Digital Processor Reviews

Ok,
nice piece of Journalism.
People tell me the same sort of things about the Chord stuff, I'm coming to the idea that the Mojo is "today's" version of the 1970's Linn LP12 discovery, a simple device that "sounds" better. ( the LP12 retailed for around $1,000 back then)

Everywhere I look, I see civilians using the iPhone as a music source, they'll buy after-market earphones from the Apple Store, then they're pretty much done.

Those wanting or having discovered better performance from something like the JDS combo might decide to ( or not to ) bother with extra electronic little boxes.

I suspect that when these civilians encounter that MOJO they'll want one, it's a charismatic kind of thing.

But it's more than that, isn't it, it's a Linn/Naim set-up that fits into a shirt pocket and can sit on a Coffee Shop table. It's a totally attractive little thing that everyone will want to touch and try.

So, I'm thinking, it's the Gateway device into the Future of High-End music performance. The same price as the Phone itself but with no monthly service contract.

I think that Franks & Team hit a Home Run.

I recall first hearing a Linn, playing Sweet Georgia Brown from a Sheffield Labs Vinyl. wow, what an eye opener that was! and thru Naim Nait & Linn Kanns, right up against the wall. I can still remember the "sticker shock" I felt. ( I bought the LP12/Ittok/Asak right then and there ).

Now we have digital music sounding wonderful and we have the Mojo introducing folks to affordable high-end.

I love the British Stuff.

Tony in Michigan

Canadians havta pay $800 bucks unless they come to the States where they'll pay only $600.

And they don't have all that Military expense to cope with.

Tony in Michigan

ps. it don't seem right somehow!, wonder what they cost in London England?

I purchased mine mainly to go from the Onkyo HF Player app on a 128Gb iPod via the Lightning connector/Camera cable to the Chord and then via its Line output to the Aux socket on the car audio system.

192/24 WAV/FLAC/ALAC or whatever and DSD if you like it. What more do you need? (I don't have any music greater than 192/24.)

PERSONALLY I LIKE THE FPGA. I will NOT pay crazy prices (up to 20,000 dollars) for a box containing a 10 dollar DAC chip which does all the real work plus a power supply, a simple clock, and a little audio amplification for the other 19,990 dollars. So my 'fixed' DAC is a dCS for the same reason.

Tony - 399 UK Pounds. (Less about 21% tax if you tell them you are taking it back to the USA).

It's tricky getting that VAT scrubbed off, I've done it though.
FPGA is the telling thing, how many outfits have the Engineering talent?
I'm figuring Apple will include something nice in the next few years or less.
High Quality Music reproduction has been democratized.

I lived in the UK when VAT was only 13%

Tony in Michigan

Throw your Pono's into the trash bin.

Competitiors need to watch and learn how to make a proper portable Audio DAC.

Wanting 'high quality' non-CD audio for my new car and having mistakenly not ordered the Burmester/Mercedes audio option (which cannot be retrofitted) I just purchased the Chord Mojo, a 128GB iPod, and the Onkyo HF player iOS app about ten days ago. The Mojo, set to 'line' output, plugs into the 3.5mm 'Aux' input on the 'standard Mercedes issue' audio system.

I thought of purchasing the Astell & Kern Junior but had doubts if its output was sufficient to drive the Mercedes audio system. Additionally it is very limited (no 'apps' and is effectively non upgradable).

The Pono has the same limitations. Additionally it was always hard to find here in the UK and now seems to have totally vanished.

In principle all three do the same job but though the Chord/iPod/Onkyo App solution was more expensive I KNEW it would work. I don't NEED any other iOS apps but the iPod might be a less heavy and clumsy solution for my Naim streamer iOS DLNA control point and/or the iOS JRemote (Windows 10/J River Music Center) software I use in my home system than the over large and too heavy iPad I currently use.

To me upgradeability without replacing it all, and flexibility, is more important than initial cost.

The Pono? Looks excellent to me for what it is intended. The fact that I think Neil Young is a pretentious old fool who produces high-pitched whining noises out of his nose rather than actual songs from his mouth SHOULDN'T influence me but it does.
:)

John, instead of trying to convince us that this misshapen blob of black plastic with bulbous, walleyed blinking lights is "drop-dead gorgeous," why not just tell us how beautiful it sounds? We're audiophiles. We'll likely buy it no matter how ugly it is.

forgive my newb-ness to portable, and i know there are converting cables galore out there, but i'm struggling to understand how i could get this signal from the mojo into my amplifier if at all.

Well, ok, I was curious about headphone power for Sennheiser HD 600s but I'm happy to accept your answer.
Chord is nice stuff.
I've heard that: Modules will be available for doing various things including SD Card reading & playing.
So, I'm interested.

Maybe interested in their other stuff too, 'in for a penny' sort of thing.

Betcha Franks gets a "K" for Chord's export success.

Tony in Michigan