Review of Mojo Audio Mystique V3 DAC


Purchased the Mystique V3 DAC months ago to replace a Naim DAC V-1.  Okay, the Naim certainly is not in the same league, but is no slouch for the money either.  The Mystique however is multiples better....and much more expensive.  Go figure.

The Mystique is set on a Quadraspire Reference X stand and has a scratched VPI DB5 Magic Brick on its head.  The DAC sounds wonderous of course.  It is fed by a Naim UnitiServe (powered by a custom external PS) through a Nordost Valhalla 1 digital cable.

In my system, I’ve never heard such resolution, dynamics, soundstage and micro-detail.  Mojo has really pulled out the stops regarding power regulation and it shows.  The soundstage is so stable and full.

All of this is fed through a Manley Neo-Classic 300B (Takatsuki tubes) preamp onto ATC 40 active floorstanders with Gaia II footers.  Decware ICs, Patrick Cullen Crossover II PCs, WireWorld Silver Eclipse 8 ICs pre>ATCs.

I just installed a Perfect Path Tecnologies The Gate, so we’ll see how that goes in addition to the other upgrades.

My therapist gave me written permission to explore my inner audiophile child.  She said it was healthy....at least that is what I heard.
celtic66
When I bought my dac, Ben told me he was planning on an improved version of the Mystique, which if I remember right included upgraded chokes. He said he was not going to offer the upgrades to V3 owners, but he talked about offering a trade-in program. This was last year, and he has yet to make an announcement, though. The V3 works so well for me that it is hard to fathom it getting any better. I have it paired with a Laufer Teknik Memory Player which is a good mate with the V3.
I'm still loving my v3, Bill.

I've done extensive upgrades on my digital front end as well as other system tweaks, and with each one, I feel like I'm unlocking more of the v3's capabilities.

2 things:

I confirmed with Ben at Mojo that the Schoeder Method double IC's will not damage the v3.  I've confirmed that with your cables.  Sounds awesome.

I tried an Omega Emat+ under the v3.  Maybe the mats don't play well with the 5 choke power supplies, or the EMI/RFI barrier in the chassis, but the sound went a bit flat and compressed, and I pulled it out after a day.  This mat had been in the breaker box for about a day before going underneath the Mystique.  I probably should have been more patient, and I'll probably try a mat under there again once all my mats get to 14 days in the breaker box.

Anyways, would love to hear your impressions of the Mojo DAC.  I've always wanted to compare it to a Lampizator (as well as Audio Note, MHDT and SW1X)

VeroGuy
Mojo Audio Mystique V3 DAC In my system, I’ve never heard such resolution, dynamics, soundstage and micro-detail. Mojo has really pulled out the stops regarding power regulation and it shows. The soundstage is so stable and full.
Mostly due to them using R2R Multibit dacs, it’s what they do, "make music sound real", warts and all if a bad recording.
And how it should be, not to neuter the best recordings by making the bad recordings sound more listenable.

Cheers George