Audiophilepure

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“The volume pot also doubles up as a power-on resistance-based switch and you will have to wait a few seconds after turning it on for it to activate. A small safety precaution if you will. There is no stepped attenuation design to the pot here, this is a custom Alps potentiometer design with a very smooth turn. Also, thank you so very much Auris for putting in some white markers to judge volume levels accurately.

The level of potential functionality of the Euterpe seems excellent though our primary review focus will be on the built-in DAC and amp all-in-one performance. That being said, the pre-amp and analog inputs as a pure amp combined with a higher-end DAC such as the Qutest and even an M-Scaler behind that will be intriguing to see just how good the SET amp inside really is.”

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“The M Scaler provides two BNC digital inputs, two optical digital inputs, and one galvanically isolated USB Type-B input. Digital outputs include one optical output, one coaxial SPDIF via a single BNC connector, and one dual BNC, which is the output of choice for best performance. While the Hugo M Scaler can conceivably be used with any DAC, the manufacturer makes it clear it is really optimized for use with Chord Electronics DACs that provide high-bandwidth dual-BNC inputs able to take full advantage of the Scaler’s capabilities. Once I heard the M Scaler in action I thought that its sonic benefits were both transformative and profound.

Using a group of very high-performance reference headphones from Final, HiFiMan, Meze, and MrSpeakers, I listened to the Hugo TT 2 both with and without the M Scaler and here is what I learned. Heard in isolation, the Hugo TT 2 sounds exactly like what it is: one of the finest headphone amp/DACs available today. While it is not quite on a par with the more than twice as expensive DAVE, the Hugo TT 2 takes worthwhile steps forward relative to its predecessor in resolution, clarity, focus, and coherency, while also offering quieter backgrounds and more dynamic muscle. In short, the Hugo TT 2 can more than hold its own in comparison to like-priced competition. However, fold the M Scaler into the equation, and the picture changes dramatically for the better.
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“The xDuoo TA-20 is as powerful as its younger siblings : you can drive almost any modern headphone at ease. Be it the Meze Empyrean, the Sennheiser HD800S or the Audeze LCD-X, none of those headphones trouble the amp.

The small box is capable of handling those cans like a champ, even when the song requires maximum dynamic range. The trade-off is still the level of noise, don’t expect to get rid of it unless you add something like the iFi IEMatch or stick to high-impedance headphones.”

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“The Hugo TT 2 sports a host of useful digital inputs: two optical, two coaxial BNC, one driverless USB (for use with tablets and smartphones), one USB Type-B, and an aptX Bluetooth interface. Analog outputs include: stereo XLR, stereo RCA, two 6.35mm headphone jacks, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. One set of dual DX BNC digital (expansion) outputs is also provided. By design, the Hugo TT offers three distinct operating modes: “DAC mode” with fixed line-level outputs, “Amp mode” with variable-level rear-panel outputs, and “Headphone mode” with variable-level outputs from front-panel-mounted headphone jacks.

The amplifier section of Hugo TT 2 is very powerful, delivering up to 7.3W at 8 ohms in single-ended mode or a stonking 18W at 8 ohms in balanced mode. For this reason, and with headphone/hearing protection in mind, Chord Electronics advises owners to start out with extremely low volume level settings and to proceed with appropriate caution. ”

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“I was delighted, too, to find the iHA-6/iDAC-6 pair had sufficient transparency and power to take full advantage of my reference Abyss, Final, and HiFiMan headphones, which is saying a mouthful (especially in the case of the very difficult to drive HiFiMan Susvara). At the same time, with its gain setting backed down to “Low,” the iHA-6 proved quiet enough for use with my extremely sensitive Campfire Audio Atlas earphones.”

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“Until I began working exclusively from home, my constant companion on my daily commute was the PonoPlayer I’d bought after reviewing it in April 2015. It may seem absurd to compare the $8500 Sony with the Pono, which cost $399 when last available, but I’ve racked up more hours listening through headphones with the Pono than with any other product. With the Audeze LCD-Xes, which are more revealing than the AudioQuest NightHawks, the high frequencies in “The Mooche” had more top-octave air with the DMPZ1, letting me better hear the subtle acoustic of Blue Heaven Studios, in Salina, Kansas. At the other end of the spectrum, the double bass in James Brown’s “Please, Please, Please” had a weightier body tone through the Sony, though this recording’s rather rough mid-treble sounded a touch smoother through the Pono. A case of Authority (Sony) vs Acceptable (Pono).”

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“The Keces Audio S3 really does everything one might ask of it, and does it impressively well. While it can be used as a quality stand-alone headphone amp, a highly resolving dedicated DAC, or even a simple but excellent preamp, I believe the biggest value comes when combining multiple functions. The headphone listener who wants a single-box DAC/amp solution capable of driving pretty much any full-size headphone should give it serious consideration. And if said user might also integrate speakers into the mix – either active monitors or passives with a separate amp – they will find the S3 to be a superb control center for the entire setup. It satisfies my previously mentioned criteria of features plus sound quality, in a compact and well built package, for a price that is surely advantageous compared to buying separate components. For that, the S3 is enthusiastically recommended.