You make something very difficult seem easy . I’ve been around audio all my life but I can’t put into words what I hear . You do it easily and in another language:) love the channel man.
Exceptional review as usual. I own Mojo 2 as well as SMSL SU-9 Pro and Topping A90D stack. Mojo 2 wins with my Arya v3 Stealth. You described the differences perfectly. The odd controls are odd and not a short learning curve, BUT, the ability to tweak eq and cross feed is very addictive and worth it. It’s amazing how you can improve an already clean recording with a few db of bass to tailor the exact listening experience. As a tweaked this lossless DSP eq is subtly magical. My favorite audiophile toy bar none is Mojo 2. Last thing- he forgot to mention Mojo 2 is not a chip based DAC. And according to its designer, Rob Watts, it doesn’t have that chip based sound. I think he is right. Mojo2 is is it’s own thing altogether. Amazing sound!
All you said was true and well put. I think I now have the best of 2 types of headphones , ZMF verite close and Arya stealth , on my mojo2 both are awesome in there own way , the stealth clean airy good bass and mids , love vocals and jazz on the stealth and my zmf matches well with mojo2 because sound wise it's full sounding with body awesome vocals that edges out the stealth , so under 1000 I think none is better than mojo2 , maybe bitfrost 2/64 , but would love to see that match up.
Hello. Black Friday price Mojo 2- 400 euros/Project pre box s2 2023 edition- 300 euros. Do you recommend mojo 2 as a desktop solution, Marantz pm 6006 and Dali Oberon3? Mojo 1 had LINE OUT. Mojo 2 doesn't have it. How do you adjust the correct output voltage? Would Project be a better desktop solution? Thank you.
Being a long time Mojo 1 user, this is one of the best and well presented Mojo 2 reviews in my honest opinion. Keep up the good work! Cheers from Kerala, India.
Recently connected Gustard R26 with EverSolo DMP-A6 and have never had such a moving musical experience with a hifi pairing ❤ Truly end game for me! Internal Sabre Dac chip of EverSolo is really good, but the R2R sound of the R26 is so much better overall for timbre, timing, bass control and definition, instrument separation plus a soundstage that is more involving than my Delta-Sigma chip dacs from ADI-2, Schiit, SMSL, Denon, FocusRite and several others I tried. That sweet display is fantastic and quick to respond. 🎉
Good review! The EQ is not a small feature for me. For headphones the advantage of 4 band eq is obvious. But even for speakers it could be really useful, way better than bass and treble on any integrated amp and better than loudness switch for Lo level listening. Apart from ADI 2 I don't know any DAC offering this eq quality.
Can you please describe sound changes after connecting mojo to external amp. I mean does the soundstage were bigger, wider etc, or what changes did you notice? thnks
@@JohnDoe-ce4xe Compared mojo 2 headphone out to my Project Ember tube amp the sound on the tube amp is noticably smoother and more 3d like (holographic). The mojo hp output is more direct and more colorful slightly so. On the tube amp the sound is a little more washed out but more smooth. I use the AKG K701 with them. Also increased bass quantity.
It’s a matter of taste too. I’m waiting for the Chord Qutest 2, having the first one. Thanks for this great review; you are one of the best reviewers for sure!
Totally with you on what Mojo 2 does with vocals especially female. Bjork, Alison Moyet, Hayley williams just sound so expressive. Also Mojo 2 does wonders with lower quality inputs. Spotify can sound really great for example. Mojo 2 can also power little desk top speakers directly and sounds just fabulous. I think Quetest might need a linear power supply to sound it's best...
I just tried the Mojo 2 as a desktop nearfield DAC, it was not for me, It sounded “small”, as if it had no depth or soundstage, I guess it’s made for headphones, Thank you for the review!
Excellent review! Your comprehensive insights and honest opinions, comparisons, and impressions are very concise, relevant, and informative. Thank you very much!
Good review , i own the mojo 2 and for me i listen to jazz and majority female vocals and some males and chord mojo 2 masters the vocal side of it , i can say it can beat any on its price range even up to 1000..But im looking to add the bitfrost 2/64 which i think it will give mojo2 a big fight.
One of those rare occasions in one's HiFi journey of many years where a device was startlingly better than anything I'd been using previously. Not merely incremental, as is usual, but dramatically better. I'm in love with my Mojo 2 - it's revolutionary at its price-point.
Chord have just announced price drop on their DACs, including (in the UK) £100 off the RRP of the Mojo 2- taking it from £495 to £395. The email I received from them explains that components used in their DACs have dropped to pre-covid prices, and that they are passing the savings to customers 👏
I call it bs. Component may only cost less than 10% of the retail price(that's a very generous estimate). The total value is not worth 100 dollars..... This is only due to one reason, not many people buying their overpriced products.
@@jianhuang0124The cost of a product is not just it's material cost of the components. The MORE they sell the lower the unit cost of overheads and production and engineering set up. Higher volumes means lower costs!
Maybe someone will be interested. I have a stack of the second new version of JDS LAB for 300$ and as a preamplifier I use “analog” Liquid Spark which I bought from hand and in total it cost me all this installation with cables about 400$ and my Mojo 2 from hand in very good condition I bought for 400$. So in a direct comparison both are good, but I would prefer to keep the Mojo 2 as it trivially costs the same, takes 10 times less space, can be portable and sounds just as good and in many genres to my ears even better. Neutral sound is not for everyone, and Mojo 2 even though many people consider it neutral, to me it is neutral-warm and therefore it is just more pleasant to listen to when you need music rather than trying to monitor the sound.
Hey Mate , I saw nearly every single video as I have already Mojo OG and only a big statement that this is full in depth review in terms of buying guide as no one is interested in Taps , Rob watts’s opinion ( cos people love his way of tuning ) , everyone were asking the same questions how it compares with other similar prices Dacs is it sort to upgrade or not And all those questions were answered with so much depth and simplicity Can’t thank you enough mate Love your contents since BLoN bl03 and Tin Hifi T2 days
Great Review. Your chord Mojo 2 review comes a little late but better late than never 😅. That Said it is one of the most comprehensive and informative reviews on the sound qualities of Mojo 2 for Anyone that doesn't have the luxury of personally demoing the mojo 2. I have the Mojo 1, E70 Velvet, Smsl D300 and also a bunch of IFI Dacs, topping E30, and Cayin RU 6. I agree with your view on the original mojo sounding a bit mid bass heavy and slightly rolled of at both ends, a kink in the armour of an otherwise excellent dac. I found the Topping E70 velvet to have a larger soundstage and better dynamics than the mojo 1 but it lacked the excellent tone and timbre of thre mojo 1. I would love to hear your views on the sond quality of the mojo 2 vs the E70 velvet for strictly a stereo setup since the E70 Velvet also has a slightly thicker and full bodied sound.
Great review as always, Srboliyb. But it has been done about a year ago. Today, I am interested in purchasing a competitor of the good old Mojo 2. Do a comparison today, please man. Recommend a portable DAC/AMP or maybe even a DAP which is in a price category ~ $700 up to $900 but lacks all the well-known flaws of the Mojo 2: outputs, non-intuitive setting which require looking at the manual, etc.
I use IEMs and the Mojo 2 is a legit excellent DAC. Even on my home system is brings out noticeably full, even, and accurate base. The ability to tune/eq is amazing to fit it to your specific system. I did notice for my amp, using a pre-amp from the Mojo 2 vs just straight from Mojo 2 alone was still a better solution, but this would depend on your amp.
It's getting to the stage where you need multiple DACs for different types of music. Then of course you need different amplifiers and different headphones. Being an audiophile is becoming a lot of hard work and expensive.
We have be given the ability to change the FR of any device to literally whatever you want in the form of PEQ, yet the qudelix, fiio, minidsp, and a very select few professional racks are the only devices in existence that use it with 10 bands or more. That technology would of been the holy grail 40 years ago, but all hobbys are eventually consumed by purchase validation addiction, and that happens regardless of if you are rich or poor.
Yes, just buy an transparent amplifier, speakers, dac and use a good EQ or measuring device (or both). Thats the right and only way. Because of your individual and unique room properties everybody need to use some kind of EQ if you want to reach the audiophile goal. Swapping dac and amplifiers just to EQ your system is not only expensive and exhausting also its silly because no component should color the sound in any way and the results are minimal and if a single component change your system drastically, something is wrong with this component and you should stay away from it in the first place.
@@stefanschuchardt5734 studies have repeatedly shown that humans prefer second and third order harmonic distortion, so what you are saying is wrong. My argument was you shouldn't be paying for that, as there are dsp networks that can add that for you, to whatever exacting preference you want, at any time, generally for free.
@@En_Joshi-Godrez Thats also because the majority of music production is tuned to amplifiers with those distortions. If everyone in the process of making records would use the ultimate transparent components, the tuning of the sound would adjust to that fact. Those distortions you mention is just an additional way the EQ the sound but its the wrong way. People prefer those distortions only because the vast majority of todays components have these fault in form of distortions. Even today we have only a handfull components which are fully transparent and some people dont like the sound of it but only because the shift to fully transparent components didnt fully happened in the process of recording and playing music. PS you mentioned fiio and minidsp. How are these for free? I dont understand.
@@stefanschuchardt5734 no, the reproduction of that music to have harmonic distortion. You're speaking to the choir. I own genelecs, and even I know perfectly neutral (flat) is unlistenable. Apply a house curve of you preference is essential, but that will still be close to neutral. People like tubes, they prefer them over solid state, im just stating you shouldn't pay for it. Anything that doesn't cost money that leads to a better music experience for the genres you listen to is universally good. There is no argument against that.
I originally had a raspberry pi with a hifiberry A2HD hat dac with ifi power supply. I’ve upgraded to a Topping D50s with the same ifi power supply listening to Tidal over usb with everything upscaled to DSD connected by chord rca to Genelec m040 active speakers. I listen to dnb, hip hop, ambient trip hop, rock, folk and country. I really like the Topping and based my purchase on the audio science review - I picked one up for £180 and it it seemed very detailed compared to the pi hat although maybe a little fatiguing for long listening seasons. I have just ordered a mojo 2 for £350 here in the UK to see what all the hype is about. I should note this will only be used in desktop mode at my desk. Based on a previous comment here it says to use optical rather than usb as the input for best sound. I’m just concerned about the usability of the unit as the Topping has a nice screen and remote. Let’s see if I prefer the sound. Great review and comparison.
If you have speakers that are a little “ hot” on top sometimes , then the Chord and SMSL SU10 may be the better choice. If you have speakers that are super smooth and could use some life then the others. Find opposing character to what you have for synergy.
I have Mojo “1” and also Dragonfly Cobalt. It’s complicated to decide which sounds better. In any case, as portable Dac/amp for normal headphones, Dragon fly is more convenient, for using with hard to drive headphones, the Mojo. But Mojo needed several upgrades. Mojo 2 has got to achieve some of them like improve the use connected to a power source, also the DSP, but I think it still lack some important ones, no commented in the video. No possible to change between digital inputs, you need to disconnect and connect each time for changing between USB, optical or coaxial ones… and it’s really annoying if you want to use it as a stationary DAC. I have a list with several more but I only mention another one… it’s a pity that a so good portable battery powered headphones amplifier doesn’t include at least one analogue input, for using it only as a headphone amp.
As a Mojo Poly 1 owner, I totally agree with you. The connectivity challenges limits its potential as a desktop dac which is frustrating and it's too bulky to regularly use on the move. The Poly is just terrible. I'm sorry to say. Huge waste of money. Mojo sound is phenomenal, really.
I have mojo 2 and dragonfly red. In speaker setup with good speakers and tube amp, mojo 2 completely destroys dragonfly in all areas. I bought it because of EQ as a headphone amp mostly , but I was really surprised what a huge upgrade it is.
@@prieditsI agree, the Mojo 2 sounds very good and natural and the EQ possibilities are fenominal. With the lossless EQ you can achieve optimal synergy with your system.
I am using mojo 1 for 4 years with rasbperry psu , I removed battery long long ago. I use it as dac in my pc. its worth every penny if u want clean sound.
I have tried Mojo 2 and out of the box it sounded bright and the bass was weak. Fortunately the EQ is a great option, for me it was a necessary option. It sounded excellent with my headphones. In a stereo system I prefer a fuller and more dynamic sound than Mojo and for vocals I prefer tube amplifier. Saying that , Mojo can be a great second DAC in a system .
What is the most expensive DAC Mojo 2 can be said to “beat” or essentially be the same. I’ve read someone say for them it’s 98% of what you get with Hugo 2 and to hear ConvinceMeAudio say it’s better than Chords Qutest is pretty extraordinary. They don’t seem to hold back on product progress. Arguably as the Mojo would be a bigger market segment.
I bought mojo 1 for 550cad like 4 years ago. I removed the battery and use rasberry 3a psu ( 12 cad in amazon) with mini usb output. Difference is most DAC decay , Chord mojo stay same level if you use it middle volume. I do have two issues. Mojo disables sound after 10 minute in my pc. i disable and enable to get it back. Also when it go crazy or over heat it produce screeching noise. So it switch off mojo and restart and then its ok. Mojo is worth every penny compare to any chip dac
I have the original Mojo purchased in April 2016 to use with my MacBook for headphones. I didn't previously using the Sennheiser HD598 (now HD 599) which didn't need extra power, but I also got the Sennheiser HD650 which benefits for more power. But I haven't use that combo too much because it is a bit awkward hook up, and if I don't use it for a while I have to charge the battery for four hours etc.. However I'm starting to use it now again with it HD650. What I'm wondering is aside from maybe a tattered vase how much difference is there between the original Mojo and the Mojo 2? Is it worth getting the Mojo 2? My battery probably has some life left because it was used so little, unless that in itself hurts it.
The DAC scene is a tough noodle to chew on so I commend you for your efforts. If you could do us a ranking chart every 6-months or so, it would be helpful I think for many of the viewers. The DAC scene gets thrown a lot shade for not remaining static which is the reason I try to follow the scene unlike the rest of HiFi audio, digital audio is not static prone, no pun intended. Anyway the quirkiness and look of Chord products remind me of a British BBC show from the 1960's, Doctor Who is that TV show. Aesthetics and tactility matter a lot for me and is often the dealer breaker when determining my purchase. Beside Chord that Schiit logo with that turd in the pipe line, I just can't get over that Schiit, nope not for me
I just bought the SMSL Raw Dac 1 (not MDA) and thought it'd beat my Mojo 1. I REALLY like the Raw 1 in most of my wife's music (pop hip hop rock) yet with my type of music the Chord just sounds a bit richer and more natural in the midrange as you stated in your review of the Mojo2. I ordered a replacement battery for my Mojo on ebay a few weeks ago and am looking forward to not having to charge it every 2 hours. I'd be very interested if you'd review the Raw Dac-1 (new not MDA) and let everybody know what you think. It has energy and dynamics just not as natural sounding to me. I appreciate your reviews!!!!
I listen to the same genres. Funny enough, I preferred the Mojo 2 to the Hugo 2. Hugo 2 was definitely better technically, but it seemed too cold and analytical for my taste.
I’ve had both the Mojo 1&2. Sold the first and pex the 2nd! They sound great but the OS is just too much of a bugbear. Give me a screen anytime! Currently using the FiiO R7 with Focal Stellia. Great sound.
Wow, another excellent review. I gather the mojo 2 as a DAC performs better that the Ladder Schumann as well by virtue of it being almost as good as the SU-10.
Ladder Schumann is better tham SU-10 to my ears. Bigger and more three-dimensional soundstage. Mojo 2 has same tonal qualities slight (warmth, tonal richness, etc) but on a smaller stage.
Thanks for the review. I won this product since few days, so I was curious about how it is compared to others. You cleared all doubts. Now one more suggestion I would really appreciate and it will directly help me for further decision making. At present my home setup is RPI-Alo digione to mojo2 to rega brio to MA Bronze2 and SVS 1000. Now kindly tell me how introducing poly in my system in place of RPI-Alo digione can impact the sound quality. By the way all my purchases are following your reviews and I really appreciate your hard work which helped me a lot throughout my journey to better audio. And please if possible also suggest what should be my next upgrade of bookshelf speaker pair for a significant improvement in sound quality. My liking of music is mostly like you. BTW about qutest2, surprisingly I was also hopeful after going through mojo2.
what will be better dac to place with a Ta-26 tube amp ? I have tried Gustard r26 and i can not see any difference using topping E50 or Mojo 2 ............. thx , nice review.!
I use Mojo 2 but always wonder how much better Qutest or Hugo2 will be. Your comaprison of Mojo2 to Qutest reminds my recent experience with 2 power cables. One sounds better in tonality, harmonical and sweet. and I like it for vocals. Another one sounds lean, but has better definition and control to soundstage, and I like it for classical. I don't know how Gustard R26 sounds. But I have a Gustard DDC U18 in between my PC and Mojo 2. U18 completely fixed the USB noise problem and improved Mojo 2 sound to a new level.
Omg , i have schiit jotuneim 2 and mojo 2 , i use mojo 2 as a pure dac connect it to jotuneim 2 and wow what a great combo in sound , mojo as a dac brings nice imaging vocals and clean bass , in total it has a full body sound overall..and the j2 amp , clean with similar effect like the mojo 2..Hopefully you can try that combo out. I was going to get the bitfrost 2/64 , but now i may not since mojo 2 dac is special.
Hi! Currently i own the same setup, mojo 2 with 4.3volts output to Jotunheim 2. Which voltage do you use? I'm very interested in bifrost 2/64 or biforst 2, is it worth it?
@andjeyvolikov3508 I have my bitfrost 2/64 connected to my jotunheim 2 . I tested both mojo 2 and bitfrost to the amp and overall the bitfrost was better but not by much. So when on the go at times I grab the mojo and connect it to my samsung s22 phone . I needed more power with he1000se and zmf verite close and senheiser 6xxx . Love my headphones but soon will have to part with the zmf since I don't use it as much as the hifi man he1000se.
My $110 Sanskrit blew my mind. I don't really hear a difference in my $130 Hidizs S9 Pro when I compared them. Does a $1800 or $13,000 dac sound 1% better? Can my ears even notice? Give me a couple and I'll see.
I like panning and David Bowie too. But I dislike when there's a hard left and hard right only, no inbetween (except leading vocal). The Doors did some stuff that way and it sounds weird over headphones.
Helpful review thanks. I hadn't realised the poly had an SD card. I have lots of 1411kbps music uncompressed lossless. Does the poly support Apple music? (I'd be using an iPhone, an LG v60 and Astell & Kearn se180 - all of which support Apple music. Switching to tidal or quobuz isn't an option for other reasons).
I am thinking of Mojo 2 but might get an open box Hugo 2. Right now I use the updated RME ADI 2/4 for main Mac/amp and Apogee groove for portable. Would the Mojo 2 be an upgrade on the Groove or even the RME 2/4? Would it be worth the upgrade to go for Hugo 2? I use LCD-5, Focal Stellia, Focal clear MG, Beyer 1990, and 1770, Arya Sleaths right now. I might sell some of those and get the Empyrean II, MM-500, Arya organics. Any thoughts?
It's actually Aune X8 XVIII... And I didn't get rid of it but I really get to listen to it. I never got around making longer legs so I don't need to turn it upside down.
You never bring classical music ; big orchestras or chamber orchestras ; when you compare Dacs. I would love that. If I understand well, this Mojo shouldn't be great with tube amps but should be preferably used with solid state amps, am I right ?
I have Mojo 2 and DX5 and for my ears i prefer DX5, more detailed in vocals and guitars, have more "power" and quicker bass mojo 2 is making more space and have slightly more mids and midbass that I dont like. But its my opinion....and if you are seraching for portable DAC its good to go.
I have the Verum one as well. I really like it. I'm thinking of getting a second one while I can. It's only an 8 ohm headphone. Does the mojo 2 have enough current to power it properly?
With prices for great DAC’s so low now. Do you think it’s worth just saving for a few more weeks/months and skipping $700 DAC’s to get something like the Gustard R26/A26? I need a balanced DAC for my Rotel/R700 setup.
Can Mojo 2 drive also 8 ohms at the headphone output? It delivers 600 mW at 30 ohms as Chord says. So if it has the right current which I do not know at 8 ohms it could deliver almost 2 watts…and my 1973 Klipschorn makes 104 dB from only 1 watts which I never ever use in my room.
Hello, I have Marantz 40n integrated amp, it has ESS9016K2M chip DAC inside, it is the only DAC I heard and listen so I question myself is it even worth it to upgrade the DAC, thinking about Mojo 2 or SMSL SU9 PRO but I am not sure will there be any difference in sound quality? Thanks
reading ppl comments on headfi at the questyle m15 thread, some sold their mojo 2 after getting the m15, said there wasnt any night and day gap that could be heard, would you agree?
Imam par pitanja. slusao sam u mom sistemu Mojo 2 pozajmljen od druga i to zvuci neverovatno dobro upravo ti srednji tonovi kao da privuces mikrofon ispred . Elem slusao sam Qutest ali ne kod mene pa ne mogu direktno da uporedim. Razmisljam da skupim lovu i da ga kupim jer sam misljenja ako je toliko skuplji onda tek on razvaljuje. Sta mislis da li da pucam na njega ili imas neki bolji savet. Hvala i uzivam tvojim recenzijama !
You make something very difficult seem easy . I’ve been around audio all my life but I can’t put into words what I hear . You do it easily and in another language:) love the channel man.
Exceptional review as usual. I own Mojo 2 as well as SMSL SU-9 Pro and Topping A90D stack. Mojo 2 wins with my Arya v3 Stealth. You described the differences perfectly. The odd controls are odd and not a short learning curve, BUT, the ability to tweak eq and cross feed is very addictive and worth it. It’s amazing how you can improve an already clean recording with a few db of bass to tailor the exact listening experience. As a tweaked this lossless DSP eq is subtly magical. My favorite audiophile toy bar none is Mojo 2. Last thing- he forgot to mention Mojo 2 is not a chip based DAC. And according to its designer, Rob Watts, it doesn’t have that chip based sound. I think he is right. Mojo2 is is it’s own thing altogether. Amazing sound!
All you said was true and well put. I think I now have the best of 2 types of headphones , ZMF verite close and Arya stealth , on my mojo2 both are awesome in there own way , the stealth clean airy good bass and mids , love vocals and jazz on the stealth and my zmf matches well with mojo2 because sound wise it's full sounding with body awesome vocals that edges out the stealth , so under 1000 I think none is better than mojo2 , maybe bitfrost 2/64 , but would love to see that match up.
Do you have the Topping D90? Do you think the bass on these is comparable to the Topping?
@@Angel-AbC9I use the Arya stealth on the mojo 2 as well! But the He 1000 stealth on the mojo 2 is out of this world amazing
Spot on. I love my mojo 2
Hello. Black Friday price Mojo 2- 400 euros/Project pre box s2 2023 edition- 300 euros. Do you recommend mojo 2 as a desktop solution, Marantz pm 6006 and Dali Oberon3? Mojo 1 had LINE OUT. Mojo 2 doesn't have it. How do you adjust the correct output voltage? Would Project be a better desktop solution? Thank you.
Fantastic video as always from a great presenter who is really passionate and informative. Love this channel. 👍🏽
Amazing analysis. Captures the reasons why I love my Mojo2. I hate to admit it competes with my dCS gear.
Man, you've really got a gift for this. Best review video on YT that I've seen. Many thanks.
Being a long time Mojo 1 user, this is one of the best and well presented Mojo 2 reviews in my honest opinion. Keep up the good work! Cheers from Kerala, India.
Loving your reviews ! Your ability to honestly explain & compare each product's sound character ...keep up the effort !
I am now very happy with my R26 and DMP-A6 setup. Great combo for the money.
Recently connected Gustard R26 with EverSolo DMP-A6 and have never had such a moving musical experience with a hifi pairing ❤ Truly end game for me! Internal Sabre Dac chip of EverSolo is really good, but the R2R sound of the R26 is so much better overall for timbre, timing, bass control and definition, instrument separation plus a soundstage that is more involving than my Delta-Sigma chip dacs from ADI-2, Schiit, SMSL, Denon, FocusRite and several others I tried. That sweet display is fantastic and quick to respond. 🎉
Good review! The EQ is not a small feature for me. For headphones the advantage of 4 band eq is obvious. But even for speakers it could be really useful, way better than bass and treble on any integrated amp and better than loudness switch for Lo level listening. Apart from ADI 2 I don't know any DAC offering this eq quality.
true eq and bass & treble control are handy features that usually cause buying regrets
Excellent review! I have my chord mojo 2 connected to a tube amp and it’s amazing.
Can you please describe sound changes after connecting mojo to external amp. I mean does the soundstage were bigger, wider etc, or what changes did you notice? thnks
@@JohnDoe-ce4xe Compared mojo 2 headphone out to my Project Ember tube amp the sound on the tube amp is noticably smoother and more 3d like (holographic). The mojo hp output is more direct and more colorful slightly so. On the tube amp the sound is a little more washed out but more smooth. I use the AKG K701 with them. Also increased bass quantity.
@@ghost2031 ty
It’s a matter of taste too. I’m waiting for the Chord Qutest 2, having the first one. Thanks for this great review; you are one of the best reviewers for sure!
Is there a release date for the Qutest 2?
@@patrickf.7025 No, probably announced at the CES in January.
Totally with you on what Mojo 2 does with vocals especially female. Bjork, Alison Moyet, Hayley williams just sound so expressive. Also Mojo 2 does wonders with lower quality inputs. Spotify can sound really great for example. Mojo 2 can also power little desk top speakers directly and sounds just fabulous. I think Quetest might need a linear power supply to sound it's best...
I just tried the Mojo 2 as a desktop nearfield DAC, it was not for me, It sounded “small”, as if it had no depth or soundstage, I guess it’s made for headphones, Thank you for the review!
Easily one of the best Mojo2 reviews out there, thank you!
Excellent review! Your comprehensive insights and honest opinions, comparisons, and impressions are very concise, relevant, and informative. Thank you very much!
I've had the Mojo 2 since its launch, and love it. Hopefully some day I'll be able to try Hugo 3.
Good review , i own the mojo 2 and for me i listen to jazz and majority female vocals and some males and chord mojo 2 masters the vocal side of it , i can say it can beat any on its price range even up to 1000..But im looking to add the bitfrost 2/64 which i think it will give mojo2 a big fight.
For me, Mojo 2 became much better with the poly regarding sound quality. Poly is actually a high quality streamer
One of those rare occasions in one's HiFi journey of many years where a device was startlingly better than anything I'd been using previously. Not merely incremental, as is usual, but dramatically better. I'm in love with my Mojo 2 - it's revolutionary at its price-point.
Chord have just announced price drop on their DACs, including (in the UK) £100 off the RRP of the Mojo 2- taking it from £495 to £395. The email I received from them explains that components used in their DACs have dropped to pre-covid prices, and that they are passing the savings to customers 👏
I call it bs. Component may only cost less than 10% of the retail price(that's a very generous estimate). The total value is not worth 100 dollars.....
This is only due to one reason, not many people buying their overpriced products.
@@jianhuang0124The cost of a product is not just it's material cost of the components. The MORE they sell the lower the unit cost of overheads and production and engineering set up. Higher volumes means lower costs!
@@steven2809 it literally said due to components price drop....so you suggested that Chord was lying?
Great job, as usual. You hit some great comps.
Maybe someone will be interested. I have a stack of the second new version of JDS LAB for 300$ and as a preamplifier I use “analog” Liquid Spark which I bought from hand and in total it cost me all this installation with cables about 400$ and my Mojo 2 from hand in very good condition I bought for 400$. So in a direct comparison both are good, but I would prefer to keep the Mojo 2 as it trivially costs the same, takes 10 times less space, can be portable and sounds just as good and in many genres to my ears even better. Neutral sound is not for everyone, and Mojo 2 even though many people consider it neutral, to me it is neutral-warm and therefore it is just more pleasant to listen to when you need music rather than trying to monitor the sound.
Hey Mate ,
I saw nearly every single video as I have already Mojo OG and only a big statement that this is full in depth review in terms of buying guide as no one is interested in Taps , Rob watts’s opinion ( cos people love his way of tuning ) , everyone were asking the same questions how it compares with other similar prices Dacs is it sort to upgrade or not
And all those questions were answered with so much depth and simplicity
Can’t thank you enough mate
Love your contents since BLoN bl03 and Tin Hifi T2 days
About the Intelligent desktop mode, Chord wrote to me -
"In all states, the Mojo2 board draws power from the battery, we use it as a regulator"
Mojo 2 offers such a great value. Amp, DAC, EQ, and portability all in one unit. Sound is superb, especially for vocals and midcentric music.
Great Review. Your chord Mojo 2 review comes a little late but better late than never 😅. That Said it is one of the most comprehensive and informative reviews on the sound qualities of Mojo 2 for Anyone that doesn't have the luxury of personally demoing the mojo 2. I have the Mojo 1, E70 Velvet, Smsl D300 and also a bunch of IFI Dacs, topping E30, and Cayin RU 6. I agree with your view on the original mojo sounding a bit mid bass heavy and slightly rolled of at both ends, a kink in the armour of an otherwise excellent dac. I found the Topping E70 velvet to have a larger soundstage and better dynamics than the mojo 1 but it lacked the excellent tone and timbre of thre mojo 1. I would love to hear your views on the sond quality of the mojo 2 vs the E70 velvet for strictly a stereo setup since the E70 Velvet also has a slightly thicker and full bodied sound.
Great review as always, Srboliyb. But it has been done about a year ago. Today, I am interested in purchasing a competitor of the good old Mojo 2. Do a comparison today, please man. Recommend a portable DAC/AMP or maybe even a DAP which is in a price category ~ $700 up to $900 but lacks all the well-known flaws of the Mojo 2: outputs, non-intuitive setting which require looking at the manual, etc.
Thanks for the review ❗️ 🔆 Why no one talks about the fact that it needs 30min to warm up every time you want to use it...
i took your advice on this dac and purchased it thaqnks for the honest review it is a great dac love it
Chord has soul. That's the most important reason that Chifi fails infront of European goods
I use IEMs and the Mojo 2 is a legit excellent DAC. Even on my home system is brings out noticeably full, even, and accurate base. The ability to tune/eq is amazing to fit it to your specific system. I did notice for my amp, using a pre-amp from the Mojo 2 vs just straight from Mojo 2 alone was still a better solution, but this would depend on your amp.
It's getting to the stage where you need multiple DACs for different types of music. Then of course you need different amplifiers and different headphones. Being an audiophile is becoming a lot of hard work and expensive.
We have be given the ability to change the FR of any device to literally whatever you want in the form of PEQ, yet the qudelix, fiio, minidsp, and a very select few professional racks are the only devices in existence that use it with 10 bands or more. That technology would of been the holy grail 40 years ago, but all hobbys are eventually consumed by purchase validation addiction, and that happens regardless of if you are rich or poor.
Yes, just buy an transparent amplifier, speakers, dac and use a good EQ or measuring device (or both). Thats the right and only way. Because of your individual and unique room properties everybody need to use some kind of EQ if you want to reach the audiophile goal. Swapping dac and amplifiers just to EQ your system is not only expensive and exhausting also its silly because no component should color the sound in any way and the results are minimal and if a single component change your system drastically, something is wrong with this component and you should stay away from it in the first place.
@@stefanschuchardt5734 studies have repeatedly shown that humans prefer second and third order harmonic distortion, so what you are saying is wrong. My argument was you shouldn't be paying for that, as there are dsp networks that can add that for you, to whatever exacting preference you want, at any time, generally for free.
@@En_Joshi-Godrez Thats also because the majority of music production is tuned to amplifiers with those distortions. If everyone in the process of making records would use the ultimate transparent components, the tuning of the sound would adjust to that fact. Those distortions you mention is just an additional way the EQ the sound but its the wrong way. People prefer those distortions only because the vast majority of todays components have these fault in form of distortions. Even today we have only a handfull components which are fully transparent and some people dont like the sound of it but only because the shift to fully transparent components didnt fully happened in the process of recording and playing music.
PS you mentioned fiio and minidsp. How are these for free? I dont understand.
@@stefanschuchardt5734 no, the reproduction of that music to have harmonic distortion. You're speaking to the choir. I own genelecs, and even I know perfectly neutral (flat) is unlistenable. Apply a house curve of you preference is essential, but that will still be close to neutral. People like tubes, they prefer them over solid state, im just stating you shouldn't pay for it. Anything that doesn't cost money that leads to a better music experience for the genres you listen to is universally good. There is no argument against that.
This was an awesome review sir!! Very, very insightful 👍
Many thanks for your simple and complete opinion! ✨
I originally had a raspberry pi with a hifiberry A2HD hat dac with ifi power supply. I’ve upgraded to a Topping D50s with the same ifi power supply listening to Tidal over usb with everything upscaled to DSD connected by chord rca to Genelec m040 active speakers. I listen to dnb, hip hop, ambient trip hop, rock, folk and country. I really like the Topping and based my purchase on the audio science review - I picked one up for £180 and it it seemed very detailed compared to the pi hat although maybe a little fatiguing for long listening seasons. I have just ordered a mojo 2 for £350 here in the UK to see what all the hype is about. I should note this will only be used in desktop mode at my desk. Based on a previous comment here it says to use optical rather than usb as the input for best sound. I’m just concerned about the usability of the unit as the Topping has a nice screen and remote. Let’s see if I prefer the sound. Great review and comparison.
If you have speakers that are a little “ hot” on top sometimes , then the Chord and SMSL SU10 may be the better choice. If you have speakers that are super smooth and could use some life then the others. Find opposing character to what you have for synergy.
Which side is Dali Rubicon 6s?
I always enjoy your content. Thank you.
I have Mojo “1” and also Dragonfly Cobalt.
It’s complicated to decide which sounds better. In any case, as portable Dac/amp for normal headphones, Dragon fly is more convenient, for using with hard to drive headphones, the Mojo.
But Mojo needed several upgrades. Mojo 2 has got to achieve some of them like improve the use connected to a power source, also the DSP, but I think it still lack some important ones, no commented in the video.
No possible to change between digital inputs, you need to disconnect and connect each time for changing between USB, optical or coaxial ones… and it’s really annoying if you want to use it as a stationary DAC.
I have a list with several more but I only mention another one… it’s a pity that a so good portable battery powered headphones amplifier doesn’t include at least one analogue input, for using it only as a headphone amp.
As a Mojo Poly 1 owner, I totally agree with you. The connectivity challenges limits its potential as a desktop dac which is frustrating and it's too bulky to regularly use on the move. The Poly is just terrible. I'm sorry to say. Huge waste of money. Mojo sound is phenomenal, really.
I have mojo 2 and dragonfly red. In speaker setup with good speakers and tube amp, mojo 2 completely destroys dragonfly in all areas. I bought it because of EQ as a headphone amp mostly , but I was really surprised what a huge upgrade it is.
@@prieditsI agree, the Mojo 2 sounds very good and natural and the EQ possibilities are fenominal. With the lossless EQ you can achieve optimal synergy with your system.
I am using mojo 1 for 4 years with rasbperry psu , I removed battery long long ago. I use it as dac in my pc. its worth every penny if u want clean sound.
I have tried Mojo 2 and out of the box it sounded bright and the bass was weak. Fortunately the EQ is a great option, for me it was a necessary option. It sounded excellent with my headphones. In a stereo system I prefer a fuller and more dynamic sound than Mojo and for vocals I prefer tube amplifier. Saying that , Mojo can be a great second DAC in a system .
How does that little thing sounds so big and tall compared to DACs that weight 20 pounds?! It’s just amazing 🤯
A DAC doesnt need to weigh 20 pounds. It's that simple.
What is the most expensive DAC Mojo 2 can be said to “beat” or essentially be the same. I’ve read someone say for them it’s 98% of what you get with Hugo 2 and to hear ConvinceMeAudio say it’s better than Chords Qutest is pretty extraordinary. They don’t seem to hold back on product progress. Arguably as the Mojo would be a bigger market segment.
I bought mojo 1 for 550cad like 4 years ago. I removed the battery and use rasberry 3a psu ( 12 cad in amazon) with mini usb output. Difference is most DAC decay , Chord mojo stay same level if you use it middle volume. I do have two issues. Mojo disables sound after 10 minute in my pc. i disable and enable to get it back. Also when it go crazy or over heat it produce screeching noise. So it switch off mojo and restart and then its ok. Mojo is worth every penny compare to any chip dac
By far the best review, enjoyed it!
Is it safe to use the headphones output like an output to active speakers? Any precautions or tricks except that I need a 3.5mm to two RCAs?
hmmm, out of the curiosity, since it has two 3.5mm outputs, does it mean that you can send one signal to the amp and another one to the sub?
Great music , i just check for both on Spotify and Wow... Thank you!
Glad you like them. 👍
Magnificent. Simply magnificent ✊🏾
Nice review and I complement you on your English 👏👏
Thank You for your informative review. I agree that the MOJO 2 is a great buy and with my U12t's I am in heaven!!
I have the original Mojo purchased in April 2016 to use with my MacBook for headphones. I didn't previously using the Sennheiser HD598 (now HD 599) which didn't need extra power, but I also got the Sennheiser HD650 which benefits for more power. But I haven't use that combo too much because it is a bit awkward hook up, and if I don't use it for a while I have to charge the battery for four hours etc.. However I'm starting to use it now again with it HD650. What I'm wondering is aside from maybe a tattered vase how much difference is there between the original Mojo and the Mojo 2? Is it worth getting the Mojo 2? My battery probably has some life left because it was used so little, unless that in itself hurts it.
Yeah, Mojo2 is really great for the money, its the only hifi thing I bought twice😊 thx Srb for your reviews
The DAC scene is a tough noodle to chew on so I commend you for your efforts. If you could do us a ranking chart every 6-months or so, it would be helpful I think for many of the viewers. The DAC scene gets thrown a lot shade for not remaining static which is the reason I try to follow the scene unlike the rest of HiFi audio, digital audio is not static prone, no pun intended. Anyway the quirkiness and look of Chord products remind me of a British BBC show from the 1960's, Doctor Who is that TV show. Aesthetics and tactility matter a lot for me and is often the dealer breaker when determining my purchase. Beside Chord that Schiit logo with that turd in the pipe line, I just can't get over that Schiit, nope not for me
I just bought the SMSL Raw Dac 1 (not MDA) and thought it'd beat my Mojo 1. I REALLY like the Raw 1 in most of my wife's music (pop hip hop rock) yet with my type of music the Chord just sounds a bit richer and more natural in the midrange as you stated in your review of the Mojo2. I ordered a replacement battery for my Mojo on ebay a few weeks ago and am looking forward to not having to charge it every 2 hours. I'd be very interested if you'd review the Raw Dac-1 (new not MDA) and let everybody know what you think. It has energy and dynamics just not as natural sounding to me. I appreciate your reviews!!!!
Thanks, super review
I listen to dead people. Jazz and classical from the elders. The Mojo 2 is amazing for dac/amp. You should try the Hugo 2!
I listen to the same genres. Funny enough, I preferred the Mojo 2 to the Hugo 2. Hugo 2 was definitely better technically, but it seemed too cold and analytical for my taste.
Hello, thanks for the nice review as usual. What is better or what is the difference between chord mojo 2 and smsl vmv d1se?
Thanks. I haven't heard D1se so can't compare these two. SMSL produce many models so I can't try them all.
For me the Mojo's intentionally minimalistic and user-unfriendly design appears highly affected and is therefore decidedly a deal breaker!
I’ve had both the Mojo 1&2. Sold the first and pex the 2nd! They sound great but the OS is just too much of a bugbear. Give me a screen anytime! Currently using the FiiO R7 with Focal Stellia. Great sound.
Damn you just saved me a ton of money coz im eyeing that smsl su10. Will get the mojo instead for my desktop and portable setup 👌🏼
Im still using the original mojo. Will certainly consider this one if/when my current one packs up.
The original Mojo is much better than the Mojo2. I switched back to the original Mojo after trying Mojo2
Wow, another excellent review.
I gather the mojo 2 as a DAC performs better that the Ladder Schumann as well by virtue of it being almost as good as the SU-10.
Ladder Schumann is better tham SU-10 to my ears. Bigger and more three-dimensional soundstage. Mojo 2 has same tonal qualities slight (warmth, tonal richness, etc) but on a smaller stage.
Very, very informative and useful!!! Thank you! Once the battery ages, can Chord replace the battery?
Thanks for the review. I won this product since few days, so I was curious about how it is compared to others. You cleared all doubts. Now one more suggestion I would really appreciate and it will directly help me for further decision making. At present my home setup is RPI-Alo digione to mojo2 to rega brio to MA Bronze2 and SVS 1000. Now kindly tell me how introducing poly in my system in place of RPI-Alo digione can impact the sound quality. By the way all my purchases are following your reviews and I really appreciate your hard work which helped me a lot throughout my journey to better audio. And please if possible also suggest what should be my next upgrade of bookshelf speaker pair for a significant improvement in sound quality. My liking of music is mostly like you. BTW about qutest2, surprisingly I was also hopeful after going through mojo2.
what will be better dac to place with a Ta-26 tube amp ? I have tried Gustard r26 and i can not see any difference using topping E50 or Mojo 2 ............. thx , nice review.!
I use Mojo 2 but always wonder how much better Qutest or Hugo2 will be. Your comaprison of Mojo2 to Qutest reminds my recent experience with 2 power cables. One sounds better in tonality, harmonical and sweet. and I like it for vocals. Another one sounds lean, but has better definition and control to soundstage, and I like it for classical.
I don't know how Gustard R26 sounds. But I have a Gustard DDC U18 in between my PC and Mojo 2. U18 completely fixed the USB noise problem and improved Mojo 2 sound to a new level.
Do speaker cable’s make a difference?
Chord Mojo 2 timbre is more R2R DAC like.
Omg , i have schiit jotuneim 2 and mojo 2 , i use mojo 2 as a pure dac connect it to jotuneim 2 and wow what a great combo in sound , mojo as a dac brings nice imaging vocals and clean bass , in total it has a full body sound overall..and the j2 amp , clean with similar effect like the mojo 2..Hopefully you can try that combo out. I was going to get the bitfrost 2/64 , but now i may not since mojo 2 dac is special.
Hi! Currently i own the same setup, mojo 2 with 4.3volts output to Jotunheim 2. Which voltage do you use?
I'm very interested in bifrost 2/64 or biforst 2, is it worth it?
@andjeyvolikov3508 I have my bitfrost 2/64 connected to my jotunheim 2 . I tested both mojo 2 and bitfrost to the amp and overall the bitfrost was better but not by much. So when on the go at times I grab the mojo and connect it to my samsung s22 phone .
I needed more power with he1000se and zmf verite close and senheiser 6xxx . Love my headphones but soon will have to part with the zmf since I don't use it as much as the hifi man he1000se.
How does it compair to IFI audio XDSD Grephione.
My $110 Sanskrit blew my mind. I don't really hear a difference in my $130 Hidizs S9 Pro when I compared them. Does a $1800 or $13,000 dac sound 1% better? Can my ears even notice? Give me a couple and I'll see.
yep its better to buy new headphones ;)
I like 70s music where they pan hard left and hard right on some instruments.
Space Oddity
by David Bowie is one example.
I like panning and David Bowie too. But I dislike when there's a hard left and hard right only, no inbetween (except leading vocal). The Doors did some stuff that way and it sounds weird over headphones.
Thank you for the exceptional review! Do you think upgrading from eartman tr-amp to chord mojo 2 worth it?
Thanks!
Thanks for your support! 👍
Helpful review thanks. I hadn't realised the poly had an SD card. I have lots of 1411kbps music uncompressed lossless.
Does the poly support Apple music? (I'd be using an iPhone, an LG v60 and Astell & Kearn se180 - all of which support Apple music. Switching to tidal or quobuz isn't an option for other reasons).
I am thinking of Mojo 2 but might get an open box Hugo 2. Right now I use the updated RME ADI 2/4 for main Mac/amp and Apogee groove for portable. Would the Mojo 2 be an upgrade on the Groove or even the RME 2/4? Would it be worth the upgrade to go for Hugo 2? I use LCD-5, Focal Stellia, Focal clear MG, Beyer 1990, and 1770, Arya Sleaths right now. I might sell some of those and get the Empyrean II, MM-500, Arya organics. Any thoughts?
Great review! I am looking for a DAC/AMP to drive Denon D7200. Burson Playmate 2 or Topping Dx5 which of it do you recommend?
For hip-hop, dance, pop, mostly ‘90 music, what dac do you prefer? I own Mojo 1 and 2 actually.
Looking forward to hearing this vid.
I'm watching on a MacBook Air with a Chord Mojo plugged in and the Abyss Diana V2s.
Lets hear/see what you think
Iam thinking getting Macbook Air M2 or Ipad 12.9 with keyboard.. with Mojo 2 How does the Mcbook Air combo sounds❓🙋♂️☀️
I always wonder how the color blind get on with the colored buttons.
Did you got rid of your Aune x6 with sparkos opamp?
It's actually Aune X8 XVIII... And I didn't get rid of it but I really get to listen to it. I never got around making longer legs so I don't need to turn it upside down.
You never bring classical music ; big orchestras or chamber orchestras ; when you compare Dacs. I would love that. If I understand well, this Mojo shouldn't be great with tube amps but should be preferably used with solid state amps, am I right ?
Relying on color for UI basically immediately excludes people with color vision problems from your potential customer base.
ProJect pre box S2 version 2023 has appeared. I would be very interested in a review. Thank you.
How does it compare to su-1?
"There’s some hiss with ultra-sensitive IEMs" "IEMs that have a higher sensitivity than 113 dB per a single mW of power"....
I have Mojo 2 and DX5 and for my ears i prefer DX5, more detailed in vocals and guitars, have more "power" and quicker bass mojo 2 is making more space and have slightly more mids and midbass that I dont like. But its my opinion....and if you are seraching for portable DAC its good to go.
DX5 better for timing and Prat than M2? Vocals is morbor less warm than M2?
I have the Verum one as well. I really like it. I'm thinking of getting a second one while I can.
It's only an 8 ohm headphone. Does the mojo 2 have enough current to power it properly?
I tried it briefly and it worked just fine.
@@iiWiReviews apparently there's a
Verum one MK2. That would be interesting.
With prices for great DAC’s so low now. Do you think it’s worth just saving for a few more weeks/months and skipping $700 DAC’s to get something like the Gustard R26/A26?
I need a balanced DAC for my Rotel/R700 setup.
Excellent
It would be great if you had a playlist and pointed out what to listen for in each song like Hawaiian bad boy does.
Thanks Srboljub for another awsome review👍, what about Tradutto, are they comparable?
Can Mojo 2 drive also 8 ohms at the headphone output? It delivers 600 mW at 30 ohms as Chord says. So if it has the right current which I do not know at 8 ohms it could deliver almost 2 watts…and my 1973 Klipschorn makes 104 dB from only 1 watts which I never ever use in my room.
good review!
I think the OG Modi Multibit can give the Mojo 2 a run for its money as far as DAC potential.
What would you recommend for listening to classical music on headphones?
Hello, I have Marantz 40n integrated amp, it has ESS9016K2M chip DAC inside, it is the only DAC I heard and listen so I question myself is it even worth it to upgrade the DAC, thinking about Mojo 2 or SMSL SU9 PRO but I am not sure will there be any difference in sound quality? Thanks
It is around $550 in Hong Kong
how do you compare to 1st gen mojo, is it night and day? since used mojo 1 is now dropped significantly
reading ppl comments on headfi at the questyle m15 thread, some sold their mojo 2 after getting the m15, said there wasnt any night and day gap that could be heard, would you agree?
Imam par pitanja. slusao sam u mom sistemu Mojo 2 pozajmljen od druga i to zvuci neverovatno dobro upravo ti srednji tonovi kao da privuces mikrofon ispred . Elem slusao sam Qutest ali ne kod mene pa ne mogu direktno da uporedim. Razmisljam da skupim lovu i da ga kupim jer sam misljenja ako je toliko skuplji onda tek on razvaljuje. Sta mislis da li da pucam na njega ili imas neki bolji savet. Hvala i uzivam tvojim recenzijama !
Na samom kraju videa imam deo posvećen Qutestu. Ukratko, ili bih uzeo Mojo 2 ili čekao novi Qutest.
Upravu si. Moram da te pitam sta bi danas bio tvoj izbor da parira Mojo 2 {da nije prenosiv dac} ?@@iiWiReviews
Can you compare this with the Shanling H5? Which has the best sound quality?
Real man assemble IKEA furniture without a manual...but don't know what to do with spare bolts! :-)