Chord Hugo ?

Winson - I am sorry you feel I was too critical, but I do think you should have been more straightforward about the price. People can look up the prices but since you knew them why not supply them. Comparing the Hugo to units that are 4 to 12 times its price is interesting, but why not make the prices clear up front. Interesting, you quote the DirectStream upgrade price rather than the full price. The regular price is more relevant. You pretty much dismiss the idea of using the Hugo as a desktop device, but then compare it to a unit that is probably a year away and at several times the cost. Sorry, it is an excellent desktop device at its price.

By the way, what false statement did I make?

Want to make a Hugo sound really great?

Add this:

http://www.empiricalaudio.com/products/short-block

Works for the Qute as well. Qute also benefits from a power supply upgrade.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Steve - the Hugo requires the USB +5V signal to turn on the HD circuits. As I understand it, that means your filter should not be used with the Hugo, since the filter stops the +5V signal from getting to the Hugo. Correct me if I am wrong.

I guess the SB will only work with the Qute DAC. My new Power Block will work with the Hugo. It will be out with my Off-Ramp 6 later this year.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

DTC,

I was away on vacation.

I supplied the prices of the Dacs as they were for the owner (he did an upgrade). Anyone can buy a PW2 cheap and do the upgrade and it will cost a max $5K, l;ikely somewhat cheaper. As I said, the prices can be found by anyone, so there is nothing to conceal and its not my job to detail them.

I was comparing SQ of the actual units this person owns.

You said that persons were comparing the Hugo favourably to Dacs like the Big7 and that could not be true as not enuff US people had the Big7 at the time and certainly no one owned both that and the Hugo at the time.

No biggie anyway and I am not at all upset with you. All is good.