Introduction
Whilst I have always loved listening to music, it was only after I deciding to purchase a Valve Amplifier three years ago that I began my current obsession in listening to music through better & better equipment.
At home I tend to listen through my stereo system through speakers more than headphones by using my Hugo as a DAC and so the majority of my review is therefore using the TT as a DAC into my home stereo system.
I have a single ended Class A Amplification provided by a Fatman 202. I bought this to try and combat the digital sound of the MP3s I was playing through IPod at the time.
I have since upgraded all the Chinese Valves that came with it to NOS Valves which I roll every now again. My favourite combination are black plate Tungsol 6550s for the two power tubes and a Tungsol JTL 5670 as the input pre-amp tube. I have a pair of GE Jan 5670s as driver pre-amp tubes, but these latter two have less impact on the sound than the input tube.
My speakers are Revolver 3 bookshelf ones.
The TT was fed by a coaxial cable from a DX90 or from the coaxial digital out from a Sony CD player.
Because my fellow TT Tour reviewers have already listed the specs and how to operate the machine so well already, there is no need for me to repeat this information.
I listen to a fairly varied collection of music, although Prog Rock (Yes, Pink Floyd, to Riverside, Steven Wilson & Muse) forms the majority of my collection, but so does Classical and Pop (Blondie through to Adele).
First Impressions
When I first opened up the the Box containing the TT, I was very surprised at the size & weight of the Hugo TT. What immediately struck me was how inadequate my Hugo looked compared to the TT.
The TT simply looks as if it naturally belonged in my sitting room. My Hugo looked like little toy and not the real high quality DAC that we know it is. This statement actually says more about the WOW factor of the TT versus any shortcomings of the Hugo.
Chord have done the right thing by creating a strong statement , ie I am a Hugo TT and I *belong* here.
Musical impressions
And what about the sound of the TT? As you would expect you have the Hugo signature - superb musicality, intimate details of the music and never in a way that detracts from that musicality, but you have more with the TT.
I think these words sum the difference up - greater authority, impact and control. It *is* somehow just more assured.
The drums sound like they are more tightly skinned, the bass guitar has a greater depth of sound and at times of musical climax, the TT has more impact than the Hugo.
I started by comparing the Hugo and the TT on a few tracks, but then just went on to enjoy the TT.
Bijou by Queen - you get the visceral sound of the opening guitar it sounds somehow sharper and cutting through the air more cleanly with the TT, raising the hairs on the back of my head. The opening notes sung by Freddie Mercury hit you harder.
These are the Final Days of our Lives by Queen - the tom toms sound more taught as if their skins have been stretched more tightly.
Love of my life by Queen - the piano is just more realistic, the harpsichord is right in the room with you, Freddie’s voice is more mournful & dramatic.
Famous Blue Coat by Jennifer Warnes - the clarity of her voice is beautiful, you can hear every breath that she is taking, and the saxophone comes in with an exquisite solo.
Joan of Arc - from the shimmering guitars, to the emotional singing of Jennifer Warnes and the duet with the deep melodic bass of the male voice you are taken to musical heaven.
One of my favourite pieces is Relayer by Yes, a 20-minute extravaganza that has some very complex and fast playing mix of instruments during the 'war sequence'. This can sound very mushy on poor systems, unable to get a decent separation of the instruments, but the TT has no such issues. This musical chaos is followed by the calmness of "Soon or Soon the Light" where Jon's voice comes out from complete blackness, combined with melodic soaring & ethereal guitars. The TT copes with all with aplomb.
The Great Gig in the Sky by the Many Faces of Pink Floyd - the opening piano intro is just as if the instrument is being played in your living room by Rick Wakeman, the female singer's orgasmic warbling is lovely and her highest notes are just wonderful.
I guess I am used to the “Tubey” sound of my Amp. The combination of that Class A warmth being input by the clarity of the TT is a strong one. All in all, my Stereo system has never sounded so wonderful.
My Amplifier certainly enjoyed the experience of being fed by the TT -
Headphones
I also listened to the TT through the two headphones provided which were the Grado and the Beyer Dynamic T90s, as well as my Sennheiser HD600s. All three were driven easily by the TT.
I must mention the beginning of one piece, Speak to me – Breathe by the Many Faces of Pink Floyd, as I was astounded by the imagery of the TT combined with the Grado & Beyer Dynamic headphones. I had never noticed this before.
As a general comment, with the TT imaging is really well defined and you are able to place how many instruments are being played and where these instruments are in relative to other instruments in the room.
I was very impressed by the greater clarity of the two headphones on loan, which both did sound very good with the TT. Although sound wise the Grado's edged the cheaper T90s, I didn't enjoy the actual fit of the Grado's, as the earpieces surround your ears rather than fitting on them. The T90s are now on my list to buy though.
Conclusion
The TT serves a different market than the Hugo. The TT for one isn't portable and it also just looks in a different class to the Hugo. When placed next to my Valve Amplifier, it looked right. The TT can exist as an iconic piece of furniture in its own right.
If you are looking for a top of the range DAC and you don't need portability, then the TT could be for you.
You are most likely to keep it in one spot in the house and either use it a headphone amplifier or as a DAC into your desktop Hifi system.
HOWEVER, it has an interesting advantage over many other DACs in that it runs off batteries and therefore you can very easily just disconnect the charging lead and take it with you to another room in order to listening to your music in other room. Chord’s terminology is that it is transportable.
The musicality of the TT is wonderful and if you buy one, you won't be disappointed - that , for me, is a given.
The TT represents an improvement in sound quality over the Hugo, it's not night and day but it *is* there in terms of greater authority and impact. It is a definitely a more assured machine.
If you have a Hugo, though you are unlikely to go out & buy a TT. Logically you would save up and wait for the DAVE.
If you don't have a Hugo, and you don't need portability, then make sure you put the TT onto your demo list.
Finally, a big thank you to OK-Guy for including me on the TT tour and to Chord for entrusting me with their kit. It was a sad day last week when I had to package it up and send it onwards.