Do I need the Chord driver on Windows, should I use ASIO or WASAPI, and will my DAC work with Mac, Linux, Android or an iPhone?
Short answer
On Windows, install Chord's driver: for Mojo 2 in 2022 Watts said Windows otherwise uses generic drivers that "will not be as ideal as Chord's" Head-Fi, Feb 2022; in 2018 he said to use the updated driver from Chord's website Head-Fi, Sep 2018. In 2016 he found ASIO and WASAPI both bit perfect, with no difference on Dave and slightly better ASIO on the original Mojo Head-Fi, Dec 2016. Other systems use standard driverless USB, which he considers fine in practice Head-Fi, Oct 2017Head-Fi, May 2020, although in 2016 he warned that driverless systems can lose data when the processor is busy Head-Fi, Aug 2016. DSD512 needs ASIO on Windows Head-Fi, Feb 2022.
Windows: install Chord's driver
For Mojo 2 in February 2022, Watts said "So for Windows, install the driver from Chord's website," since otherwise Windows 10/11 uses generic drivers "which will not be as ideal as Chord's"; he added that ASIO is an option too Head-Fi, Feb 2022. In the Hugo M Scaler thread in September 2018 he said TT2, Hugo 2 or Dave drivers will do, as they share the same USB firmware and hardware, but to "make sure you use the updated driver from Chord's website" Head-Fi, Sep 2018. In February 2022 he said "all of the Chord DACs have identical USB firmware and USB decoder" Head-Fi, Feb 2022. On Hugo 2 in July 2018 he said a Windows update sometimes means the drivers need reinstalling, or the latest driver from Chord Head-Fi, Jul 2018.
The advantage he gives for the Chord Windows driver is that it re-sends faulty packets; in June 2016 he said this means "we can guarantee bit perfect data for Dave," which driverless systems do not Head-Fi, Jun 2016. In August 2016 he said driverless systems can lose data when the processor is busy Head-Fi, Aug 2016. In October 2017 he wrote that he suspects "driverless is OK in practice" Head-Fi, Oct 2017; in 2020 he said a faulty stream is easily audible as clicks and noise Head-Fi, May 2020Head-Fi, May 2020; and in February 2022 he called re-sending "a possible advantage" though "in practice I don't think it's actually needed" Head-Fi, Feb 2022.
ASIO or WASAPI
In December 2016 he said that with a bit-perfect app "both ASIO and WASAPI are bit perfect"; on Dave his tests showed no difference, while on the original Mojo "ASIO sounds a bit better" Head-Fi, Dec 2016Head-Fi, Sep 2016Head-Fi, Sep 2016. For TT2 in July 2020 he said "ASIO is preferred for DSD, as DSD512 is supported," and that he "maybe could hear a difference" between the two, "but a lot depends upon your PC and setup" Head-Fi, Jul 2020. In May 2022, naming no product, he added that native DSD via ASIO makes pops on DSD track changes less likely Head-Fi, May 2022. For Mojo 2 in 2022 he passed on Chord's advice to set the source to exclusive mode for a USB sync noise problem, and said that with exclusive mode "the issue seems to be extremely rare" Head-Fi, Feb 2022Head-Fi, Jul 2022.
Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android
He names iOS, Linux and Android as driverless USB systems Head-Fi, Aug 2016. In 2018 and 2020 he said he had never heard an error from his mobile Head-Fi, May 2018Head-Fi, May 2020, and in February 2020 that with a certified type 2 cable the error rate is "not something to be worried about" Head-Fi, Feb 2020.
- Mac: he said in 2016 that Chord's Matt does the OSX testing Head-Fi, May 2016 and in 2021 that he has "zero experience of using Apple myself" Head-Fi, Mar 2021. Answering a Mac question in January 2018 (Qutest thread), he relayed from Chord that "apparently ASIO is not supported on iOS" Head-Fi, Jan 2018. For Mac clicks with DSD in January 2019 he passed on Chord's advice to check that Time Machine or other backups are not running and to try another USB port or hub Head-Fi, Jan 2019.
- Linux: on Qutest in May 2018 he said ASIO is Windows only, "so DSD is only DoP with Linux" Head-Fi, May 2018; a day later he relayed Chord's view that native DSD on Linux needs different drivers for different servers Head-Fi, May 2018.
- iPhone: in November 2015 he said Chord had tested Dave with an iPhone directly and it was OK Head-Fi, Nov 2015. In 2016 he recalled an early iPhone test that was not bit perfect because gain had been applied, adding "that could have been a settings issue" Head-Fi, Aug 2016. In November 2018 he said one case of drop-outs with Dave came from an iOS update Head-Fi, Nov 2018.
- Android: on Hugo 2 in April 2018 he said he cannot say which Android versions work, as each manufacturer modifies the USB audio treatment, but his Motorola phone "works perfectly" Head-Fi, Apr 2018; in August 2018 he said he uses it with an OTG cable for the Hugo M Scaler Head-Fi, Aug 2018.
DSD
In February 2022 he said "DoP DSD is fully supported up to DSD 256 with Linux and macOS," while DSD 512 (native) is limited to Windows via ASIO Head-Fi, Feb 2022. He gave the same split for Qutest (2018, 2019) and the Hugo M Scaler (2022) Head-Fi, May 2018Head-Fi, Sep 2019Head-Fi, Jul 2022.
Check bit perfect
On Qutest in 2018 he said the source must not upsample or convert the data, and a 44.1k file should show red as the sample rate Head-Fi, Apr 2018; on Mojo 2 in 2024 his advice was "always send bit perfect data" Head-Fi, Nov 2024.
What this archive does not cover: he gives no Mac or iPhone setup procedure, no list of Android phones that work, and no ASIO versus WASAPI comparison for Hugo 2, Qutest or Mojo 2. On Apple questions he has relied on Chord Head-Fi, May 2016Head-Fi, Jan 2018.
Quotes
“So for Windows, install the driver from Chord's website. Otherwise Win 10/11 will use generic audio drivers, which will not be as ideal as Chord's.”2022-02-15 Head-Fi, Feb 2022
“With Dave it does not matter which one to use as my tests revealed no difference in SQ; but with Mojo ASIO sounds a bit better”2016-12-18 Head-Fi, Dec 2016
“the error rate of standard USB is low enough not to cause an issue in practice.”2020-05-06 Head-Fi, May 2020
“DoP DSD is fully supported up to DSD 256 with Linux and macOS. For DSD 512 (native DSD transmission) it's limited to Windows via ASIO.”2022-02-20 Head-Fi, Feb 2022
Dated positions
| When | Products | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2016-09 to 2016-12 | DAVE, Mojo (original) | ASIO and WASAPI are both bit perfect with a bit-perfect app; no sound difference on Dave, ASIO slightly better on the original Mojo. Head-Fi, Dec 2016Head-Fi, Sep 2016Head-Fi, Sep 2016 |
| 2018-09 to 2022-02 | Hugo TT2, Hugo 2, DAVE, Hugo M Scaler, Mojo 2 | On Windows, install the current driver from Chord's website instead of relying on Windows' generic driver; Chord DACs share the same USB firmware and decoder. Head-Fi, Sep 2018Head-Fi, Feb 2022Head-Fi, Feb 2022 |
| 2016-06 to 2016-08 | DAVE | The Chord Windows driver re-sends faulty packets and guarantees bit-perfect data; driverless iOS, Linux and Android can lose data under heavy processor load. Head-Fi, Jun 2016Head-Fi, Aug 2016 |
| 2017-10 to 2022-02 | General | Driverless USB is OK in practice: errors are audible as clicks, he has never heard one from his mobile, and re-sending is a possible advantage but not really needed. Head-Fi, Oct 2017Head-Fi, May 2018Head-Fi, Feb 2020Head-Fi, May 2020Head-Fi, Feb 2022 |
| 2020-07 to 2022-05 | Hugo TT2 | ASIO is preferred for DSD (DSD512 supported; fewer pops on DSD track changes); he maybe could hear ASIO against WASAPI, depending on the PC and setup. Head-Fi, Jul 2020Head-Fi, May 2022 |
| 2018-05 to 2022-07 | Qutest, Hugo M Scaler, Hugo 2, Hugo TT2 | DoP DSD up to DSD 256 works on Windows, Linux and macOS; native DSD and DSD512 need ASIO on Windows. On Linux he relayed from Chord in May 2018 that native DSD needs different drivers for different servers, a day after saying DSD is only DoP with Linux. Head-Fi, May 2018Head-Fi, May 2018Head-Fi, May 2018Head-Fi, Sep 2019Head-Fi, Feb 2022Head-Fi, Jul 2022 |
| 2015-11 to 2018-11 | DAVE, Hugo 2, Hugo M Scaler | Chord tested an iPhone with Dave and found it OK; an iOS update once caused drop-outs; his Motorola Android phones work, but he cannot vouch for every Android version. Head-Fi, Nov 2015Head-Fi, Nov 2018Head-Fi, Apr 2018Head-Fi, Aug 2018 |
| 2016-05 to 2021-03 | General | He has no personal experience of Mac or Apple devices and relies on Chord for Mac testing and advice. Head-Fi, May 2016Head-Fi, Mar 2021Head-Fi, Jan 2019 |
Caveats and open points
- Every statement cited comes from Head-Fi posts; the transcripts and articles searched did not address drivers directly.
- He says he did not design the USB hardware, firmware or drivers, and relays Chord's answers on Mac and Linux Head-Fi, May 2018Head-Fi, May 2019Head-Fi, Feb 2022.
- Most Windows driver and ASIO/WASAPI comments date from 2016 to 2022 and refer to Dave, Mojo, Hugo 2, TT2, Hugo M Scaler, Qutest or Mojo 2; none cover newer firmware or driver versions.
- The January 2018 'ASIO is not supported on iOS' remark answered a Mac question; it is reported as written.
- A January 2018 Hugo 2 post says to install standard Win 10 then the 'creators driver' without uninstalling the standard driver; the context is unclear, so it is not summarized Head-Fi, Jan 2018.
- The July 2020 TT2 post date is estimated from its post ID.
- Mac and iOS operating-system versions have changed since his comments.