Mojo Audio Mystique EVO

I’ve owned the whose who in CD transports: CEC, Teac VRDS, even an old all metal CDM-1 in a 50 pound Sony deck.

Not one of those sounded even close to the first prototype MacMini music server I built back in 2009 with a linear power supply I made from spare parts laying around my shop.

That’s why I got into computer audio. None of those CD transports held a candle to even the most basic of computer audio.

Earlier this past year I auditioned a McIntosh MCT500: a $5K, very heavy, dual laser, metal disk tray, advanced clocking, CD transport with a USB port.

It was no comparison to my computer audio system. I couldn’t listen to that MCT500 for very long before it fatigued me.

So don’t get me wrong: all CD transports are not better than computer audio. So far the only one I’ve found is the Jay’s transport which sells for about HALF the price of the McIntosh.

There are comparisons between the Jay’s and the CEC and the PWT online. Most people pick the Jay’s transport hands down and find those other transports sound softer, slower, and off time and tune.

Apparently most of the hard core CD spinners these days are going for the top loaders, like the Jay’s, Denefrips, and Pro-Ject.

Yes, the transport matters. But the digital cable and power cord also matters in terms of the sound output of the transport. The footers matter also. The fuse matters. Oh my. Very important really. So much matters.
I have the some of the best ancillaries on the PWT and do feel it is a good comparison to the Jay’s or any great spinner. Hijiri cabling, QSA fuse, Townshend footers etc….

Must hear the sonic differences or lack of them in your own system. For me spinning vs server is very close. I owned a tricked out Mini, LPS and all the software upgrades, and moving to my current server front end was a substantial sonic upgrade. At least for me in my system.

I would love to try a Jay’s or Pro-Ject transport in my rig with my cabling and footers. I would need it as a trial purchase for comparison purposes.  If it is significantly better, to my ear, than the PWT I would buy it. Better for me is not a matter of more detail or crisper leading edges, but more a matter of natural tone and fluidity. 

Photos of our new 100% machined chassis are now up on our website:

https://www.mojo-audio.com/mystique-evo-pro-21-d-a-converter/

Our next gen EVO63 will use a similar chassis.

Hi All,

Bear with me, I will get to the point😊!

I have thoroughly enjoyed my used Theta DS ProBasic III DAC that was probably  $2,500 when new. It is teamed with a PWT. This was after a succession of delta sigma DACS that always left me gritting my teeth as they all sounded too edgy in the treble.

The upgrade bug bit. As a first step, I purchased a Soekris 1421 in order to understand what a positively rated "less than $1000" DAC could sound like.To my ear, the Soekris had more detail but was also more sterile compared to to the Theta.

Based on what I read on this thread, amoung others, I purchased a used Mystique V3 about a year ago. I really enjoyed the V3 and felt I had made a great decision.It sounded similar to the Theta but with more detail. It gave me a relaxed and organic sound in my system.

Of course, I could not leave well enough alone.

FINALLY here is the point. Again, this thread was persuasive and my new EVO B4B was delivered yesterday. After only one day I am impressed. The B4B provides more detail, which seems to be translating into a deeper and wider soundstage, more ambience, and better separation between voices and instruments.

And it is not even broken in yet!

I am probably speaking to the choir here so thanks for listening!

Dsper