Curiosity finally got the better of me recently and I grabbed a s/h Chord Mojo2 to see what all the hype was about.
Every so often I like to see whether some of the new technology really has made older kit defunct. So far, not really. In the last year I tried an Arcam ST60 (uses an ESS9038 IIRC) and a Gustard A18 (uses an AK4497 IIRC). Neither were that special.
This time round, I thought I'd have a play with a headphone focused DAC, i.e. a Mojo2. For those unaware, Chord have for over a decade now being selling DACs that don't have the usual run of the mill ESS, AKM, AD or similar off the shelf DAC chips. Instead, they use high speed processing chips running custom code to do the conversion. I believe that the term currently used is R2R.
The Mojo2 incorporates this Chord tech into a miniature DAC that is around the size of a pack of 20 cigs.
It's a bit weird looking, but very well built. Inputs/outputs are also a bit odd, though I understand why given the space available.
Inputs are USB-C, USB-Micro, Optical and mini-jack coax. Output is two headphone 3.5mm ports. No RCA, no balanced.
From doing some reading, using the optical seems recommended, at least by one chap who I know and genuinely knows his stuff. With it's size, and the fact that is has a battery, it can also be used with a phone. I'll try that out when my new phone arrives later this month.
Initial listening, very impressed. Presents a lovely image with a paid of HD25s.
I wanted to get used to it's presentation style before conducting any genuine side by side comparisons. When I do I'll be comparing it as a headphone DAC with a Meridian Explorer 2, a Director and an MS200, then as an amp against a Head Canamp and a Little Dot3. For headphones, I'll be using the HD25s, HD600s, HD450s and Beyer 990s.
Every so often I like to see whether some of the new technology really has made older kit defunct. So far, not really. In the last year I tried an Arcam ST60 (uses an ESS9038 IIRC) and a Gustard A18 (uses an AK4497 IIRC). Neither were that special.
This time round, I thought I'd have a play with a headphone focused DAC, i.e. a Mojo2. For those unaware, Chord have for over a decade now being selling DACs that don't have the usual run of the mill ESS, AKM, AD or similar off the shelf DAC chips. Instead, they use high speed processing chips running custom code to do the conversion. I believe that the term currently used is R2R.
The Mojo2 incorporates this Chord tech into a miniature DAC that is around the size of a pack of 20 cigs.
It's a bit weird looking, but very well built. Inputs/outputs are also a bit odd, though I understand why given the space available.
Inputs are USB-C, USB-Micro, Optical and mini-jack coax. Output is two headphone 3.5mm ports. No RCA, no balanced.
From doing some reading, using the optical seems recommended, at least by one chap who I know and genuinely knows his stuff. With it's size, and the fact that is has a battery, it can also be used with a phone. I'll try that out when my new phone arrives later this month.
Initial listening, very impressed. Presents a lovely image with a paid of HD25s.
I wanted to get used to it's presentation style before conducting any genuine side by side comparisons. When I do I'll be comparing it as a headphone DAC with a Meridian Explorer 2, a Director and an MS200, then as an amp against a Head Canamp and a Little Dot3. For headphones, I'll be using the HD25s, HD600s, HD450s and Beyer 990s.
