Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler

The Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler is a high-performance standalone digital upscaler designed to enhance digital audio before it reaches your DAC. Using Chord's advanced WTA (Watts Transient Alignment) filtering technology, Hugo M Scaler dramatically increases the digital signal's reconstruction accuracy, with a particular focus on preserving the timing of musical transients. At its core is a custom-coded FPGA running an extraordinary 1,015,808-tap WTA filter. Standard 44.1 kHz digital audio can be upscaled to 705.6 kHz, while compatible 96 kHz source material can reach 768 kHz when connected to a compatible dual-BNC Chord DAC. Advanced 1M-Tap Upscaling Unlike a DAC, Hugo M Scaler does not convert digital audio into an analog signal. Instead, it performs sophisticated digital processing before the signal reaches the DAC, giving the DAC significantly more information to work with during reconstruction. For maximum performance, Hugo M Scaler can connect via dual BNC to compatible Chord Electronics DACs, including DAVE, Hugo TT 2, Qutest, and Hugo 2, enabling upscaling to as high as 705.6 or 768 kHz. It can also be used with other compatible DACs through BNC S/PDIF or optical connections, with the maximum output resolution determined by the connection and receiving DAC. Flexible Digital Connectivity Hugo M Scaler provides five digital inputs, including galvanically isolated USB Type-B, two BNC coaxial inputs, and two optical inputs. Digital outputs include galvanically isolated dual BNC for maximum-resolution operation with compatible Chord DACs, plus single BNC S/PDIF and optical outputs for broader system compatibility. Selectable output sample rates and a pass-through mode provide additional system flexibility, while a dedicated Video Mode reduces processing latency to help maintain synchronization between picture and sound. Key Features 1,015,808-tap WTA digital filter Upscaling up to 768 kHz Custom-coded Xilinx FPGA processing Dual-BNC output for compatible Chord DACs Galvanically isolated USB input BNC coaxial and optical digital connectivity Adjustable sample-rate output with pass-through Low-latency video mode Roon Tested