DAC Shoot Out

[bzr]

Larry, thanks, i really enjoyed reading this thread.

 

[cmalak]

Thx for shootout write up. Do you have a sense which one you are going to go with between the Chord Hugo and Exogal Comet?

 

[Mike]

Great write up! Thank you for sharing. I've heard good things about that Chord Hugo DAC.

 

[Mechnutt]

If you look at other W4S reviews that used the Off Ramp, you'll see that they claim the DAC is bright too, the two don't play well with each other.

That is very interesting. I am going to have to try the W4S and Comet without the Off Ramp. I am going out of town for several days but when I get back I will post another review. I found it very strange that the W4S sounded so bad after sounding excellent in my system and the guy who owns it. And he has the same R series AVA amp and CF tube preamp with Magnepan 1.7's instead of the 3.7's.

 

[kzhtoo]

Mechnutt, very nicely done! Enjoy reading it.
I had Hugo briefly in my system when it came out, but kept my QBD76HD. Another Chord DAC, Qute is more similar sounding to the QBD than the Hugo, but the family resemblance is there I feel (based on hearing Qute at a dealer). With many changes in my system since then, I'd love to hear the Hugo at home again.

 

[Dpod4]

Good review. I have the Chord Hugo and am amazed and value and performance it offers. It's headphone amp is great competing with and beating $1,000+ headphone amps (eg Bryston bha1). Its DAC is world class on dsd and pcm - not as full and sweet as my Modwright 5400es but more transparent and dynamic and resolving. I have also run a kimber d60 from audiophileo 1 with power pack into Hugo coax and that sounds ever so slightly better than into HD usb of Hugo.

 

[Mechnutt]

If you look at other W4S reviews that used the Off Ramp, you'll see that they claim the DAC is bright too, the two don't play well with each other.

Can you post or send me a link to a review of the off ramp causing brightness.

Thanks,

Larry

 

[socfan12]

Great writeup, thank you for sharing!

 

[Mechnutt]

Today I spent about 2 hours listening to the Comet in my main system but I replaced my Magnepan 1.6's with a pair of Monitor Audio S1 speakers as well as a pair of PSB B6's. For those not familiar with either of these speakers, the MA's sold for about $750pr and they are a small bookshelf with a 6.5" woofer. They have a neutral, clean, detailed and slightly forward sound with good air and transparency. The PSB's are large bookshelfs with a 6.5" woofer. They sold for about $525pr and they have a warmer more forgiving sound. They have very good bass for a BS speaker but they are not as detailed as the MA's.

The Comet made both of these speakers really sing beautiful music. The Comet seems to be a much better match with both of these speakers. There was not a hint of brightness as with my Magnepans. The sound stage continued to be wide, tall and deep. The sound was very holographic and 3D. Piano's sounded very natural with excellent decay. The attack on Piano and Acoustic Guitar was both crisp and smooth at the same time and sounded very life like. Vocals and horns were very smooth with not hint of harshness. Cymbal crashes were crisp and clean. Bass was good fast, taught, crisp and controlled. There was a nice, pleasing mid bass bloom but the bottom end could use a little more oomph. Turning up the cross over on my sub fixed the issue.

Music used-

Pink Floyd- The Wall
Melody Gardot- Worrisome Heart
Pat Metheny- What's It All About
George Winston- Autumn
Chesky's- The Worlds Greatest Audiophile Recordings
Eva Cassidy- Simply Eva
Fleetwood Mac- Rumors
A Blu-Spec Classic Selection sampler CD of Classical music
Quilles and Cloud- Seminole Star (from Blue Coast)

 

[Randy Myers]

I know this is a year old thread, however I found it an interesting read. One thought that came to mind when reading was on the W4S. I was wondering if the unit was fully broken in. The description of being overly bright and slightly harsh is exactly how most Wyred 4 Sound pre-amps and DACs sound for the first 100 hours or so, and do not completely smooth out until after about 200 hours of play. They actually print this in the their user's manuals now.

Going through this full break in on my pre-amp I can say for sure the 200 hours is required. Out of the box I was under impressed and actually did not like the slight harshness and how bright it was. But after 100 hours it was amazing.... after 200 hours it became the best sounding pre-amp I have ever heard.

I am currently breaking in a W4S DAC. Currently at about 100 hours and it is smoothing out. Still has a slight bright edge on certain music, but it does seem to be smoothing out more and more. I totally believe it will continue to improve for the foreseeable future. The folks at W4S have assured me that even more so than the pre-amp, the DACs really need the full 200 hours. The DAC will continue to smooth for the next 100 hours or so.

 

[cyclopse]

I think the digital designer for Chord used to work for DPA, here in the UK. So lots of experience in the digital field. I have personally heard the Hugo and could happily live with it.