To our newcomers welcome, to our old crew welcome back.. One small note, line out is no longer implemented in the old manner, by holding both volume buttons during reboot, somebody forgot to update the video instructions and their Internet specification guidance, LOL Now you just adjust the volume manually when going through an external amplifier I hope you enjoy this review, let me know if you own this unit yet and how your experiences have been.
Thank you for the review. Chord Mojo 2 really is an amazing DAC. You are 100% right on it being needing a warm up of 35 min every time it is used. It truly starts , so to speak, “ singing” after warm up. The change in tonality after warm up is quite remarkable. I am just wondering how come none of the other youtube reviewers ( with 100s of 1000s subs) missed it or did not dive in deep enough. Thank you again for looking at devices in-depth and for your remarkable insight.
This is so odd. How can device be praised so much if it needs 35min to reveal its full potential every single time when it's used. This sounds like a big downside, despite good sound quality it produces.
I was skeptical, but pulled the trigger on one and it's pretty remarkable. There's now a dividing line in my listening, a before Mojo/after Mojo. Super impressive/realistic vocals, good space, depth, there's a "roundness" to notes, a somewhat holographic effect. Funny that you didn't like the Stellia on the Mojo because that's the best I've heard, period. The Aeolus is close but the Stellia takes it for pure musicality and emotion. Haven't had any issues you reference. My Aeon Noire however does not synergize with it - sounds flat and narrow, like I was driving it from a phone. Very sound-in-a-tunnel effect. It's expensive but you can save a lot of money by avoiding shuffling mid-tier DAC/amp combos by just buying a Mojo 2. The EQ is not super robust but it gets the job done and is quite clean sounding. The crossfeed isn't for me, I prefer headphone-sound to speakers so doesn't tickle my fancy. Definitely agree with your caveats. Excellent review, very balanced perspective!
What do you mean by the EQ isn't robust? sincere question as I just purchased that and the Focal Utopia same time and just started listening; you get 9 db up or down across low end, mid bass, mid treble and upper treble; I found it fairly robust boosting the sub bass on the Utopia and taming the treble, just curious what you mean. I'm definitely enjoying it, but not sure what part of the great sound is the Utopia and what's the mojo 2 lol. got both at once
@@cassiecat7038 "robust" doesn't refer to the sound quality of the EQ but to degree to which you can EQ. It doesn't have the refinement of a parametric EQ and it's not for what I would call "corrective equalization". I don't dabble in that as I prefer to listen to a headphone as is just with more bass or less treble. For me the Mojo 2 does that immaculately. But for others who want further EQ it may not satisfy their wants.
@@dasninjastix ok thanks; it does give you 9 db either way for each category; I'm new at this and haven't tried any other kind of eq; I agree it definitely gives a nice boost to the bass or sub bass and limit the treble where needed; I find myself doing it too much though and have to reset it to just hear the headphones themselves on many tracks; anyway thanks
I find the Mojo 2 w/ Stellia synergy is excellent and judging by head-fi forums many others feel the same. Great review, but I did disagree with the that one point which is completely allowed :-). Keep up the great reviews. This video converted me to a subscriber.
Just ordered a mojo2 and poly and they are arriving tomorrow. I own the liric and stellia and after a fair bit of use of both I think I prefer the liric. More comfortable and the detail is all there but in a less forced manner
20:33 “ It’s little, it’s Pointy, it’s everywhere like dots of stars, “ This is the most accurate description of any Mojo reviews on the internet! This device is super memorable 🎉
I jumped on board with the Original Mojo and then the Poly, so for me it was essential to get the Mojo2. This is a decision I haven't regretted at all especially my favourite features being the lossless DSP and the ability to introduce crossfeed. The Mojo2/Poly is my goto music combo of choice
Info from one of internet audio forum user " The Mojo 1 had a fixed line output but it was just the volume set at 3v, they removed it in the Mojo 2 to remove the possibility of accidentally enabling it while wearing headphones, I spoke to Chord recently and they said you can you just manually set the volume on the Mojo 2 to the 3v level equivalent to the original Mojo line out, it's the same thing, if anyone is interested you achieve this by doing the following, "Start your Mojo 2 in the ‘upper’ volume range. This is identified by a illuminated mode light on the left, but the volume + and - lights are extinguished. Now you will need to press the volume + button EXACTLY 41 times. The result is showing in two BLUE volume buttons." In fact Chord told me that by doing this you can actually use both jack's as line outs, in my case, one going to my headphone amp, and one to my integrated stereo amp, this is a very handy feature unique to the Mojo." "
Very, very informative review! The button explanation was very useful. Micro-USB sucks! Thanks for the warm up sound warning. Also do you think the Apple dongle requirement takes away from the sound if you have an upgrade cable coming out of the dongle to the Mojo2? You do really know what you are talking about in every aspect of your review!
First and foremost, I am glad you found the review, informative, and welcome to the fam 🐅 Yes, I think it does, in fact, I’ve been using the poli and separating the source, be in the iPhone exclusively, and the performance jumps up even more Not really a great fan of the USB implementation I’ll be honest with you USB see is better If you have to go that route
Thanks for another great review, mate! I always love the part where you discuss the 'negatives'. Gives a whole lot of insight. Question, though. Would you say the Mojo 2 would have good synergy with the Oppo PM-2 and PM-3?
Certainly has enough power to, because those headphones require a lot of current I think it might come down to the synergy of the drivers, possibly, Stellia was meh and I don’t have those headphones at hand to test for you
I have an lcdx 2021 and just ordered the mojo 2, is that a good pairing and is the dsp good enough to eq the lcd the way some of the other reviewers recommend, I know nothing about eq, I loved your review.
I think it will be a nice pairing definitely, and the DSP correction is absolutely Stella, but you can’t go very granular with it. It does broad sweeps but excellently
I have mojo 2, it's great inn many aspects. But I have one problem: when I connect my Klips R41-PM using RCA cable I get electricity leak in mojo chasis in the output area. IT feels like a tiny tingling under the fingers when you touch the chasis, like there is some poor grounding. The same issue does not happen if I connect mojo to my headphones or IEMs. The same issue also does not happen if mojo is in desktop mode even when connected to the speakers. My first idea to fix the problem was to replace RCA cable to something better than £10 cable I curently have. Is that electricty leak into chasis a normal thing or should I return the device for repair/replacement? The sound is flawless. It does heat up when charging but I've read the heat is pretty normal for mojo. Thanks.
Good review. I think the convenience of the intelligent desktop mode is what will push me to upgrade from the original Mojo eventually, I currently disconnect the battery to leave it plugged in as a desktop unit, then If I go on a long trip I plug the battery back in. It's not perfect but still makes more sense than constantly charging/discharging the battery. The Mojo is a great way to have semi-portable high quality DAC/Amp, to boot it sounds as good or better than my current home DAC (audiolab M-DAC) and has currently replaced it for listening to music.
@@transferspodcast the unit that was originally supposed to be for the studios. yes very briefly at Munich I’ve already reached out to have it sent for review, but nothing as of yet will let you guys know as soon as it’s here
Great review, bit weird with the Stelia, any idea why, what was the effect. I didn’t like the go blu to be frank I thought it lacked slam and dynamics with all my planars, wee you driving the Shelia balanced from the ifi, maybe it just dosent behave with SE?
I like mojo2 w/ Stellia and many others on head-fi agree. I would not worry about it as it’s his opinion about it. Try it for yourself I don’t think you would be disappointed. His review is excellent though!
I recently am getting back into mid range audiophile headphones starting from scratch purchasing a Mojo 2 and Aeon 2 Noire with VIVO cable looking for great sound and some portability. Love the way the headphone folds up but they are not comfortable for me with my ear touching the sides of the pads. Also some music sounds very good but classic rock sounds thin and narrow. I like all kinds of music including classical, blues, jazz, rock and vocals. I am within return period and looking to keep the Mojo 2 and replace headphones. Even though I like the idea of closed back flexibility being able to use anywhere would rather have great open sound. Have you tried the Mojo 2 with any of these headphones? (1) HIFIMAN HE 1000 V2 (not sure if it has enough power) or (2) HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet or (3) Audeze MM-500? Unfortunately I live in a city of 1M population and all the hi-end audio stores closed and all that is left is the big box store junk so I cannot demo anything. Thx.
Air play Or using a music player, such as glider This might be best actually, I rather avoid airplay usually Most convenient would be to get a memory card for the poly
Great review ! I’m new in the game .Was wondering if using USB cable to connect to laptop does it make its sound ‘flat’ ( much less 3D) compared to optical connection ? Saw this comment in a forum
Optical does not sound better than USB, not by a long shot First of all you are limiting sample rates, second of all the other end of the optical connection. The source is quite important. . Listening to the unit via USPC, and using the other USB to charge is the best method for the desktop set up Poli the companion attachment is the best for on the go for airplay Bluetooth and endpoint for an external player like roon Thanks, it’s very much appreciated, welcome to the fam 🐅
Excellent presentation! If I kept this plugged in as opposed to using its battery, would that help eliminate the slow startup time? . This is not for portability it is fort better sound! Thank you.
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thank you fort the quick response. I went through a lot of headphones and the best for 7.1 surround and Atmos areb the HyperX Alpha Cloud S with the Sound Blaster X6 DAC. It would be great to hear if you think the Mojo 2 would be better. What I have now is awesome, but, from what you state, the Mojo might give me more control over each movie or CD.
I am not sure about the DAC you have already, because I’ve not tested it, but on the Mojo you will just get stereo But it will destroy any creative SoundBlaster or any other general consumer devices
@@harowil3 The concept of multichannel set ups within a headphone that only has two speakers, one on the left one on the right, is all done via software it’s not hardware the way a real cinema experience or a home theatre is designed For example at home having 7 10 or 14 speakers for your home theatre That software implementation is part of the DAC you currently own already which creates this illusion that you might actually enjoy I don’t think I like it personally at all but you might enjoy The Mojo to will not have this it will just have your left and your right and give you a proper stereo experience which will most likely sound even better
hope Chord will update this to allow a narrow band EQ. I need to cut 8kHz down about 3-5Db thanks to Campfire superb sound. Unfortunately my friends pay around 500 Euros for that ear buds and I can't throw them in to the trash can were would normally reside if I would have made the mistake of buying them. But the problem remains and needs solving, and so far I am stuck with a BTR5, that allows me to cut that sibilance out of the wonderful ears piercing screech that campfire considers it is an appropriate sound to euro for 500 Euros.
Try different ear tips, foam tips most of the time dampens some of the treble, especially the one with foam gaurd like the comply comfort plus one’s for example
Of course, but we need a little more information, what amplifier, for speakers, or for headphones, if speakers, do you have an active pre-, I don’t recommend using the Mojo as a volume control on a power amp in case it accidentally jumps to maximum volume et cetera
Unfortunately I have not personally used that DAC. but I can tell you compared to all the others d90, D 90SE, SONCOZ, cutest, yes it’s a better DAC, it’s incredibly good for the price point shocking in fact
Hello Keith. I have the RME (AKM4490 version) since 2019 so i am pretty familiar with its sound signature. I was searching for a mobile setup back in 2020 and i found the Mojo 1 new, at a very low price and i gave it a shot. Well, depends always on synergy, but in most cases, Mojo outperformed the RME in every way. There is something about its sound that is so fast and punchy, every element at the sound scape has its own space and volume, and that is very obvious with Chord. RME has a ''safer'' sound with a little bit compressed speed and dynamics with a wider but not deep soundstage, which i found suitable for long listening sessions of electronic music like dub techno, ambient etc. Hope that helps.
@@alexk1239 Hi Alex... Many thanks for the info. It sounds like the Mojo2 is an improvement on the original Mojo version so it would be interesting to hear your comments if they were compared. The RME unit gets very favourable reviews but the Mojo2 looks like a great unit especially for the price to quality ratio. Many thanks again. Cheers.
Awesome review! Still can't wait for ur tt2 review! I know the mojo is no where near but how to do compare the two for someone who wants the best detail with a larger budget. Is that big of an upgrade vs tt2?
Yes, it’s a different category altogether. And oh my God the build quality of the TT2 But once we get to the TT to review, there will be comparisons against the hollo DACs and the amplifier within it will be compared to the OOR and the benchmark AaaHB2 If we are strictly talking about sound and not incredible form factor
@@ConvinceMeAudio yea, I will be needing a desktop upgrade soon so just looking for a better sound alternative for my Susvara. My mojo og has been on my desk since 2015 lol
I'm currently using Burson timekeeper 3i amp to drive my Susvara off speaker taps and it's amazing but was just thinking maybe the sabre dac that can be upgraded...so in the market for better sound :)
Hey mate, I don’t actually EQVC at all, but for the sake of the test and the review, I boosted subbase by one DB Add 20 Hz, and boosted 20 K by one dB on the Mojo This DSP correction obviously not only boosts this area but works around that specific point of the frequency response I think
Recently acquired a Poly and for those interested tread carefully. The Chord app is insulting, honestly felt like a total mug during the set up. Updating the firmware was a trip. Stephen Hawkings sister declares what mode it’s in(through headphones) when using the little reset pin to cycle through modes manually(I was stuck). Truly bizarre. All said and done I’m now able to use it, strictly for playback from Micro SD. They really need to ditch this form factor for next iteration. Imagine combining into one solid unit & including even a small display to allow playback without phone.
At full volume using it to feed an amp it’s pretty quiet and distorted sounding. Not sure if it isn’t putting out enough juice or what. Sounds fine on its own but I was hoping to use it as a dac for my tube amps but it seems that it can’t handle it. Could I be doing something wrong or is this to be expected?
At full volume you can get more than 5V out depending on digital signal level. That can cause clipping in the Mojo and, more importantly, amp input saturation if it is not designed for that. Go no further than indigo level when on line out, that will give you about the voltage a balanced line connection would. Oftentimes you will need to get down to blue or less for a more appropriate single ended voltage level.
Just for anyone interested, you don’t have to use the terrible apple camera kit cable when using an iPhone. I use a fiio LT-LT1 type c to lightening OTG cable and it works perfectly. UPDATE: UNFORTUNATELY MY CABLE WENT VERY BAD AND NEARLY EXPLODED MY EARS!! Just a warning ⚠️ back to the camera kit I suppose…
Exactly, I have three of those bouncing around the place, and I have replaced the camera kit adapter four times in the last three months because of the Diablo, it’s a fricking nightmare
@@danielheffernan7897 mojo2 hugo2 with their counterpart Poly and 2Go review is coming. Save your wallet LOL you’re going to need it, I actually didn’t care much about these accessories due to the price, but holy crap. Do they increase the performance quality?
@@ConvinceMeAudio yeah been thinking about a poly, it’s definitely cool it exists. Gotta love this hobby! 🤑🤑💰💰💰. Listening right now with the Mojo 2 and me ZMF’s, heaven!!
And mine also had RF interfaces on 4G. :)) Mojo was my first audiophile DAC/Amp with Fiio FH7 and E-mu Teak. Sometimes I miss his sound signature. I replaced him with Xduoo XD05 Bal.
Perform well that’s quite a tall order those two headphones require tremendous amount of power to sound right, but I think you can do an okay job with it mate But unfortunately neither of those headphones are here anymore to test for you hopefully someone will drop one by when my friend ArmAnd comes back I’ll ask him to bring it
You wanted comments on the Liric. Here are mine: I bought it before the holiday, used it on the go, and sold it recently after a month of disuse at home. It is really excellent for its mobility and form factor. For on-the-go, I can only think of the DCA Noire as similarly easy to carry (which I considered). The Liric sounds very good but not great. Kind of doing everything well but nothing extremely well. My main complaint for it was that it was boring and a little “thin” (perhaps bright?) sounding. Back home, with the VC at hand, I simply had no further use for the Liric as the VC is so much better. Btw, when are we getting a review of the VC? 😁
Very interesting in regards to your experience for them Vc review is all ready to go just needs to be shot so today or tomorrow and then it lines up to be released LOL
Thanks for this review! Strange thing, I don't think there is a line level switch in mojo 2.... the thing you mention is not working. (Maybe it is working with mojo 1)
There was miss information on the chord website That feature has been removed, now you set the line level yourself Due to silly people forgetting they are in line out mode and connecting headphones
@@ConvinceMeAudio Is full volume basically the same as a clean line out? output impedance is a little low for line out but I guess uf it sounds good, it's good.
@@donvittoriosierra The voltage is slightly lower than baseline, but it’s adequate, under audible testing, how it measures under objective testing equipment, it’s a whole different storey It annoys me that they decided to forgo the line out implementation, but people were forgetting, and connecting the headphones when they had not switched back, this speaks more for the software than the people I think personally LOL
I cannot understand the explanation of the crossfeed. I know the crossfeed is a simulation of the way we hear speakers in a room - we hear them with both ears. Yes, there is a stereo separation but, roughly explained we also here right channel with the left ear but later and weaker, and vice versa. So, I know, the crossfeed is trying to present that effect in the headphones replay. Here the crossfeed is explained by emphasizing warmth or treble and tone and... Yes, crossfeed creates spacial effect and reverb and echo but...
@@nikolaygramchev your answer would be correct if everything worked perfectly as if it was stated on the paper But the crossfeed function is not superbly perfect, it does have a tendency to affect sound not just positioning
@@ConvinceMeAudio Nothing is perfect or perfectly working, in general. But why the main feature of the crossfeed was not explained - it is not working well or it was a miss, or ..?
@@nikolaygramchev oh I think I follow you now mate I only had the unit for 72 hours there was a lot more I wanted to test and talk about but there was just not enough time I might come back to this later and put it on the m scaler to Most likely an oversight
Definitely better than Hugo One, unfortunately I did not have Hue go to side-by-side to test it mate, but I prefer this DAC over cutest so that might be a good indicator
@@ConvinceMeAudio Just curious because you can't isolate Mojo 2's Dac component, when you say you prefer it over the Qutest, which amp was it paired with? Thanks!
I really want to pick this up because I would like a more portable option as I am using iems and my edition xs a lot away from my room but I was curious how big of a jump this is from a zen DAC or a JDs labs atom in terms of sound quality. I think this is more ideal because of the volume control being better for iems than those desktop Amps but I want to make sure that there is more than just the few conveniences
I’ve got a Zen DAC V2 and bought a Mojo 2 expecting a big improvement. No different for me. I’d save your money. I’m using Grado 325x. Crossfeed does nothing and only the middle two DSP settings make a difference I can hear. Perhaps this isn’t a good pairing but I wouldn’t recommend it. I personally think the Mojo 2 has been hyped way too much.
@@doifeellucky I don't have golden ears so I will definitely take your advice to heart. I will try to maybe try them somewhere late in the future too if I still keep thinking about it before buying
I like that DAC, but I prefer Mojo to genuinely, not only for the dsp correction and crossfeed and being able to take it off the desk and use it on the go But I think it’s synergises better
Love your reviews about iems and headphones but im a bit sceptical when someone compares sources and exaggerates differences between them. I honestly dont hear much of a difference when compare Zen Dac v2 with AK sp1000 using u12t which are very "resolving". I can hear slightly better holography and smoother trebles on the sp1000 but the difference is very far from being night and day. Is something wrong with my ears?
I’m glad you asked the question this way It’s good to be sceptical as well We all have different abilities in regards to what we pick up, and there is a possibility as well that there is nothing wrong and you can hear it. You’re just not listening for the right things which is also a factor at time. As well I think I should do a video for the fireside chat, in regards to breaking down an analysis what to listen for the differences et cetera to make things clear at times
RME ADI-2 has also an excellent EQ implementation (5 band). It sounds very natural, and better than any computer-based software EQ I have tried. It even offers variable crossfeeding. Of course, it is not a mobile DAC, nor the best DAC on pure sound quality for its price, as it is more of a multipurpose or audio interface device.
As an audiophile in progress who wants answers that sometimes doesn't exist, I have to ask anyway: what is the explanation of such a bad synergy with de Focal Stellia?
Little soft, the edges of attack rounded a bit lacking in macro dynamics, which basically means that visceral attack oven, drumstick, hitting the snare et cetera Just a bit gooey and soft, it’s been awhile to be honest as well, it comes down to the amplification, the DAC super
@@ConvinceMeAudio thanks, that's interesting, but I wonder why is that, because I remember the Stellia as an easy headphone to amp, if it were a powering cause. I really wish the explanation behind that bad synergy, I'm an intrigued audiophile.
@@Macpro2099 I highly recommend joining us in the private telegram chat for in-depth conversations, so we can get to the bottom of a lot of questions, current and voltage supplied. The correct way with control is a big factor.
@@ConvinceMeAudio thank you foe helping me . i recently purchased focal elegia for about 450 $ and i have mojo 2 do you think they’re combo together ? since you said stellia had a bad synergy with mojo 2
@@pashaharrison230 unfortunately I don’t have those headphones here to test for you, but I will be interested in your opinion when it arrives, I did not care for the stellia hair in myself, but this could be due to my genre of music or my taste preferences, you might enjoy it and actually prefer it, but without testing for you it’s very difficult to say I did not like the stellia on the tt2 either, I just don’t think chord and focal pair very well The synergy does not seem to be there
@@ConvinceMeAudio really perciated for your help , im on travel now but i will try them 2/3 week from now , how many hours of burn in do you suggest for them ?
@@pashaharrison230 focal? Minimum 50 hours always they always sound broken when you take it out of the box LOL Bass distortion break up et cetera it’s normal
great review once again well done , as for the coax connection to the m scaler so weird, think chord might surprise us with a mini m scaler ! imagine that would be amazing dont you think , they can call it the mini scaler they do not even have to change the name lol perfect.😁
@@ConvinceMeAudio you never know , i do not think they would implement the coax for no reason . no one in their right mind would pair this unit with a m scaler , a mini one maybe in the new poly would be amazing .
@@ConvinceMeAudio I just bought the Mojo 2, and while it sounds really good to my ears, my ears don't the possibilities. I love the form factor of the Mojo, as I primarily will use it when out and about. So, something in that price range.. Again, your videos are amazing! Thank You!
One more problem with mojo 2. Mine is constantly charging. I rarelly see it in desktop mode despite having it connected to power every time I use it. Accurding to Mojo official manual the colour on mojo indicates that it is in 'Msximum Charging' region. I honestly don't know why would this be happening, it just charges and charges for more than half a day going a bit hot from time to time.
Because you keep plugging it and unplugging it, I believe the unit has to be constantly connected to both power, power and data for 24 hours before it completely goes into desktop mode, consistently that’s the situation with the Hugo2 and 2go in my experience
@@ConvinceMeAudio thanks that kind of makes more sense now. But still not quite. For example: I am charging mojo for few hours it turns from green to blue, another few hours it finally moves to purple indicating desktop mode. I keep it plugged in like that. Then at the end of the day I switch it off and unplug it. The next day I plug it back in, the light turns bleu and stays blue for hours before it switches to desktop mode again. I would expect it should be the matter of minutes rather than hours until device will switch back again into desktop mode since I left it in a desktop mode a day before. Another potential issue I have noticed 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.
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks. I will contact the retailer. They claim selling 50 units recently so they will know if there were other complaints of that kind. Despite these current/charging issues the sound is superior.
@@ConvinceMeAudio So I have contacted retailer and they gave me new unit. My new Mojo 2 does no longer have electricity leak into the chassis so the previous one was definitelly faulty. But the new unit I got now has another problem that previous unit did not have, it is picking up mobile signal noise when I am on the go. I use same equipment like IEMS and cable so it must be the Mojo again. Do you also experience mobile signal interference when using your Mojo 2 on the go? Thanks.
Ooooofffff lol Very easy to drive and you can eat you the TSP correction I mean, and have an okay experience definitely Cable is a bit of a cluster-F though for walking around with
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks. Would you recomend the mojo 2 as the best portable for the TH909 or would I be better off with a Hip dac 2, Ifi Go Blue or BTR7 or some other device…I’m no really bothered about bluetooth.
Nice review as always, but this product in my opinion, apart from sound quality is outdated device in 2022/2023 in terms of almost everything. So where to begin with first: UI, connectivity ports, charging ports, iPhone complication connection nightmare (I'm petty sure that I will not give up my iOS eco system because of any dac/amp including Mojo 2 even if it is free of charge not to mention 600 eur price tag) average battery life, no 4.4 jack (just for convenience at least) and to be honest I don't give a sh*t about any Bluetooth capabilities and compatibilities including "Poly" because if we want to go that route we will purchase 100 eur Bluetooth iem and not spending multiple thousand of eur in good quality equipment and sound. So at least I will skip to Mojo 3 or even 4 giving the mindset of Chord engineers/marketing/production department releasing this kind of cripple product in 2022.
I wish I could agree with you and say you’re wrong LOL, but unfortunately micro USB is unforgivable in 2022 When I was away on holiday, I forgot that stupid cable and it became a paperweight But sound quality crossfeed and DSP correction is absolutely incredible under $1000. You can’t beat this that’s the problem it’s superb which is very frustrating. Why not just 2 USB see I don’t know And a brand-new Polly, if that was the idea
@@3-y86 Vc any day every day always over 909 The best system I’ve tried the 909 on where it was absolutely stunning was Chord tt2 and m-scaler The 909 review will be out in the next few weeks
Hopefully that accessory will come in, and I can drop it in here, it was hard to get hold of and spending more than the DAC itself seemed a bit excessive for a short part of the review I’ve been hearing good things and bad things, but I would like to test it first
I will need to test this as I have both mojos and the qutest. Qutest runs on the speaker system, mojo with ZMF auteurs. I’m really loving the mojo 2 so far. The dsp works much better than Roon implementation
@@ErnestoDelAguilaIII My mojo 2 (and my mojo 1) run my speaker setup. I feed the DAC’s via an ALLO DigiOne sig. and Roon. Perhaps I’ve reached the limits of my speakers because the step from M1 to M2 isn’t so noticeable for me. I’m using Emotiva Airmotiv 4s.
Rob Wotts strongly disagrees with this assessment LOL he responded to the video on headfy But I put it through thorough testing over and over and over again same results Lol *shrugs
Excelente revision amigo, y el blutut no es opcion para este equipo, lo mismo dirias si lo tuviera, que quien pondria blutut en este dispositivo. Saludos
@@lextr3110 there is a comparison of the mojo 2 with Gryphon and couple other units on Gavin’s Gadgets on RUclips, no better than Zen Dac V2, my xduoo xd05 bal with op amp swap is better than that, I have both never mind the mojo v2
He is hyping it, and he is in the honeymoon phase. This thing sounds like shit imo. And yes I auditioned it. He did admit that synergy is a thing, meaning it is not a universal sound. And from what I heard it's slightly bass-lite. The reviewer in this vid reckons it doesn't overshoot the transients. AFAIK there's no such thing, it is literally impossible to overshoot transients. That's how I know this guy is a joker. If you want a flop, then buy it 🥱
You are a joke for calling names to other just because you don’t agree with their opinion. Walk on if you don’t like what he has to say, don’t be a tw@t
You have not got a clue. Opinions from armchair enthusiasts is nothing but loud noise Come back with a valid arguments showcase your equipment and your experience and we might pay attention There is no need to reply.
To our newcomers welcome, to our old crew welcome back..
One small note, line out is no longer implemented in the old manner, by holding both volume buttons during reboot, somebody forgot to update the video instructions and their Internet specification guidance, LOL
Now you just adjust the volume manually when going through an external amplifier
I hope you enjoy this review, let me know if you own this unit yet and how your experiences have been.
Review Empire ears odin, Fir M5, Elysian Anihilator, 64 audio u12t, 64 audio nio, Oriolus Trailli, ikko oh7.
iPhone users may find joy with the FiiO LT-LT1 USB Type-C to Lightning data cable for a single 10 cm cable connection
Thank you for the review. Chord Mojo 2 really is an amazing DAC.
You are 100% right on it being needing a warm up of 35 min every time it is used.
It truly starts , so to speak, “ singing” after warm up.
The change in tonality after warm up is quite remarkable.
I am just wondering how come none of the other youtube reviewers ( with 100s of 1000s subs) missed it or did not dive in deep enough.
Thank you again for looking at devices in-depth and for your remarkable insight.
This is so odd. How can device be praised so much if it needs 35min to reveal its full potential every single time when it's used. This sounds like a big downside, despite good sound quality it produces.
I was skeptical, but pulled the trigger on one and it's pretty remarkable. There's now a dividing line in my listening, a before Mojo/after Mojo. Super impressive/realistic vocals, good space, depth, there's a "roundness" to notes, a somewhat holographic effect.
Funny that you didn't like the Stellia on the Mojo because that's the best I've heard, period. The Aeolus is close but the Stellia takes it for pure musicality and emotion. Haven't had any issues you reference. My Aeon Noire however does not synergize with it - sounds flat and narrow, like I was driving it from a phone. Very sound-in-a-tunnel effect.
It's expensive but you can save a lot of money by avoiding shuffling mid-tier DAC/amp combos by just buying a Mojo 2. The EQ is not super robust but it gets the job done and is quite clean sounding. The crossfeed isn't for me, I prefer headphone-sound to speakers so doesn't tickle my fancy.
Definitely agree with your caveats. Excellent review, very balanced perspective!
I'm interested in the unit, but I don't really like the colors. Are there ways to turn off or make it almost dim when idle?
@@OptLab you can dim the lights but there's no way to my knowledge to turn them off.
What do you mean by the EQ isn't robust? sincere question as I just purchased that and the Focal Utopia same time and just started listening; you get 9 db up or down across low end, mid bass, mid treble and upper treble; I found it fairly robust boosting the sub bass on the Utopia and taming the treble, just curious what you mean. I'm definitely enjoying it, but not sure what part of the great sound is the Utopia and what's the mojo 2 lol. got both at once
@@cassiecat7038 "robust" doesn't refer to the sound quality of the EQ but to degree to which you can EQ. It doesn't have the refinement of a parametric EQ and it's not for what I would call "corrective equalization". I don't dabble in that as I prefer to listen to a headphone as is just with more bass or less treble. For me the Mojo 2 does that immaculately. But for others who want further EQ it may not satisfy their wants.
@@dasninjastix ok thanks; it does give you 9 db either way for each category; I'm new at this and haven't tried any other kind of eq; I agree it definitely gives a nice boost to the bass or sub bass and limit the treble where needed; I find myself doing it too much though and have to reset it to just hear the headphones themselves on many tracks; anyway thanks
That section on synergy and commenting on such a wide range of headphones and how they pair with this is pure win. Great review!
I find the Mojo 2 w/ Stellia synergy is excellent and judging by head-fi forums many others feel the same. Great review, but I did disagree with the that one point which is completely allowed :-). Keep up the great reviews. This video converted me to a subscriber.
adding the mojo 2 to a good amp reveals how great the dac is as a stand alone , hooked it up to the drop LCX and boy amazing combo with AKG k812
I love this guy, the way he laughs and his appreciation of humor. I'm watching all his videos and supporting him all the way.
Welcome to the fam 🐅
Just ordered a mojo2 and poly and they are arriving tomorrow. I own the liric and stellia and after a fair bit of use of both I think I prefer the liric. More comfortable and the detail is all there but in a less forced manner
I must admit I love the Lirik
You got the poly yet, very interested on how they go together, not using Ron at the moment but the Bluetooth would be a welcome use case
@@adrianmorrish8494 not yet, I will update you guys in the community section when it lands
20:33
“ It’s little, it’s Pointy, it’s everywhere like dots of stars, “
This is the most accurate description of any Mojo reviews on the internet! This device is super memorable 🎉
I jumped on board with the Original Mojo and then the Poly, so for me it was essential to get the Mojo2. This is a decision I haven't regretted at all especially my favourite features being the lossless DSP and the ability to introduce crossfeed. The Mojo2/Poly is my goto music combo of choice
Info from one of internet audio forum user
" The Mojo 1 had a fixed line output but it was just the volume set at 3v, they removed it in the Mojo 2 to remove the possibility of accidentally enabling it while wearing headphones, I spoke to Chord recently and they said you can you just manually set the volume on the Mojo 2 to the 3v level equivalent to the original Mojo line out, it's the same thing, if anyone is interested you achieve this by doing the following,
"Start your Mojo 2 in the ‘upper’ volume range. This is identified by a illuminated mode light on the left, but the volume + and - lights are extinguished.
Now you will need to press the volume + button EXACTLY 41 times. The result is showing in two BLUE volume buttons."
In fact Chord told me that by doing this you can actually use both jack's as line outs, in my case, one going to my headphone amp, and one to my integrated stereo amp, this is a very handy feature unique to the Mojo." "
Hi. Do you need to do this every time you turn it on to get 3v line out mode or does it remember?
@@topheavy7616 it remembers.
Thanks!
Very, very informative review! The button explanation was very useful. Micro-USB sucks! Thanks for the warm up sound warning. Also do you think the Apple dongle requirement takes away from the sound if you have an upgrade cable coming out of the dongle to the Mojo2?
You do really know what you are talking about in every aspect of your review!
First and foremost, I am glad you found the review, informative, and welcome to the fam 🐅
Yes, I think it does, in fact, I’ve been using the poli and separating the source, be in the iPhone exclusively, and the performance jumps up even more
Not really a great fan of the USB implementation I’ll be honest with you USB see is better
If you have to go that route
Thanks for another great review, mate! I always love the part where you discuss the 'negatives'. Gives a whole lot of insight. Question, though. Would you say the Mojo 2 would have good synergy with the Oppo PM-2 and PM-3?
Certainly has enough power to, because those headphones require a lot of current
I think it might come down to the synergy of the drivers, possibly,
Stellia was meh and I don’t have those headphones at hand to test for you
I have an lcdx 2021 and just ordered the mojo 2, is that a good pairing and is the dsp good enough to eq the lcd the way some of the other reviewers recommend, I know nothing about eq, I loved your review.
I think it will be a nice pairing definitely, and the DSP correction is absolutely Stella, but you can’t go very granular with it. It does broad sweeps but excellently
I have mojo 2, it's great inn many aspects. But I have one problem: when I connect my Klips R41-PM using RCA cable I get electricity leak in mojo chasis in the output area. IT feels like a tiny tingling under the fingers when you touch the chasis, like there is some poor grounding. The same issue does not happen if I connect mojo to my headphones or IEMs. The same issue also does not happen if mojo is in desktop mode even when connected to the speakers. My first idea to fix the problem was to replace RCA cable to something better than £10 cable I curently have.
Is that electricty leak into chasis a normal thing or should I return the device for repair/replacement? The sound is flawless. It does heat up when charging but I've read the heat is pretty normal for mojo. Thanks.
Good review. I think the convenience of the intelligent desktop mode is what will push me to upgrade from the original Mojo eventually, I currently disconnect the battery to leave it plugged in as a desktop unit, then If I go on a long trip I plug the battery back in. It's not perfect but still makes more sense than constantly charging/discharging the battery. The Mojo is a great way to have semi-portable high quality DAC/Amp, to boot it sounds as good or better than my current home DAC (audiolab M-DAC) and has currently replaced it for listening to music.
Excellent review, thank you. Have you had a chance to try out the new Chord Alto headphone amplifier yet?
@@transferspodcast the unit that was originally supposed to be for the studios. yes very briefly at Munich I’ve already reached out to have it sent for review, but nothing as of yet will let you guys know as soon as it’s here
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thank for the rapid reply. Look forward to hearing your views.
Hey, thanks for your super review. Would you recommend Mojo 2 to play with Sennheiser IE 900 (or with in-ear phones in general)?
Yes 🐅 definitely
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks! This is my plan 👍🏻
@@robbas_krk1510did you get the above combo? Any thoughts?
Great review, bit weird with the Stelia, any idea why, what was the effect. I didn’t like the go blu to be frank I thought it lacked slam and dynamics with all my planars, wee you driving the Shelia balanced from the ifi, maybe it just dosent behave with SE?
I like mojo2 w/ Stellia and many others on head-fi agree. I would not worry about it as it’s his opinion about it. Try it for yourself I don’t think you would be disappointed. His review is excellent though!
I recently am getting back into mid range audiophile headphones starting from scratch purchasing a Mojo 2 and Aeon 2 Noire with VIVO cable looking for great sound and some portability. Love the way the headphone folds up but they are not comfortable for me with my ear touching the sides of the pads. Also some music sounds very good but classic rock sounds thin and narrow. I like all kinds of music including classical, blues, jazz, rock and vocals. I am within return period and looking to keep the Mojo 2 and replace headphones. Even though I like the idea of closed back flexibility being able to use anywhere would rather have great open sound. Have you tried the Mojo 2 with any of these headphones? (1) HIFIMAN HE 1000 V2 (not sure if it has enough power) or (2) HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet or (3) Audeze MM-500? Unfortunately I live in a city of 1M population and all the hi-end audio stores closed and all that is left is the big box store junk so I cannot demo anything. Thx.
Hi, using poly with my mojo 2 how do I play music already installed on my iPhone 13 mini? Cheers. 🤔
Air play
Or using a music player, such as glider
This might be best actually, I rather avoid airplay usually
Most convenient would be to get a memory card for the poly
Great review ! I’m new in the game .Was wondering if using USB cable to connect to laptop does it make its sound ‘flat’ ( much less 3D) compared to optical connection ? Saw this comment in a forum
Optical does not sound better than USB, not by a long shot
First of all you are limiting sample rates, second of all the other end of the optical connection. The source is quite important. .
Listening to the unit via USPC, and using the other USB to charge is the best method for the desktop set up
Poli the companion attachment is the best for on the go for airplay Bluetooth and endpoint for an external player like roon
Thanks, it’s very much appreciated, welcome to the fam 🐅
For the sound quality with your ears, do you like it better than Shiit Bifrost 2?
It’s less warm, so I think so yeah
Did you get to compare Mojo 2 vs WA8 Eclipse? I’m not able to audition these so I’d love a comparison.
Unfortunately, not, are you not like that has not come in to the review desk yet
Excellent presentation! If I kept this plugged in as opposed to using its battery, would that help eliminate the slow startup time? . This is not for portability it is fort better sound! Thank you.
Definitely, in my experience.
Grabbing it off of the desk in the morning and just go in was always a convenience
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thank you fort the quick response. I went through a lot of headphones and the best for 7.1 surround and Atmos areb the HyperX Alpha Cloud S with the Sound Blaster X6 DAC. It would be great to hear if you think the Mojo 2 would be better. What I have now is awesome, but, from what you state, the Mojo might give me more control over each movie or CD.
I am not sure about the DAC you have already, because I’ve not tested it, but on the Mojo you will just get stereo
But it will destroy any creative SoundBlaster or any other general consumer devices
@@ConvinceMeAudio What is the significance of “it will just get stereo? And “will diestoy other … devices? I don’t speak that language?
@@harowil3 The concept of multichannel set ups within a headphone that only has two speakers, one on the left one on the right, is all done via software it’s not hardware the way a real cinema experience or a home theatre is designed
For example at home having 7 10 or 14 speakers for your home theatre
That software implementation is part of the DAC you currently own already which creates this illusion that you might actually enjoy I don’t think I like it personally at all but you might enjoy
The Mojo to will not have this it will just have your left and your right and give you a proper stereo experience which will most likely sound even better
How does the Chord Mojo 2 harmonize with Hifiman Ananda 2021 version and Audeze LCD X 2021 version
Pretty damn good with LCD XC
What was (is) the Tiger rating that you did not give at the end of all your videos?
Can i connect Chord Mojo 2 to Balanced Amplifier?
Using 3.5mm Single Ended to 4.4mm Balanced Interconnect
Any chance of shortcircuit?
Of course not, of course you can connect it no problem 😎
7:50 should it actually rattle or is it a QC defect?
No QC issues whatsoever it’s just the design the little balls rattle in their frames. Not a big deal.
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks Koji, I appreciate you for your great reviews you do with passion 👍
hope Chord will update this to allow a narrow band EQ. I need to cut 8kHz down about 3-5Db thanks to Campfire superb sound. Unfortunately my friends pay around 500 Euros for that ear buds and I can't throw them in to the trash can were would normally reside if I would have made the mistake of buying them. But the problem remains and needs solving, and so far I am stuck with a BTR5, that allows me to cut that sibilance out of the wonderful ears piercing screech that campfire considers it is an appropriate sound to euro for 500 Euros.
Try different ear tips, foam tips most of the time dampens some of the treble, especially the one with foam gaurd like the comply comfort plus one’s for example
Can I connect the mojo2 to my amp using it as a dac? If yes how
Of course, but we need a little more information, what amplifier, for speakers, or for headphones, if speakers, do you have an active pre-, I don’t recommend using the Mojo as a volume control on a power amp in case it accidentally jumps to maximum volume et cetera
Thanks for the review. Do you think that the Mojo2 audio quality is comparable to the RME ADI2 DAC FS unit (functionality aside)?
Many thanks.
Unfortunately I have not personally used that DAC. but I can tell you compared to all the others d90, D 90SE, SONCOZ, cutest, yes it’s a better DAC, it’s incredibly good for the price point shocking in fact
@@ConvinceMeAudio Many thanks for that.
Hello Keith. I have the RME (AKM4490 version) since 2019 so i am pretty familiar with its sound signature. I was searching for a mobile setup back in 2020 and i found the Mojo 1 new, at a very low price and i gave it a shot. Well, depends always on synergy, but in most cases, Mojo outperformed the RME in every way. There is something about its sound that is so fast and punchy, every element at the sound scape has its own space and volume, and that is very obvious with Chord.
RME has a ''safer'' sound with a little bit compressed speed and dynamics with a wider but not deep soundstage, which i found suitable for long listening sessions of electronic music like dub techno, ambient etc. Hope that helps.
@@alexk1239 Hi Alex... Many thanks for the info. It sounds like the Mojo2 is an improvement on the original Mojo version so it would be interesting to hear your comments if they were compared. The RME unit gets very favourable reviews but the Mojo2 looks like a great unit especially for the price to quality ratio. Many thanks again. Cheers.
@@keithb5612 You are very welcome Keith, cheers..
Awesome review! Still can't wait for ur tt2 review! I know the mojo is no where near but how to do compare the two for someone who wants the best detail with a larger budget. Is that big of an upgrade vs tt2?
Yes, it’s a different category altogether. And oh my God the build quality of the TT2
But once we get to the TT to review, there will be comparisons against the hollo DACs and the amplifier within it will be compared to the OOR and the benchmark AaaHB2
If we are strictly talking about sound and not incredible form factor
Small exciting news, the M scaler is actually coming on Tuesday 😉
@@ConvinceMeAudio yea, I will be needing a desktop upgrade soon so just looking for a better sound alternative for my Susvara. My mojo og has been on my desk since 2015 lol
I'm currently using Burson timekeeper 3i amp to drive my Susvara off speaker taps and it's amazing but was just thinking maybe the sabre dac that can be upgraded...so in the market for better sound :)
Congrats for your review! :)
How does the mojo sound with meze 99 classic? Thanks!
Excellent synergy with the three of the Meze Products, elite 99 classics and the new lirik
Can you share your Verite closed EQ settings?
Hey mate, I don’t actually EQVC at all, but for the sake of the test and the review, I boosted subbase by one DB
Add 20 Hz, and boosted 20 K by one dB on the Mojo
This DSP correction obviously not only boosts this area but works around that specific point of the frequency response I think
Recently acquired a Poly and for those interested tread carefully. The Chord app is insulting, honestly felt like a total mug during the set up. Updating the firmware was a trip. Stephen Hawkings sister declares what mode it’s in(through headphones) when using the little reset pin to cycle through modes manually(I was stuck). Truly bizarre.
All said and done I’m now able to use it, strictly for playback from Micro SD. They really need to ditch this form factor for next iteration. Imagine combining into one solid unit & including even a small display to allow playback without phone.
I am using the poly and to go, it’s a nightmare, but sound quality exponentially improves
how does this compare to the new IFI Zen Signature One or the new Mytek liberty 2?
At full volume using it to feed an amp it’s pretty quiet and distorted sounding. Not sure if it isn’t putting out enough juice or what. Sounds fine on its own but I was hoping to use it as a dac for my tube amps but it seems that it can’t handle it. Could I be doing something wrong or is this to be expected?
That definitely should not be the case I am more leaning towards the input of the amplifier mate
At full volume you can get more than 5V out depending on digital signal level. That can cause clipping in the Mojo and, more importantly, amp input saturation if it is not designed for that. Go no further than indigo level when on line out, that will give you about the voltage a balanced line connection would. Oftentimes you will need to get down to blue or less for a more appropriate single ended voltage level.
How would you compare this like desktop DAC mdac plus ?
Better than cutest, better than d90, better than D90SE, soncoz very surprising
Price to performance ratio I think right now is a killer
So do you think we will get a new Poly sometime soon or in a couple years?
I have a feeling soon, in one of the videos they stated the current polly, but who really knows LOL it took them seven years to release this
Could you please test it with the Poly? as the sound is supposed to improve even further.
Today mojo2 is still one of the best or we have unit better? In mid price segment DAC
Still one of the most great ones, but CMA 18p is given it a run for its money
Great review dude. I picked up the Mojo 2 today based on your recommendation, it really can be a desktop dac amp replacement. 👍
Thank you, Price to performance ratio it’s absolutely killer.
Just for anyone interested, you don’t have to use the terrible apple camera kit cable when using an iPhone. I use a fiio LT-LT1 type c to lightening OTG cable and it works perfectly. UPDATE: UNFORTUNATELY MY CABLE WENT VERY BAD AND NEARLY EXPLODED MY EARS!! Just a warning ⚠️ back to the camera kit I suppose…
Exactly, I have three of those bouncing around the place, and I have replaced the camera kit adapter four times in the last three months because of the Diablo, it’s a fricking nightmare
@@ConvinceMeAudio God I love the mojo 2!!
@@danielheffernan7897 mojo2 hugo2 with their counterpart Poly and 2Go review is coming. Save your wallet LOL you’re going to need it, I actually didn’t care much about these accessories due to the price, but holy crap. Do they increase the performance quality?
@@ConvinceMeAudio yeah been thinking about a poly, it’s definitely cool it exists. Gotta love this hobby! 🤑🤑💰💰💰. Listening right now with the Mojo 2 and me ZMF’s, heaven!!
And mine also had RF interfaces on 4G. :)) Mojo was my first audiophile DAC/Amp with Fiio FH7 and E-mu Teak. Sometimes I miss his sound signature. I replaced him with Xduoo XD05 Bal.
can it perform well with Arya v2 and v3
Perform well that’s quite a tall order those two headphones require tremendous amount of power to sound right, but I think you can do an okay job with it mate
But unfortunately neither of those headphones are here anymore to test for you hopefully someone will drop one by when my friend ArmAnd comes back I’ll ask him to bring it
How it sounds with Kinera Nanna?
Unfortunately those units are no longer here for me to test, but I don’t suppose it would be at all a bad experience to be fair
You wanted comments on the Liric. Here are mine:
I bought it before the holiday, used it on the go, and sold it recently after a month of disuse at home. It is really excellent for its mobility and form factor. For on-the-go, I can only think of the DCA Noire as similarly easy to carry (which I considered). The Liric sounds very good but not great. Kind of doing everything well but nothing extremely well. My main complaint for it was that it was boring and a little “thin” (perhaps bright?) sounding. Back home, with the VC at hand, I simply had no further use for the Liric as the VC is so much better.
Btw, when are we getting a review of the VC? 😁
Very interesting in regards to your experience for them
Vc review is all ready to go just needs to be shot
so today or tomorrow and then it lines up to be released LOL
@@ConvinceMeAudio ok I'm really curious to see this one!... ;) thanks as always
Are there any high gain low gain function?
Apologies, wrong respond to the wrong message, yes of course there is, and the light colour changes accordingly
Thanks for this review! Strange thing, I don't think there is a line level switch in mojo 2.... the thing you mention is not working. (Maybe it is working with mojo 1)
There was miss information on the chord website
That feature has been removed, now you set the line level yourself
Due to silly people forgetting they are in line out mode and connecting headphones
@@ConvinceMeAudio Is full volume basically the same as a clean line out? output impedance is a little low for line out but I guess uf it sounds good, it's good.
@@donvittoriosierra The voltage is slightly lower than baseline, but it’s adequate, under audible testing, how it measures under objective testing equipment, it’s a whole different storey
It annoys me that they decided to forgo the line out implementation, but people were forgetting, and connecting the headphones when they had not switched back, this speaks more for the software than the people I think personally LOL
@@ConvinceMeAudio It would have been nice if they made a separate line out as well or made the second jack a line out instead.
@@donvittoriosierra they already have a menu system for DSP crossfeed et cetera they could have easily placed it in here
I cannot understand the explanation of the crossfeed. I know the crossfeed is a simulation of the way we hear speakers in a room - we hear them with both ears. Yes, there is a stereo separation but, roughly explained we also here right channel with the left ear but later and weaker, and vice versa. So, I know, the crossfeed is trying to present that effect in the headphones replay. Here the crossfeed is explained by emphasizing warmth or treble and tone and... Yes, crossfeed creates spacial effect and reverb and echo but...
By applying the crossfeed, a touch of the overall tonality and presentation obviously changes
@@ConvinceMeAudio Ooo, sure, but that can be changed better with the EQ function. The crossfeed main purpose is different.
@@nikolaygramchev your answer would be correct if everything worked perfectly as if it was stated on the paper
But the crossfeed function is not superbly perfect, it does have a tendency to affect sound not just positioning
@@ConvinceMeAudio Nothing is perfect or perfectly working, in general. But why the main feature of the crossfeed was not explained - it is not working well or it was a miss, or ..?
@@nikolaygramchev oh I think I follow you now
mate I only had the unit for 72 hours there was a lot more I wanted to test
and talk about but there was just not enough time
I might come back to this later and put it on the m scaler to
Most likely an oversight
Just wondering how it compares with good old Hugo2?
Definitely better than Hugo One, unfortunately I did not have Hue go to side-by-side to test it mate, but I prefer this DAC over cutest so that might be a good indicator
@@ConvinceMeAudio Just curious because you can't isolate Mojo 2's Dac component, when you say you prefer it over the Qutest, which amp was it paired with? Thanks!
@@ksy76 sennheiser hdvd 800 - 820
Berson
Topping a90
I really want to pick this up because I would like a more portable option as I am using iems and my edition xs a lot away from my room but I was curious how big of a jump this is from a zen DAC or a JDs labs atom in terms of sound quality. I think this is more ideal because of the volume control being better for iems than those desktop Amps but I want to make sure that there is more than just the few conveniences
The DAC is better than d90SE, so I would say a lot and as for the amplifier, I prefer it over the A90
So yes I think it’s surpasses that
@@ConvinceMeAudio what is THC?
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thank you for this
I’ve got a Zen DAC V2 and bought a Mojo 2 expecting a big improvement. No different for me. I’d save your money. I’m using Grado 325x. Crossfeed does nothing and only the middle two DSP settings make a difference I can hear. Perhaps this isn’t a good pairing but I wouldn’t recommend it. I personally think the Mojo 2 has been hyped way too much.
@@doifeellucky I don't have golden ears so I will definitely take your advice to heart. I will try to maybe try them somewhere late in the future too if I still keep thinking about it before buying
OK, so Mojo2 is a Qutest killer... is it an RME ADI 2 DAC FS killer? Asking purely about sound quality, not functionality.
I like that DAC, but I prefer Mojo to genuinely, not only for the dsp correction and crossfeed and being able to take it off the desk and use it on the go
But I think it’s synergises better
Yes
Love your reviews about iems and headphones but im a bit sceptical when someone compares sources and exaggerates differences between them. I honestly dont hear much of a difference when compare Zen Dac v2 with AK sp1000 using u12t which are very "resolving". I can hear slightly better holography and smoother trebles on the sp1000 but the difference is very far from being night and day. Is something wrong with my ears?
I’m glad you asked the question this way
It’s good to be sceptical as well
We all have different abilities in regards to what we pick up, and there is a possibility as well that there is nothing wrong and you can hear it. You’re just not listening for the right things which is also a factor at time. As well
I think I should do a video for the fireside chat, in regards to breaking down an analysis what to listen for the differences et cetera to make things clear at times
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanx, that would be great!
RME ADI-2 has also an excellent EQ implementation (5 band). It sounds very natural, and better than any computer-based software EQ I have tried. It even offers variable crossfeeding. Of course, it is not a mobile DAC, nor the best DAC on pure sound quality for its price, as it is more of a multipurpose or audio interface device.
As an audiophile in progress who wants answers that sometimes doesn't exist, I have to ask anyway: what is the explanation of such a bad synergy with de Focal Stellia?
Little soft, the edges of attack rounded a bit lacking in macro dynamics, which basically means that visceral attack oven, drumstick, hitting the snare et cetera
Just a bit gooey and soft, it’s been awhile to be honest as well, it comes down to the amplification, the DAC super
@@ConvinceMeAudio thanks, that's interesting, but I wonder why is that, because I remember the Stellia as an easy headphone to amp, if it were a powering cause. I really wish the explanation behind that bad synergy, I'm an intrigued audiophile.
@@Macpro2099 I highly recommend joining us in the private telegram chat for in-depth conversations, so we can get to the bottom of a lot of questions, current and voltage supplied. The correct way with control is a big factor.
can mojo 2 drive beyerdynamic dt 1990 well ?
I don’t think it will struggle much, to be fair, though I don’t have those headphones at hand to test for you here
@@ConvinceMeAudio thank you foe helping me . i recently purchased focal elegia for about 450 $ and i have mojo 2 do you think they’re combo together ? since you said stellia had a bad synergy with mojo 2
@@pashaharrison230 unfortunately I don’t have those headphones here to test for you, but I will be interested in your opinion when it arrives,
I did not care for the stellia hair in myself, but this could be due to my genre of music or my taste preferences, you might enjoy it and actually prefer it, but without testing for you it’s very difficult to say
I did not like the stellia on the tt2 either, I just don’t think chord and focal pair very well The synergy does not seem to be there
@@ConvinceMeAudio really perciated for your help , im on travel now but i will try them 2/3 week from now , how many hours of burn in do you suggest for them ?
@@pashaharrison230 focal? Minimum 50 hours always they always sound broken when you take it out of the box LOL
Bass distortion break up et cetera it’s normal
Video starts at 15:30
great review once again well done , as for the coax connection to the m scaler so weird, think chord might surprise us with a mini m scaler ! imagine that would be amazing dont you think , they can call it the mini scaler they do not even have to change the name lol perfect.😁
I always wondered if they would integrate it into a new poly
@@ConvinceMeAudio you never know , i do not think they would implement the coax for no reason . no one in their right mind would pair this unit with a m scaler , a mini one maybe in the new poly would be amazing .
man your up early 😁
@@nick62876 my day starts at 3.45 bud
Does it have good synergy with Stellia?
No, it doesn’t. Like I stated in the review, LOL you should watch 😕
@@ConvinceMeAudio What would you suggest in place of the Mojo 2 for the Stellia?
I love your reviews, BTW!!!
@@joneil2011 how much do you want to spend mate?
@@ConvinceMeAudio I just bought the Mojo 2, and while it sounds really good to my ears, my ears don't the possibilities. I love the form factor of the Mojo, as I primarily will use it when out and about. So, something in that price range.. Again, your videos are amazing! Thank You!
One more problem with mojo 2. Mine is constantly charging. I rarelly see it in desktop mode despite having it connected to power every time I use it. Accurding to Mojo official manual the colour on mojo indicates that it is in 'Msximum Charging' region. I honestly don't know why would this be happening, it just charges and charges for more than half a day going a bit hot from time to time.
Because you keep plugging it and unplugging it, I believe the unit has to be constantly connected to both power, power and data for 24 hours before it completely goes into desktop mode, consistently that’s the situation with the Hugo2 and 2go in my experience
@@ConvinceMeAudio thanks that kind of makes more sense now. But still not quite. For example: I am charging mojo for few hours it turns from green to blue, another few hours it finally moves to purple indicating desktop mode. I keep it plugged in like that. Then at the end of the day I switch it off and unplug it. The next day I plug it back in, the light turns bleu and stays blue for hours before it switches to desktop mode again. I would expect it should be the matter of minutes rather than hours until device will switch back again into desktop mode since I left it in a desktop mode a day before.
Another potential issue I have noticed 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.
@@pistopit7142 okay that is a little strange, maybe some kind of software bug
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks. I will contact the retailer. They claim selling 50 units recently so they will know if there were other complaints of that kind. Despite these current/charging issues the sound is superior.
@@ConvinceMeAudio So I have contacted retailer and they gave me new unit. My new Mojo 2 does no longer have electricity leak into the chassis so the previous one was definitelly faulty. But the new unit I got now has another problem that previous unit did not have, it is picking up mobile signal noise when I am on the go. I use same equipment like IEMS and cable so it must be the Mojo again. Do you also experience mobile signal interference when using your Mojo 2 on the go? Thanks.
Where is the 6 months review ?
Highly recommend checking out the Hugo 2 review,
is chord mojo 2 good for footsteps in gaming
Your Headphones will play the biggest part here, if you’re talking about staging and accuracy Mojo two is great, it’s fine to put to that use case
@@ConvinceMeAudio what do think is better for footsteps in gaming the mojo 2 or the sound blaster AE-9?
@@Bunny0100 forget about the sound blaster
?why is it shit@@ConvinceMeAudio
You had the TH909 on the table, but never mentioned them in relation to the Mojo2?
Ooooofffff lol
Very easy to drive and you can eat you the TSP correction I mean, and have an okay experience definitely
Cable is a bit of a cluster-F though for walking around with
900s are here and they are superb with Mojo 2
With a touch of my DSP correction they become even better
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks. Would you recomend the mojo 2 as the best portable for the TH909 or would I be better off with a Hip dac 2, Ifi Go Blue or BTR7 or some other device…I’m no really bothered about bluetooth.
@@MelAndGim definitely mojo 2
DSP correction will come very handy to
@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks mate, thought so. I was going to get one but was put off by the micro usb. I’m enjoying the channel. All the best
Nice review as always, but this product in my opinion, apart from sound quality is outdated device in 2022/2023 in terms of almost everything.
So where to begin with first: UI, connectivity ports, charging ports, iPhone complication connection nightmare (I'm petty sure that I will not give up my iOS eco system because of any dac/amp including Mojo 2 even if it is free of charge not to mention 600 eur price tag) average battery life, no 4.4 jack (just for convenience at least) and to be honest I don't give a sh*t about any Bluetooth capabilities and compatibilities including "Poly" because if we want to go that route we will purchase 100 eur Bluetooth iem and not spending multiple thousand of eur in good quality equipment and sound.
So at least I will skip to Mojo 3 or even 4 giving the mindset of Chord engineers/marketing/production department releasing this kind of cripple product in 2022.
I wish I could agree with you and say you’re wrong LOL, but unfortunately micro USB is unforgivable in 2022
When I was away on holiday, I forgot that stupid cable and it became a paperweight
But sound quality crossfeed and DSP correction is absolutely incredible under $1000. You can’t beat this that’s the problem it’s superb which is very frustrating.
Why not just 2 USB see I don’t know
And a brand-new Polly, if that was the idea
Micro USB charging and no balanced out? Mmmmkkkkk
He have th909 and verite close. What a boss
Susvara to 😟
Can you please tell me what is best amp/dac you tried with th909 and what you prefer more th900/vc or th909?
@@3-y86 Vc any day every day always over 909
The best system I’ve tried the 909 on where it was absolutely stunning was Chord tt2 and m-scaler
The 909 review will be out in the next few weeks
@@ConvinceMeAudio thank you 😊 you’re boss
lol missing tigers are now roaming the streets ;-P
Poly test?
Hopefully that accessory will come in, and I can drop it in here, it was hard to get hold of and spending more than the DAC itself seemed a bit excessive for a short part of the review
I’ve been hearing good things and bad things, but I would like to test it first
@@ConvinceMeAudio awesome friend
Better than a Qutest?
Yes, better texture more present and less soft stage is not as big though
I will need to test this as I have both mojos and the qutest. Qutest runs on the speaker system, mojo with ZMF auteurs. I’m really loving the mojo 2 so far. The dsp works much better than Roon implementation
@@ErnestoDelAguilaIII The cutest has a bigger stage, but definitely softer and less texture
@@ErnestoDelAguilaIII My mojo 2 (and my mojo 1) run my speaker setup. I feed the DAC’s via an ALLO DigiOne sig. and Roon. Perhaps I’ve reached the limits of my speakers because the step from M1 to M2 isn’t so noticeable for me. I’m using Emotiva Airmotiv 4s.
topping sucks anyway hehe does it beat the ifi diablo?
Where the heck you bought mojo 2 for 450.00 ? That is not the price , original is 775.00 you may find some at 695 650.00 .lol
£😁
The MicroUSB is a deal breaker for me sorry.
30 minutes to warm up ? ....f*ck*o*f*f chord
Rob Wotts strongly disagrees with this assessment LOL he responded to the video on headfy
But I put it through thorough testing over and over and over again same results
Lol *shrugs
Excelente revision amigo, y el blutut no es opcion para este equipo, lo mismo dirias si lo tuviera, que quien pondria blutut en este dispositivo. Saludos
French & British product don't like each other! Go figure, LOL
😂
For this kind of price there shouldn’t be any micro usb, what a joke
450.00 ? Its 775.00
GBP remember CMA is based in UK
This had a hard time pushing my IKKO OH7 at 90 Ohms .....
It looks like he is working for the Mojo company. Farting Mojo.😮
He certainly is not working for chord LOL
That is the Mojo company you’re referring to 😎
Leave it on for 35 minutes 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yup.
Hahahaha!
Are you blind sir?
Yes, bud lost my sight 25 years ago as a very small child
Bought one. Waste of money for me. No better than my Zen DAC V2.
did you try ifi diablo? and gryphon?
Not yet, but after the gold blue review is released, I will reach out to them
@@lextr3110 there is a comparison of the mojo 2 with Gryphon and couple other units on Gavin’s Gadgets on RUclips, no better than Zen Dac V2, my xduoo xd05 bal with op amp swap is better than that, I have both never mind the mojo v2
@@adrianmorrish8494 I asked Gavin how much better the Mojo 2 was over the Zen DAC V2 and his answer was to buy an x-power for the Zen.
What were you listening with
I’m first
🐅🍸
He is hyping it, and he is in the honeymoon phase. This thing sounds like shit imo. And yes I auditioned it.
He did admit that synergy is a thing, meaning it is not a universal sound.
And from what I heard it's slightly bass-lite.
The reviewer in this vid reckons it doesn't overshoot the transients. AFAIK there's no such thing, it is literally impossible to overshoot transients. That's how I know this guy is a joker.
If you want a flop, then buy it 🥱
You are a joke for calling names to other just because you don’t agree with their opinion. Walk on if you don’t like what he has to say, don’t be a tw@t
saying something sounds like shit without stating arguments sounds like bs to me
@@dante19890 go ahead and buy it bro 👻
You have not got a clue. Opinions from armchair enthusiasts is nothing but loud noise
Come back with a valid arguments showcase your equipment and your experience and we might pay attention
There is no need to reply.