Chord "Mojo"

Any more updates on the Mojo? I bought one about a month ago and I'm enjoying it very much. I love it actually. That being said, it's only the second dac I've ever purchased for portable audio, my previous reference point would be a Fiio e18, when I first jumped into this hobby.

Just really curious if there is something else that compares to it (portable only).

I have far from golden ears and I usually struggle hearing differences between portable daps, or the hype is just that, hype. Never heard a difference between the AK240, ak120ii, and the ak100ii.

Would love to hear more feedback from an objective group or even one that is biased against Chord, as if this group approved, it would be legit. Wouldn't change my position, I'd still love it, but at least I'd know that there are other options and maybe my ears aren't as bad as I think.

 

The problem I have with the mojo is the form factor it's this weird bulky kind of shape, i wish it was larger and slimmer like the oppo ha2. It definitely wasn't pocketable with a smart phone for me.

Also the look is kinda weird... Reminds me of the Fisher price toys my nephew plays with, with all the flashing LED and all...

In terms of sound, it sounded really great to me for a portable device. Nice warm sound all around

 

Agreed, shape is far from ideal. I wish it was slimmer as well. I was not a fan of the looks either, but once I received it, I actually liked the look and feel. Hugo, well that's another story.

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/795235/chord-mojo-loaner-program-signup-and-review-thread/15

I did a brief report on the Mojo based on a 1-week audition in case someone is interested. Post #21 in the above link.

 

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed reading that, and although there is no way I could articulate as well as you, that is what my novice ears hear as well. I'm glad it isn't me imagining things, or having expectation bias. I actually expected not to be impressed and had purchased it with every intention of returning it, unless I was wowed. Again, I have very limited experience in dacs.

 

nice write-up tom! i very briefly owned the mojo, and i had a similar experience as you. i really enjoyed the sound (not so much the bright round colors but whatever i don't really prioritize aesthetics at all).

the only issue for me -- and this is not mojos fault -- is that i don't really do portable listening. when mobile, i run some headphones or IEMs straight out of a phone/dap, so the portability feature is totally moot for me. i was considering it as a dac for office use, and although it did excel at that, i don't like having to remember to charge the damn thing. it would be great if they made a similar dac or amp/dac in that price range that was relatively small (even bifrost size would be great) that didn't have to be charged.

other than that, if i need a portable solution down the line, i'd consider picking one up again.

 

Nice writeup Tom. I question value with the Mojo. I know folks seem to think it is one of the best sounding portable setups,

EDIT: I did not read Tom's post close enough, seems he has not compared the Gov to the Mojo Strike the following


but if the GOV 2+ was that close.........hummm Mojo is quite a bit higher in price. I wish I had this kind of money to dump into a portable setup.

As for a desktop replacement, it seems the reviewers in that thread were less convinced. Then again, you would probably spend even more to get a setup to really trump it. I have not heard the Mojo but would like to. It is great to read all these impressions, it helps.

 

@bixby; @brencho; @Warrior

Thanks for the feedback. I was not very impressed by the Mojo first at a local head-fi meet, but living with it together with my phones and sources at home for a week changed my views from reserved to mostly positive. Indeed, I want to hear QP1 and GO V2+ for sound and value comparisons.

 

Have Mojo and GOV2...single ended. Mojo has a certain timbre I like better, a degree of 'natural' sound for lack of a better term. Close, but clear difference. Mojo sounds great. However I really like the fact I can control volume from the PC with GOV2 and it has no battery. No clear winner here.

 

Balanced is the way to go with the GOV 2 - Huge improvement over SE

 

Some interesting I saw today at the magazine's website about how Mojo was used in a "hi-end" system.

" An optimal seat in KEF's packed room I did not have, but after KEF International Brand Ambassador Johan Coorg (pictured) did the introductions, the superb focus and excellent imaging of the KEF Blade Two loudspeakers ($25,000/pair) were impossible to miss. Sound from a Chord Mojo DAC ($600), Parasound JC2 preamp ($4500) and JC1 monoblock amplifiers ($4500 each), Straightwire cabling, Brinkmann Audio Spyder turntable with 10.5" tonearm and Pi cartridge contributed to a winning presentation. "
Read more at http://www.stereophile.com/content/axpona-lower-level-vistas#TBX8Bo4s9RmOrvFv.99

 

Can you use the Gov2 with a DAP or Android phone? I've heard great things about that device as well. Just not a fan of LH, hard to support them after their last crowd funding debacle.

I'm definitely interested in more dac/amp combos, strictly for portable use. I want to check out the ifi devices and the creative Labs E5. I've heard great things about both, more of course for the ifi. Creative has a superb eq system from what I've read, which is very important to me. I love eq.

 

So I've spent some more time with the Mojo I recently bought. I'm very impressed. I honestly think it bests quite a few of the desktop dacs I've tried, including the Modi and dare say even the Bifrost Multibit. I think there may be a slight mids / treble emphasis with the Mojo, which makes it seem more detailed. Although that may just be bias as it measures dead flat. I think the imaging in the mojo is fantastic, better than any other DAC full size or not, I've listened to.

If I have to nitpic, the bass feels a bit less slammy than I'm used to, but again this is well within the range of bias.

 

The GOV2 worked with a Nexus 5X + OTG cable running Android 6.0.1.

 

Does the Nexus 5x power the GoV2?

 

Just tried my GOV2 with my Samsung S7. Works flawlessly, using it in balanced mode.

 

Looks like the 4X LED is illuminated. Does android still resample everything to 192kHz?
You can use the UAPP app. It made a big difference with my GO450.

 

Through the Valhalla 2, I actually felt the Bifrost Multibit had better imaging with a more holographic soundstage. Details and timbre(?) wise, both felt very similar; in this regard, I was pleasantly surprised. In terms of tonality, the Mojo was darker. If I had the funds, I would have bought one since it would have made a very competent portable complement to my Bifrost Multibit.

 

Can all phones do this? I thought I'd need a battery but if this is possible direct out of my phone it could be a decent commuter option when I get my gov2.

 

It does power the GoV2. Battery life on the N5X was not stellar to begin with, so I didn't mind its shortened runtime when using it with the GoV2.

Not all Android phones have OTG support enabled in their kernel, though I surmise newer phones do.