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Mytek Brooklyn+microRendu -or- PS Audio DS Junior?

I have a PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC for beta testing. The outcome of that will either be to keep or return it. Should I decide to return it, the upgrade bug will not be vanquished. One deciding factor would be that my computer is accessible to my audio system only by Ethernet. I would need to transmogrify that to USB which entails additional cost. If I return the Stellar GC-DAC...

I'm interested in either the PS Audio Directstream Junior, which with their onboard network bridge will deal with the Ethernet issue, or the Mytek Brooklyn, which would still require an Ethernet to USB solution. THE DS Jr is slightly more expensive than the Brooklyn+microRendu, but I have a trade-in for the Jr that makes it negligible. At this point, MQA is a big question mark for me, but I do use Tidal, and buying something new that doesn't support it does make me a bit queasy (victim of Audiophilia Nervosa).

The end solution may be to audition both, retaining return rights, but that's a lot of fuss.

Q: Does anyone have experience with both and can share their impressions, opinions and recommendations? If you have other recommendations based on experience with either of the stated choices, I'm all ears.

Thanks! CV
cvalle
gdnrbob
4,471 posts
 
I, for one, am not going to worry about MQA until it becomes the standard bearer.
Like HD-DVD versus BluRay, this stuff has to shake out.
Bob
kendrick2
42 posts
 
For what is worth, my suggestion would be to focus on both sound quality AND ease of use.  I'm not the most IT savvy and found the streaming feature of the PS Audio DS Junior challenging and never got it to work.   If you are more proficient, this may not be an issue.  

As for sound quality,I  the PS/DS sounded good using a W4S modified Sonos as a source.  Later, I bought a Resonessence Mirus DAC, which sounded different but not significantly better than the PS/DS.  I then sold the Mirus and upgraded my source with the Sonore MicroRendu, Uptone Audio LPS1, Cardas USB connector and DC cable and Sonic Transport I5 Server.  Wow... I can honestly say that this setup with Roon, Hegel integrated with its modest internal dac and Harbeth 30.1 speakers is the most engaging, natural sound ever and the system is simple to use.  After trying several dacs, including some not mentioned, the lesson I learned is that the quality of streaming device just as important as the DAC, maybe more so. If it were me, I would lean towards the Brooklyn DAC and MicroRendu.  
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,381 posts
 
Well said @kendrick2 ! You are a wise man. Good to hear about those results, and not surprising. Cheers,
Spencer
gdnrbob
4,471 posts
 
I went with Bluesound Node to see if it was as good as advertised.
Though I have only used it for a few days, I am impressed. I bypass the Bluesound DAC and use my Schiit Dac's.
Bluesound can integrate with Tidal, so I have access to MQA, too.

I hate investing in a format that may not achieve the universal usage the developers envisioned. And, if it does, then the cost of ownership should come down, as well.


aberyclark
1,400 posts
 
Bob, have you compared the RCA outs of the Node2 to your Dac. I’d be curious how big of a difference the internal BS Dac performs to an external one.
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