Which Chord DACs accept 705.6/768 kHz from an M Scaler, and how do I connect Hugo 2 or Qutest to get the full 1M taps?
Short answer
Watts says only the M Scaler's white output setting gives the full 705.6/768 kHz, 1M-tap dual data output Head-Fi, Sep 2018. He says Qutest, Hugo 2, Hugo TT 2 and DAVE all get that benefit Head-Fi, Jul 2018. Qutest uses its two BNC inputs and switches automatically Head-Fi, Jan 2018; Hugo 2 uses its two 3.5mm coax inputs with 3.5mm to RCA cables and RCA to BNC adaptors Head-Fi, Jul 2018. He says original Mojo, Hugo 1 and the original Hugo TT cannot take dual data Head-Fi, Jul 2018Head-Fi, Dec 2018Head-Fi, Apr 2020; Mojo 2 can Head-Fi, Jul 2023.
The practical answer
In September 2018 Watts explained the M Scaler's OP SR button: green is 176.4/192, blue is 352.8/384, and "white is the full 705.6/768 1M taps", adding that "only white enables the dual data mode" Head-Fi, Sep 2018. In a podcast recorded in October 2025 (published March 2026) he said the 192 kHz outputs "will feed any DAC. But you only get the real benefit when you run it seven six eight" (so check the recording) ecoustics 25:10. So the question for each DAC is whether it accepts two-cable dual data.
By product
Qutest. In January 2018: "The BNC inputs are individually selected, and will automatically go into dual data mode." Head-Fi, Jan 2018. In February 2019 he said the cyan input color indicates dual data on the BNCs, "so you know that the M scaler is giving you the 1M taps for sure" Head-Fi, Feb 2019.
Hugo 2. Hugo 2 has no BNC sockets. In July 2018 he wrote that it works with the full 768 kHz dual data mode, "you just need to use 3.5mm to RCA cable, plus RCA to BNC adaptors", or a home-made BNC to 3.5mm cable Head-Fi, Jul 2018. The same day: "It does indeed work to full 1M taps 768k with Hugo 2." Head-Fi, Jul 2018. In February 2018 he said the cable needs a standard stereo 3.5mm plug, "two black rings" Head-Fi, Feb 2018. In December 2017 he said Hugo 2 detects dual data either from the AES3 flag or from two exactly synchronized streams on both coax inputs Head-Fi, Dec 2017.
Hugo TT 2. In July 2018 he said Hugo 2 gets "exactly the same benefits as Qutest, TT2, and Dave" Head-Fi, Jul 2018. In November 2018 he told an owner that if TT2 shows 705 or 768, "then its fine" Head-Fi, Nov 2018. In April 2020 he said TT2, like all his DACs except Dave, switches left and right automatically Head-Fi, Apr 2020.
DAVE. In April 2020 he wrote that, looking from the front of the M Scaler, the left hand BNC is left and should go to the bottom BNC pair you use on DAVE Head-Fi, Apr 2020. In November 2018 he said DAVE's dual data detector needs sync on both lines, and that BNC 3 and 4 with the supplied cables normally fixes dropouts Head-Fi, Nov 2018. In February and August 2020 he said cable length matters for DAVE because of its sync detection, while his other DACs use the AES3 flag Head-Fi, Feb 2020Head-Fi, Aug 2020.
Mojo (original). In February 2017: "Mojo is 768 via USB only. Coax is 384 kHz max." Head-Fi, Feb 2017. In July 2018 he said you can use the M Scaler's 384 kHz output, but Mojo lacks dual coax inputs for the full 768 kHz Head-Fi, Jul 2018. In January 2020 he said dual coax support was dropped from Mojo for power reasons, leaving 384k (0.5M taps) on coax Head-Fi, Jan 2020.
Mojo 2. In July 2023: "Mojo 2 and Hugo 2 both accept the dual data connection" Head-Fi, Jul 2023. In a February 2022 post on Mojo 2 he said the tip and ring carry the two signals, and the ring signal is only for dual data mode Head-Fi, Feb 2022. In April 2022 he said the dual port is "only for use with a M Scaler" Audio Force 16:02.
Hugo 1 and the original Hugo TT. In December 2018: "Hugo 1 can't accept dual data mode", so use the single BNC output, stereo at 352/384 Head-Fi, Dec 2018. In April 2020 he said TT would need one BNC cable "as TT is 384k max" Head-Fi, Apr 2020.
Cables
In February 2018 he said his Hugo 2 tests used a cheap 3.5mm to RCA cable that was not 75 ohm, with RCA to BNC adaptors, and "it worked perfectly at 705 and 768 kHz" Head-Fi, Feb 2018. His later advice was firmer. In August 2018: "If you are going to buy a RF cable, make sure it is indeed 75 ohms", since it works without 75 ohms but risks sounding worse Head-Fi, Aug 2018. In December 2018, in the Qutest thread: "you must use 75 ohm cable, as the M scaler sources are exactly 75 ohms" Head-Fi, Dec 2018. In October 2018 he said a Hugo 2 cable "must be a screened cable" Head-Fi, Oct 2018.
A wider claim
In May 2024, asked about using Quartet with TT2 and Hugo 2, he said: "You can use it with any Chord DAC because they all accept the dual BNC." ConvinceMeAudio 11:42. That sits beside his statements that original Mojo, Hugo 1 and Hugo TT cannot take dual data; this archive does not reconcile them. In July 2023 his wording was "all current DACs" Head-Fi, Jul 2023.
What he has not said
This archive holds nothing from him on dual data for Poly or 2go; he said in 2020 he had no involvement with 2go Head-Fi, Sep 2020.
Quotes
“white is the full 705.6/768 1M taps”2018-09-05 Head-Fi, Sep 2018
“you just need to use 3.5mm to RCA cable, plus RCA to BNC adaptors”2018-07-22 Head-Fi, Jul 2018
“The BNC inputs are individually selected, and will automatically go into dual data mode.”2018-01-10 Head-Fi, Jan 2018
“It does indeed work to full 1M taps 768k with Hugo 2.”2018-07-22 Head-Fi, Jul 2018
“Mojo 2 and Hugo 2 both accept the dual data connection”2023-07-15 Head-Fi, Jul 2023
“Mojo is 768 via USB only. Coax is 384 kHz max.”2017-02-20 Head-Fi, Feb 2017
Dated positions
| When | Products | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-09 | Hugo M Scaler | Only the white OP SR setting gives 705.6/768 kHz, 1M taps, and dual data output. Head-Fi, Sep 2018 |
| 2017-02 to 2019-03 | Hugo 2 | Hugo 2 accepts 768 kHz dual data on its two 3.5mm coax inputs, using 3.5mm to RCA plus RCA to BNC, and reaches the full 1M taps. Head-Fi, Feb 2017Head-Fi, Jul 2018Head-Fi, Jul 2018Head-Fi, Mar 2019 |
| 2018-01 to 2019-02 | Qutest | Qutest's BNC inputs go into dual data mode automatically, shown by a cyan input color. Head-Fi, Jan 2018Head-Fi, Feb 2019 |
| 2018-07 to 2020-08 | DAVE, Hugo TT2 | TT2 gets the full benefit and auto-switches left and right; DAVE needs the left M Scaler BNC on the correct input, sync on both lines, and attention to cable length. Head-Fi, Jul 2018Head-Fi, Apr 2020Head-Fi, Nov 2018Head-Fi, Feb 2020 |
| 2017-02 to 2020-04 | Mojo (original), Hugo (original), Hugo TT (original) | Original Mojo (USB 768k, coax 384k), Hugo 1 and the original Hugo TT do not take dual data. Head-Fi, Feb 2017Head-Fi, Jul 2018Head-Fi, Jan 2020Head-Fi, Dec 2018Head-Fi, Apr 2020 |
| 2022-02 to 2024-05 | Mojo 2, Quartet M Scaler | Mojo 2 accepts the dual data connection on tip and ring; in 2024, on Quartet, he said any Chord DAC accepts dual BNC, which sits beside his earlier Mojo, Hugo 1 and Hugo TT statements. Head-Fi, Feb 2022Head-Fi, Jul 2023ConvinceMeAudio 11:42 |
| 2018-02 to 2018-12 | Hugo M Scaler, Qutest, Hugo 2 | Cheap non-75 ohm cable worked in his Hugo 2 tests, but his later advice was to use 75 ohm, screened cable. Head-Fi, Feb 2018Head-Fi, Aug 2018Head-Fi, Dec 2018Head-Fi, Oct 2018 |
Caveats and open points
- His 2024 'any Chord DAC' remark, made about Quartet, sits beside earlier statements that original Mojo, Hugo 1 and Hugo TT cannot take dual data; this archive does not resolve it.
- His Mojo 2 cabling statement is only that tip and ring carry the two signals; Poly and 2go are not covered.
Topics: Dual BNC, dual data and DX links, Pairing a scaler with a DAC