Mytek Brooklyn+microRendu -or- PS Audio DS Junior?


I have a PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC for beta testing. The outcome of that will either be to keep or return it. Should I decide to return it, the upgrade bug will not be vanquished. One deciding factor would be that my computer is accessible to my audio system only by Ethernet. I would need to transmogrify that to USB which entails additional cost. If I return the Stellar GC-DAC...

I'm interested in either the PS Audio Directstream Junior, which with their onboard network bridge will deal with the Ethernet issue, or the Mytek Brooklyn, which would still require an Ethernet to USB solution. THE DS Jr is slightly more expensive than the Brooklyn+microRendu, but I have a trade-in for the Jr that makes it negligible. At this point, MQA is a big question mark for me, but I do use Tidal, and buying something new that doesn't support it does make me a bit queasy (victim of Audiophilia Nervosa).

The end solution may be to audition both, retaining return rights, but that's a lot of fuss.

Q: Does anyone have experience with both and can share their impressions, opinions and recommendations? If you have other recommendations based on experience with either of the stated choices, I'm all ears.

Thanks! CV
cvalle

Showing 2 responses by gdnrbob

I, for one, am not going to worry about MQA until it becomes the standard bearer.
Like HD-DVD versus BluRay, this stuff has to shake out.
Bob
I went with Bluesound Node to see if it was as good as advertised.
Though I have only used it for a few days, I am impressed. I bypass the Bluesound DAC and use my Schiit Dac's.
Bluesound can integrate with Tidal, so I have access to MQA, too.

I hate investing in a format that may not achieve the universal usage the developers envisioned. And, if it does, then the cost of ownership should come down, as well.