Chord Huei

[Motortown review]

Anyone here using a Chord Huei phono stage?

I have fitted an AT VM95ML cartridge to the Huei and have quite a lot of hiss especially when increasing the gain to what I consider a decent level for listening.

I also use an AT OC9XML with no problem, it only really is a problem on mm and not mc.

It doesn't really distract from the music, only really notice it when I get close to a speaker with nothing playing.

I have the gain set to pink or blue depending how I feel. Blue sounds a bit livelier.

 

[ClassikFan]

I got better results from my Huei when I switched to an MC cart.

 

[Motortown review]

I got better results from my Huei when I switched to an MC cart.

I have both, and MC is definitely quieter than MM.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Hi @Motortown review ,

I don't think my Huei reviews have been bought across post site upgrade, I included:

Whilst trying to solve the initial hum problem Chord had asked what cartridge I was using. They recommended NOT using the Huei set to MM but MC, with the impedance wound up as high as possible and the gain minimised. Always willing to experiment I endured a few thumps and clicks while resetting the Huei and had a degree of trepidation as I lowered the stylus. Now THIS WAS MUCH BETTER.

The sound balance was immediately improved with the bass being fully present and correct. Over the next half an hour the Chord Huei blossomed. Having moved on to side one of ‘The Wall’ ‘The Happiest Days of Their Lives’ started. As the track progressed Nick Mason’s drumming and his use of the cymbals was superb, moving from punctuation to an insistent rhythm. Having listened to these albums many times over the decades on a wide variety of systems it is hard to unhear musical lines. This means that I find my mind filling in the missing details even when they are not supplied, but when they ARE it is so much better. This phono stage is good at resolving detail.

If it is of interest I will repost the reviews.

M

 

[lazycat]

They recommended NOT using the Huei set to MM but MC, with the impedance wound up as high as possible and the gain minimised.

So. you spend £1100 on a MM/MC stage but are told not to use the MM but wing it with the MC?

Umm...

 

[Mr Underhill]

So. you spend £1100 on a MM/MC stage but are told not to use the MM but wing it with the MC?

Umm...

With my cartridge.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Just double checked the two reviews, my TT was:
LP12/ARO/Geddon + Dynavector DV20x2H

I later tried it with a Troika.

Additionally I took the stage over to @George47 and tried it on his Audio Note Io II/2 MC Cartridge with an ANS S2 transformer. Preferred this with the MC settings too.

Good sounding stage, even if I wasn't in love with the MM settings.

 

[Nopiano]

I’ve not heard one, but I’m a pretty avid consumer of reviews and this is one Chord device that seems to have had a few equivocal comments made about it. There have been at least two offered for sale here on the Wam too. Maybe something isn’t quite right with it?

On the noise front, Chord seem to refrain from quoting the typical signal to noise ratio, as you might read from, say, Musical Fidelity. I wonder why, given that SNR and overload margins are so critical in a phono stage?
As it happens, I couldn’t live with all the forgettable coloured lights either, but that’s a bit academic.

The Wam review is here…
https://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum/threads/chord-huei-phono-stage.107170/

 

[lazycat]

Just double checked the two reviews, my TT was:
LP12/ARO/Geddon + Dynavector DV20x2H

Well, that makes more sense. But I would be very unhappy if the MM was as noisy as the OP suggests.

That and the appalling ergonomics.

 

[Lurch]

Not tried this Chord offering and by the sounds of it I won't bother. However in the search for a cost effective PS to run a vintage 0.14mv EEI 555MCP & A&R P77Mg in my 2nd system I did buy an ifi Zen Phono, and what a stonking little thing it is, 4 gain settings (36 - 72dB) & 3 different loadings (2x 47k, 1k, 110 Ohm) + subsonic filter, all, for £149. It punches well beyond its price and is quiet across all settings, it even has balanced out via a 4.4mm socket. George is due here mid November for my BO at which point I will offer it up for as a review sample.

 

[ClassikFan]

I got better results from my Huei when I switched to an MC cart.

When I say I got better results, the MM wasn’t noisy, just not as incisive as d hoped. Enjoying my Hana SL through the Huei playing the Eurythmics as I write.