2. digital
  3. 192924-183437

I am checking out these DAC's for my system

I am building a system and all I have left to get is the DAC and maybe a streamer.  I really an at a loss on which DAC to get.  I am wanting to stream music and also use my system for watching movies.  My equipment currently is SMC audio tic-2 GT24 preamp and DNA.5 GT24 amp with GR Research NX-otica's and Open Baffle subs.  The DAC's that interest me are

Mojo Audio Mystique X SE- I will have to purchase used and I will need to use and adapter to connect to my TV because it doesn't have toslink.  

Mojo Audio Mystique Y-  It only has a USB connection so I am not sure how to connect to my TV.  Mojo audio DAC's have really good reviews but If they only had toslink.  I am really intrigued with the choke in the power supply.  I think there might be something to that.  

Holo Audio May KTE-  People say the mojo sounds better more natural but this DAC still holds a pretty good price used and doesn't last long on the used market.

Musetec mh-da006-  This DAC is interesting but I am afraid it will be fatiguing.

Audio Mirror Tubadour v-  This just seemed interesting but afraid tubes won't last very long if I watch a bunch of movies etc.

Denafrips terminator plus- These are always for sale used which make me nervous.  

If you have any of these DAC's or have listened them let me know from your favorite on down.  

128x128brbrock
deep_333
1,540 posts
 

If you're getting a bit too OCD central with dacs in 2025, it implies that you have a horrid room  (sonically) and/or the wrong speakers.

danager's avatar
danager
962 posts
 

@invalid 

The Space Tech Labs DAC was on my consideration list and I've actually heard one at Al's shop.  It was very good as is all of his stuff but I wasn't sure I wanted a Tube DAC. 

To be honest what sold me on the Mojo was his white paper about DACs.  I liked what he said and his explanations correlated with what I was hearing.  45 day return policy, built like a truck in America and it pairs so nicely with the SPT passive preamp and  the SPT hybrid tube amp.  I'm really happy with the sound. 

Speakers on the other hand...  not a lot of places in the northwest carry large horn speakers.  There is a place that have the Jubilee on display but it's either the room, the electronics driving them or the combination or just the speakers but they don't sound anywhere near as good as they should for the money they're asking and in their listing space a huge step backward from what I'm hearing at home.

jzjsoil
1 posts
 

A entry level streamer + DAC made by a Chinese company has been reviewed well recently, Eversolo DMP-A6. And the high-end models A8 and A10 are worthwhile to try too.

torontodt
8 posts
 

I went through a lot of DACs before I landed on the Holo May KTE.

It's paired with the Holo Serene preamp and I find it has exceptional clarity, good vibrance and loads of musicality. Really easy to listen to for a long time.

Have a read a couple of recent re-reviews and it's sill holding it own nicely.

 

tom2441
20 posts
 

I just upgraded my DAC from the Denafrips Pontus II to the new Mojo Audio Mystique Y AM DAC.  I am using USB only from a Innuos Pulse and really appreciated the logic Benjamin outlines on his website about not needing a lot of extra "stuff" if you are only using USB so why pay for it. It is still burning in but the degree of soundstage width and depth is a dramatic improvement over the Pontus.  Another step closer to rivaling my analog front end!

https://www.mojo-audio.com/mystique-y-am-d-a-converter/

More to discover