Six DAC Comparison

@ brbrock

Yes.

I'm working on a Mystique Z that will be built around the PCM58 DAC chip and will have an external power supply. 

The power supply upgrades will be plug-and-play so customers won't have to send their DAC in to us for upgrades. 

The entry-level power supply will have Hammond chokes (like our Mystique v3) and the top-of-the-line power supply will be dual-mono with LCLC dual stage nano crystal core chokes and will have no electrolytic capacitors.

We're hoping we can sell the entry-level model for as low as $7,500 and we're expecting the top-of-the-line model will have to sell for over $15,000.

But don't expect to see anything sooner than the end of 2025.

We just purchased some new software and testing equipment that will be used in the R&D which I would expect to be a rather lengthy process.  

Benjamin brings up a very important point in that with any of this stuff, the subjective opinions of reviewers, manufacturers, equipment owners, and others are predicated by the personal experiences and preferences of the individuals providing their point of view, as well as their partnering equipment and music choices.  I can only refer to the "Disclaimer" portion of my post from 9/14 at 10:38pm, where I said, in part, 

"my subjective observations will be biased" and 

"The write-ups I will post are not intended to be interpreted as an authoritative “last-word”"

I do not expect everyone else to view things the way I view them.  However, keep in mind that I have twice owned the Mystique X SE DAC at the same time as I owned the Mystique EVO Pro DAC, and I currently own the top-of-the-line, flagship Mystique X SE NCZ version as well as the EVO Pro (with Z-chips) that was the subject of my write-up posted on 9/14.

I am currently focused on the LTA Aero but, as I stated in this thread previously:

I will save the Mojo Audio Mystique X SE NCZ until last and provide a comparison between the two Mojo Audio DACs.  My initial impression between those two DACs favored the EVO Pro but because of the many positive reviews of the X SE, my discussions with Benjamin, and my purchase of the NCZ version of the X SE, I will revisit my comparison between the two Mojo Audio DACs to find out if I reach the same conclusion.

@mitch2 I don't think you have to worry about people thinking you are biased.  You have been very transparent about your comparison.  I am interested because I have an smc amp and may get a preamp from smc so our systems might be very similar.  Have you ever thought about swapping the chips in your DACs and putting the z-chips in the new X SE NCZ?

The “Z” in X SE NCZ means the X SE unit I own already has the Z-chips, as well as nano-crystalline chokes (“NC”) making it essentially Benjamin’s current “flagship” DAC.

I did talk with Benjamin some time ago about moving the Z-chips from my EVO Pro to a non-Z, X SE but he said there was more involved than simply swapping the chips so I didn’t go forward with that.

I'd just like to say that this is brilliant, and greatly appreciated... particularly from the perspective of someone who's in the midst of searching for an extremely high quality DAC that won't break the bank. Products in the Mojo Audio line-up hadn't been in the running before, but they certainly are now.