In this article we review the new Chord Electronics Mojo 2, selling for £449 UK Pounds.
Disclaimer: The Chord Electronics Mojo 2 was sent to me by Chord Electronics in exchange for this review.
Chord Electronics
If you’ve been in to Hi-Fi or personal audio for the last decade, than you surely must have heard of Chord Electronics:
“Chord Electronics Ltd is a world-leading manufacturer of high-end audio products. Since 1989, under the leadership of proprietor John Franks, Chord Electronics has been pushing the boundaries of innovation, creating some of the planets finest hi-fi, home cinema and professional audio equipment. A technology-driven leader, Chord Electronics philosophy of ongoing evolution and refinement continues to deliver landmark audio products with extraordinary performance and unrivalled design features.”
We’ve seen several very successful products from Chord such as the Qutest DAC, the Hugo 1 and Hugo 2 (also here and here), the Mojo, the Hugo TT2 and of course the TOTL reference DAVE. Now Chord Electronics is back with an updated version of their smallest and most portable DAC/Amp unit ever released, the Mojo 2.
Mojo
I am sure almost every self-respecting personal audio aficionado knows the Chord Electronics Mojo, and the major part of you over the last 7 years surely had a chance to listen to it. The Mojo DAC/AMP (well basically it is just a DAC) was a big hit right from the start and since Chord released the Hugo 2, everyone has been waiting for the awesome Mojo to be updated. And now that day has come.
Yesterday, Chord Electronics officially announced the Mojo 2 but some of you might have already seen some pictures of the Mojo 2 on the www already as some people don’t seem to care anymore about NDA’s. Anyway, we strongly advise you to read up on the original Mojo before you start with this Mojo 2 article. You can do so here:
The Chord Electronics Mojo is one of the most successful units of the last years, so everyone is expecting a lot of the new Mojo 2. Let’s find out what the new Chord Mojo 2 is all about.
Mojo 2
As I mentioned earlier, it’s been 7 years since the Mojo was launched and now Rob Watts has revisited, reimagined and reengineered the original Mojo with ground-breaking, world-first technology.
The world’s first lossless DSP sees Mojo 2 set the benchmark for portable sound quality. Again.
The Chord Electronics Mojo 2 still is a DAC (AMP) and it is capable of playing files up to 768 kHz 32- bit and DSD 256! Of course there is no balanced output because of Chord’s design principles.
Let’s go over all of the Chord Electronic Mojo 2 ‘s features! (as published by Chord Electronics)
1. Revolutionary lossless DSP
According to Chord it is the first of its kind in the world. We quote Chord: “The innovative new ‘UHD DSP’ is fully transparent, enabling comprehensive tone adjustments across the frequency range, without any degradation in sound quality. The new technology gives Mojo 2 unrivalled compatibility with today’s wide-ranging choice of headphones, regardless of type and sonic signature, plus flexibility with different source components and digital file types.”
2. Menu system
Navigated via a new fourth control sphere, the menu brings a mute function, four-setting crossfeed adjustment (more on that later), a button-lock feature for travelling, plus the fully lossless tone controls. When I first received the unit, this looked really difficult but it actually is simple and it grows on you fast.
3. USB-C data input
The digital inputs have now increased to four, thanks to a new USB-C data input for greater flexibility. This is something I really like. Sure it looks a bit weird but I think having a USB-C input is more important. The USB-C is featured alongside the optical, coaxial (incl. dual-data for the M Scaler) and Micro USB input. Two 3.5 mm mini-jack headphone outputs still allow up to two people to listen simultaneously.
4. Better battery and charging
Mojo 2 benefits from greatly improved battery management, thanks to a new FPGA-based battery-charging system. The tech brings much faster charging rates, coupled with a huge 75 % reduction in power loss for cooler, more efficient charging. Capacity is up by 9 %, resulting in better efficiency and improved battery life, which is now better than eight hours. What’s not to like?
Mojo 2’s established ‘Intelligent Desktop Mode’ technology has also been improved, with an isolated battery and PSU redesign to support battery-free operation without any losses in sound quality, plus improved filtering and isolation.
5. Improved transparency
Mojo 2 is now DC-coupled with a digital DC servo. It benefits from an improved WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filter, now offering 40,960 taps (the technical indicator of how complex the interpolation filter is), using 40 DSP cores. If I am not mistaken the original Mojo had about 38K taps. Additionally, an improved noise-shaper offers greater depth and detail perception, plus improvements to the 4e Pulse Array DAC introduce lower distortion and out-of-band noise. Greater neutrality has also been achieved, thanks to the elimination of coupling capacitors.
Of course we will find out about this in the part on how the Mojo 2 sounds.
6. New fully transparent UHD DSP
Mojo 2 benefits from the world’s first fully transparent ‘UHD DSP’. The proprietary technology uses a 104-bit custom DSP core running at 705/768 kHz: no other audio DSP offers the same accuracy. By using 104 bits plus extensive internal noise-shaping, Mojo 2 can deliver complete transparency by preserving the filtering of ultra-small signals.
7. UHD DSP features
The unique UHD DSP enables fine-tuning across the full frequency range with 18 steps of adjustment per frequency banding: lower bass, mid-bass, lower treble and high treble.
The volume control range has also been improved from +18 dB to -108 dB, and now benefits from two distinct operational ranges: low and high volume.
A new four-setting crossfeed function, also DSP-controlled, brings speaker-like spatial effects for flexible headphone listening.
The article continues on the next page. Click here or use the jumps below.
Page 1: Chord Electronics, Mojo, Mojo 2
Page 2: Packaging & accessories, Design & Build quality, Lay-Out & Usability, Menu, Specs
Page 3: Sound Part 1
Page 4: Sound Part 2 & Conclusion
Ml
Original mojo was 38k taps.
MhtLion
Great review!! Personally I’d love to find out how Mojo 2 will drive LCD-5 and Phi TC.
Lieven
Thanks. The 5 is in for repair…
Ali Arghavan
Thanks for the review. I must say, I’m disappointed with the new Mojo. It’s more expensive but doesn’t bring that much to the table. Compared to 7 years ago there is more competition.
– You still get an abysmal accessory set (just one USB-A to microusb). No case, no USB-C no lightning.
– The USB-C port looks like an aftertough and looks horrible. Seriously! Did someone cut the Mojo and added a cheap plasticky bit just to add a port?
– MicroUSB charging is laughable at 2022. So Chord will continue to use microUSB even on future devices just to maintain compatibility? This was the best opportunity to revamp Poly as well maybe to implement better Bluetooth and features.
– DSP settings are nice but without a display and preset settings, I won’t find myself using it after some time. It’s just too much hassle compared to proper EQ options.
+ The only real objective benefit is the new desktop mode which I appreciate. And also the higher output power which is welcome indeed.
Am I complaining too much? Yes. It’s a Chord product that people have been waiting for years. And it’s not cheap.
Alex
Great review!
Re: “I find the Mojo 2 to cause no listening fatigue at all and that’s not something I could say about the original Mojo (for my ears)”.
I am surprised about your comment above since by all accounts the M2 has more treble extension/energy compared to the OG Mojo, which is usually the part that leads to listening fatigue. I get zero (0) listening fatigue with the OG Mojo. None.
Lieven
For me personally the fatigue doesn’t come from the upper end, more the intimacy and lack of extension
Shane
What’s it like with hard to drive headphones like the DCA Aeon Noire?
Lieven
I don’t have the headphone, but Mojo is not meant to drive hard to drive headphones really
xtvymrdn
Soundwise only, what do you think about mojo2 vs hugo1?
Lieven
Mojo 2 is technically superior. Hugo 1 is smoother and more analog sounding.
Phanindra MVR
How does this compare against the iFi Gryphon and iFi iDSD Signature?
Lieven
Sorry, I don’t have any iFi devices
vince
also interested in how this pairs with aeon 2 closed!
Syazwan
Nice! Thank you for comparing to Mojo 2 with Centrance Hifi M8 v2.
Been considering them both, both packed with features and unique from one to another. My only primary interest for Mojo 2 is its Lossless EQ. Does the EQ implementation in Mojo 2 is better than Paramteric EQ or EQ from Schiit Loki?
Jorge
El mojo2 vs el ifi gryphon como se compara ?
Will
Hey hey,
Maybe this is a silly ask. I’ve got the Mojo 2 fed by iFi Zen Stream. Looking for a decent cable. Weirdly my old QED TOSLINK wouldn’t lock into Mojo, so need to find different option. USB-C vs Mini USB? I’m thinking USB C because it’s a newer connection, seems to lock in much better. Mini USB has always seemed a bit flimsy to me. Audioquest do a decent Carbon USB-C cable that’s not insanely priced at about £120, high silver content.
Not sure I can actually output optical from Zen Stream- asked iFi, not heard back. Coaxial/optical connection stuff really confuses me- so many connector variations.
Mojo 2 is great by the way, clean, smooth, quick, great slam and attack, effortless.
Cheers,
Will
John Jones
Try adding a power bank I bought one today from Asda 15,000 ah
And I couldn’t belive the amount of detail retrival. was I hearing things?
I then connected the power bank
After listening without the power bank, the improvement in deital and separation
Awsome dac I use it as a desk top dac.
Niels
Just got the Mojo 2, and I must say, that I am very pleased with the performance. Would have lowed a fixed “line out” switch, and I don’t understand the “two volume range”.
“Volume-wise, the Mojo 2 benefits from two main volume ranges: low and high, as indicated by the colour of the menu button: unlit (low); white (high).”
What’s the point? It’s not like a low/high gain button or —–
Olo Olowski
Any views on Hifiman Edition XS and Mojo 2 Combo?
Yagiz
Amazing combo imo. Resolution is great, the staging is precise, the pair sounds tonally balanced and accurate. The XS is one of the best headphones of 2022 and Mojo 2 is a very capable DAC & AMP that comes with unique EQ capability that does not hurt the SQ.
I can recommend the pair with my eyes closed Olo.
Olaf
Ok, so I bought this combo. You were right – this is fire. I have also tried others synergies and sound systems, but this is my favourite one so far. Now I am looking for a perfect IEMs so I can use mojo as portable device.
Phill Lister
I concur with your comments about pairing this with Sennheiser HD800s phones and using the max crossfeed setting. The phones are designed to create more of a soundstage in front of the listener. They don’t really do this in a dramatic way but with the crossfeed setting there’s a definite sense of sound in front of you as well as great stereo ambience and separation. Turn the crossfeed off and you notice you’re getting different sounds in each ear but you don’t get that 3D depth quality. It’s superb!
Shashi
Hi, Have Mojo2 and ordered Poly. Will it drive HD800S to its maximum ie., heavy bass and soundstage. Pls suggest an IEM or Headphone with good sub bass and base with wider soundstage to pair with Mojo2+Poly.
Lieven
It won’t fully drive the Senn. ELITE
Jamie
‘The Sennheiser HD800S and Mojo 2 combo is excellent. I didn’t expect it to sound this remarkable but I could listen to this all day long. Clarity, precision, excellent PRaT, a good amount of overall body, nice bass impact and all that with a musical presentations. My ears approve.’
@Lieven yet you say the above in your latest comment: “It won’t fully drive the Senn”. What gives?
Lieven
An amp can make a headphone sound good but that doesn’t mean it can reveal the full potential of the headphone