Chord Mojo

[ChrisIRL]

If the reviews and forum opinion elsewhere are accurate this is sounding like a nice little versatile unit. It certainly satisfies the point made in my earlier post about how expensive tech should get cheaper. There are many reports that it is the equal of, if not better than, the £1400 chord hugo. The info I've gathered so far;

DAC performance as good as the Hugo, in fact stands up to DACs in the thousands. Handles DSD 256 and up to 32/768 sample rates.

Battery powered, good for 8 to 10 hours.

Virtually no distortion.

Can be set to line level out, outputting 3v.

Maximum headphone output is 4watts! Hifiworld drove speakers directly from the mojo (more of a party piece they admit than a viable long term option).

Excellent results for most headphones and iems.

Can be used with a dap as a source, or as a dac upgrade for any digital source, to a preamp or used as a preamp itself connected to a power amp.

A sound quality and detail retrieval that is being described as amazing.

Certainly sounding very versatile as I said, functionality wise like a mobile mdac. I picture a nice situation of having a top quality dac feeding a full system, and then simply unplugging dap and mojo for headphone use elsewhere. I have been neglecting my headphones for a while now! Not many reports yet however of it's performance in a full system. One to watch I think.

 

[MajorFubar]

DAC performance as good as the Hugo

Most reviews I've found which compare the two (including what HiFis) seem to imply in terms of sound the Mojo is very much more than 3/4s of a Hugo for £1000 less, but isn't quite on par. Whether that difference is worth another grand to you is obviously subjective.

None the less I take your point.

 

[ID.]

There are also those that argue that all competent DACs should measure flat and thus sound pretty much identical. So in a blind test you might have trouble differentiating between a 100 pound DAC and a 1000 pound DAC (volume matched).

 

[expat_mike]

I too think this is an interesting piece of kit.

I was thinking of getting the Oppo HA2, but I put that idea on hold once I staarted reading this forum thread

http://www.head-fi.org/t/784602/chord-mojo-the-official-thread/3405

The thread does benefit from Chord providing quick responses to questions that are raised.

Like you say there are a lot of early adopters, who are very enthusiastic about the Mojo. The impression that I get is that the Mojo is not quite as good as the Hugo, but it is interesting that there are already reports of Hugo owners selling their DAC, so that they can downsize to the cheaper Mojo. That says a lot about the relative merits of the two DACs.

The thread also contains a lot of discussion about which DAP is the best to use as an input source for the Mojo, and the current preferences seem to be the AK 100 and 120, bought second hand if possible to reduce the cost.

However it is interesting that Chord are posting references to add-on modules for the Mojo, which are under development. One of those modules seems to fulfil the role of a DAP.

In one of the posts, Chord do say that there will not be an updated Hugo V2.

The only frequent problem that gets mentioned, is that some users experience phone based interference, when they use their phone as the music source for the mojo. However it does seem to be related to which model of phone and which phone band is being used. Chords short term recommendation of use your phone in aircraft mode, does not please all users, but Chord do say that they are working on a longer term solution. This does imply that there could soon be a Mojo update in the pipeline.

 

[ChrisIRL]

More than 3/4s the performance of the Hugo at a little more than 1/4 the price, sounds good to me. Many reports suggesting it's equal if not better. Personal preference I suppose.

 

[ChrisIRL]

There are also those that argue that all competent DACs should measure flat and thus sound pretty much identical. So in a blind test you might have trouble differentiating between a 100 pound DAC and a 1000 pound DAC (volume matched).

General concensus seems to be that the Mojo is extremely good because it adds nothing at all. It just offers excellent clarity, resolution and detail retrieval. Some have descibed the detail it extracts from the source material as being shocking, for what it's worth.

 

[MajorFubar]

More than 3/4s the performance of the Hugo at a little more than 1/4 the price, sounds good to me. Many reports suggesting it's equal if not better. Personal preference I suppose.

Yeah well if you made me choose between the two I know where my money would go. The difference in sound between at least half-competent DACs is never more than marginal at best, compared to changing any other component in your HiFi chain, especially speakers. So +£1000 for a difference I probably won't hear with ears knocking on the door of 50? Would rather spend it on something else and buy a Mojo. Seems a lot of people are thinking that way as well, which could mean Chord have inadvertently scored an OG.

 

[ChrisIRL]

It would be great if one of the add ons was for proper integration into a full system, full size rca outputs and a better charge port to leave it plugged in while in a full system. Bluetooth is also expected. Thing is what will these add ons cost?

Regarding the interference, personally I never really liked using a phone for music anyway, much prefer to use an ipod so shouldn't be an issue for many.

If some positive reports come in about it's full system performance this could turn into an exciting product. So far Hifiworld have suggested it is a touch bright and lean sounding when used as a preamp. It might be better as a source for an integrated. I wonder is 3v line level output a bit high though?

 

[expat_mike]

More than 3/4s the performance of the Hugo at a little more than 1/4 the price, sounds good to me. Many reports suggesting it's equal if not better. Personal preference I suppose.

I get the impression that it is more like at least 95% of the performance for little more than 1/4 the price.

Chord have said in the past that the Hugo was their most popular piece of kit ever. I get the feeling that the Mojo could outsell the Hugo - only time will tell.

 

[ChrisIRL]

More than 3/4s the performance of the Hugo at a little more than 1/4 the price, sounds good to me. Many reports suggesting it's equal if not better. Personal preference I suppose.

Yeah well if you made me choose between the two I know where my money would go. The difference in sound between at least half-competent DACs is never more than marginal at best, compared to changing any other component in your HiFi chain, especially speakers. So +£1000 for a difference I probably won't hear with ears knocking on the door of 50? Would rather spend it on something else and buy a Mojo. Seems a lot of people are thinking that way as well, which could mean Chord have inadvertently scored an OG.

Possibly a target market strategy change. The hires headphone gang probably weren't playing ball with the £1400 price tag. I read the Hugo has sold 10,000+ units. 200,000+ mojos wouldn't be too sloppy for Chord and absorb the hit on the slowing down Hugo anyway.

 

[MajorFubar]

Hifiworld have suggested it is a touch bright and lean sounding when used as a preamp. It might be better as a source for an integrated. I wonder is 3v line level output a bit high though?

It is but I doubt it's anything modern integrateds will worry about in terms of overloading the input, but might benefit from an attenuator if you have an amp that likes to go loud early on the volume pot. Maybe the problem using it as a preamp concerns impedance matching with the power amp.

 

[expat_mike]

Seems a lot of people are thinking that way as well, which could mean Chord have inadvertently scored an OG.

This does get discussed on the link I posted.

I think people are concluding three aspects:

1 - most of the initial R&D costs for mobile DACs were included in the Hugo cost. The mojo does not need to include those costs

2 - There is the general trend of features/performance that start out in high end kit, gradually filtering down into cheaper models

3 - There have recently been several very good portable DAC/ headphone amps been released at around the 500 pound mark. Maybe Chord realise that if there will be no Hugo v2, then they needed to release a model that will dominate the 500 pound market.

 

[ChrisIRL]

The Mojo will possibly be for Chord what the LS50 is for Kef. Self harming to their own products but such a big seller overall it won't matter.

 

[ChrisIRL]

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Hifiworld have suggested it is a touch bright and lean sounding when used as a preamp. It might be better as a source for an integrated. I wonder is 3v line level output a bit high though?

It is but I doubt it's anything modern integrateds will worry about in terms of overloading the input, but might benefit from an attenuator if you have an amp that likes to go loud early on the volume pot. Maybe the problem using it as a preamp concerns impedance matching with the power amp.

Elex r can handle up to 10v line input apparently. Then again with a 163 mv input sensitivity even 3v input could be a bit fiesty! But maybe in a good way!

 

[Frank Harvey]

It would be great if one of the add ons was for proper integration into a full system, full size rca outputs and a better charge port to leave it plugged in while in a full system. Bluetooth is also expected.

Thats where Hugo comes in

The Mojo is effectively a cut price version of the Hugo, losing much of its connectivity, as it is, after all, a portable headphone unit for use with phones/iPods etc. The Hugo has the extra connectivity for use in full size systems.

 

[MajorFubar]

Thats where Hugo comes in [snip] The Hugo has the extra connectivity for use in full size systems.

With my cynical head on...£1000 for a pair of RCA sockets...meh I think not...£3 jack to phono adaptor FTW!

 

[ChrisIRL]

It would be great if one of the add ons was for proper integration into a full system, full size rca outputs and a better charge port to leave it plugged in while in a full system. Bluetooth is also expected.

Thats where Hugo comes in

The Mojo is effectively a cut price version of the Hugo, losing much of its connectivity, as it is, after all, a portable headphone unit for use with phones/iPods etc. The Hugo has the extra connectivity for use in full size systems.

For fear of people thinking it can't be connected to a full system it can be. This is done via one of the 3.5mm headphone outputs. Less elegant but perfectly adequate. The Arcam mini blink also connects by 3.5mm jack out and there are no reported issues.

The mojo is not exclusively a mobile dac and headphone amp.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Thats where Hugo comes in [snip] The Hugo has the extra connectivity for use in full size systems.

With my cynical head on...£1000 for a pair of RCA sockets...meh I think not...£3 jack to phono adaptor FTW!

Extra inputs, extra outputs, Bluetooth, extra battery life...and we are presuming the same quality here (which I'm presuming the Hugo would win out on, however close they may sound).

 

[expat_mike]

http://blog.moon-audio.com/chord-mojo-review/[/url]

 

[ChrisIRL]

Putting my money where my mouth is so to speak I picked up a Mojo.

I'll cut to the chase and say it is absolutely amazing. I am blown away. I have never been so immediately impressed by any hifi purchase I've made. ( SCM11s a close 2nd).

The set up: Ipod touch, Arcam irdock, coaxial to mojo, mojo set to line out mode, 3.5mm to 2 x rca to Rega Elex r, ATC SCM11. The irdock happens to have a very handy usb input for older 30 pin idevices which I can connect to the Mojos charging usb input so I'm not running the Mojo by battery. The Mojo does get warm charging while using but I've not experienced any cutouts. Having an 8 to 10 hour run time on battery makes being able to charge while using useful but not essential. There is no obvious sound quality difference between powered and battery run that I can hear.

The sound: I am generally not a critical or analytical listener by any means but what this dac does is obvious even to the casual listener. Versus the irdac it's big stand out traits are detail resolution and bass weight. I don't know if it's extracting more detail as such but the detail is so clear, resolved and apparent it is like there is more detail. Everything, bass, mids and highs are just presenting more information. Again this is without even trying to hear it, it's just there. Bass weight is much improved, really punchy, deep and again packed with more variation in detail. It seems to flow far more naturally too giving all tracks a real ebb and flow feel. Soundstage is much the same as the irdac, wide and high, speakers disappear completely. Imaging, not something I ever got too caught up in, vocals and drums are dead center, everything else floats around them, nothing unusual going on to me. Cymbals sound far more natural, no more splashy effects, and decay, not just with cymbals but all notes, seems to go on far longer and is smoother. Transients, lightning fast and immediate. Dynamics, big and minor are far more obvious. I find myself having to reach for the remote far more often when listening in the evenings. A track may open with just vocals, a guitar etc but when drums and bass kick in they really kick in. Think explosion. Vocals are the best I've heard, more character and sibilance all but gone unless in the recording.

The bonus: Simply disconnect the rca and coaxial leads and you have a pocket sized top class headphone amp and dac for a bedside or office headphone setup. It has reacquainted me with my long forgotten headphones and sounds just as great as descibed above.

So in summary, the mojo really has it all going on. It's that elusive sound I was always looking for with no trade offs. Smooth and refined yet punchy, exciting, detailed and fast all rolled into one. Hugely musical as a result. I will say however the ATC SCM11s allow it to be these things. Other speakers might not do it as much justice but I imagine all systems will enjoy improvement in many areas I've described.

Affordable , versatile, excellent sound quality. The Mojo very much deserves the praise being heaped on it in my opinion. Very happy.

 

[Al ears]

Putting my money where my mouth is so to speak I picked up a Mojo.

I'll cut to the chase and say it is absolutely amazing. I am blown away. I have never been so immediately impressed by any hifi purchase I've made. ( SCM11s a close 2nd).

The set up: Ipod touch, Arcam irdock, coaxial to mojo, mojo set to line out mode, 3.5mm to 2 x rca to Rega Elex r, ATC SCM11. The irdock happens to have a very handy usb input for older 30 pin idevices which I can connect to the Mojos charging usb input so I'm not running the Mojo by battery. The Mojo does get warm charging while using but I've not experienced any cutouts. Having an 8 to 10 hour run time on battery makes being able to charge while using useful but not essential. There is no obvious sound quality difference between powered and battery run that I can hear.

The sound: I am generally not a critical or analytical listener by any means but what this dac does is obvious even to the casual listener. Versus the irdac it's big stand out traits are detail resolution and bass weight. I don't know if it's extracting more detail as such but the detail is so clear, resolved and apparent it is like there is more detail. Everything, bass, mids and highs are just presenting more information. Again this is without even trying to hear it, it's just there. Bass weight is much improved, really punchy, deep and again packed with more variation in detail. It seems to flow far more naturally too giving all tracks a real ebb and flow feel. Soundstage is much the same as the irdac, wide and high, speakers disappear completely. Imaging, not something I ever got too caught up in, vocals and drums are dead center, everything else floats around them, nothing unusual going on to me. Cymbals sound far more natural, no more splashy effects, and decay, not just with cymbals but all notes, seems to go on far longer and is smoother. Transients, lightning fast and immediate. Dynamics, big and minor are far more obvious. I find myself having to reach for the remote far more often when listening in the evenings. A track may open with just vocals, a guitar etc but when drums and bass kick in they really kick in. Think explosion. Vocals are the best I've heard, more character and sibilance all but gone unless in the recording.

The bonus: Simply disconnect the rca and coaxial leads and you have a pocket sized top class headphone amp and dac for a bedside or office headphone setup. It has reacquainted me with my long forgotten headphones and sounds just as great as descibed above.

So in summary, the mojo really has it all going on. It's that elusive sound I was always looking for with no trade offs. Smooth and refined yet punchy, exciting, detailed and fast all rolled into one. Hugely musical as a result. I will say however the ATC SCM11s allow it to be these things. Other speakers might not do it as much justice but I imagine all systems will enjoy improvement in many areas I've described.

Affordable , versatile, excellent sound quality. The Mojo very much deserves the praise being heaped on it in my opinion. Very happy.

A class review of a class product. Many thanks for posting. Sometimes it pays to put money where mouth is,

 

[expat_mike]

Glad you are enjoying your mojo Chris - I shall wait a while to see the details of the planned add-on modules, before buying one.

Page 1 of this thread contains a list of mojo related links, that hopefully may be helpful if you experience any issues, or have questions about cables etc.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/784602/chord-mojo-the-official-thread-read-the-first-post-for-updated-info

The general consensus on the thread is very enthusiastic, but a few users have experienced problems with their balls sticking, or faint hissing with some iems (but not headphones). Also some cables work better than others, and some battery chargers don't provide enough current, but the user-base is quick to identify solutions for the few problems.

 

[ChrisIRL]

Glad you are enjoying your mojo Chris - I shall wait a while to see the details of the planned add-on modules, before buying one.

Page 1 of this thread contains a list of mojo related links, that hopefully may be helpful if you experience any issues, or have questions about cables etc.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/784602/chord-mojo-the-official-thread-read-the-first-post-for-updated-info

The general consensus on the thread is very enthusiastic, but a few users have experienced problems with their balls sticking, or faint hissing with some iems (but not headphones). Also some cables work better than others, and some battery chargers don't provide enough current, but the user-base is quick to identify solutions for the few problems.

Thanks, I've been well through that thread. Thankfully I've been lucky and not encountered any of the problems. I suppose the handful of problems are small vs the number sold. Regarding the modules, for my purposes none are required with my intended usage, they may simply add convienience. I will say it performs better as a full system dac than a headphone set up to me. Then again my headphones probably aren't as good headphones as my speakers are speakers.

If nothing else it might be worth waiting for a less quirky revision. For example Chord have said it absolutely will not work with 30 pin idevices using a 30 pin camera connection kit. I tried my ipad 2 today using exactly that connection and it worked fine?!? While this is a good complaint it is still the mojo not functioning as intended, so is a flaw. Don't listen to one if you intend to wait however, you will buy it. It truely is an evolution in dac performance. I'm embarrased to think what I previously thought were noticeable differences between dacs. You don't even have to struggle to hear differences with the Mojo. It's like Chord have gone mad and put everything they know into a £400 dac in the hope of a big win. Chips all in as they say, pardon the pun.

 

[ChrisIRL]

A class review of a class product. Many thanks for posting. Sometimes it pays to put money where mouth is,

Thanks, it truely is that good that it's hard not to get carried away writing about it.

 

[expat_mike]

For example Chord have said it absolutely will not work with 30 pin idevices using a 30 pin camera connection kit. I tried my ipad 2 today using exactly that connection and it worked fine?!?

i will try and look that up regarding my Ipad 3.

I remember there was a lot of debate that for the more recent Apple devices with the lightning connector, people needed to use the CCK, or one of the few cheap USB leads available containing the CCK chip.

Chord said that the reason that they could not include the CCK chip in the mojo, was that they would have been required to reveal all the mojo engineering (including the IPR associated with the FPGA, which is uniquely developed by Chord) details to Apple. However there will be less of an issue with installing the CCK chip in the add-on module for the mojo, because it will just be using standard off-the-shelf chips, so the IPR associated with the add-on module is minimal.