Chord "Mojo"

I get that but a mediocre or not liked product doesn't mean another will be the same so I don't think it's fair to potential buyers who could be put off because, of negative comments from those who have not tried it.

I'd send you mine dude to try but you are across the pond! hopefully someone is in a less difficult position to lend you their's! Will be good to see some other comments other then headfi..

 

Are people judging it solely as a DAC? It wouldn't negate impressions of its use just as a DAC, but it's priced (and marketed?) as an all-in-one solution for portable use.

Alright, another 1540 owner! Always looking to read what people are happy to pair them up with.

 

I am not a Chord hater - I don't feel emotionally engaged enough!
I have owned the Hugo, own a GOV2 [balanced cable] and tested the Mojo for a while.

There is no way of really separating the DAC from the Amp with the Hugo/Mojo - But I noticed a huge improvement by adding an external Amp to the Hugo/Mojo.
I added a Cavalli Liquid Carbon - it doesn't as much improve on the soundstage size (slightly wider),but it helps with the engagement level. I didn't try IEMs as I am still looking for a good pair that I's happy with at the moment.
So it looks like it's the DAC that can be blamed for the narrow sound stage….
YMMV.

 

The Mojo will never get love around here because of the Hugo's background and the trash talk on the Pyrate's forum.

I feel the Mojo is priced right and offer a great value. The Hugo was definitely not a good value and a big disappointment for me (who really enjoyed the QuteHD). The Mojo now has to live with the legacy. Like its big brother, it will be the biggest hype on head-fi... and a hated product here.

It's a much better value than the Hugo and definitely more usable and well made than the GOv2.

Then again, when you put it against an old R2R DAC like the DSPro Basic IIIa and liquid carbon, it doesn't hold a candle. Could be the Carbon's SE input inherently inferior - I would need to check feeding the Carbon with the Basic's SE output to make sure.

 

I wouldn't waste the money/effort. It managed to make the UERM sound shrill and lean when I got to try it. Bass had punch but no pitch differentiation.

 

I think it's a good idea. It's priced fair, is a top level sounding device and would also cut away some of the Chord negativity.

 

Yeah, Headfi take it a bit too far sometimes. It's really hard to see how good a product really is on there. I didn't really expect much from the Mojo but was pleasantly surprised.

 

Having not heard either, but trusting the opinions of others, the impression I get is fourfold:
1) The Mojo is priced about right for what it offers
2) We here at SBAF are not a fan of side-grading, especially when it's to a lesser product. We try and protect others from making that spending mistake because we've all made it and it hurts. I feel the same way about my Oppo HA-2. Awesome build quality, but boring. I would work to protect others from making the same mistake.
3) LH Labs is leaving money on the table by not putting a better build around their GO's. Especially the battery portable. Chord and Oppo have both made something with *much* better build quality in roughly the same price range.
4) Like any audio product, it's not fair to judge it till hearing it. Chord made DACs that were relatively well respected until the Hugo. You couldn't judge the Hugo based on the previous DACs, there's no reason to judge the Mojo until it's been heard.

 

As if there aren't enough portable DAC/amps out there to sort through, now we get this.

http://www.arcam.co.uk/musicboost.htm

Not so helpful for all you Android boyz and girls, but if I hadn't just upsized to Plus when I upgraded to a 6s, I would be all over this. If the US pricing matches UK (120 pounds), this will be less than $200, and at that price, if it's decent it will fly off the shelf. I may subsidize my kid to get one when he goes back to school in London, just to see what it sounds like.

 

A device that snuggles up to your phone makes a lot of sense! I hope it sounds decent …
On second thoughts - What about Android devices? - And what if Apple decides to change the exterior of the upcoming model iPhone 7 ….

 

I started a new thread for the Arcam MusicBoost under the "Amplifiers or Combo Units (DAC/Amp)" folder:

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/arcam-musicboost.883/

 

I did some more listening with the Mojo. This was done at a friends house and we held a mini can jam.

Headphones used were Sen HD800, HiFiMan HE500, Sen HD650, Fostex T50rp III, and Superlux HD681evo.

Reference system ASR Emitter I with full PSU, Speakers ATC SMC100, Signal Projects Audio cables and Rocna Wavedream DAC (MSB r2r modules), and RPi2 streamer.

We also compared the Hugo.

What i heard was that as a DAC/Amp it performs well and there is nothing really wrong with it except the slight narrower stage. The warmer character and the meatier mids make it a very pleasing sounding dac, without lacking in "air" and/or definition. Detail is really there, and not lacking in any way.

The comparison with the Hugo, showed the difference it has the Hugo being a little more energetic in the treble and having a wider stage.

These results were evident when the listening was with headphones directly form the Mojo/Hugo.

When the units where connected to our reference system, it became evident that the Mojo is not designed to be used as a DAC alone, i am not sure why, but the "line out" was nowhere near the size/detail,speed,resolution, or emotion as the Hugo's.

It sounded just ok (although quite narrow) and was not to the standard of some other budget DAC;s in that price range.

These findings are maybe the reason for some contradictory opinions about the Mojo.

I am still keen on it because as an amp/dac combination the result is very good indeed, but definitely not if it is used as a Dac alone.

Something is wrong with the "line out".

If there wasn't (and it sounded warmer and mid centered without loosing out on detail) maybe it would be in competition with the Hugo, i am not sure what the beef is and i don't want to speculate on the companies' strategy of product lines, but there you have it, according to me it sounds better than the Hugo with headphones.

Now my opinion is if one wants detail yet mid richness and no fatigue on the go, the Mojo is the way to go.

Now my opinion of the LH products, (i haven't heard the new GO), but my experience of the full sized Geek Pulse Xfi with PSU, and the larger GO, i must say i have not been impressed at all, lots of harshness and metalic hue, not my kind of thing.

 

Did you engage the "Line Level" function when using the line out?

---
Line Level Mode
To set the output level to 3V ( line level ) for connection to a preamplifier press both volume buttons
together when switching on the unit. Both volume balls will illuminate light blue. This mode is not
remembered so when you switch off it will reset back to the previous volume stored for safety reasons.
---

Blue balls are never good!

 

i have to say, this little wanker of a dac seems to be the best portable dac/amp out right now

I cant believe I am saying that

my pubes I be a shaving

 

PHOTOS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!

 

Just PM burns. I'm good without the TMI.