Can I take DAVE, Hugo 2, an M Scaler and a power bank on a plane, and how does Rob listen on flights?
Short answer
From his own trips, Watts said in June 2023 that he flies with a Bixpower power bank, Hugo 2, Hugo M Scaler and DCA Stealth headphones Head-Fi, Jun 2023, and he reports few security problems carrying Dave or the M Scaler as carry-on Head-Fi, Dec 2018Hifi Pig TV 3:43. For power banks his stated limit is under 100W/h, since some Asian countries confiscate larger ones Head-Fi, Nov 2018Head-Fi, Jan 2020. In 2023 he said he runs on battery because plane mains often do not work Head-Fi, Mar 2023.
Security and customs
In June 2017 he said his Dave and Blu 2 carry-on usually passes X-ray, is occasionally flagged, and that Heathrow stopped him every time, with chemical swabs Head-Fi, Jun 2017. In December 2018 he wrote "I never have had problems with Dave or the M scaler, and certainly not Mojo", recalling customs questions about Dave in Indonesia and having to turn Hugo 2 on in Hanoi to prove it was a DAC Head-Fi, Dec 2018. In a July 2024 talk he said he had never had a security issue with an M Scaler or DAVE on board, took the Quartet to Munich as carry-on, and named Mojo 2 as a unit that once drew an issue Hifi Pig TV 3:43.
Power banks
In November 2018 he said "So long as you carry on the battery bank, and it clearly states under 100W/h, you are good to go", naming Thailand and China as the countries that check Head-Fi, Nov 2018. In January 2020 he repeated that a bank "must be under 100W/h - otherwise it will be confiscated in some Asian countries", and said he lost one in China Head-Fi, Jan 2020. In February 2022 he said one of his earlier banks was confiscated by Thai immigration for being over 100W/h Head-Fi, Feb 2022. In October 2022 he left a second bank at home because some Asian countries allow only one on board and none in luggage Head-Fi, Oct 2022. In January 2023 he was unsure whether a bank labeled exactly 100W/hr passes, so he carried a spec sheet showing 99.6 W/hr Head-Fi, Jan 2023.
Running the gear from a bank
Hugo M Scaler. In January 2020 he said it works from a bank set to 9 or 12V and that 18V and above destroys its protection diode Head-Fi, Jan 2020; in October 2020 he said damage comes "only at 16v and above" Head-Fi, Oct 2020, and in June 2022 he repeated "don't run at 16v" Head-Fi, Jun 2022. He got about 7 hours from an 85W/h bank in October 2018 Head-Fi, Oct 2018, and in January 2023 nearly 10 hours from the Bixpower BP90-12v against just over 5 from a Krisdonia Head-Fi, Jan 2023. In September 2023 he called the Bixpower "the best sounding unit I have heard" Head-Fi, Sep 2023, and in January 2025 said it runs "well below the rated 15v input" Head-Fi, Jan 2025.
Hugo 2. In February 2022 he warned against feeding it from one bank's DC out terminal, which can go above 5V and damage its protection diodes; USB outputs stay at 5V Head-Fi, Feb 2022. In June 2018 he said that on flights over 7 hours he should recharge it from a bank while it is at blue, since heat rises markedly only at red Head-Fi, Jun 2018.
Heat and mains. In March 2023 he said the M scaler rides in his bag with the battery on two-hour economy flights: "After two hours it gets a bit toasty, but the thermal trip has never been triggered" Head-Fi, Mar 2023. The same post says he always uses battery because plane mains often do not work or are not turned on Head-Fi, Mar 2023. In 2018 talks he had plugged into the mains socket in business class c w 26:18Pursuit Perfect System 18:35.
By product
- Hugo 2: in July 2021 he said it "is still the perfect match for portable/transportable use", and that TT2's advantage is not big enough for aircraft Head-Fi, Jul 2021.
- Hugo M Scaler: on his flights from July 2018 Head-Fi, Jul 2018; after a 13-hour flight in June 2023 he called it "absolutely essential" for him Head-Fi, Jun 2023. In the July 2024 talk he still took it on flights and carried the prototype Quartet as well Hifi Pig TV 4:13Hifi Pig TV 4:39. In September 2025 he said that since Quartet it is disappointing "when I'm flying and I'm just using an M Scaler" The Source AV 15:46.
- Dave: carried on board for hotel use in 2015 and 2017 Head-Fi, Nov 2015Head-Fi, Aug 2017; in June 2023 he said he used to take one but it "went into the hold" Head-Fi, Jun 2023. Its supply accepts 90 to 263 V (August 2016) Head-Fi, Aug 2016.
- Hugo TT2: suitcase, for hotels, in November 2018 Head-Fi, Nov 2018; "not meant to be portable" in January 2020 Head-Fi, Jan 2020. A March 2022 profile lists it "for flying" article, Mar 2022; his June 2023 post lists Hugo 2 instead Head-Fi, Jun 2023.
How he listens
In June 2023 his flight kit was "just a Bixpower power-bank, Hugo 2, Hugo M scaler and DCA Stealth" Head-Fi, Jun 2023. In February 2023 he described a one-terabyte phone feeding the M Scaler by USB, then "into Hugo" (not identified further) Soundnews 1:40. In December 2019 he ranked aircraft (A380, A350 and 787 favored) as "based on impressions - so it's not meant to be accurate" Head-Fi, Dec 2019. In a video published March 2026 (recording date not stated) he said he uses Mojo 2's lossless EQ particularly when flying, because "things sound different at 8,000 feet compared to sea level" Audio Force 36:34.
Not covered: he gives no airline rules beyond his own trips and the 100W/h figure, and names only Thailand and China as checking Head-Fi, Nov 2018Head-Fi, Jan 2020.
Quotes
“So long as you carry on the battery bank, and it clearly states under 100W/h, you are good to go.”2018-11-17 Head-Fi, Nov 2018
“I always use the battery when flying because it will work. The mains on planes often do not work or are not turned on.”2023-03-01 Head-Fi, Mar 2023
“I never have had problems with Dave or the M scaler, and certainly not Mojo.”2018-12-09 Head-Fi, Dec 2018
“I carry my M scaler around and use it on flights with Hugo 2. The difference in SQ and musical performance means I find it essential to have one.”2020-12-02 Head-Fi, Dec 2020
Dated positions
| When | Products | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2017-06 to 2024-07 | DAVE, Hugo M Scaler, Hugo 2 | He reports few security problems carrying Dave, the M scaler and Hugo 2 in hand luggage, with occasional questions, and Heathrow swabbing in 2017. Head-Fi, Jun 2017Head-Fi, Dec 2018Head-Fi, Feb 2019Hifi Pig TV 3:43 |
| 2018-10 to 2023-01 | Battery packs Watts uses (Poweradd, Bixpower, Krisdonia) | He says power banks should be under 100W/h because some airports and Asian countries confiscate larger ones, and reports losing banks in China and Thailand. Head-Fi, Oct 2018Head-Fi, Nov 2018Head-Fi, Jan 2020Head-Fi, Feb 2022Head-Fi, Jan 2023 |
| 2020-01 to 2025-01 | Hugo M Scaler, Hugo 2, Battery packs Watts uses (Poweradd, Bixpower, Krisdonia) | He runs the M scaler from a bank at 9 or 12V, warns that 18V (January 2020) or 16V (October 2020 and June 2022) can damage it, and says Hugo 2 should be powered from a bank's 5V USB outputs, not a DC out terminal. Head-Fi, Jan 2020Head-Fi, Jun 2022Head-Fi, Oct 2020Head-Fi, Feb 2022Head-Fi, Jan 2023Head-Fi, Jan 2025 |
| 2018 to 2023-03 | Hugo M Scaler, Hugo 2 | In 2018 talks he plugged into plane mains in business class; in March 2023 he said he always uses battery because plane mains often do not work. c w 26:18Head-Fi, Mar 2023 |
| 2015 to 2025-09 | DAVE, Hugo TT2, Hugo 2, Hugo M Scaler | What he carries varies by statement: Dave on board in 2015 to 2017 and in the hold by 2023, TT2 in the suitcase or listed for flying in 2022, Hugo 2 and the Hugo M Scaler as his flight pairing through 2023, with the M Scaler still on flights in 2024 and 2025 and the prototype Quartet also with him when traveling in 2024. Head-Fi, Nov 2015Head-Fi, Aug 2017Head-Fi, Jun 2023Head-Fi, Nov 2018article, Mar 2022Head-Fi, Jul 2021Hifi Pig TV 4:13Hifi Pig TV 4:39The Source AV 15:46 |
Caveats and open points
- All statements are his personal travel experience on his own trips, not Chord guidance or airline rules.
- Power-bank limits are as he stated them for particular countries; he did not give a country list beyond Thailand and China.
Topics: Travel and portable use, Watts's own systems, Power supplies and battery packs