much your whole hi-fi system as well, that is really very cool."

Terry Ellis,Pursuit Perfect System · April 2020

"The TT2 is more resolving, provides more detail and creates greater sense of space in the sound stage compared to the Chord Qutest. As part of that larger sound stage, there is also a sense of a little bit more distance between the listener and the main vocalist. So everything is just a bit more spacious, a bit more separated and a little bit more clearly resolved." "The real clincher for me was there is a trumpet in the left of the sound stage which from the TT2 was absolutely holographic. Like I could reach out and touch where it was, whereas in the case of the Chord Qutest, it was left, it was clearly defined, but it did not have that holographic presence that I got from the TT2." "All of that to me combines to make the TT2 incredibly clean, incredibly resolving and incredibly fast. The TT2 separates it out more so, both in two dimensions but also in three dimensions."

Darren Myers,Passion for Sound · March 2021

"In comparison to the Hugo 2, the Hugo 2 sounds a little bit more squashed together and maybe not quite as deep in the sound stage. Whereas the TT2 sounds a little bit more open, more deep. You get generally overall more clarity." "The main thing the TT2 offers is that kind of pinpoint clarity and depth. And instead of bringing enjoyment through the euphonic tube sound, it brings through the actual euphonic sound of the instruments themselves. So you do get an experience of feeling the music more, not because it is something induced by distortion, but induced by the actual subtleties in the music that other DACs might mask." "It was extremely clean and clear. Like other Chord components its main focus is being on absolutely clear and as accurate sounding as possible."

Currawong,Currawong · September 2021

5/5 Stars. "With a demanding piece of music like Orff's Carmina Burana, the Hugo TT2 paints a vivid picture brimming with attack and a sense of coherence few can match, let alone better. It's a wonderfully detailed and expressive presentation, displaying the music's seismic dynamic shifts with fluidity." ... "There's a level of rhythmic confidence here that only the likes of the DAVE can better in our experience. The result is that the TT2 portrays the momentum of the music beautifully, conveying the mood and emotion of each track in an utterly convincing manner." ... "In performance and feature terms it's possible to make a strong case for the Hugo TT2 to be considered the best value DAC the company makes. You've got to have a mighty transparent system (and fat wallet) to justify the use of the DAVE over this."

What Hi-Fi?,What Hi-Fi? · January 2019

Editor's Choice Award. "its quite clear from the off that this is one serious DAC and headphone amplifier as the sounds that I'm hearing are some of the best I have heard and I have listened to many over the years" ... "I didn't think headphone listening could get to this level, its like hearing the music all around you with imaging and space between the instruments with every note and detail picked up and placed before you in a larger stereo image" ... "The Hugo TT2 on its own is a stunning performer but with the M Scaler connected its turned a good DAC into a weapons grade one capable of mass destruction of your musical senses."

Giancarlo Massironi,The Speaker Shack · March 2021

How does the Hugo TT2 compare to the Hugo 2?

The Hugo TT2 doubles the tap length (98,304 vs 49,152), adds balanced XLR outputs, replaces the battery with a super capacitor power supply delivering 5A peak current, and adds significantly more headphone power (18W balanced into 8 ohms). It is a desktop-only unit with no battery for portable use.

Does the Hugo TT2 support MQA?

No. Chord Electronics does not include MQA decoding in any of their products. The Hugo TT2 supports PCM up to 768kHz and DSD up to DSD512.

Can I connect the Hugo M Scaler to the Hugo TT2?

Yes. The Hugo TT2 has dual BNC inputs designed specifically for the Hugo M Scaler. In dual-data mode, the M Scaler sends upscaled audio at 768kHz to the TT2, multiplying the effective tap length to over 1,000,000. This combination approaches the spatial resolution of Chord's flagship DAVE.

Can the Hugo TT2 drive speakers directly?

The Hugo TT2 can output up to 18W RMS into 8 ohms from its balanced XLR outputs, which is enough for sensitive speakers in a near-field setup. For full-range speaker systems, Chord recommends pairing with a dedicated power amplifier like the BerTTi.

Is the Chord Hugo TT2 configured for US voltage?

Yes. All units sold through The Listening Room are configured for US voltage (120V/60Hz) and include a US power cord. No transformer or adapter is needed.