Chord Hugo M Scaler

I have been demo-ing the M-scaler with my Dave for a few days. Using USB inputs there is a large amount of smoothing of the music. Sharp digital edges disappear. The description the Chord Rep gave was very illustrative. Imagine a sound curve with say 10 steps then introduce the Mscaler and now there are 100 steps in that same space. Sooo much smoother the results.
The difference is quite apparent in switching in and out the upscaling...which is a snap or should I say a push of a button....... yep almost night and day.
Headfi has more posts about this unit and the Blu2 CD player than you would ever care to read but the overall consensus is the same as mine.
Although being a very lazy audiophile (refuse to get up to change Albums) I can appreciate the smoother “analog” sound of vinyl. And the Mscaler gets me pretty much there.
My next try will be an MSB Dac ......but....ouch the price of admission! The Mscaler is a bargain at less than 5 grand. And since I get to keep my sample for the review free it’s pretty much a no-brainer!

:dancing:
Ok ok.......drifted off into my alternate fantasy world....again.....a 3rd dimension of the audiophile kind......................can’t help It listening to such marvelous sound!
 
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Its a Timbernation!
:P
 

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Hi Mike,

How does it compare against Select II? I know there is a big price difference. But you are the only person that have both and can answer this question. Many thanks in advance!
 
Adyc said:
Hi Mike,

How does it compare against Select II? I know there is a big price difference. But you are the only person that have both and can answer this question. Many thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

It’s very good and the chord stack competes well in its price range. I happen to have an extra one I took in on trade, so I brought it home with the Blu2. Great combo. I prefer the Chord combo over my Lampi Pacific.

But NOTHING sounds like the S2. The only thing I have that’s close is my completely rebuilt Studer 810 and Doshi Tape 3.

When I listen to the S2, it’s does everything perfectly. It nails the tone of piano, guitar, vocals etc. I put it on and find myself saying “wow, now that’s what a trumpet sounds like.” It provides an incredible foundation and is world class among all world class sources. In my opinion, it truly raises above the category of being just a “DAC”.


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Mike said:
It’s very good and the chord stack competes well in its price range. I happen to have an extra one I took in on trade, so I brought it home with the Blu2. Great combo. I prefer the Chord combo over my Lampi Pacific.

But NOTHING sounds like the S2. The only thing I have that’s close is my completely rebuilt Studer 810 and Doshi Tape 3.

When I listen to the S2, it’s does everything perfectly. It nails the tone of piano, guitar, vocals etc. I put it on and find myself saying “wow, now that’s what a trumpet sounds like.” It provides an incredible foundation and is world class among all world class sources. In my opinion, it truly raises above the category of being just a “DAC”.


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Click to expand...

Many thanks. I love the Dave combo but consider next jump. You answered my question perfectly.
 
Mike said:
It’s very good and the chord stack competes well in its price range. I happen to have an extra one I took in on trade, so I brought it home with the Blu2. Great combo. I prefer the Chord combo over my Lampi Pacific.

But NOTHING sounds like the S2. The only thing I have that’s close is my completely rebuilt Studer 810 and Doshi Tape 3.

When I listen to the S2, it’s does everything perfectly. It nails the tone of piano, guitar, vocals etc. I put it on and find myself saying “wow, now that’s what a trumpet sounds like.” It provides an incredible foundation and is world class among all world class sources. In my opinion, it truly raises above the category of being just a “DAC”.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Sounds like you prefer the Select 2 to vinyl, Mike.
 
Al M. said:
Sounds like you prefer the Select 2 to vinyl, Mike.
Click to expand...

Vinyl has a special place. For example, I have so many Music Matters albums, some wonderful MOFI pressings, etc. Nothing can replace those. But, generally speaking, the S2 would definitely be 60-80% of my listening. It’s just that good.
 
Now how much is the Msrp on the MSB select decked out with optional power bases, upgraded ClocK, and necessary modules?
Lets see: $84,500 base + 2 mono bases $19,950 + femto clock $9,950 so around $119 k not including the other modules you may want. It should be a whole lots better. The Chord is a veritable bargain even if you have to buy the Dave Dac AND The Mscaler for around $15K total.
Not saying that if I had that kind of dough I wouldn’t buy it!
 
Dguitarnut said:
Now how much is the Msrp on the MSB select decked out with optional power bases, upgraded ClocK, and necessary modules?
Lets see: $84,500 base + 2 mono bases $19,950 + femto clock $9,950 so around $119 k not including the other modules you may want. It should be a whole lots better. The Chord is a veritable bargain even if you have to buy the Dave Dac AND The Mscaler for around $15K total.
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Agreed. People should stop trying to compare pretty much anything against it. I love my Corvette, but it sure ain’t a Ferrari 488GTB.


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Mike said:
Agreed. People should stop trying to compare pretty much anything against it. I love my Corvette, but it sure ain’t a Ferrari 488GTB.


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Well not according to Chord Mscalar designer Rob. He said he never heard better DAC than his DAC and Mscalar. So I don’t think it is not fair to ask this question as we are talking about best against the best.
 
Adyc said:
Well not according to Chord Mscalar designer Rob. He said he never heard better DAC than his DAC and Mscalar. So I don’t think it is not fair to ask this question as we are talking about best against the best.
Click to expand...

He’s proud of his work and he definitely should be!


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Toomey said:
Picture of your stand, please?
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Do you want to see my equipment stand or the Blu2/Dave in their stands.
The Chord Blu2/Dave looks like this... It sits on top of a Quadraspire stand along with the equipment listed below.

I'm in the middle of downsizing my system and I'll probably sell the Blu2/Dave stack soon.
Choral-Stand-Blu-DAVE-900x675.jpg
 
Mike said:
Agreed. People should stop trying to compare pretty much anything against it. I love my Corvette, but it sure ain’t a Ferrari 488GTB.


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Click to expand...

Trouble is Mike, unlike you, 99% of us have to ask the question since we do not have access to all the cool toys for a one of one comparison. To me the comparison should be for the money, the Chord Hugo TT2 and a M-scaler vs the Dave outright no Dave + M-scaler.
 
CPP said:
Trouble is Mike, unlike you, 99% of us have to ask the question since we do not have access to all the cool toys for a one of one comparison. To me the comparison should be for the money, the Chord Hugo TT2 and a M-scaler vs the Dave outright no Dave + M-scaler.
Click to expand...

Chris - good question, but here's the issue: it's just my opinion. If I bring 10 people into the store, 5 will say "DAVE!!" and 5 will say "Hugo TT2 + M-Scaler!!"

But I would lean toward "DAVE" because you can always add the M-Scaler down the road, which is not a 1+1 = 2 situation, it's more like 1+1 = 5.
 
Mike said:
Chris - good question, but here's the issue: it's just my opinion. If I bring 10 people into the store, 5 will say "DAVE!!" and 5 will say "Hugo TT2 + M-Scaler!!"

But I would lean toward "DAVE" because you can always add the M-Scaler down the road, which is not a 1+1 = 2 situation, it's more like 1+1 = 5.
Click to expand...


Very true Mike. But to some is it a $5k difference even with the M_scaler added to the Dave. It gets down to the rest of the equipment in the line up, you know the amp, pre and speakers like can you hear that $5k difference.. And the M-scaler can be added to pretty much any other DAC using their optical or BNC inputs. But I see your point from a dealer perspective
 
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