Chord-Mojo 2 + POLY

DAC with streaming attachment

In the audiophile world, the Chord Electronics brand has been setting sound quality standards for years, and their digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are regarded as some of the best on the market. The Chord Mojo 2, the successor to the legendary Mojo, paired with the Poly attachment, offers uncompromising sound quality in a compact format. In this review, we will take a detailed look at this set, comparing it with other devices like the RME ADI-2 DAC FS, and testing it in various configurations, such as with KEF Mu7 headphones and a stereo setup comprising the Naim NAC 202 / NAP 200, KEF LS50, and REL T5i.

BUILD

The Chord Mojo 2 continues the brand's tradition of distinctive design. The device is crafted from a single block of aluminum, which not only adds elegance but also ensures solidity and durability. Its minimalist casing is slightly larger than its predecessor, allowing for better arrangement of internal components. The colorful buttons, characteristic of Chord products, remain, although their functionality has been somewhat expanded. The switches are backlit with LED lights of various colors, indicating volume settings, inputs, and operating mode. However, in my opinion, their operation is unintuitive and confusing, especially in a sunlit room where the palette of colors consisting of several shades is not easily distinguishable.

The Mojo 2 is equipped with an updated FPGA chip, which serves as the heart of the entire device. Chord has implemented its own digital signal conversion algorithm, capable of handling audio formats up to 768kHz / 32-bit and DSD256. Unlike many competing devices, the Mojo 2 does not use typical DAC chips, which Chord claims results in superior sound quality. On the back of the device, there are two 3.5 mm headphone outputs that can operate simultaneously, making it an excellent solution for users who want to share music with others. The device includes both Micro USB and USB-C inputs for data transmission. However, a dedicated Micro-USB port is used exclusively for charging the device. The signal is output through two 3.5mm jacks, which also function as coaxial connectors.

Compared to its predecessor, Mojo 2 offers several key improvements. First and foremost, it features a new ATMEL-ATSAM3U1C microcontroller, which works in conjunction with an improved algorithm for the XILINX ARTIX-7 FPGA DSP processor. The ARTIX-7 now provides even better control over sound and more efficient distortion elimination. A new addition is the sound correction system and the "Crossfeed" function, which blends portions of the left and right channels with a time delay. Crossfeed emulates the stereo width effect, offering a natural sense of sound source positioning when listening through headphones, while also emphasizing the central presence of the source to improve the lack of a focused central sound and to highlight the range of the human voice. Mojo 2 allows users to customize the sound according to their preferences, which is particularly useful when using various sources and headphones. Additionally, Mojo 2 boasts a longer battery life, now providing up to 8 hours of continuous playback.

POLY

The Poly attachment is a perfect complement to the Mojo 2, transforming it into a fully-fledged network player. Poly offers support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, and DLNA, allowing for wireless music streaming from various sources. It is compatible with many popular streaming apps, such as Tidal and Qobuz, making it an extremely versatile device. Additionally, Poly features a microSD card slot, enabling music playback directly from portable storage.

SOUND

Mojo 2 + KEF-Mu7 Headphones
Testing the Mojo 2 with KEF Mu7 headphones, the first thing that stands out is the incredible clarity and detail of the sound. While the bass is not deep, it is wonderfully controlled, the midrange is full and natural, and the treble is crystal clear, albeit somewhat overly emphasized. The Mojo 2 easily drives the KEF Mu7, offering dynamic sound with a rather bright sonic character. It is worth noting that the upper frequency range was extraordinarily highlighted and too bright. In some tracks, the treble on these headphones could be piercing, which is likely due to the KEF Mu7's characteristic of slightly favoring the upper frequency range. The Mojo 2 plays cleanly, agilely, and dynamically, with a fantastic emphasis on details in every track. This sound signature is likely an asset for most equipment connected to the Mojo 2; however, when paired with the KEF Mu7, which exhibit a similar sound profile, it can lead to an overemphasis of the upper range details, resulting in an unpleasant and strident sound.

The Mojo 2, however, offers an adjustment option, allowing for the setting of high and low-frequency cut-offs. This enables better tailoring of the sound character to a given setup, improving what may be under- or over-emphasized.

Mojo 2 + Stereo System
In a stereo system configuration, the Mojo 2 shines brilliantly. Paired with the Naim NAC 202 preamplifier and NAP 200 power amplifier, along with KEF LS50 speakers accompanied by the REL T5i subwoofer, the Mojo 2 delivers sound full of energy and detail.

The bass is precise, strong, and quick, maintaining full control over the low frequencies. The midrange is natural and full, excellently showcasing vocals and instruments like violins, keyboards, and both electric and acoustic guitars. The high level of detail doesn't obscure the finest nuances in the sound. Instruments are clearly separated from each other on the three-dimensional soundstage, which the Mojo 2 presents vividly and emotionally. Vocals, as well as all kinds of instruments, possess weight, speed, and well-defined contours, maintaining a high level of dynamics.

With the dynamically sounding Naim set, accompanied by the detailed KEF LS50 speakers, connected with high-end Audiomica Laboratory-Miamen Consequence M3 speaker cables that excellently utilize the potential of this setup, the Mojo 2 is able to showcase a high level of sound quality, delivering details, emotions, and dynamics. The vocals sounded open, retaining their charm and clearly conveying the emotions the artist intends to express with their voice. In search of any flaws in this wonderfully sounding DAC, I could only note a slight lack of warmth and brilliance that could give the music a magical aura. Returning to the core aspect and describing the lowest frequencies, it must be said that the bass of the Mojo 2, paired with Naim, was impressive. The mid-bass and the lowest frequencies were tight, fast, and detailed, maintaining and emphasizing the rhythm and tempo of each song. The texture was also preserved, adding realism to the instruments.

Moving to the higher frequencies, the sound gained boldness, richness, and character in the company of the KEF LS50 speakers. The metallic percussion instruments wonderfully accentuated the rhythm, preserving detail, resonance length, and exceptional quality. The highs of the Mojo 2, combined with the metal dome tweeters of the KEF LS50, were presented exquisitely. The purity, resonance, sweetness, and absence of any harshness or brightness opened the door to a noble, clean sound with the right place among the rest of the frequency range. The sound was rich, and the instruments were perfectly separated, allowing more nuances to be heard from every record.

MOJO 2 USER MANUAL

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DRAWBACKS

Despite its many advantages, the Mojo 2 is not without its flaws. The most significant one is the lack of diverse audio outputs— the device only offers 3.5 mm headphone outputs. This can be problematic for owners of more professional headphones that often use larger connectors, such as 6.3 mm jacks or XLR, especially if the cable is not replaceable. Since I prefer listening to music through stereo system speakers and only use headphones when necessary, my biggest downside with the Mojo 2 is the absence of RCA connectors, which would allow integrating the DAC with a stereo system using more professional and accessible RCA cables. However, it is understandable that the Mojo 2 was designed with mobility in mind, where it primarily drives headphones. Unfortunately, the addition of an extra accessory, POLY, which is a separate component, does not add RCA outputs to the device, which would be preferred for connecting the DAC as a streamer to a traditional amplifier. This is unfortunate because, despite the somewhat unintuitive operation, it could have been a DAC that could replace my reference RME-Adi 2 DAC FS.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

DSP Processor: Xilinx Artix-7

Resolution: Up to 768 kHz / 32 Bit

Supported Formats: PCM, DXD, DSD with DoP

Inputs: USB-C / Micro-USB / Coaxial / Optical
Outputs: 2 x Mini-Jack 3.5mm Headphone Outputs
Output Power:

90mW (1 kHz / 300 Ω)
600mW (1 kHz / 30 Ω)

Dynamic Range: 125.7 dB
THD Distortion: Below 1%
Stereo Separation: 118 dB (1 kHz / 300 Ω, 2.5 V)
Output Impedance: 0.06 Ω
Dimensions: 83 x 62 x 22.9 mm
Weight: 185 g

Developed by: Łabędź Przemysław