Racy

No, but I'm on my second Hugo, the first in March developed a fault that sounded like rifle shots going off! But they replaced it really quickly, and sublime music has been pouring from my speakers and headphones ever since!

Apologies everyone! I thought I had edited it, but am having ergonomics problems of my own with the dumbphone I'm using to post! R

Great review Richard, and so thorough, it Saves me repeating a lot of the gripes :-) and acres of typing! to cut a long story short, I've listened to an early Hugo too, that a friend has acquired, pitched against my well - burned in EX and his superb Auralic Vega, the cons that you describe so well , are intensely irritating, but the sound,.............. Absolutely, stunning!!! I've heard it through his JK splitter and USB and I agree, that it sounds better through SPDIF, I think it matches the Vega, but matching the MSB, that's even more amazing! So I've obliterated the piggy bank and ordered one ( the Hugo that is) It's meant to be coming next week and the casework issue has meant to be fixed in this batch ( I'll give a heads-up when it arrives, if this is the case! ) Pun not intended! re the Home DAC, I'm still hoping they ( as Chord have hinted) will give an at cost motherboard upgrade to EX and HD, to avoid making them completely redundant!

I think Chord have handled this thing badly, If I hadn't of heard of Hugo, I would be in seventh heaven, I totally agreed with your brilliant review that the Qute sounds sublime, but Chord have thrown the cat amongst the pigeons, they've recently released the EX, and provided an upgrade path from the HD, but have not given the same comfy, warm feeling to current owners of the HD or EX, ( re Hugo technology) which surely they could have done? If they can provide an improved DAC and first rate headphone amp at the same price as the Qute then it's unlikely anyone would continue to buy them, no matter how state of the art they were a few weeks ago! Personally this annoys me and I've made my feelings known to Chord! I think Chord have got too excited about Hugo,( which is undoubtedly a game changer) without thinking about current customers. And confusing prospective customers into the bargain! As I stated I live in kent about 10 miles away from Chord, I'm going to try and get a good listen to Hugo from the dealer, which is about 2 miles from where they make the thing! If I can, I'll pass on my impressions, and any comments I get back from Chord about possible upgrades etc best w Ray

I'm sure they'll offer an upgrade to the HD and EX re: Hugo specs, and do the decent thing for their loyal customer base.

The Hugo has been getting some great reviews too! Chord Hugo Mobile DAC/Headphone Amp | AudioStream an even better one from HIFI + First Listen: Chord Electronics Hugo portable high res DAC/headphone amp | Hi-Fi+ I've had an EX since it was released and it sounds brilliant, but as I live quite near Chord HQ, perhaps I better run round and beg them to trade it in :-(

I've had a. Qute EX since they came out, it is exceptional as was it's predecessor, as Ted has ably demonstrated in his review! However, I'm a bit peeved if Hugo is as good as the initial reviews are suggesting, because like anyone I would have held out to pay the same money for a better DAC, plus a stonking headphone amp!!! Chord are themselves claiming that it's the best 32 bit DAC they have produced and admitting on their website that the tap length is twice the size of Qute EX. You have to question where that leaves the Qute range? perhaps we can upgrade to the Hugo motherboard if iscthat revolutionary?! Anyway at the moment this is mainly conjecture, but it has also been given an Audiostream Greatest bits award, though the reviewer preferred his Ayre DAC for it's body! Chord Hugo Mobile DAC/Headphone Amp | AudioStream Time will tell, let's hope Ted can get his hands on one soon :-) Ray