My take on the Mytek

[flez007]

I was very interested to give it a try after so many good lines iI read on the Mytek 192 DAC, as well as many recommendations from guys I respect like mep and BruceB, so I managed to get a demo version at RMAF and is currently sounding with my Oppo as a transport on PCM only.

I have not downloaded the drivers to connect it to the Mach2 and try the USB2 input, and no DSD files yet, just redbook reproduction (I promise to report those two other options once I get some time to download drivers and software).

This little DAC is a resolution engine, if you are looking for a gentle, velveted, tube-like DAC go find it elsewhere (like the modified Havana I also have or an Accuphase DAC which I really like) - the Mytek extracts all there is in my silver discs collection, details, ambience, dynamics, decay, etc...I do not know what a Weiss or a dCS could do above this as far as resolving bits, really!

I never thought a piece of equipment like this could be also labeled as "musical", but it does - I can sit down and listen for hours without any strain or fatigue, trying different eqs, upsampling and curves is also fun.

My unit also has a preamp section to drive analog inputs, and volume can be set for either digital domain, analog or bypass.

Bottom line: I liked it, and I am sure I will get all its full potential once The USB2 and DSD files are operational, the thing is - I am so busy listening my CDs that I have no rush!

More later.

 

[Ron Party]

Thanks for the observations. I'm considering getting one for my law office to drive my new Seaton speakers.

 

[mep]

Fernanado-I'm glad you are enjoying it. Wait until you hear DSD files playing through it! Happiness is seeing the Mytek display light up and say "DSD." As Ringo said, "It Don't Come Easy."

 

[flez007]

BTW, I am liking more the Upsampler ON for PCM, some others do not...I find a better treble definition compared with the toggle at OFF, where I hear some minor ringing.

 

[puroagave]

i ordered the mastering vers thru Myteks online store and they're dropped shipped directly from the factory in Poland (?!) mine should arrive by early next week. i have a berkeley Alpha dac for comparing redbook, flez and i will compare notes im sure. considering the very reasonable price, that it does DSD and has a 30-day money back guaranty - i had to try it.

 

[mep]

Rob-I don't think you will be disappointed. I will be interested to hear about the comparison between the Mytek and the Alpha DAC.

 

[flez007]

Further notes:

I managed to install the Mach2 via the SPDIF input using a Stello USB/SPDIF converter, just as I was using the Havana. This is just another world in terms of resolution, speed, dynamics and ambience recreation - the Havana is a nice and gentle DAC, but the Mytek is what digital is supposed to deliver, 3 hours and counting, zero listening fatigue (and beleive me, I get tired fast on clinical sound).

 

[mep]

Fernando-I know where you are coming from brother. We all owe Bruce thanks for turning us on to this DAC. I hate to keep beating a dead horse here, but you have not heard the best of what digital is capable of until you hear some good DSD files being played back. There is an ease and naturalness that sounds scarily like tape does. And that is something I never thought I would say about digital. I was in JT's room at RMAF when he was playing the DSD version of Shelby Lynne's Just a Little Lovin' album and somebody asked JT to switch over to the tape. I heard no difference and I was shocked. Now I agree with MikeL that if I had the master tape dub of the album and the DSD file at my house and could hear it over my system and in my room, I might have heard differences between the two. Under show conditions, I didn't.

 

[flez007]

Fernando-I know where you are coming from brother. We all owe Bruce thanks for turning us on to this DAC. I hate to keep beating a dead horse here, but you have not heard the best of what digital is capable of until you hear some good DSD files being played back. There is an ease and naturalness that sounds scarily like tape does. And that is something I never thought I would say about digital. I was in JT's room at RMAF when he was playing the DSD version of Shelby Lynne's Just a Little Lovin' album and somebody asked JT to switch over to the tape. I heard no difference and I was shocked. Now I agree with MikeL that if I had the master tape dub of the album and the DSD file at my house and could hear it over my system and in my room, I might have heard differences between the two. Under show conditions, I didn't.

Agreed! - my route towards DSD is already on-going.

 

[mep]

One more thing, if your preamp can accept balanced connections, I highly advise running the Mytek to your preamp via the balanced connections.

 

[flez007]

One more thing, if your preamp can accept balanced connections, I highly advise running the Mytek to your preamp via the balanced connections.

Wow! Much more gain from the XLR outputs! Bass is more solid and a tad more soundstage back from the speaker line! Still liking it more with Upsampler ON.

 

[mep]

Yes, there is much more output from the XLR outputs (6dB I believe). I happen to really like using XLR connections and I wish my entire system was capable of XLRs. For now it is my Mytek and my Ampex 350s. I only have two XLR inputs on both of my krell preamps. I'm also running XLR ICs from the Krell preamp to the Krell KSA-250.

I haven't steered you wrong yet Fernando. Give me time though...

 

[flez007]

One other observation: In my system both the analog and the digital variable output options stink bad!, this unit needs to be used with an external preamp and bypass the volume control knob (which is very easy to perform via the front menu options).

 

[mep]

I have the mastering version so I don't have the same issues.

 

[flez007]

I have the mastering version so I don't have the same issues.

So do I Mark - the black mastering version has a volume knob at the left hand. (same knob as for selecting menu options)

Press Menu, rotate to Volume, push the volume knob and rotate until it shows Bypass.

 

[mep]

So do I Mark - the black mastering version has a volume knob at the left hand. (same knob as for selecting menu options)

Press Menu, rotate to Volume, push the volume knob and rotate until it shows Bypass.

Oh, I thought you had the non-mastering version. I put mine in bypass mode on day 1. I knew I wanted to use my preamp to control volume.

 

[Bruce B]

I use mine in Bypass and just use the volume for the headphone output.

 

[jap]

One other observation: In my system both the analog and the digital variable output options stink bad!, this unit needs to be used with an external preamp and bypass the volume control knob (which is very easy to perform via the front menu options).

Thanks for this info.

 

[flez007]

Further notes:

I stand by my original claim regarding the resolution power that the Mytek Stereo 192 has, I beneffited from the bass power and slam the unit has on both ripped files (WAV) and CDs alike. Now...I am having some difficulties to tame some midrange ringing on some tracks, it doesn't matter from what source it looks that the Mytek overloads some time in the mid-hi section and rings...I tried with unbalanced cables and got almost the same issue.

I have tried with Oversampling ON and OFF and sounds better at ON, filters at SLOW and SHARP and liked SHARP better, volume is BYPASSED and feeding directly my power amp which has input knobs.

It will be hard for me to return to my good/old Havana DAC, the Mytek kills it almost on every aspect - but maybe now I have an answer on what a DAC like the Weiss or dCS can do from here and up.

(again, no DSD yet, just PCM)

 

[mep]

It is a different DAC with DSD. I find the bass too much of a good thing with ‘normal’ digital meaning anything up to 24/192. I don’t understand the ringing in the midrange though. I haven’t heard that and I’m pretty sure Bruce would have steered us clear of the Mytek if the ringing was endemic to the design.

How come you aren’t running the Mytek into your preamp vice straight into your power amp? Since I believe the preamp is the heart of any stereo system, I have never been a believer of bypassing it so you can run the converted digits straight into a power amp. That is a Frankensystem to me. I know some others have extolled the purity of such an arrangement, but it just won’t fly at my house.
I have too many sources to even think about bypassing the preamp.