The Hugo TT 2 is a versatile DAC, preamplifier and headphone amplifier that delivers outstanding performance in a compact form. Built around Chord Electronics’ FPGA technology, it offers exceptional resolution and precision. With strong output capability and a wide range of inputs, it provides a refined and dynamic listening experience for both headphones and speaker systems.
Advanced FPGA Architecture
In comparison to the 256-tap filters that traditional chip DACs may run at, Hugo TT 2’s beating heart is a powerful Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA, custom-coded by Chord Electronics’ Rob Watts, with 86 × 208 MHz cores running in parallel to create an advanced 16FS WTA 1 filter with 98,304 taps. Double that of its multi-award-winning transportable brother, Hugo 2 (49,152).
Enhanced Circuit Design with High-Power Output Stage
The Hugo TT 2 features a significantly upgraded circuit design, evolving from a 4-element to a 10-element architecture that works seamlessly with its advanced FPGA and refined code to deliver exceptional audio performance. Complementing this is a newly developed high-power discrete output stage, integrated with second-order noise-shaping between the DAC output and filter, effectively minimizing distortion and ensuring a cleaner, more accurate sound reproduction.
User-Selectable Filters with Enhanced Power Delivery
The Hugo TT 2 incorporates the popular four-stage user-selectable filter controls first introduced in Hugo 2, alongside a three-stage digital crossfeed function that enhances headphone listening by improving spatial depth to resemble speaker-like sound. In addition, the device features a redesigned power system, replacing the original Li-Po battery with six supercapacitors that provide highly responsive, linear current delivery; this enables the unit to meet demanding musical dynamics with a peak output of 5 A and 9.3 V RMS for improved overall performance.
Upgradeable Performance
Hugo TT 2 can be upgraded at any time with the addition of M Scaler, their 1M-tap digital upscaling device.
