Chord dac lasted about 1 week in my house. MHDT Havana dac has stayed much longer.
old thread I know, but relevant to me now as I am in the market for a decent headphone amp/DAC and the hugo is supposedly brilliant.
Im eager to perhaps try another Chord product as I did own the QBD76 for a short time. It did absolutely nothing for me, and reading the reviews led me to believe it was the best DAC in the world bar the DAVE. I have listened to the DAVE and I thought that was impressive but out of my price range for toys. I didnt think the QBD was anything special and aside from the sound it made a really annoying clicking sound every time you used the Bluetooth signal, and it would click loudly again when the signal stopped (an arcam irdac V1 did the same also). I might have put up with it if the sounds was jaw dropping but I found it far from it.
Hugo might be worth a go though. Or anyone any other suggestions of a similar small portable DAC/Headphone device that you've found that sounds simply amazing and mesmerising.
I still haven't heard much to de-throne my trusty Trichord Pulsar one with power sup (that I enjoy as much anyway) but thats 20+ year old, things have moved on, plus Id like the portability/headphone aspect with modern technology such as DSD conversion, and something to get even more from my digital collection.
ETA: NB no Bluetooth (but then Bluetooth isn't much more than a convenience, rather than any test of a dac; added compression for a start.)
Steve, what aptX equipped source are you using. I don't believe ny Apple devices use it, so I never use Bluetooth in the Hugo.
I've the QBD76HDSD, and have had DAVE in my system for a while on a couple of occasions. Despite liking some aspects of DAVE's sound, I much preferred the QBD, and without exception so did everyone else who heard the comparison.Perhaps it was system related but the QBD 76 transformed my system and the difference was huge. Prior to the QBD 76 I was using a lowly Musical Fidelity M1 DAC and it sounded flat and digital when compared to the Chord. I am using a mid-end Naim amplification. A member here also uses the QBD76 with his top-flight Naim 500 series amps with great success. There are few who compared the Hugo to the QBD76 and yes, it might be worth to give the Hugo a try.
I've the QBD76HDSD, and have had DAVE in my system for a while on a couple of occasions. Despite liking some aspects of DAVE's sound, I much preferred the QBD, and without exception so did everyone else who heard the comparison.
Not necessary with it for Mac Steve, but I guess needed for Windows 'puters. My QBD's compatible with the Melco's USB feed - something to do with Alan Ainsworth, the head honcho for Melco UK, being previously employed at Chord.Tony, I'm not surprised, your DAC sounds excellent. Did the DAVE have proprietary drivers for USB?