Chord Hugo too Expensive??
Discussion
I'm a fan of Chord stuff, and lovingly owned Chord DACs and amps.
However, it is very much electronics in a nice looking 'metal brick'.
So much so, when my Chord amp remote (two inches thick of aluminium no less) got sticky keys I had to take it apart.
I found to my astonishment not just the circuit board of a standard remote control, but a whole plastic standard spec remote control was encased inside!
It was JVC if I remember rightly. The problem was caused by the rubbery JVC remote keys sticking. The Chord remote worked by you pressing the funky aluminium domed buttons on the brick remote which in turn pressed the JVC remote keys just underneath them.
I've looked at the Hugo myself, and like you, cannot justify the cost.
However, it is very much electronics in a nice looking 'metal brick'.
So much so, when my Chord amp remote (two inches thick of aluminium no less) got sticky keys I had to take it apart.
I found to my astonishment not just the circuit board of a standard remote control, but a whole plastic standard spec remote control was encased inside!
It was JVC if I remember rightly. The problem was caused by the rubbery JVC remote keys sticking. The Chord remote worked by you pressing the funky aluminium domed buttons on the brick remote which in turn pressed the JVC remote keys just underneath them.
I've looked at the Hugo myself, and like you, cannot justify the cost.
JustinP1 said:
I'm a fan of Chord stuff, and lovingly owned Chord DACs and amps.
However, it is very much electronics in a nice looking 'metal brick'.
So much so, when my Chord amp remote (two inches thick of aluminium no less) got sticky keys I had to take it apart.
I found to my astonishment not just the circuit board of a standard remote control, but a whole plastic standard spec remote control was encased inside!
It was JVC if I remember rightly. The problem was caused by the rubbery JVC remote keys sticking. The Chord remote worked by you pressing the funky aluminium domed buttons on the brick remote which in turn pressed the JVC remote keys just underneath them.
I've looked at the Hugo myself, and like you, cannot justify the cost.
Ha! That's amusing.However, it is very much electronics in a nice looking 'metal brick'.
So much so, when my Chord amp remote (two inches thick of aluminium no less) got sticky keys I had to take it apart.
I found to my astonishment not just the circuit board of a standard remote control, but a whole plastic standard spec remote control was encased inside!
It was JVC if I remember rightly. The problem was caused by the rubbery JVC remote keys sticking. The Chord remote worked by you pressing the funky aluminium domed buttons on the brick remote which in turn pressed the JVC remote keys just underneath them.
I've looked at the Hugo myself, and like you, cannot justify the cost.
At Linn a few years ago the remotes we were using had two 'grades'. The lower-end stuff used an ODM design with plain plastic casing. Nothing wrong with it, looked good and worked well.
However it was felt that the higher-end stuff demanded a more premium remote. The changes were limited to a silverised front, rubberised back and two customised metal bars that sat in the remote.
Amazingly, of the three changes it was the added weight that made the most difference to perceived quality. The heft really did add to the impression this was a serious piece of kit, even when you knew it was just lumps of steel.
Sounds like Chord have just taken that theory to its logical conclusion. Bit cheeky to leave a standard cheapy remote in there though!
So have been playing with the Mojo, including on the train to work.
It adds depth to most tracks I have tried but there is a variance from marginally better to significantly better depending on the track. The amplifier also makes a big difference.
I have so far tried it on Grado's at home and AKG on the train. I have a few other headphones that I will try over the next few days.
I got some of the guys at work to see what they thought
First one is a real music nut, goes to loads of concerts but not really a hi-fi person, he was very impressed and thought the difference on his normal Apple in ear headphones was a lot more noticeable than on my AKG's.
Second one is a real hifi techy geek, he tried it using his B&W P7's I think, possibly P5's. His reaction was 'wow, that's amazing'
Third one couldn't see a difference, but he is ex military and reckons his hearing is pretty shot with all the guns and things.
I still have to work out how best to use it with the iPhone on the train, I normally have my phone in my suit breast pocket but with the various cables and the connections being either end of the Mojo it doesn't really work that well, bit more experimenting required.
The build quality is very very impressive and it is a lovely thing to hold. For me the difference it makes is well worth the cost but I guess that will vary from person to person.
It adds depth to most tracks I have tried but there is a variance from marginally better to significantly better depending on the track. The amplifier also makes a big difference.
I have so far tried it on Grado's at home and AKG on the train. I have a few other headphones that I will try over the next few days.
I got some of the guys at work to see what they thought
First one is a real music nut, goes to loads of concerts but not really a hi-fi person, he was very impressed and thought the difference on his normal Apple in ear headphones was a lot more noticeable than on my AKG's.
Second one is a real hifi techy geek, he tried it using his B&W P7's I think, possibly P5's. His reaction was 'wow, that's amazing'
Third one couldn't see a difference, but he is ex military and reckons his hearing is pretty shot with all the guns and things.
I still have to work out how best to use it with the iPhone on the train, I normally have my phone in my suit breast pocket but with the various cables and the connections being either end of the Mojo it doesn't really work that well, bit more experimenting required.
The build quality is very very impressive and it is a lovely thing to hold. For me the difference it makes is well worth the cost but I guess that will vary from person to person.
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