MyST 1866 Bluetooth, Optical, Coaxial, USB DAC/headphone amp impressions thread - Page 2

My New portable audio-video complete :)

This is really a very good dac. I wrote a review on 1866ocub (http://www.forum.mycroft.su/index.php?s=&showtopic=1184&view=findpost&p=3179), if I have little more time I will try to translate it into English.

I am really liking this device ;) I really am impressed by a fair few things so far, it is an idevice DAC for a start and it works by bluetooth but let us not forget the 3 other inputs it offers. In theory this could be used as your portable device and then at work or home. I have however had a few niggles, form factor is not ideal, it is smaller than some photos suggest (will get some pics up soon) and althoigh easily portable for size and even more so because of the bluetooth it seems like it could be a bit less long long but wider. It is thinner than an ipod classic but about an inch longer. Also the jacks are not perfectly lined up, something you would really want for something of this caliber and why my HiFiMAN RE-400 which i have been using with it mostly was just fine, the Sennheiser Momentum jack did not like it. Sound so far is a huge improvement on the iPhone 4 stock as you may guess, i mean really huge but more on that later.

Here is my initial blog post!

http://www.inearspace.co.uk/inearspace/News/Entries/2013/1/16_Entry_1.html

By the way the antena is better for sure. Had the iphone 55cm away and music played fine!

EDIT:

Typing error, i mean 55 inches..... sorry for the confusion!

Antena working different depend of situatio :)

Meta body make connection  a litle bit difficult :)

55cm's a giant leap better than the prototype we played with last year. That's like a difference between going into Earth's orbit vs going to the moon.

Q; though is that 55cm through clothes (or satchel), etc?

By the way, i done a typo in my last post, i meant 55 inches, it has improved vastly!

now i did not do any major testing, have been mainly focussing on the RE-400 review at the moment but can not help doing all sorts of tests with this. I saw that you guys had reported an antenna 'flaw', yes i guess we could call it a flaw. So i stuck my phone on the desk and had the 1866 in my hand and just wheeled my chair back until i lost the sound and measure from there. If at that distance you move it around too much though, maybe i spun side to side on my chair, it would go patchy. However it is always going to be a stable distance from each other on the go. I will get a bag out a bit later and try its functionality in some more life like situations. I think it will cope in a bag or pocket while phone i hand though and i think you could agree with me in saying that would be a game changer ;)

PS.

I am thinking that if i i get a wireless transmitter i could go iPhone > Bluetooth > 1866 > Bluetooth > UE9000 that would be a fun rig right ;)

EDIT:

In my pocket i reckon it was roughly 50 inches i got away from the iPhone. My pocket is of a dressing gown and rather thick. As long as they are both on your body you will be fine.

Just went again and measure a whopping 75 inches away while in my pocket! I lot signal twice during the moving away but regained to stable sound almost instantly!

Measurements are not badly effected by clothes it seems, however they can not pass through your body so if the 1866 is on the other side of your body to the iPhone you lose signal/

The PortaDAC 1866 has been complete joy to hear over the past two days.  I've been very impressed by the natural tone and spacious sound coming from the amp section.  Not that we shouldn't expect that for $995 .  

When I first read that the 1866 can receive 24 /196 via digital input I got excited but upon trying it via USB that doesn't seem to be the case.

http://www.musicaacoustics.com/wp/amplifiers/myst-1866/

Is it possible via coaxial?  Mine didn't come with a manual and there isn't much info out there about the limitations of each input signal.  Or am I missing a driver?  Windows downloaded a driver for the 1866 but maybe there is another one I need.

it converts these bitrates:

Thanks, I got an email from Dimitri at Musica Acoustics about the USB and Optical inputs but the BT and Coaxial input is new info to me.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimsonny 

it converts these bitrates:

 

optic can pass only 24/96

coax 24/192

usb 16/84

BT 16/44

 

Hope this helps!

Swimsonny,

How does the PortaDAC 1866 compare to the Tera Player?  Not many people have heard both like you.  

Thanks

Thanks, any more info just ask. I talk to Roman of MyST daily.

That comparison  I have never done while owning both so from memory. The Tera slightly more transparent and the 1866 tiniest bit warmer, smoother, better bass extension and airier with bigger soundstage. 

Wow, this is a good thread to ask info.    

The soundstage of the 1866 was really a pleasant surprise.  I wonder if I'll be in for more of surprise when I try the coaxial input.  USB tends to be the weakest link in terms of input so I'm guessing things get even better with coaxial.  Early impression was that USB was better than blue tooth but will elaborate on this more later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimsonny 

Thanks, any more info just ask. I talk to Roman of MyST daily.

 

That comparison  I have never done while owning both so from memory. The Tera slightly more transparent and the 1866 tiniest bit warmer, smoother, better bass extension and airier with bigger soundstage. 

Soundstage is amazing right. Was so impressed with my HD580 plugged in!

USB is better than BT with better quality music but with them both on 16/44.1 its rather suprising. Do you agree that with BT the quality is still stellar! And you should try Coaxial for sure!