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Which DAC: Benchmark, Mytek, Audio Mirror, Holo Audio, Mojo Audio?

Looking to upgrade my current Rega DAC-R and have been doing some internet searching and these DACs look interesting and fit within my price range:
BENCHMARK - DAC3 B - $1700
MYTEK DIGITAL Mytek - Liberty DAC - $1000

Audio Mirror - TUBADOUR III DAC - $1200
Holo Audio – Spring DAC 2/3 - $1900-2700
Mojo Audio - Mystique v2 SE DAC - $2500
The other option is to just stick with the Rega DAC-R
I play CDs only and would like to maximize that format. Anyone have experience with these DACs? I have no opportunity to audition them where I live.

Which DAC would provide the most significant upgrade from the Rega? The Rega frames the music well and sounds good with almost every disc I throw at it. I’m not shooting for different and I don’t want something that will limit what's  enjoyable (CDs or types of music).
128x128musichead

Showing 4 responses by astelmaszek

astelmaszek
125 posts
 
Also, best part about Chord DACs is that you can stream with a $39 Google Chrome dongle and you can't tell a difference between that and $5000 streamer. They are simply not jitter sensitive at all. 
astelmaszek
125 posts
 
Brand new Chord Qutest for $1500 will simply blow any of the above DACs entirely out of the water. See the latest Stereophile review.

I'll go as far as saying that Chord Mojo with a 3.5mm to RCA cable equals Mytek Brooklyn or Benchmark DAC3 in every area at $500 and bests them in quite a few. I've played with them all and currently own the Mojo, Hugo 2 and Dave in my three systems.
astelmaszek
125 posts
 
Qutest is neither sterile or analytical. It just is. It's natural. If the recording is sterile or analytical, the Qutest plays it that way. I've had it hooked up to the following:

1.) Focal Shape 65
2.) Aerial 5B/5T/7T with Luxman L590AX/Luxman L507UX/AR LS28+VT80/AR GSPre/GS150 combos. 

Focal Shape 65 is an analytical combo, it is a studio monitor after all and I can listen to Qutest 8 hours a day at my desk. On some records, I choose a warmer filter, but it's universally the records fault. The depth and width of the soundstage is only better by Chord Dave. The attack of instruments and then the decay is simply stunning.


astelmaszek
125 posts
 
@robelvick Texture is detail. Attack is detail. Decay is detail. Both PS Audio and Chord vastly exceed Mytek and Benchmark is those areas. As they do in treble articulation.

I'm not sure what you mean by detail but I just don't see it with PS Audio or Chord. Both come as close as possible to reproducing the original wave as possible. 
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