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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
mzkmxcv
558 posts
 
Benchmark has its name for a reason. Based on the Brooklyn, Mytek should only be bought if you disable MQA and the volume control. 
 
@djones51 
 
 What measurements are you looking at in particular, as I don’t see it. Similar jitter reduction and the D50 has worse IMD. The D50 has better volume linearity at lower levels though. But yes, for the price difference, shows how overpriced the Benchmark is, which is saying something as it’s a bargain compared to most Hi-Fi DACs from established companies.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
D50, even without power supply is very cheap.  I expected bad quality to follow, but pictures of the PC board show good quality with most of SMT components (very repeatable process) similar to Benchmark.  There might be some non-SMT capacitors, but usually assembly house, even if it does SMT by hot air,  still has solder wave to solder other components.  
djones51
617 posts
 
 @mzkmxcv I didn't mean it measured as good as the benchmark but for the price it was a good deal for something less expensive.
astelmaszek
78 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
78 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. 
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