Chord "Mojo"

Try turning the Mojo in its side. It will increase the surface area which will help dissipate the heat.

 

Meh... There is no difference between USB and optical for me. I just use optical to not have to deal with the delay of the Mojos USB when switching a song. Have you tried it without charging at the same time?

 

I hope you got it for a good price! Given all its troubles stated in this forum, I find it very hard pressed to find a portable dac/amp option that is cheaper/better that outperforms it at around 380 dollars.

 

I agree with the GO2A...that's why I have the Geekout V2+ infinity. The GO2A is portable, but I was along the lines of a portable stack. For that you would have to go to GO v2+ which is priced currently at 500. I wonder if I should go get a modi multibit now, though I would rather just go to a Gungnir Multibit(after reading all the posts here) after having a feeling that the ZX2 might be pull able more nuances than a modi multibit(only for iems. when I connect to my studio monitors....it doesn't sound good at all). ><

 

The USB input on my Mojo seems to be dead, but I +was going to see if anyone can recommend troubleshooting ideas before I return this to Amazon.

By way of background I have had issues with the USB input before. When I had the Mojo loaner initially the Chord POS micro-USB connector was not included. I have multiple micro-USB connectors but could not get any of them to work with the loaner Mojo for use with my Iphone. I eventually received the Chord one that had been included in the box and that did, in fact, work.

When I bought my own Mojo lo and behold the Chord micro-USB did not work straight out of the box. However, now my own micro-USB cords did work (the same ones that did not work with the loaner pair). Even though it is BS that Chord's did not work, I didn't care too much as my own had more suitable lengths anyway.

Fast forward. Last week I was using the Mojo with my IPhone and everything was fine. I was called away and turned off the Mojo for a few minutes. When I returned to my bedroom and turned it back on I could not get the Mojo to work with my Iphone. I tried several different cables but had the same issue. Interestingly though when I plugged in the cable the source orb would turn red indicating the Mojo knew the source was 44 kHz. But music would just play from my Iphone speaker and not through the headphones plugged into the Mojo.

I tried several different cable as well as other Iphones to no avail. I thought maybe the Apple CCK had died, but checked it with my camera and it is fine. I then tried the Mojo with my computer (which has the Mojo driver installed) and the Mojo is not showing up as a device.

I suppose it could be a bad cable but I have tried a few now and the same cables seem to work well for other purposes, including transferring picture files from my DSLR. So, I don't think the problem is there. And it is very strange that the source orb lights up but sound is not outputting and Mojo is not recognized by my PC. I have used the Mojo with an optical input from my Sonos streamer and it works fine with that so I think this is purely a USB issue.

If there is some troubleshooting I would like to try it. I do like the Mojo, but given I have to ship this back to Europe I am incline to return to Amazon for a full refund while I can and not a replacement. I am skeptical of a device that fails so soon. I do like it but think of this as a device of convenience and if it becomes a hassle it is not worth it to me anymore.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Edit: My IT department just gave me an Anker USB cable and said if that did not work then the issue is the device and not the cable. However, the cable is like 3 meters and my recollection is that Chord says it cannot guarantee any run longer than 1.5 meter will work. Anyway, I will give it a try, but any other suggestions are welcome.

 

Did you use it banded to something, with a USB cable plugged in? The connector isn't a snug fit with the socket (like the scary Fulla 2 connector), so it's possible that random shearing forces damaged the socket/solder.

I fretted about this quite a bit, broke one OTG cable before making an ugly "gumshield" out of Sugru to support the cable, and stop it twisting and shearing in my coat pocket.

I know that this is no real help in diagnosing what's wrong, I'd say your main choices are dropping Chord an email to see if they want to play nice, or returning it while you can.

Edit:

It's worth saying that my PC didn't recognise the Mojo at all, unless I plugged it in directly to motherboard USB sockets on the back- any sort of handy integrated hub seemed to stop it from being seen. Also, I assume you had the drivers to hand? Of course you did.. sorry, have to ask, as you never know.

 

Thanks. I think the USB socket is damaged. I tried lightly shaking the Mojo and I hear ratting so that is likely the issue. The thing is I don't use the Mojo as a portable and there shouldn't have been any stress on the socket as my cables lie flat on the bed or couch and I don't stack with my iPhone. They just lie next to each other. That said I always felt that connection was a Potential weak point given lack of tight fit and am not shocked it has failed.

Trying to decide whether I give it another chance with a replacement or move on. If I really loved the Mojo I would be more inclined to get a replacement. But I thought it was good for what it is but not a must have product. Based on this experience and my gentle use I just feel this could easily happen again.

 

It's more likely that you're hearing the power and volume balls rattling. At the same time, I would not be at all surprised if the USB connection had failed. Yours certainly wouldn't be the first. Friend of mine had one that had a faulty port right out of the box. It happens.

If you don't love the sound, and this goes for anything, there's not a lot of point in persevering. Though whether there is anything better than you can drive off an iPhone, and still be easily-transportable, will depend on what you're trying to drive with it.

 

Return it and jump on a ZX2 if you use iems!

 

New Chord Mojo add-on "poly", which i guess would solve transport/usb issues costs more than the mojo itself..................><

 

Hilariously, John Franks of Chord is ranting in broken English on the Mojo Head-Fi thread at all the horror caused by the pricing and weird feature set of the Poly:

It's no mystery why some people are psychotically anti-Chord, even beyond what's justified by the shortcomings of some of their gear and its interesting pricing; Chord really do seem to be tossers.

"Poly is not normal technology it far higher than the usual" - bear that in mind when "when so many guys are saying so much ill informed comment", mmkay?

This is how they like to represent themselves to the world?

 

Apparently so. Sad!

As someone who owned (and enjoyed) a Mojo, it's certainly disappointing to see crap like this. This behavior probably isn't a surprise to some, but I don't keep close tabs on who makes a habit of acting the douche in this hobby.

 

It's not "normal technology," @zerodeefex. Indeed, "it far higher than the usual." Honestly, I don't think any of us lesser beings could hope to comprehend its myriad complexities. Open your mind to the transcendental mystery that is the Chord Poly! Only then might your lizard brain begin to understand.

 

I'm terrible at remembering who is or isn't a douche, awful at nursing grudges for the same reason.. but goodness me.

I still use my Mojo, and am enjoying it with the Martians, but there is definitely a bit of me that was waiting to see what the music player addon was like. Given the weird feature set and stupid price, importing a ZX2 and selling the Mojo might well be a better plan.