Is the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge or Lumin D2 good buys in 2021?

@jackd good points, that helps with the confidence.  I just don’t want to get stuck with a hunk of metal next year that’s laggy or no longer supported.  
@erik_squires the Empire is baller. I would never personally spend that much money on something like a streamer/dac/pre, diminishing returns.  In my opinion, that money is better spend on speakers and amps.  My perspective as a musician who owns all the best guitars, tube amps, drums kits, and studio recording equipment. You can chase and chase but 2.0 can only sound so good..

@helloistben


It is for sure too rich for my blood. :)

Ok fellow audio friends, I have made a very non-scientific determination (because who cares about measurements that are beyond humans perception?): The Lumin D2 is light years better than the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge. This is after about 3 hours with each unit. 
The D2 makes the music I’m listening to sound like actual music. I can hear the bass, the hi-hats don’t singe the ear drums, and the mids are just pronounced enough to cut through the mix. 
Describing the Mytek is tough. I will defer to my initial impression, Harsh and Thin. If that’s what you’re into then it’s the right streamer for you. I wanted to like this unit a lot more, especially because it looks amazing and was expensive. Combined with the absolutely awful mConnect app, crap manual and website, and constant need to get up and switch between MqA on/off, I would say this is ok at $1200.  

Hello OP,

Are you using the Mytek as a Pre?  If so, yes.  As a DAC however it sounds very good for me.

Perhaps after my next purchases I'll think about auditoinong the Lumin though.

@erik_squires see original post for set up.