Transportable DAC/Amps are spectacular items of expertise. Audiophiles can take their setups wherever they go with out having to fret about retailers or extremely cumbersome items of apparatus. Two firms which are wonderful at executing some transportable gear are iFi Audio and Chord Electronics. iFi simply launched the iDSD Valkyrie, and in the present day we’re going to place it up towards Chord’s HUGO 2 to see how the options and sound high quality examine.
What Comes In The Field
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Aesthetics
Beginning with the look of those units, we’ve got two very completely different aesthetics. One opts for maximalism, the opposite minimalism. The iFi Valkyrie has a stable rectangular form, and it flares out into refined wings on the sting to pay homage to the Valkyrie the machine was named after. The display screen on prime shows all the data of how you’re listening to your sound, and it is easy to inform once you’ve switched settings round to accommodate one other machine. The Nordic engraved field is a pleasant contact to point out off the posh high quality of the merchandise, and it lives as much as its Valkyrie title.
The Chord HUGO 2 opts for fairly a distinct design. As a substitute of a winged out, golden physique, you get a extra industrial look with a stable, black brick with some colourful lights. There’s a wheel on the middle that acts as a quantity management, altering colour to coordinate with quantity. The opposite controls are quite simple, with 4 buttons for fairly particular controls. There’s a magnified spot on the middle donning the Chord brand and supplying you with a glimpse of the artistry inside.
Performance
By way of their performance, the Valkyrie and HUGO 2 have the identical primary talents. They’re transportable DAC/Amps which are straightforward to journey with so you may have high-quality sound wherever you go. Getting them up and operating is simple since they’re powered by an inner battery slightly than counting on DC energy. The battery life on each is sort of spectacular, with over 10 hours on every for high quality, all-day listening.
Navigating the controls on these units is sort of completely different. With the Valkyrie, there are a number of modes and filters you may implement, and with solely a choose variety of buttons, you need to look fastidiously on the fast begin information to navigate by means of every menu correctly. Whereas the interface can appear overwhelming at first, it affords deep customization, making it best for integrating into any setup. The HUGO 2, however, embraces simplicity. It has 4 buttons, permitting you to entry energy, filters, and crossfeed settings with out a lot trouble.
Connectivity
One factor that positively units these two units aside is their connectivity. They do have some similarities, notably of their analog enter and output sections. Each function left and proper RCA outputs and a coaxial possibility. Nevertheless, the Valkyrie affords USB-C, a extra fashionable commonplace, whereas the HUGO 2 nonetheless depends on micro USB, which is considerably outdated.
Each units help Bluetooth, however the Valkyrie options the newest codecs, together with aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, and LDAC, whereas the HUGO 2 sticks with an older model of aptX. For customers searching for a extra streamlined and future-proof setup, the Valkyrie is the clear winner. The HUGO 2, whereas nonetheless dependable in construct and sound high quality, requires extra cables or adapters to combine seamlessly with fashionable techniques.
Options
The options on these amplifiers differ considerably. The Valkyrie shines with its intensive customization choices, together with a number of filters and energy modes to match a variety of headphones and IEMs. It additionally affords a number of analog filters, together with XBass II, XPresence, and XSpace, which form the sound in distinctive methods, permitting customers to tailor their listening expertise.
The HUGO 2, against this, takes a extra minimalist strategy. It options a couple of digital filters indicated by color-coded lights and a number of ranges of crossfeed. Whereas these filters provide refined refinements to the sound, they don’t drastically alter the listening expertise in the way in which the Valkyrie’s analog filters do. This makes the HUGO 2 best for many who favor a plug-and-play expertise with out too many extra tweaks.
Energy
In terms of energy, each amplifiers are extremely succesful. They’ll drive demanding headphones with ease, dealing with high-impedance drivers with out introducing distortion. The Valkyrie affords three energy modes—Common, Excessive Achieve, and Extremely Excessive Achieve—permitting customers to regulate output ranges based mostly on the headphones or IEMs getting used. The HUGO 2, however, has a single energy setting, although it nonetheless delivers wonderful efficiency with most headphones. Nevertheless, extraordinarily power-hungry headphones may profit from the added flexibility of the Valkyrie’s acquire settings.
Tech Specs
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Digital |
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Output Energy |
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Line Output |
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Listening Overview
Whereas listening to those two amplifiers, I used to be impressed by the quantity of energy coming from every of them. To push their limits, I used power-hungry headphones such because the Sennheiser HD 800S and Audeze LCD-X. The Valkyrie instantly impressed me with its robust output and dynamic power. The low-end was deep and managed, and the midrange had a clean, pure presence that felt full-bodied with out turning into bloated. The added analog filters, particularly the XBass II, gave me room to reinforce particular frequencies to suit my preferences with out shedding element.
The HUGO 2, however, had a extra refined and nuanced presentation. The treble was notably clean, and the decision within the midrange was excellent. Nevertheless, I observed that the HUGO 2 was extra reluctant to push as a lot energy because the Valkyrie, which meant that some tracks lacked the identical sense of impression. Whereas the HUGO 2’s sound was pristine, elevating the quantity too excessive led to noticeable distortion, whereas the Valkyrie maintained a cleaner sign at greater acquire ranges.
When it got here to imaging and soundstage, each units carried out excellently, however in several methods. The HUGO 2 supplied a extra holographic impact, with devices feeling like they had been positioned in a extra three-dimensional house. The Valkyrie, whereas nonetheless providing a spacious soundstage, had a extra ahead and speedy presentation. This made it nice for energetic tracks and extremely dynamic recordings, whereas the HUGO 2 was best for many who favor a extra relaxed and pure sound.
Abstract
Each the iFi iDSD Valkyrie and the Chord HUGO 2 are wonderful transportable DAC/Amps, however they cater to completely different audiences. The Valkyrie is full of options, fashionable connectivity, and highly effective amplification, making it a terrific selection for many who need versatility and customization. The HUGO 2, whereas extra simplistic in its options, delivers an exceptionally refined sound and stays a robust contender for audiophiles who prioritize readability and a holographic soundstage. In the end, selecting between these two comes down to private desire and the way a lot management you need over your listening expertise.
The iFi Valkyrie and Chord HUGO 2 are each out there at Audio46.
