When it comes to listening to music on the go, the Chord Hugo 2 is certainly one of the finest headphone amplifiers/digital-to-analog converters to aim for. The Hugo 2 will also be an ideal desktop amp for home use and will work well in rooms with limited spaces due to the compact size of the portable headphone amplifier/DAC. To really bring out the best sonic quality of this award-winning Chord Hugo 2, we will need to partner it with a matching pair of headphones.
The Chord Hugo 2 certainly deserves to be paired with a matching headphone with equally impressive sonic prowess. To do so, we must first learn more about the sonic strengths and sound signatures of the Hugo 2 amp. With this data in our hands, we will then be able to list out the best headphones that we can choose to get and match them with the talented Chord Hugo 2 headphone amplifier.
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Sound Characteristics and Strengths of Chord Hugo 2
One look at this headphone amplifier, you will immediately know is made by the coveted Chord Electronics. The striking and futuristic color-changing ball buttons really make Chord Hugo 2 stands out among the crowd. Whether you will be using the Hugo 2 indoors or outdoors, it will certainly attract attention. The color indicators can be very convenient once you have memorized what each color stands for and some of them are related to the sampling rates. The Chord Hugo 2 comes with a premium Chord Custom FPGA DAC which supports up to 768kHz and native playbacks of up to DSD512 (Octa DSD).
The battery life is up to 7 hours which is long enough to cater to most outdoor journeys. Chord Hugo 2 output stage is Class A and could drive most headphones efficiently with high-quality power. Its frequency response is 20Hz to 20kHz which is as expected from a headphone amplifier of this caliber. These do give us plenty of headphone choices to go for but we should avoid those that are very power demanding. Another notable feature will be the Bluetooth connection (aptX) where it will allow us to stream our music wirelessly. The remote control included together with the Chord Hugo 2 is pretty neat too.
More Details at Amazon – Chord Hugo 2 DAC Headphone Amplifier (Silver)
The details retrieval capability is remarkable, the Chord Hugo 2 simply digs out as much data from the audio files and uses it to deliver an extremely high-resolution music presentation. This will be an ideal headphone amplifier/DAC for analytical audio enthusiasts since it produces a massive amount of musical details. One of the greatest strengths of the Hugo 2 is how it handles all this information and conveys it cohesively and beautifully into our ears. The rich music delivery is accurate, unforced, and fluid without ever sounding clinical. The sound quality is crystal clear as well, we are able to hear the decays and subtle nuances with clarity.
And is not just the musical details which the Chord Hugo 2 can bring out effortlessly, the emotions and energy of the music are been brought out too. This helps to provide a truly engaging music delivery where there is no dull moment. Additionally, the open and spacious sound with precise stereo imaging helps to further immerse us into the music. With this high amount of sonic details and at this level of clarity, the listening experience also becomes more intimate. We also manage to hear new subtle details which invigorated our curiosity and encouraged us to keep feeding the Chord Hugo 2 headphone amplifier with more of our favorite tunes.
The Chord Hugo 2 is neutral with a hint of warmth and has incredibly high accuracy. It never sounded harsh and was stable throughout the listening session. The overall bass performance is superb, allowing it to deliver powerful sound without any over-emphasis. Bass frequencies have ample depth and are rich with details, not to mention, they are tightly controlled as well. This Chord headphone amp/DAC will probably work well with all types of music. We have prepared a list of the best headphones where you can choose to select and partner it with the Chord Hugo 2. You can check these headphones out below.
Chord Hugo 2 Specifications
- Output Power: 1050mW (8 Ohms), 740mW (32 Ohms), 94mW (300 Ohms)
- Output Stage: Class A
- Output Impedance: 0.025 Ohms
- THD: <0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300 Ohms
- Dimensions: 21mm x 100mm x 130mm | 0.8″ x 3.9″ x 5.1″
- Weight: 390g (0.9lbs)
Best Headphones to match with Chord Hugo 2
The Sennheiser HD800S is one of the best headphones to pair with the Chord Hugo 2 amplifier. This amazing reference class open-back headphone is capable of unraveling a massive amount of music details and subtle nuances, producing them out in spades with pristine clear sound quality. The Sennheiser HD800S bass performance is extraordinary, it is powerful and articulate, enabling the headphone to deliver an engaging music delivery with finesse. The HD800S is a dynamic headphone that is very well matched with the Chord Hugo 2 and is certainly worth your while to have a look at them.
More Details at Amazon – Sennheiser HD 800 S Headphone
The Audeze LCD-X is a high-end planar magnetic headphone that is a worthy match to the Chord Hugo 2. It has incredible bass performance which has both scale and depth. The low frequencies produced by the LCD-X have ample weight, are rich with details, and could go very deep into the bass extension. It is tightly controlled and articulate which works really well with the informative Chord Hugo 2 where the low ends will sound richer and more detailed. The midrange prowess of the Audeze LCD-X will fit in seamlessly with the Hugo 2 amp/DAC too, providing us with expressive and neutral mids.
More Details at Amazon – Audeze LCD-X Over Ear Open Back Headphone
The Beyerdynamic T1 3rd Generation is an award-winning Tesla headphone and will be an exemplary choice for your Chord Hugo 2. The Tesla Drivers of the T1 will provide its users with natural and precise spatial sound reproduction. Its overall sound reproduction is clear and clean which will complement the Chord Hugo 2 rich music delivery very well. Like the Hugo 2, the Beyerdynamic T1 3rd Generation has a high level of insights and transparency, able to deliver an organized and cohesive high-resolution music presentation with an astounding level of clarity and accuracy.
More Details at Amazon – Beyerdynamic T1 Headphones (3rd Generation)
Where budget is not an issue, the Focal Utopia is probably the best dynamic headphone to go for and will be more than a worthy match for the Chord Hugo 2 amplifier/DAC. It has an exceptionally high level of resolution and you can clearly hear every music detail including the faintest of whispers. This is a musically refined dynamic open-back headphone and the neutrality of the Chord Hugo 2 will complement the Utopia nicely. The Focal Utopia also has a wide dynamic range and could deliver impactful crescendos with articulate bass performance. It is highly recommended to audition them first before making a decision.
More Details at Amazon – Focal Utopia Open Back Headphones (Black)
This is another excellent planar magnetic headphone made by the illustrious Audeze, the Audeze LCD-3 is an exemplary choice especially if you like amazing bass performance. It also has equally impressive midrange reproduction where vocals and musical instruments sound incredibly realistic and intimate with plenty of intricate details to boot. The Chord Hugo 2 further improves the details retrieval and this will have a complementary effect with the Audeze LCD-3. The overall sound reproduction of this combination doesn’t sound clinical and won’t go overly bright which is great for long hours of music listening.
More Information at Amazon – Audeze LCD-3 Over Ear Open Back Headphone
For listeners who do not wish to invest too much in a headphone but doesn’t want to compromise the sound quality then the Sennheiser HD 650 is a fine choice for you and your Chord Hugo 2. This is a legendary professional open-back headphone well-regarded by audiophiles and has a modest price tag that is worth every penny invested. Since the HD 650 is made for professionals, you can expect high sonic performance and exceptional sound quality. The overall accuracy is astounding for a headphone at this price point and it has impeccable stereo imaging. Chord Hugo 2 helps to slightly improve the details and resolution of the music presentation as well.
More Information at Amazon – Sennheiser Pro HD 650 Professional Headphone
To Sum It Up
These are some of the best headphones on the market which you can go for and pair them up with your Chord Hugo 2 amplifier/DAC. We highly suggest you arrange an audition to hear them out. You can start shortlisting them for auditions based on your budget first followed by your requirements or vice versa. The Chord Hugo 2 will likely be the last headphone amp you will ever need since its sonic performance and sound quality are tough to beat.
