Following up on its popular and pricey Mojo portable digital-to-analog (DAC) converter and headphone amp, Chord Electronics now claims a world-first “lossless DSP” (digital signal processor) with zero sound-quality degradation in its new Mojo 2.
If you really want your wired headphones or speakers to sound amazing when paired with a digital audio source like an iPhone or MacBook, you might even pay the new gadget’s hefty $725 price.
Chord Mojo 2 Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier
Great Britain-based Chord had a hit with its first battery-powered Mojo. The second version re-engineers it with some new features. They include an added USB-C input, better battery life and new tone controls that work like an equalizer to customize the sound you hear.
Devices that output digital audio to headphones have built-in DACs to turn the audio into an analog signal. But built-in DACs usually aren’t top quality. External DACs like the Mojo 2 typically offer higher-quality components for better sound. Just plug the Mojo into your smart phone or other device and plug your wired headphones into the Mojo’s 3.5mm jack.
New features
Chord claims the Mojo 2 offers a world-first “lossless DSP” — which it calls a “UHD DSP” — that provides for zero degradation in sound quality. It’s a 104-bit custom-designed DSP at 705/768kHz. The processor lets you fine-tune across the full frequency range, covering what the company classifies as “lower bass, mid-bass, lower treble and high treble.”
In addition, a new menu system lets you mute, adjust crossfeed or lock the device for travel.
Another added feature is a USB-C input. Its addition makes a total of five inputs, along with optical, coaxial (2) and Micro USB. Two 3.5mm headphone jack outputs allow two people to listen at the same time.
A new charging system features a claimed 75% reduction in power loss while charging. There’s also a roughly 9% gain in capacity to more than 8 hours in total battery life. And an improvement to the device’s desktop mode makes sure no loss in sound quality occurs when the device is used while connected to power, bypassing the battery.
As with the original Mojo, Mojo 2 is compatible with Chord’s Poly music streamer and server.
Price: $725
Where to preorder: Chord Electronics
