Chord Electronics Toucan review

With the Toucan, Chord has produced an unusual pairing of DAC and headphone amplifier - and created a supremely efficient and usable product Tested at £800.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The Toucan has an unusual mix of features, but it’s an impressive performer

Pros

  • +

    Pure, unexaggerated sound

  • +

    impressive detail resolution

  • +

    excellent build

  • +

    fine on-board DAC

  • +

    two headphone outputs

Cons

  • -

    Doesn’t make sense with anything less than high-end headphones

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An high-end headphone amplifier with a built-in digital-to-analogue converter isn't something we've come across before. But should you need this blend of talents, the Toucan is a great buy.

It's part of a newly expanded Chordette range, which aims to deliver top-quality sound in small, beautifully made packages.

And the tiny Toucan certainly packs it in: there's two analogue inputs – an RCA plus balanced XLR – and USB digital input. Standard audio digital inputs, such as coax and optical, aren't offered.

Better than a budget DAC
That's a shame, as the on-board DAC is great. It's a big step ahead of budget units such as Cambridge's DAC Magic in terms of transparency and dynamics, and not far behind Stello's £750 DA100 Signature.

The Chord has two full-sized headphone outputs. Both can be used together – and, rather surprisingly doing, so doesn't dim the overall performance. That's great news, because this is a fine headphone amplifier.

The Toucan sounds pure and massively detailed. Straight from the box there's an element of edge and aggression, but given a few days worth of use this fades away leaving a very natural, unexaggerated sound.

From Dvorak to Drake, the Toucan takes all music in its stride, delivering it in a lively, entertaining and honest fashion.

Switchable filter
There's a switchable filter to make headphone imaging sound a little more natural. It makes the sound less demanding, but also less transparent; we left it off.

You'll need top headphones to make the most of this Chord: something like the £250 AKG K701 should be a bare minimum.

Our only gripe is that our test sample – one of the first off the production line – had an overly sensitive volume control.

The Toucan is a tiny, two-in-one triumph – we can't wait to test the rest of the range.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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