I have been enjoying the Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ for about a month now, and it ultimately came to replace my much-loved Bel Canto DAC 3.7.
For some time now, I have been streaming MQA files from Tidal via a Bluesound Node 2 which can perform the first MQA "unfolding." I found this to provide a marked improvement in sound quality over both undecoded MQA FLAC files as well as regular 16/44.1 FLAC files. This in turn made me curious about what a full MQA DAC could do, first into the DAC 3.7's analog input, and then as a standalone DAC/Pre.
I auditioned a well broken-in demo unit of the DAC+ (which I ultimately purchased). With the DAC+ doing the full MQA decode, the sound quality was clearly improved over the Bel Canto on its own. Perhaps due to Mytek's pro audio roots, the DAC+'s fixed output voltage was too hot for the 3.7's analog input, so I had to use the Mytek's analog attenuator to cut its output voltage by -6dB (also achievable via placing jumpers inside the DAC+).
Playing Tidal files via the Node 2, the Mytek's strengths as a DAC were easily heard. It is extremely open, coherent, detailed, pure, punchy, and highly transparent, projecting a huge and well-ordered sound stage. These characteristics were also on display when streaming AIFF files from an SSD via a Bryston BDP-2 into the Mytek's AES/EBU input, though with greater weight and authority over the much more modest but still satisfying and easy to use Node 2.
It should be noted that the Bel Canto 3.7 runs its analog inputs through an ADC as volume control is only performed in the digital domain. As good as the sound quality of this setup was, I was thinking it a bit silly to go from D to A, back to D and again to A, so I ran the DAC+ directly into my amplifiers. The sonic characteristics I described above were maintained with an added dose of transparency and fine detail due to the more direct connection, although the 3.7 is no slouch to be sure.
Many people have touted the benefits of using an LPS to bypass the stock switching power supply in the DAC+. After a few weeks of happy listening, I added an Uptone Audio JS-2 linear power supply into the mix to power the DAC+. The JS-2 brought a still lower noise floor, better dynamics and imaging, deeper bass and a richer overall tonality. Despite its cost, I believe the performance of the combo justifies the added expense.
I should also note that the provided Apple remote provides easy access to all day-to-day functions including standby/on, volume, source and display wake+mode. A recent firmware update allows the DAC+ to "remember" the volume level set for each input, fixing my only quibble with its functionality.
All in all, the Mytek DAC+ packs a great deal of performance into a tiny package. I find myself listening longer and more often.
For some time now, I have been streaming MQA files from Tidal via a Bluesound Node 2 which can perform the first MQA "unfolding." I found this to provide a marked improvement in sound quality over both undecoded MQA FLAC files as well as regular 16/44.1 FLAC files. This in turn made me curious about what a full MQA DAC could do, first into the DAC 3.7's analog input, and then as a standalone DAC/Pre.
I auditioned a well broken-in demo unit of the DAC+ (which I ultimately purchased). With the DAC+ doing the full MQA decode, the sound quality was clearly improved over the Bel Canto on its own. Perhaps due to Mytek's pro audio roots, the DAC+'s fixed output voltage was too hot for the 3.7's analog input, so I had to use the Mytek's analog attenuator to cut its output voltage by -6dB (also achievable via placing jumpers inside the DAC+).
Playing Tidal files via the Node 2, the Mytek's strengths as a DAC were easily heard. It is extremely open, coherent, detailed, pure, punchy, and highly transparent, projecting a huge and well-ordered sound stage. These characteristics were also on display when streaming AIFF files from an SSD via a Bryston BDP-2 into the Mytek's AES/EBU input, though with greater weight and authority over the much more modest but still satisfying and easy to use Node 2.
It should be noted that the Bel Canto 3.7 runs its analog inputs through an ADC as volume control is only performed in the digital domain. As good as the sound quality of this setup was, I was thinking it a bit silly to go from D to A, back to D and again to A, so I ran the DAC+ directly into my amplifiers. The sonic characteristics I described above were maintained with an added dose of transparency and fine detail due to the more direct connection, although the 3.7 is no slouch to be sure.
Many people have touted the benefits of using an LPS to bypass the stock switching power supply in the DAC+. After a few weeks of happy listening, I added an Uptone Audio JS-2 linear power supply into the mix to power the DAC+. The JS-2 brought a still lower noise floor, better dynamics and imaging, deeper bass and a richer overall tonality. Despite its cost, I believe the performance of the combo justifies the added expense.
I should also note that the provided Apple remote provides easy access to all day-to-day functions including standby/on, volume, source and display wake+mode. A recent firmware update allows the DAC+ to "remember" the volume level set for each input, fixing my only quibble with its functionality.
All in all, the Mytek DAC+ packs a great deal of performance into a tiny package. I find myself listening longer and more often.