Chord Electronics Hugo 2

$2,595.00

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Color

Black Silver

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Contact Mike at the LIstening Room Product photo with phone number and Michael Hoatson's face

The Chord Electronics Hugo 2 is a transportable DAC, headphone amplifier, and preamplifier that runs circles around desktop units three times its size. Rob Watts' custom-coded FPGA packs a 49,152-tap WTA filter into an aircraft-grade aluminum chassis barely bigger than a smartphone. Seven consecutive What Hi-Fi? Best DAC awards (2017-2023) and the thing still has no real competition at this price.

Key Features of the Chord Electronics Hugo 2

Custom Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA with 49,152-tap WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filter and 10-element Pulse Array DAC, coded entirely by Rob Watts
Four digital inputs: Micro USB (PCM up to 768kHz/32-bit, DSD512), coaxial via 3.5mm (up to 384kHz), optical (up to 96kHz), and Bluetooth aptX
Three analog outputs: 6.35mm and 3.5mm headphone jacks plus stereo RCA for line-level preamp duty
1,050mW into 8 ohms with 0.025-ohm output impedance, enough current to drive full-size headphones and sensitive IEMs alike
Four selectable digital filters and three crossfeed modes for headphone listening that mimics speaker staging
7+ hours battery life on dual custom lithium-ion cells with USB charging
Full remote control for desktop/system use as a standalone DAC or preamp
Available in Black and Silver with machined aluminum casework and signature FPGA viewing window

Rob Watts' FPGA: Why It Matters

Every other manufacturer at this price buys a DAC chip from ESS or AKM and builds a circuit around it. Chord does something different. Rob Watts writes his own digital-to-analog conversion code from scratch, running it on a Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA. The result is a 49,152-tap WTA filter, roughly 100 times the tap length of a typical off-the-shelf DAC chip. More taps mean better transient timing accuracy. The music sounds faster, more precise, with leading edges that snap into place instead of smearing across the beat. You hear it immediately on well-recorded acoustic guitar or a snare drum hit: the attack is there, fully formed, with none of the softness that chip-based DACs introduce.

Chord Electronics Hugo 2 top view showing FPGA viewing window and spherical controls

The 10-Element Pulse Array DAC

The Pulse Array is Chord's proprietary DAC architecture. Instead of converting a digital signal through a single resistor ladder or delta-sigma modulator, Hugo 2 uses ten discrete pulse array elements working in parallel. This approach distributes the conversion workload across multiple elements, reducing noise floor distortion and improving linearity at low signal levels. The practical result: quiet passages retain their texture and space instead of collapsing into a flat, lifeless background.

Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Connectivity

Hugo 2 accepts four digital sources simultaneously: Micro USB handles hi-res files up to 768kHz PCM and native DSD512, making it one of the most format-flexible portable DACs available. The coaxial input (via 3.5mm jack) takes up to 384kHz, with a dual-data mode pushing that to 768kHz when paired with the Hugo M Scaler. Optical handles up to 96kHz for TV and legacy sources, and Bluetooth aptX covers wireless convenience at 48kHz. On the output side, both 6.35mm and 3.5mm headphone jacks deliver up to 1,050mW at 8 ohms, while the stereo RCA pair lets Hugo 2 serve as a line-level preamp feeding a power amplifier or active speakers.

Chord Electronics Hugo 2 rear panel showing Micro USB, coaxial, optical inputs and RCA outputs

Filter and Crossfeed Controls

Four color-coded spherical buttons control power, input selection, filter mode, and crossfeed. The four digital filters range from transparent and incisive to warm and smooth, giving you meaningful tonal shaping without software menus. The three-level crossfeed function is based on binaural audio research and simulates the effect of speaker listening through headphones, reducing the in-your-head effect that long headphone sessions can produce.

Battery and Portable Use

Dual custom Enix Energies lithium-ion cells deliver over seven hours of continuous playback. Charging takes roughly six hours via the dedicated Micro USB port at 1.8A. Hugo 2 works while charging, so desktop users can leave it plugged in permanently. An automatic shutdown function conserves battery when no signal is detected. At 450 grams and just 2.3cm tall, it fits in a jacket pocket or stacks neatly on a desk between source and headphones.

Expanding the Hugo 2: 2go and 2yu

The Hugo 2 becomes a different product entirely when you add Chord's expansion modules. The 2go attaches directly to Hugo 2 and adds Wi-Fi streaming, Roon Ready compatibility, and a microSD card slot for local playback, turning it into a self-contained network player. The 2yu takes 2go's output and converts it to USB or coaxial, letting you feed Hugo 2's inputs from a wired network connection. Together, they transform a portable DAC into a full streaming system.

Upgrade Path

Hugo 2 sits at the center of Chord's portable and desktop DAC lineup. For a pure desktop setup with more power and features, the Hugo TT2 takes the same FPGA technology to a larger, mains-powered chassis with balanced outputs and greater headphone drive. Pairing Hugo 2 with the Hugo M Scaler via dual-data mode unlocks million-tap upscaling that approaches the performance of Chord's flagship DAVE.

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. Whether you're visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection. Our passion is helping you get the most out of your gear, with support that lasts well beyond the sale.

Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Specifications

Specification	Detail
DAC Technology	Custom-coded Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA (XC7A15T), 10-element Pulse Array, 49,152-tap WTA filter
Digital Inputs	Micro USB (to 768kHz/32-bit, DSD512), Coaxial via 3.5mm (to 384kHz), Optical (to 96kHz), Bluetooth aptX (to 48kHz)
Analog Outputs	1x 6.35mm headphone, 1x 3.5mm headphone, Stereo RCA (line-level)
Headphone Power	94mW @ 300 ohms / 740mW @ 32 ohms / 1,050mW @ 8 ohms
Output Impedance	0.025 ohms
Frequency Response	20Hz - 20kHz (+/- 0.2dB)
THD	<0.0001% (1kHz, 3V RMS, 300 ohms)
Signal to Noise Ratio	126dB (A-weighted)
Dynamic Range	120dB (A-weighted)
Channel Separation	135dB @ 1kHz, 300 ohms
Battery	2x Custom Enix Energies 3.7V lithium-ion (2600mAh each), 7+ hours playback
Charging	Micro USB, ~6 hours at 1.8A
Dimensions	2.3cm (H) x 10cm (W) x 13.1cm (D)
Weight	450g (15.9 oz)
Finishes	Black, Silver
Warranty	3 years

"The sound quality of the Chord Hugo 2 is ridiculous. It's stupendously good. At $2,695, it had better be, but even considering that lofty price, it manages to impress. 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." "There's such coherence and purity to the sound, such incredible depth, that it made us laugh with delight more than once." "Unlike so many other digital-to-analog converters, the filters genuinely make a difference. 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." "It's an idiosyncratic, colorful, weird, wonderful explosion, that sets out to do absolutely everything, and largely succeeds. We adored it - and if you have the cash to spend, we guarantee you will too."

TMS Editors,The Master Switch · January 2019

"The new Hugo 2 outperforms both Chords on transparency and layer separation, especially when it comes to unpacking supremely dense and/or complex material — easily the Hugo 2's strongest suit when listening behind headphones." "This Chord DAC/headphone amplifier pulls hard on the microscopic details without ever sounding cold or remote." "The Hugo 2's ability to maintain musical composure when faced with deep downward attenuation will challenge broader audiophile perceptions that digital volume controls deleterious to sound quality when run at lower levels." "The Hugo 2 is a rare breed in this respect: a digital pre-amplifier without compromise." Verdict: "On sound quality and utility — judging it as a complete package — Chord Electronics' Hugo 2 is the finest DAC I've seen/heard/used to date."

John Darko,Darko Audio · September 2017

"To call the Hugo 2 a simple upgrade is an understatement of the year as it could be the best portable and the most advanced DAC on the market today." "The Hugo 2 has an incredibly coherent response and when stacked up against the Hugo 1 you get a much better sense of balance in the overall presentation. Nothing stands out as being overly colored or emphasized yet the detail and clarity have gone up a notch." "The levels of transparency are much better on the Hugo 2 and in comparison to the Hugo 1 the level of accuracy in both instrumental timbre, speed, and control is more convincing and involving." "Instrumental separation and imaging are a bit cleaner and more precise on the Hugo 2. That lowering of the previous Hugo's warmth and going instead with a more linear response on the Hugo 2 makes a big difference, particularly for complex guitar, bass guitar, or lower string clarity."

Marcus,Headfonics · July 2017

"The first thing you notice from the Hugo 2 is the clarity from the presentation. In particular, the midrange clarity. The Hugo 2 takes that to another level. The midrange is both resolved and cleaner at the same time." "The resolution with the Hugo 2 is a step up from what we expect from Chord DACs. The elements of the soundstage pop more. They own their own space more. They are clearer and more pronounced than what you are used to." "The word I would use to describe the sound presentation from the Hugo 2 is focused. Very, very focused. You do not always realize how blurred something is until you listen to something with a greater resolution and a greater clarity, such as with the Hugo 2, and then it is very difficult to go back from it."

Terry Ellis,Pursuit Perfect System · September 2017

"My first impression is one of startling, almost unnerving clarity. This is not a bright or sharp sound. This is a see-through clarity. The sound stage is not just wide, it is a defined three-dimensional space with real air and separation between instruments. This is the first and most obvious trademark of the Chord sound." "The Hugo 2 renders Seger's voice with spine tingling realism. You can hear the texture of his breath, the rasp as he leans into a line. There is a human warmth and immediacy that feels almost tangible." "Even after several years on the market, which is an eternity in digital audio, the Hugo 2 still is fiercely competitive. That is a statement to how right the underlying technology is. The performance it delivered on day one was so ahead of its curve that the market is still trying to play catch-up."

Analogholic,Analogholic · June 2025

"Words like dynamism, precision, clarity, detail retrieval and openness all apply here, and all in the most positive sense. Whether functioning purely as a digital to analog converter, or doing pre amp duty too, the Hugo 2 is more capable, more adaptable, and ultimately more listenable than any price comparable rival." "It is beautifully made from weapons grade aluminum. If you are into hi-res audio and you have a system talented enough to make the most of it, the Chord Hugo 2 is about as effective a way of spending 1800 pounds as we have heard."

What Hi-Fi?,What Hi-Fi? · January 2018

Is the Chord Hugo 2 worth it over the Qutest for headphone use?

Yes, if headphones are part of your setup. The Qutest is a DAC only, with no headphone output and no battery. The Hugo 2 adds a headphone amplifier delivering up to 1,050mW into 8 ohms, a rechargeable battery for portable use, Bluetooth aptX input, and crossfeed controls designed for headphone listening. If you only need a desktop DAC feeding a separate amplifier, the Qutest uses the same FPGA platform at a lower price.

Can I use the Hugo 2 as a permanent desktop DAC?

Yes. Hugo 2 enters Intelligent Desktop Mode after 24 hours on constant charge, where the battery is neither charged nor discharged. The auto-shutdown feature disables in this mode, and the power light glows magenta to confirm. Many owners run it permanently on a desk feeding a power amplifier or active speakers through the stereo RCA outputs, using the included remote control for volume and input selection.

Does the Hugo 2 hiss with sensitive IEMs?

There is a small amount of background hiss audible with very sensitive balanced-armature IEMs like the Campfire Andromeda. With most dynamic-driver IEMs and all full-size headphones, the noise floor is inaudible. The 0.025-ohm output impedance means the Hugo 2 will not alter the tonal balance of multi-driver IEMs the way higher-impedance sources can.

Is the Chord Electronics Hugo 2 configured for US voltage?

The Hugo 2 charges via Micro USB at 5V, the same as a smartphone. The included wall adapter accepts 100-240V input, so it works worldwide without a transformer or adapter. All units sold through The Listening Room include a US plug.

What does pairing the Hugo M Scaler with the Hugo 2 actually do?

The Hugo M Scaler upscales digital audio to 768kHz using a million-tap WTA filter before feeding it to the Hugo 2 via dual-coaxial connection. This increases the tap length from 49,152 to over 1,000,000, which improves transient timing accuracy and spatial resolution. The combination approaches the performance of Chord's flagship DAVE DAC at a fraction of the cost.