DAC Choices - $5,000 to $7,000

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We are really busy in this holiday seasons. Most of our stock ran out. We decided to roll out preorder basis for products that are backordered. Do check it out! 

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Cheers,
Alvin Chee
www.vinshineaudio.com

@mitch2 curious on your thoughts with the Mystique V3? Since it was used should be broken-in. Is it what you were hoping?

@rsf507 - Fed Ex is really busy and delivered it later than expected - this evening.  Since I have not had time to connect it, or to reengage the volume control on my preamp, I am going to need a couple of days or more to really get to know the DAC.  I can set it up tomorrow to run amp-direct through a balanced Goldpoint attenuator I have here, but I will probably not know how good it really sounds until I can run it through my preamp.  I would like to have it figured out before the end of the year in case I want to take advantage of current pricing on an EVO level Mystique DAC (before the planned 2021 price increase).

Even considering a less than optimal set up, the Mystique V3 is sounding pretty darn good over here.  Sort of a hard call vs. the Metrum Adagio since my system is currently set up for the Adagio DAC, using its own internal volume control.  My current digital set up prior to the Mystique V3 goes like this:

• Hardwired Ethernet from Orbi router to Bonn switch, then TP link optical isolators, then into the Antipodes DX L3
• Ethernet from Antipodes DX to Metrum Ambre (Roon Endpoint) 
• I2S from Ambre to Metrum Adagio DAC with internal VC
• Balanced cables from Adagio to SMc Audio preamp with VC removed (currently a unity gain active buffer)
• Balanced cables from preamp to SMc Audio monoblocks

With the Mystique V3, currently running:

• Same as above then Canare rca digital cable from Ambre to Mystique V3
• Balanced outputs from Mystique to Goldpoint Attenuator (i.e., VC)
• Balanced cables from Goldpoint to SMc preamp/buffer (still without volume control)
• Balanced cables from preamp to SMc monoblocks

I believe the Canare cable and Goldpoint attenuator are weak points but not sure about S/PDIF vs. USB inputs and whether one is better than the other on this DAC - Benjamin was not definitive on this point.  Therefore, I plan to try:

• First, taking the preamp/buffer out of the signal path and running balanced cables directly from the passive Goldpoint volume control to the SMc amps, and then
• Second, moving the Mystique closer to the Antipodes DX L3, which I can use as both Roon Core and Endpoint and therefore output USB directly from the DX to the Mystique V3.  I have both Curious and Totaldac USB cables here to try along with W4S recovery and ifi stuff I can use in-line if I want.  When I used USB, my preference was simply the Totaldac cable.  I will still need the Goldpoint sitting over by the amps to control volume and can try this approach both with or without the preamp/buffer.

The other thing I can do is to reattach the VC in my SMc preamp so I can try the same things listed above without the Goldpoint unit in the signal path - one less box.  I am in the process of figuring out how to implement a remote controlled volume control with display in my preamp and am considering both Khozmo and Tortuga units.

The other possibility is to try a different endpont with a USB output, such as the SOtM trio that I used to own.

I would like to get this figured out since the Mystique is possibly good enough to consider trading in on one of the new EVO models, which will be going up in price in January.  I will not yet say the Mystique V3 is flat out better than the Adagio but it plays harder and fuller in the bass and has perhaps a bit more tonal color over all.  So far, what I would call it is a very musically addictive DAC.

Sounds promising, even if not a revelatory change so far. Looking forward to the next update...