MOJO AUDIO MYSTIQUE Y DAC FULL REVIEW! ~ The Sound Advocate

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The Mojo Audio Mystique Y DAC appears to have most if not all the sound quality of the established Mystique X Model; Howard Milstein gives it an in-depth review!

Mojo Audio has released their new Mystique Y digital-to-analog converter. We were lucky to have an early sample sent here for us to investigate and review!

The Mystique Y uses the same ultra-purest, non-oversampling, direct-coupled, R-2R typology that has made Mojo Audio’s DACs a favorite of so many music lovers.

Specializing in digital-to-analog conversion, Mojo Audio and its designer Ben Zwickel, are driven by their love of music rather than fashionable marketing trends. Their pragmatic minimalistic approach has won them numerous awards from prestigious audio publications including “Best Product of the Year” for 2022 in The Sound Advocate.

This new addition to Mojo Audio’s lineup is nearly identical in circuit, components, and power supplies to their award-winning Mystique X but engineered to sell for half the price!

The new DAC is Available in three versions starting at only $3,999. Each version uses different chokes in the analog power supplies: ferrous core, amorphous core, or nanocrystal core. The new nanocrystal core choke option yields a level of emotional content, harmonic nuance, and organic character, previously unimagined from a digital source.As with every Mojo Audio product, the Mystique Y is hand-built in the USA from the finest parts available.

THE “Y” VS. THE “X TECHNICAL DIFFERENCES

Here are some of the technical differences between my reference Mystique X and the new Mystique Y models. The Mystique Y has only one input: USB type B, while The Mystique X has three inputs: USB type B, balanced XLR AES, and coaxial RCA AES. The lack of digital input for CD playback is reflected in its cost per se, as the designer noted that most, if not all of the company’s listeners are streaming their music for playback currently.

“Since over 80% of our customers exclusively use computer audio, we developed a version of our Mystique DAC optimized for USB. Nearly identical to our award-winning Mystique X in circuit, power supplies, parts, and chassis, the Mystique Y delivers all the Mojo at half the price “.

“Because the Mystique Y has only one USB input we were able to greatly simplify the digital circuitry. No need for an input selector, demultiplexer, or S/PDIF receiver. The AD1865 R-2R DAC chip is directly fed by the USB input module”

However, designer Ben Zwickel has stated that if there is a demand for a Digital input in the very near future, he will add it to the Mystique Y as such. One thing I like a lot: the new Y has a brighter pilot light (in blue) on the upper front panel as compared to the very subdued light on the Mystique X model.

In any event, both DACs are incredibly similar in design and parts as they can, in some circumstances, sound nearly identical while acknowledging some very subtle differences. We will go into these differences further in our review.

Because of the AD1865 DAC chip in the Mystique Y, it can sound a “tad” livelier, and a tiny bit more transparent, with a touch more dynamism in its overall character. On the other hand, because of the AD1862 DAC chip in the Mystique X, the X has slightly more liquidity, texture, and harmonic content. This can be summarized as a sound that is a bit denser, and slightly more texture-filled with playback content that exhibits a bit more concert hall realism.

To be quite blunt, the sonic differences are rather hair-splitting and most people would need to play the two DACs side-by-side in a reference system to hear these differences. The two DACs have been compared below and we will start by offering a list of technical differences between the Mystique Y DAC as compared to the X as featured here:

MYSTIQUE ‘Y’ SOUND QUALITIES

No need to beat around the bush here with the Mojo Mystique Y. The sound quality was truly superlative. I did all my auditioning with my Inuous Statement Streamer using the USB connection to the Mystique Y.

Other notable references were the Pass Labs 12 preamplifier, XA 30.8 power amp as well as the superb new GanFET power amp monoblocks by Argent/Pur, (recently released and will be reviewed here shortly). Speakers were the Q Acoustic Concept 500s and cables by Audience FrontRow- and Argent/Pur 12 cables.

The essence of the Mystique Y DAC is of course its intrinsic naturalness, which in itself was quite seductive. The DAC is rich and detailed in the midrange while also being a touch, lightweight in its spatial characteristics, and very neutral as far as its tonality, depth, ambiance, and soundscape properties. These aspects were never shown to be lacking with almost all the program material it was presented with. (see bottom). The DAC had a feeling of etherealness and spaciousness as well as being supremely “open “sounding within its subjective and technical parameters.

The sound emanating was far away from the speaker’s boundaries, as should be expected, and did this in a lovely and magical way. The tonality of musical instruments was first rate and never would you detect any deviance from its profoundly balanced and evenness presented within and beyond the soundstage.

All instrumental recordings both classical and popular had a freedom from coloration as well as a cherishingly smooth and relaxed sound quality that filled the front and sides of the listening room with wonderful orchestral decay and detectably perfect ambiance. A hallmark of the Mystique Y was a vibrant yet restrained presentation, albeit with great dynamics and detail when the program source demanded such.

Streaming various sources through the Mystique Y was a pleasure, to say the least. It is a DAC that will perform exceptionally well with any genre of musical sources and if you have a great, top-notch system combination, it will bring to life your most musically embellished recordings to a phenomenal realism.

While it is less “organic” sounding than the Mystique X (in the latter’s basic configuration) its detail and vigorously beautiful sound can equal the Mystique X in many situations.

MYSTIQUE ‘Y’ NC DAC VS. MYSTIQUE ‘X’ SOUND

Let us now explore the subjective and honorably specific differences in sound representation between these two DACs. As mentioned above, initially, the Mystique Y($ 6,000) will give the listener a feeling that the soundstage has been torn away from the loudspeaker enclosures, which it does exceptionally well. It displays an airy openness, that not many DACs in any price range can produce.

The DAC draws you into the musical performance and makes you less aware of any equipment in your upstream setup. In this respect, the results are inimitable in every way.

When switching back a few times to my reference (basic model) Mystique X, there will come a time in the listening sessions when you will notice a slight but definitive difference in the sound of these two units. While the Mystique Y appears to be a touch more expansive in the soundstage, further listening shows this to be a bit overrepresented when fully explored.

Initially, the Mystique X does sound a touch more enclosed within the speakers’ soundstage but after further experimentation, it appears that this is a bit aurally deceiving. After careful and detailed listening comparisons, my subjective feelings changed to a certain degree.

I believe the Mystique X contains an aura of integral and natural “musical” integrity as relates to a sense of an inherently more ‘grounded’ and subtly, liquid sound quality that differentiates and reaches a bit more into a recording studio ambiance and a concert hall’s natural acoustic.

To explain this in better terms, the Mystique X brings forth the reproductive sensitivities of the original acoustic that an individual track or performance was born into; whether in studio or a live concert hall. It portrays deeper and possibly a bit more natural warmth to a recording while also keeping the sound imminently “open” and with no restrictions on its depth perspective.

By comparison, the Mystique Y has the openness and neutral tonal attributes of the X with a slightly overall “lighter” yet expressive tonality. It delivers a “quicker” sound quality with a beautiful sense of detail and spatiality. The Y DAC has a spec more “airiness” in its reproduction qualities, but does not have some of the formal impact and ‘solidity’ of the Mystique X. Where it does outperform the latter is in its superb ‘minute’ bit of musical and instrumental ‘agitation’ that may invoke supreme bliss in many audiophiles. No doubt the bass impact is also there as well.

One’s subjective perception of these small differences remains solidified in the individual’s hearing and aural sensibilities. As such, each individual will have his own slightly discernable preference when comparing these two models.

UPDATED – MYSTIQUE ‘Y’ FE with Ferrous core chokes BASE MODEL

I sent back “Y DAC” and received the “Y FE Dac” nano crystal entry-level ferrous core choke unit to compare this unit to my entry-level X DAC apples to apples sort to speak. My current reference X DAC has several upgrades to the Y “FE DAC” I will be examining now!

The proceedings began as simply as plugging in the Mystique ‘Y’ fe to my internet direct connection and using my “innuous sense” on my iPhone and my current streamer “statement” by Innuous for digital playback. The amplifiers stayed the same that being the Argent/Pur monoblocks, Pass Labs XP 12, and my Q Acoustics Concept 500 loudspeakers.

Very quickly, the upgraded ‘Y” was found to have a slightly more profound sound quality than the standard ‘Y” DAC. There was no doubt that the sound had an uplifted, but neutral, airy quality to all the instruments in the playback material although the original and more expensive Y DAC showed more speed, sound immersion, and a better feeling of “presence” to the whole soundstage impression,

These were not huge differences by any means but it was interesting enough to make one take notice of the vast quality of orchestral sounds, giving the (downgraded) Y FE ) a feeling of various subtleties as to the vocals and instrumental passages that were explored with Qboz on the classical and popular list of source material.

These sonic differences between the Y DAC ‘FE” and the original unit were very subtle but noticeable. While the regular Y DAC sounds energetic and a bit more exciting, the Ferrous Core update ($3000) sounds more like my X DAC, which is a tad more harmonically dense and liquid. Both units have great easy sound with great timing that sets them apart from many other DACs. A choice between the two may come down to the important consideration of system synergy and experimentation if you have the 3 models available in your home system to explore;

I am not an overt vinyl devotee of most music, particularly classical with its flaws and all. Well-recorded digital music triggers a response that brings me a feeling quite similar to what I get when listening to live acoustic music in a real concert hall. Vinyl may have a feeling of liquidity but its imperfections leave me a bit lopsided on the emotional side.

On the other hand, outstandingly recorded digital music engages my full attention analytically and musically making me focus on individual parts of the performance as well as the overall experience, which can be a lifesaver in my listening quarters.

I enjoyed the Mojo Audio DACs that I tested. Immensely. In the world of high-end DAC’s the Mojo Dacs stand out as the finest in the field of audiophile sound quality. They recreate music of all genres with amazing and pleasurable impact and accuracy and this can not be denied.

OVERALL CONCLUSIONS

The updated ‘Mystique Y FE’ at its entry-level price point is certainly a model user and many audiophiles will love and enjoy it accordingly. As for this review, the original Y DAC is the model one should find to be more harmonious and lovable and I believe all the mystique Y’s will be shipped with these ferrous core choke updates. It is currently the best option for the avid enthusiast of Mojo audio DAC although once again, it has no digital input for anyone still in need of a Disc player which my X DAC (and still my favorite) already has. Ben Zwickel says that depending on the customers’ needs, a digital input may well be in the offering very soon.

As a comprehensive, examination of the units, The Mystique Y (starting at $3999.00) and Mystique X (starting at $6999.00) are theoretically the same, but still slightly different in sound quality. The Mystique X does have multiple inputs and the use of a 20-bit as compared to the 18-bit chip in the Mystique Y and as we conclude this comprehensive review, the X DAC is still my DAC of choice! However, both incarnations of the Mystique Y DAC are exceptionally great performers and as such, deserve an outstanding rating!

Reference Components used for evaluation: Loudspeakers: ~ Q Acoustics Concept 500 loudspeaker ~ Digital: Mojo Audio ‘Mystique’ X DAC ~ Innuos Statement server/streamer ~ Audio Note (UK) CD3.1x/2 player/DAC Analog: Audio Technica LP-7/ZYX Bloom 3 mc cartridge Amplification: ~Pass Labs XP-12 preamp, Pass Labs XA30.8 power amp Argent/Pur Mono-block amplifiers~ Cables/ Conditioners:Inakustik AC-3500p power station &, AC-2404 reference Air Power Cord ~ Argent/Pur 12 loudspeaker cables~ Audience Front Row speaker cables /interconnects ~ Clarus “Crimson” 75-ohm digital spdif / Audio Art 1 e” AC Power Cord