Thanks, David!
I played with the vignette a bit, and there was some Lightroom work done. I have excellent window light in this space (family common area where the computer is setup), so I usually don’t have to apply to much processing.
Thanks for pointing the grammatical error out, I fixed it. I appreciate your kind words, and your help. 
Certainly a gratuitous apostrophe is the tiniest of nits. Great job on that review.
When I’ve written reviews, even though I grammar check, I find that I’m often making at least a few one or two character corrections in subsequent days. I know we’ve talked privately about some of my sources and foibles. In a post in a different thread, I talk a bit about how I used to work not merely in publishing services, but with SGML, XML, content editors, and a legion of precise grammarians that could probably be employed as weaponry.
In case you missed the link to Robin Cover’s hilarious discussion of the plurals and the apostrophe, I insert a pointer herewith:
Thx for the great write up. To be honest you answered a lot of my questions regarding this amp. Currently I use a Rme Adi-2 DAC and phonitor E. This amp DAC combo is always on my radar.
Thank you!
That’s a great combo you have that many use as a “neutral” reference. I’d definitely give the TT2 a listen if you get the chance, as ears and preferences are different.
I’d consider the Qutest and potentially, the M Scaler with your Phonitor. That’s actually the next amp I’d like to purchase.
Thanks again. 
You lucky, lucky chap. Enjoy.
I feel like this is an assault on my wallet Tyler. SRAF
Thx!!!
I am saying thank you b/c I was wondering how to compare the TT2 and the HA-300 and what the difference might be amp wise, even though we are talking two VERY different items. But I look for a big soundstage especially, so this was just the right thread.
A question: do you find tube rolling the HA-300 a necesity or just fun to do?
Most stock tubes are not the best choice, is my experience.
The stock tubes are quite good, but I’m also a detail seeker, and I want to hear even more into the music, so I keep experimenting, and every time I find success, I just surprise myself in a great way!
You got the audio bug like the rest of us 
I just purchased some Gold Lion 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes for my Cayin CS-55A amp, not b/c it doesn’t sounds great already, but what if…
But the 300B tube is one I for sure would like to try out, so I am quite hooked on the HA-300A and my local distributor has it at a very decent price, especially re other European prices. So one day I will get it 
Chord is a British brand of audio gear that has somewhat of a legendary status amongst the audiophile community. Rob Watts is the brainchild behind the their digital to analog converter line consisting of products such as the flagship DAVE to the portable budget Mojo. The middle child of their lineup are the Chord Hugo and the tabletop version, the Chord Hugo TT. This set of impressions will cover my time with the Chord Hugo 2 TT, which is one of Chord’s newer DAC/Amp products that retails for $5500 USD.
The Chord Hugo 2 TT was loaned to me by Headphones.com community member @jb77 . Jeremy has been a wonderful soul who has lent out several pieces of gear to me for a quick spin of the past year. Thanks again!
The Hugo 2 TT comes in both black and silver models and this review is the black model. The TT is a desktop version of the Hugo 2 portable DAC/Amp combo that features more power and I/O. This Hugo 2 TT has three headphone outputs in the front, with one 3.5mm output, and two 1/4 inch outputs for multiple headphone uses at a time. On the other side of the front panel are buttons for power/standby, crossfeed, and input selection. The center of the Hugo 2 TT is the Chord signature color-changing marble that controls volume by spinning it, and changes color based on the volume level.
The center of the top of the unit has a see-through window that is also color-coded based on the music input. This windows allows one to see inside to the main board of the unit. The case is all metal and extremely well-built and put-together.
I only tested this unit using USB-input, but there’s also options for toslink, coaxial and BNC connectors. As this is also a DAC, there’s also output for balanced XLR and RCA. Some people have used the XLR output to drive headphones, however, I have not tried this myself.
The Hugo 2 TT is just a nice sounding unit. That’s what I have to say first and foremost. It’s really nice, with great resolution, a slightly warm sound that is quite intoxicating and a soundstage that can open up quite nicely with the crossfeed function, which has 4 levels total. There are also 4 different DAC filters, however, I primarily stayed on the neutrally-tuned default setting for this trial run.
I primarily listened to this unit with two headphones and two IEMs:
Hifiman Arya and ZMF Verit e over-ear Headphones
Hidition Viento-B and Unique Melody MEST Custom IEMs
With the Hifiman Arya , I really enjoyed the subtle differences between the Hugo 2 TT and the Topping A90 solid state amp and Feliks Elise OTL Tube amp I typically use. For the Arya, I normally use the Elise as a tube preamp for the A90 to get the high power along with the softer tube effects. With the Hugo 2 TT, I find that the harshness of the Arya mostly go away and I’m left with a very detailed and nice enjoyable sound that is reference-in-nature, but also very soulful and inviting. With the Arya however, I did not like the use of crossfeed. The changes tended to bring out a harsher Arya signature which I did not appreciate, and the Arya has already a nice open soundstage as it is.
On the other hand, with the ZMF Verite , I preferred to let the crossfeed function go wild. I enjoyed the Verite pairing as well. Even though, I still think the Verite sounds better with a higher impedance amplifier than that of the Hugo 2 TT, and I still prefer it on the Elise MK2, the Hugo 2 TT still provides a good experience. I think the crossfeed, in this case, improves the Verite sound significantly. In my actual listening, I find that turning this function on does raise up the upper mid-range a little bit, although I did not measure it to find out. It’s this general area of the Verite that I do not like that much as it’s a bit scooped out and I tend to want to EQ it to “correct” it to my liking.
When I switched over to IEMs, I went with the smaller 3.5mm port on the TT. From what I understand, the output impedance of this unit is somewhere around 1.5 to 2 ohms, which can actually do some stuff to my two primary custom monitors. If you also have impedance sensitive IEMs, please keep this in mind.
With the Hidition Viento-B, I found the Hugo 2 TT sounded great! The Viento-B typically lowers the upper mid-range and treble with impedance gain, and this small subtle amount of impedance gain, coupled with the euphonic Hugo 2 sound makes it a nice combination. I kept the DAC settings mostly at default, but cross-feed sounds fine with the Viento-B up to about the midway setting.
The MEST typically increases bass quite a bit with impedance, and is much more sensitive than the Viento is. With the Hugo 2 TT pairing, I found the MEST to really start to sound a bit too warm and congested, and even a little muddy. I wasn’t a huge fan of this pairing personally and didn’t spend a great deal of time with them together.
Well, this Hugo 2 TT is a nice looking, well-built and wonderful sounding unit. I am enamored a bit by it, but its price tag is quite steep, at $5500 USD retail. The color changing marbles are also a looker, and I like my gear to have clean and modern aesthetics and I think Chord really hit it home with their styling.
This is a pricey unit though, and its hard to recommend it to just anyone and I highly recommend listening to this set, and also its bigger, pricier brother Dave while you’re at it. Chord makes some nice units with plenty of flair. This is no different.
How would you say the DAC portion compares to other DACs? Does the TT2 only make sense as an AIO unit in your opinion?
I’ve had my eye on this, have seen it pop up and cross my path here and there. I may have to take the plunge one day… Seems like an excellent dac and decent amp. But a great aio desktop option. Most totl dacs are really large and not desk friendly. And the ability to upgrade with the m-scaler down the line is intriguing. Maybe I’ll see a good deal used one day or a demo’d unit.
Good write up @ValentineLuke and @antdroid
@TylersEclectic and @jb77 worth???
For me it was, but really the Bifrost2 or Yggy is also really good for the DAC portion … but I’m really enamored with the TT2!
I had the exact same unit here several months ago…and did many comparisons with my Schiit Bifrost 2 with all kinds of amps and headphones.
I honestly did not hear any real discernable audible difference…no, zip, zero, nada. It was one of those strain real hard and hope to really here a difference i could equate to $5495 - $699 = $4796 delta.
In my case I really wanted to like the unit, and I actually did like it, it just was not what I expected for a dac that costs $4796 dollars more than the unit I already have and is lauded by many as a very good dac.
I dont question reviewers that review this unit and actually hear differences. We all here differently.
For me with this “huge” price delta I would expect “fries” with the unit or at least a magnitude of positive sonic bliss.
I did really love the color changing “spaceball” but the dac wasnt any better than the bifrost 2 for me.
Alex
…And a milkshake.
ok $4796 - 1.99 (mcdonalds fries) - 2.99( mcdonalds milkshake) = $4791.02
hmmm
gotta do better than that!
LOL
Alex
Ok. I respect that.
Im just trying to squeeze what i can out of the mz3 and hopefully one day upgrade to the m scaler. But I don’t know what I haven’t heard.
Is the Hugo TT worth 7.86 Bifrost 2s? (5495/699=7.86)
This is a situation where art and the show-off factor are being sold, not the audio factor. The glow ball, the build, and the see-through case grab one’s attention but require $$$ too.
