What is the Chord Electronics Mojo 2?

The Mojo 2 from Chord Electronics is a portable DAC and headphone amplifier. For those of you who have no experience with products of this type, but are looking to improve your headphone listening experience, there are a couple of key points to note. 

Firstly, a good-quality DAC and headphone amplifier will undoubtedly provide higher-quality audio than your standard headphone jack (or Bluetooth!) on your mobile phone or computer.

Secondly, while the above is true, even the most expensive products cannot make up for poor-quality listening equipment. So if you’re considering a headphone amplifier like the Chord Mojo 2, put those free earphones you were given to one side! 

Now for the product review… 

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Chord Mojo vs Mojo 2

Straight out of the box, the Mojo 2 doesn’t look all too different from the original, except for one new button. This is no bad thing; if you’re familiar with the original, then making the upgrade will be a piece of cake. Plus, for a workhorse product like this, we’re really just focused on the performance. That said, the matte aluminium casing is a nice touch and gives the product a premium feel. 

The ball-shaped light-up controls are likely to divide consumers; they are functional but perhaps not the easiest interface to navigate. We’ll talk more about the Mojo 2’s interface and its functionality in the following section.

At first glance, there are also a wealth of connectivity options. Similarly to the original, the Mojo 2 has been designed to integrate with the Chord Poly—a clip-on addition that transforms it into a portable music streamer. It also includes a USB-C port which is a welcome addition to the device. 

However, the real strength of the Chord Mojo 2 should be its audio quality and capability to shape the best sound. We’ll dive into this in more detail a little later. Now for more on that interface and how to control the Mojo 2…

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User Interface & Versatility

With any device like this one, it is assumed that users will know what they want to achieve. To get familiar with the product and how it can help you achieve this sound, the user manual provides a handy guide. It discusses the function of each control and is worth having on hand until you’ve gotten to grips with the product.

Since you’re here reading this though, here is our summary of the Chord Mojo 2’s controls.

Essentially, there are three controls (not including the power button which we recommend turning on). These include an ‘up’ button, a ‘down’ button, and a ‘menu’ button which cycles between various parameters.

Within the menu function, select which item you wish to control. Choose from: volume, EQ (4-band), brightness, crossfeed mode, and control lock (so you won’t knock your settings when carrying the device around). Adjust any of these using the ‘up’ and ‘down’ buttons.

To give credit where credit is due, you’d be hard-pushed to come up with a better user interface than this while limited to only three buttons.

Colours are used to represent which parameter you are controlling, and the controls have been organised as logically as possible. The EQ controls being placed together in rainbow order is a nice detail too. 

While the EQ functions allow for a good amount of control over output sound, we did find it a little clunky to use at times. We’d also have liked a dedicated volume control added to the device for a smoother user experience. In our opinion though, the range of controls, the way they work, and their conciseness more than make up for a little clunkiness.

Sound Quality

Really though, it’s all about the sound, so let’s jump into the part you’ve been waiting for!

Sound quality is where the Mojo 2 really comes into its own. It is truly something to behold – more detail, greater width, and incredible dynamics. The level of transparency is very impressive and allows the music to speak for itself. 

We listened to a range of audio materials and utilised a range of different headphone models to give the device a thorough test. The performance results were clear. Vocals, in particular, have more depth and their subtleties are allowed to shine through. This is all set in the context of a soundstage with great width and dynamics. 

Despite being a portable DAC, it is able to compete with many full-sized, desktop DACs. It has excellent dynamic range, low distortion, and low noise levels; supreme qualities for a portable device to boast. 

The crossfeed feature is an interesting addition to the product. It aims to simulate the sound of a real-life loudspeaker setup for an alternative listening experience. The results are very impressive and, particularly with open-back headphones, can be very convincing.  

The Verdict

After spending a week with this product, we were impressed. Overall, Chord’s Mojo 2 is a solid, no-nonsense DAC and headphone amplifier that does exactly what it should. It combines pristine sound quality, high-quality construction, and versatile audio features. 

Although the user interface might take some time to get to grips with, it is more than worth it for the sonic payoff. With plenty of control over your sound, you can tailor your audio to suit your needs. 

The transparency of this DAC and its wide soundstage add richness and depth to any audio. We appreciate that this is something you’ll need to hear to believe though. So, why not pick up a Mojo 2 and see for yourself? Be sure to let us know what you think!

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