Just bought this used and looking forward to try it. I used to own a Hugo 2 which paired quite well my Ether 2 (though the sound is a bit "too gentle" for some genres). Although I don't expect the same kind of resolution as in the Hugo 2, I am hoping that the filters will make up for it and it's a third of the Hugo 2 price.
I found the eq feature on this absolutely fantastic especially for smaller commuter headphones. If you can find a pair of smooth sounding commuter phones (b&o h6)… I would go so far as to say mojo2poly and b&o h6 as an endgame combo. I would not use this dac if I were primarily listening on speakers though. That’s what the Hugo is made for… I still have my Hugo tt 1 and used to own the denafrips ares 2, which from memory are both far superior to the mojo 2 (if you don’t need the eq), but this combined with the poly and iPhone on hotspot mode is such a delight, unless the headphones are analytical sounding, which is where the Sony zx507 does better to roll it off, but those rob watts transients man… you can never go back to anything else once you get hooked on chord products.
Thank you. This is one of my favorite purchases! I use them on the go with my U12ts. I also use it with my SoundCore x600 Speaker and the sound is amazing!
When you use it as a 'MOJO 2' of desktop mode, so when you use it as a DAC for hi-fi audio, how much performance do you see compared to the 'Qutest' model?
Hearing you mention on the Hugo 2 video that you preferred the mojo 1, it’s got me content although the Hugo 2 would be my next potential upgrade as the TT2 is just another ballpark I don’t want to swing right now lol
It’s an amazing device! Drives all my headphones with ease and IEM’s! If your expecting it to drive something like the Susvara our higher to drive headphones then will be disappointed. But I don’t have any of those kind of headphones so no issues with me.
How does mojo 2 pair with MDR-Z1R in your opinion? Is there something else you would recommend for use with the Z1Rs? Would something with balanced output be better? I have had the Mojo 2 and Z1R for a few weeks and I can't tell the difference compared to headphones hooked straight into MacBook Pro m2. However, my wife hears a big difference and the online reviews are so great for the Mojo 2. maybe I need to listen longer but I feel like I'm missing out. These are the only higher end audio products I've owned so nothing really to compare either to.
Hi. Potential issue I have noticed with Mojo 2 is that when mojo is connected to power source the electric current leaks into a chasis. It feels like slight tingling under fingers when you touch the mojo. I've tried many chargers and it is always the same. Does yours doing something similar or perhaps I have a faulty unit? Many thanks.
@@phototristan thanks. Mine must be defective then. The shop I got it from has aranged replacement so I will know for sure if there was an issue with the first unit once replacement arives.
So I got the new unit and it does not have this problem so the first one must have been faulty. But now the second unit has another problem, when I am on the go, Mojo 2 is picking up noise from my phone cellular signal. It's audible in my IEMS. Did you experienced anything similar with yours?
after months of use, I find Mojo 2 useless to me. It has tighter control than Mojo and Hugo 2 and much better imaging than Mojo, but it doesn't have the resolution of Hugo 2, nor the sweet and smooth sound of Mojo. After I find Roon convolution filter makes Hugo 2 sound much tighter, I don't have any reason left to keep Mojo 2. Weridly, convolution filter makes Mojo 2 sound harsher.
This is quite true, if you have the Hugo 2 then the Mojo 2 is less useful unless you want something more portable or you can’t live without the EQ in the Mojo 2. Also, the Hugo 2 has a more powerful headphone amplifier that can drive more headphones well.
@@phototristan Chord Hugo is also four times the cost of the Mojo2. As for loudness, the Mojo will comfortably play probably about 99% of headphones at levels that will soon end in hearing loss.
You say that in desktop mode, mojo 2 does not use the battery (when fully charged), but this is not true - the manufacturer in the instructions says something else - about the intelligent setting of the battery charging mode, i.e., for example, use time intervals instead of a continuous charging process But at the same time, mojo 2 always runs on battery, discharging it
Wrong. It says “2.1 Intelligent Desktop Mode Mojo 2 can be left connected to a power source at all times if desired. In this mode, when fully charged, Mojo 2’s menu button and battery status light displays magenta, indicating the end of the charge cycle and the initiation of Intelligent Desktop Mode which regulates charging to preserve the battery.” This means it will preserve the battery to not deplete it nor overcharge it.
@@phototristan saving the battery means not charging it all the time, in order for mojo 2 to play without a battery, you need to have a separate circuit, such as in qudelix 5k, which is not in mojo 2, do not mislead people, taking wishful
@@phototristan You're just inventing something that isn't there The manual says that the smart mode will keep the battery charged, but the mojo 2's amplifier and processor are battery powered only, the mojo 2 cannot be powered without the battery, remove the battery from the mojo 2 and you won't be able to turn it on. So the point of smart mode is to stop the charging mode when the battery is fully charged, and recharge the battery when needed, say, when the charge drops to 90 percent, instead of continuously charging.
@@phototristan by the way, if you use this mode for a sufficient time, you would notice that the mojo heats up more, because in this mode it also charges only not constantly And, of course, extra heat kills the battery, so no matter how much better this mode is than continuous charging at all, it is still worse than if the mojo is charging when not in use (since the temperature will be lower)
Lemme see 1 no balanced connection 2 no sample rate display 3 no on board bluetooth 4 you have to "learn" the confusing controls NO THANKS 🤣 the ifi gryphon is far superior to this outdated expensive piece of junk 🤣
Just bought this used and looking forward to try it. I used to own a Hugo 2 which paired quite well my Ether 2 (though the sound is a bit "too gentle" for some genres). Although I don't expect the same kind of resolution as in the Hugo 2, I am hoping that the filters will make up for it and it's a third of the Hugo 2 price.
Just ordered mine, thanks for your excellent and informative review ❤
I found the eq feature on this absolutely fantastic especially for smaller commuter headphones. If you can find a pair of smooth sounding commuter phones (b&o h6)… I would go so far as to say mojo2poly and b&o h6 as an endgame combo. I would not use this dac if I were primarily listening on speakers though. That’s what the Hugo is made for… I still have my Hugo tt 1 and used to own the denafrips ares 2, which from memory are both far superior to the mojo 2 (if you don’t need the eq), but this combined with the poly and iPhone on hotspot mode is such a delight, unless the headphones are analytical sounding, which is where the Sony zx507 does better to roll it off, but those rob watts transients man… you can never go back to anything else once you get hooked on chord products.
Thank you. This is one of my favorite purchases! I use them on the go with my U12ts. I also use it with my SoundCore x600 Speaker and the sound is amazing!
Good choice!
When you use it as a 'MOJO 2' of desktop mode, so when you use it as a DAC for hi-fi audio, how much performance do you see compared to the 'Qutest' model?
Qutest is going to be better, more taps.
Cool review! I wished you had a little comparison with the Hugo 2 that you also own.
That will be in a later video.
@@phototristan oh great! Can’t wait 😃
Hearing you mention on the Hugo 2 video that you preferred the mojo 1, it’s got me content although the Hugo 2 would be my next potential upgrade as the TT2 is just another ballpark I don’t want to swing right now lol
It’s an amazing device! Drives all my headphones with ease and IEM’s! If your expecting it to drive something like the Susvara our higher to drive headphones then will be disappointed. But I don’t have any of those kind of headphones so no issues with me.
@phototristan, Great review. Do you think it can drive the Arya stealth to its full potential?
Close, but not totally to the full potential.
How does mojo 2 pair with MDR-Z1R in your opinion? Is there something else you would recommend for use with the Z1Rs? Would something with balanced output be better? I have had the Mojo 2 and Z1R for a few weeks and I can't tell the difference compared to headphones hooked straight into MacBook Pro m2. However, my wife hears a big difference and the online reviews are so great for the Mojo 2. maybe I need to listen longer but I feel like I'm missing out. These are the only higher end audio products I've owned so nothing really to compare either to.
It’s a very good pairing in my opinion
Would you say it’s like a mini Hugo TT2?
Probably, although of course not as good.
@@phototristan technically yes but sound signature wise, where it has a nice clarity but also nice warmth and weight to the sound in a euphonic way.
The Fostex hp-a4 is just under 1 watt, it plays all headphone. T50RP's no problem.
Hi. Potential issue I have noticed with Mojo 2 is that when mojo is connected to power source the electric current leaks into a chasis. It feels like slight tingling under fingers when you touch the mojo. I've tried many chargers and it is always the same. Does yours doing something similar or perhaps I have a faulty unit? Many thanks.
I haven't noticed that at all.
@@phototristan thanks. Mine must be defective then. The shop I got it from has aranged replacement so I will know for sure if there was an issue with the first unit once replacement arives.
So I got the new unit and it does not have this problem so the first one must have been faulty. But now the second unit has another problem, when I am on the go, Mojo 2 is picking up noise from my phone cellular signal. It's audible in my IEMS. Did you experienced anything similar with yours?
@@pistopit7142 I don't use IEM's with it so I can't really say. Perhaps someone else may have experience with that.
great review..!!! Thank you.
after months of use, I find Mojo 2 useless to me. It has tighter control than Mojo and Hugo 2 and much better imaging than Mojo, but it doesn't have the resolution of Hugo 2, nor the sweet and smooth sound of Mojo. After I find Roon convolution filter makes Hugo 2 sound much tighter, I don't have any reason left to keep Mojo 2. Weridly, convolution filter makes Mojo 2 sound harsher.
This is quite true, if you have the Hugo 2 then the Mojo 2 is less useful unless you want something more portable or you can’t live without the EQ in the Mojo 2. Also, the Hugo 2 has a more powerful headphone amplifier that can drive more headphones well.
@@phototristan Chord Hugo is also four times the cost of the Mojo2. As for loudness, the Mojo will comfortably play probably about 99% of headphones at levels that will soon end in hearing loss.
@@nk-gp1mlagreed. For under $1000, the Mojo 2 is arguably one the best dacs.
Wish it had a screen
I don’t because basically it would never get looked at it.
You say that in desktop mode, mojo 2 does not use the battery (when fully charged), but this is not true - the manufacturer in the instructions says something else - about the intelligent setting of the battery charging mode, i.e., for example, use time intervals instead of a continuous charging process
But at the same time, mojo 2 always runs on battery, discharging it
Wrong. It says “2.1 Intelligent Desktop Mode
Mojo 2 can be left connected to a power source at all times if desired. In this mode, when fully charged, Mojo 2’s menu button and battery status light displays magenta, indicating the end of the charge cycle and the initiation of Intelligent Desktop Mode which regulates charging to preserve the battery.” This means it will preserve the battery to not deplete it nor overcharge it.
@@phototristan saving the battery means not charging it all the time, in order for mojo 2 to play without a battery, you need to have a separate circuit, such as in qudelix 5k, which is not in mojo 2, do not mislead people, taking wishful
@@iMacAverage it doesn’t charge all the time, that’s the point of intelligent desktop mode.
@@phototristan You're just inventing something that isn't there
The manual says that the smart mode will keep the battery charged, but the mojo 2's amplifier and processor are battery powered only, the mojo 2 cannot be powered without the battery, remove the battery from the mojo 2 and you won't be able to turn it on.
So the point of smart mode is to stop the charging mode when the battery is fully charged, and recharge the battery when needed, say, when the charge drops to 90 percent, instead of continuously charging.
@@phototristan by the way, if you use this mode for a sufficient time, you would notice that the mojo heats up more, because in this mode it also charges only not constantly
And, of course, extra heat kills the battery, so no matter how much better this mode is than continuous charging at all, it is still worse than if the mojo is charging when not in use (since the temperature will be lower)
Any chord product is a no no. Too too too overpriced.
No way, they're totally worth it.
Agreed, but then again so is everything audiophile. Good thing I found mine new for $225 off retail…
Lemme see
1 no balanced connection
2 no sample rate display
3 no on board bluetooth
4 you have to "learn" the confusing controls
NO THANKS 🤣 the ifi gryphon is far superior to this outdated expensive piece of junk 🤣
See: ruclips.net/video/BwU5H5ZHo04/видео.htmlsi=a58-Q-oqFifQWSt0
Sound proves otherwise. Utility goes to Gryphon but actual objective and subjective sound quality goes to Mojo 2. Took 1 day to learn how to use too.