Mytec Brooklyn

Randy Myers

Randy Myers

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I was just reading about this little piece. Has anyone tried one? It sounds like a pretty decent all in one pre-amp, DSD dac, with full array of digital inputs, plus an analog input and both rca and xlr outputs. Also has MQA.

Just curious if this little machine can actually perform at high levels. How is it built? etc...
 
I actually had read that thread and a few different reviews. I was wondering if any users in the forum have tried one of these. Particularly wondering about the quality of the pre-amp functions. Is it a good pre-amp also, or really a DAC with add on pre-amplifier capabilities.
 
Randy

Are you looking to swap out your DAC, preamp or both? If just the DAC to have remote switching capabilities and keep the STP-SE then the preamp becomes less critical. I wouldn't worry about MQA until that "vapor ware" actually exist is something other than magazine hyped demos. Others to look at are the Benchmark DAC 2, the Nuprime DAC-10, Auralic Vega, etc.
 
Hey Jack,

If I were to make a move it would be to replace both pre-amp and DAC. I believe the W4S DAC is an excellent DAC and I do not imagine getting an improvement there unless I were to go with something like a Lampi, etc. :).... The idea is to simplify being able to connect all sources to one unit and simply select the source I want to listen to. However the last thing I would want to do is sacrifice sound quality in any way. Therefore doing some basic initial investigations.

I have considered McIntosh C47 (growing up in Binghamton any consideration means that a Mc version is thrown in). I have also thought about the matching SST. Nice pre-amp which can have all of the options thrown in. I was reading about the Brooklyn in TAS that arrived over the weekend. It seems to have a lot built in for the price. Pre-amp, headphone amp, DAC up to DSD256, ESS9018, Femto clock, MQA (does not really matter to me), all inputs both digital and analog (with built in phone preamp, not that this is a big deal to me), both balance and unbalanced outputs, made in the USA, remote functions through a Windows application, etc.

Seems like an awful lot of functionality for the price. But, is it a compromise in SQ? So this was my reasoning for investigation.

It is not like I have any reason to want to get rid of my STP-SE and DAC-1 LE. Just having to set the proper combination on the pre-amp and DAC for the particular source is the only real inconvenience :).... (headphone amplifier would be nice, which Mc and SST both have also).
 
I friend down the road has one. No bad for the price didn't like the phone section. Its a little better than my Mytec 192 DSD Stereo DAC . We played some MQA on the DAC but I liked the same songs in a DSD format vs MQA.. We both liked the Mytec feed from a external pre-amp vs using teh Mytec as a pre-amp. A little to forward for me. Not a bad DAC Randy but I'm not sure it is as good as the W4S DSD DAC you own.. My opinion of course.
 
Thank you Chris. I am looking for opinions so it is appreciated. So it sounds like you did not feel it worked well as a pre-amp?
 
Randy

I think you are giving up a lot going from the STP-SE to a combo unit just to not have to push a button on the DAC. I would just look at DAC's with remotes as the DAC-1 can be beat even buy the other ones in EJ's lineup. I have a DAC-2 as well as the STP-SE but since they both use the same remote on the same frequency you can't use the remote for both or you could just move up. If you want to try a combo unit you can try both the DAC-10 and the Benchmark DAC-2 for 30 days so you can see for yourself if they work as a preamp. As I'm sure you know the Benchmark is made in Syracuse and Nuprime is a California company that owns the factory in Taiwan. The Benchmark is factory direct and you can try the Nuprime from AA.
 
Hey Jack,

Thanks for the input. I think you are confirming what I had suspicion of, that the W4S pre and DAC would be a better sounding combination. But after reading the article and doing some research I just had to get some opinions :)....

That is so funny, I did not know that Benchmark was made in Syracuse. I lived in Syracuse for about 20 years prior to moving to the West coast. The Benchmark looks interesting :)....

Hmmm... the Nuprime looks pretty interesting also. How do you like yours? How would you compare it, both DAC and Pre-amplifier abilities to your Wyred? Pretty sleek looking gear... (much better than the benchmark to be honest).
 
Randy

The DAC-10 replaced the DAC-2. The W4S can only operate as a preamp in the digital domain whereas the Nuprime can operate as a full function preamp/dac which is how it is being used in my Family Room system. In the main system I used it as a preamp just for a short time as a test but then as just a DAC. As a preamp it has a lot in common sound wise to the STP. The reviewers in fact think the most highly of the preamp section. As a DAC the two are comparable and just slightly different flavors of the same ESS9018 chipset. Unlike using the two W4S components together you would have a separate remote for the DAC-10 and the STP-SE. Gives you the convenience you are looking for and keeps all the features of the STP. As to the looks they are aimed at different markets. The Benchmark gear has traditionally been aimed at the commercial market. Looks are not that important in the recording studio.
 
I will probably stay with the W4S equipment, however if I did end up going with the NuPrime DAC-10H it would be to replace both the DAC and the pre-amplifier. In this way there one be a single box with it's own remote controlling the whole shebang. Just have to decide if this makes sense. Having one less box would definitely be a desire for me, but I have to be sure that I am not giving up SQ and over all quality... :)....
 
Randy

You can try one from AA to try for 30 days and only be out the return shipping. Only way to find out, but I can assure you that you won't be giving up sound quality on the DAC side as to the preamp that would be up to your ears.
 
It sounds from your previous post that the pre-amp stage is fairly well rated.

Jack, thank you for your input. I do appreciate your thoughtful responses!

I would love to keep them both, like I would have loved to keep the Job. But at this point, just getting back into the crazy hobby, I can't afford to keep multiple pieces of gear even though I would love to.
 
Hey Jack, something I just came across that you might find interesting. In TAS they list the Benchmark, the Mytec and the W4S DAC2 as DACs. They list the NuPrime DAC-10H as a pre-amplifier with DAC.
 
Randy

If you haven't, read the review of it from Stephen Stone. He emphasized the preamp section so that is probably where they got their classification from. Give it a try you would only be out $25-30 to find out if you don't like it.
 
Yea, thinking maybe trying it. Also thinking of the matching SST, which would be a full fedge pre-amp... but probably out of my current price range :)....
 
I talked to AA today. Their sales person talked me out of buying a DAC-10H. He said it would be a huge step down from what I have :).
 
Randy

Every sales person has opinions, but since they don't carry all of the brands in question or if he doesn't own them then how would he know? Which of their other higher margin products did he try and guide you to, PS Audio? I think you are fine where you are but I also don't think he knows what the hell he is talking about either. And that's my opinion and I'm not selling anything.
 
Hehe... and I value that opinion. Believe it or not he did not try to step me up to anything... I was kind of shocked :).
 
One thing that could have come in to play was if he got any indication that you may be doing a test drive. Then if you bought through him he might be on the hook for commision if you returned it. Don't know what their system is and after all of these years have never talked to them on the phone. And yes I am surprised he didn't steer you some other direction. My experience is that the STP-SE is a more flexible unit on the preamp side and slightly better sounding. The DACs are to me a toss up and just slightly different flavors.
 
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