Comparing Mytek Brooklyn to Schiit gear

[mjm6]

Folks,
 
I'm the market for a good quality DAC/HP Amp combination, in the ~$2000 range. It appears the Brooklyn and a multi box arrangement like the Mjolnir/Gungnir would be similar in price.  And of course, there are probably lots of others that could be compared similarly as well.
 
I have a few preferences...
 
I own a Lyr2 and like it a lot. At the moment, I am using a Fiio X5 as the digital source and into the Lyr2 through an analogue interconnect. I could continue to use the X5 with either of these two options, through the digital output, and then update that at some point in the future. I run a pair of NOS Siemens CCA's in the amp.  After testing a bunch, those are where I have settled, and I'm quite happy with the sound.
 
In my home system, I have found that I like NOS DACs, like the Peachtree DECCO (original), and the Metrum Octave, so that tends to favor the Gungnir as the DAC, and since I like the house sound of the Schiit amps, that favors them considerably.
 
I run a tube preamp in the home system, also with Siemens CCA's in there, so you can get that I like the sound they produce.
 
I am using a new HifiMan X v2 headphones, which recently replaces a pair of HE-400i phones. The X has a more immediate sense to it, and it feels like the soundstage is more clearly articulated, and overall presents a fuller sound.  I want to now see about getting that HP running with balanced cables, etc to complete the system.
 
While at RMAF, I listened to the Gungnir/Mjolnir combo in both balanced and SE (through the same HPs but I don't recall what they were, maybe HE-400i's).  It produced a more complex and involving sound in balanced mode that I felt was a considerable improvement. Unfortunately, I didn't try the Brooklyn while there.
 
So, I guess I'm asking about whether I should consider other options like the Mytek or just work my way up to the Mjolnir/Gungnir.
 
Strong opinions about these and other possible contenders in the ~$2000 price range are appreciated.
 
 
---Michael

 

[Muinarc]

You are looking for both a DAC and AMP or a combo and the total budget for wither option is $2k correct? I heard the Brooklyn at RMAF and was quite interested in it. I don't think it has that great of a headphone amp section. It wasn't bad but It might not pair so well with a planar like the HEx you have. That's one of the benefits of going with separate components, you can mix and match a little more, but of course you have more wires and it can eat desk space pretty quickly. The DAC section of the Brooklyn struck me as a very competent implementation of the ESS9018 dac and sounded similar to the LH Labs Vi dac I had.
 
There are a lot of combos starting to appear in this price range, you shouldn't discount Audio gd's gear or the Chord Hugo, Benchmark DAC2 HGC, Questyle CMA600i and such.

 

[mjm6]

Yes, that's the idea!
 
I guess the question I was going for is; "Does the Brooklyn HP amp work well, or would it be a disservice to use that as a single box device?".
 
I really like the sound from the Metrum Octave that I have (original model), so considering a Musette would be a viable option, and then something like the Mjolnir for a HP amp. The problem that I can foresee is that the Mjolnir won't sit on the Musette properly, and the Musette won't sit on the Mjolnir properly (I don't think) because of size and the tubes, and the vent on the top.
 
So, they may not pair well physically.
 
I'd really love to see a comparison of the Gundgir and the Musette, but it appears nobody have made that side-by-side comparison, and based on my preferences, those two are likely to be very high on my list and in the appropriate price range.
 
 
---Michael

 

[Muinarc]

Man I hear ya. I've been going through the DAC rabbit hole for over a year now and it just never ends. TBH if I were in your shoes with a DAC that I like, I'd just upgrade the amp and call it a day. Unless you're needing some specific functionality from your DAC like MQA support or something, when you find a DAC you like you need to hold onto it for dear life!
 
I was actually looking into the Musette but what I really want is a small Menuet at about 60% the price. Maybe they'll use the Musette as inspiration and make a "double" Musette with 4 Transient dac modules, that would be perfect.

 

[mjm6]

One clarification...
 
The Octave is in my home system, and I don't currently use it in my HP system at the office, so ATM, I am using the DAC in my Fiio X5 as the converter. Then, from there to the Lyr 2 through an interconnect.
 
So, I am considering a major upgrade by eliminating the DAC in the X5 and going into something like the Musette or the Gungnir and then to the HP amp (whatever that may be as well, but probably the Lyr 2 for a little while).
 
 
---Michael

 

[Muinarc]

  One clarification...
 
The Octave is in my home system, and I don't currently use it in my HP system at the office, so ATM, I am using the DAC in my Fiio X5 as the converter. Then, from there to the Lyr 2 through an interconnect.
 
So, I am considering a major upgrade by eliminating the DAC in the X5 and going into something like the Musette or the Gungnir and then to the HP amp (whatever that may be as well, but probably the Lyr 2 for a little while).
 
 
---Michael

 
I see. I am using a Cavalli Carbon at work and waiting for my goldilocks DAC. You must have a lot of space if you can fit the Gungnir in there. If I had the room a Gungnir multi-bit would be high on my list, it's a very solid DAC.

 

[knopi]

Kind of weird that there is almost nothing about Mytek Brooklyn DAC on headfi. I own it more than half year. I am not the best about writing some informations or reviews but I am very satisified. So I will write a little. Design of chasis is nice it is smaller than it looks from photos, materials are quality but definitely do not look luxory in real as from photos, the display on front panel looks also nice and you can almost everything change on display like sensitivity of brightness etc, one thing I do not like is that display is seperate on two sections. What is really amazing is that Mytek really care about supports manuals and newer firmwares on their website everything is so easy and synoptic.
 
I am using  Brooklyn as dac preamp together and sound is fantastic via my active speaker. I do not hear any hiss from speaker. Sound is brutally dynamic which headphones probably never will as well as realness tones, so I do not have any complain about or do not have needs to go higher with some separate preamp etc. but definitely I would like to try separate preamp but do not have needs. Unfortunately I did not have chance try Brooklyn with headphones but in my opinion sound will be also great via some headphones like HE560, LCDX/3/2, Ether Flow etc. why? Because this type of headphones like quality all in one solutions and Brooklyn is pure and dynamic and have 6watts to low impendence. I would not recomend it for IEM/CIEMs because with in ears there would be sure big hiss and more than from Hugo for example.
 
In December I am going to go to some studio and want try some headphones with it mainly LCDX and HE560 which I know very well and always like it as one of the best sweet spot in headphones.
And also I will have chance try hopefully soon my Brooklyn with my friend which have Yggdrasil and top electrostatic system, could be very good time listening will let know but different is have something for example 10days at home and different is experience only few hours from meet, it will not say much to me.
 
As regards  this question:

I'm the market for a good quality DAC/HP Amp combination, in the ~$2000 range. Brooklyn or Gungnir multibit with some nice separate amp..

Nothing I can say. But as I said if you have quality planars headphones I think Brooklyn will be very good choice because planars sounds quite nature in general which is always good for all in one systems. If you have dynamic headphones maybe I would go/try separate system.
I would be very interesting to try myself for example Yggdrasil with some quality ss amp against Brooklyn and see result..  

 

[jcn3]

i agree -- surprised there's not more comparison given the price point.  the gungnir multibit + mjolnir 2 ($2100) should be a killer combination -- i love my gumby and the mjolnir can drive just about anything.  i would have gotten a mjolnir, too, but have a stax rig that i couldn't dump.
 
only down side of the gumby/mjolnir combo is that it doesn't do dsd -- not a big thing for me, but is for some.