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Mojo Audio Mystique X SE

In a recent post where I was asking for cable recommendations for my system, most recommended DAC first (my weakest link), then maybe amp, then cables. I am looking for an end game (for me) DAC. The subject DAC from a price standpoint is endgame (again for me). The form factor is perfect, the reviews are mostly great, it won the excellent 6 DAC comparison by @mitch2., although the Holo May KTE was not in the test, but is a consideration. 

@soix feedback: 

I haven’t heard your Qutest or the Mojo, but from everything I’ve read they’re very different sound profiles with the former being more of a white wine and the latter much more of a red, so the question becomes if it goes too far in the other direction for your tastes.  If you’re looking for a warmer/fuller sound you may love the Mojo or you might find it a little too much of a good thing and/or too polite up top so having the ability to return it is key I’d think.

I am a little concerned with the potential warmth & lack of detail. Also, USB and linearly based upon the Stereophile review. However, I am looking for a DAC that is very musical & and reduces or eliminates ‘digital glare’.

The digital side of my system: Aurender N150 > Chord Qutest w/sbooster+ultra > PS Audio BHK pre > Moon 330A > KEF Reference 3’s.

Before I buy, I am looking for feedback from previous or current owners along with those who have heard the Mojo Mystique and how it would fit in my system, along with other DAC’s you might recommend. Thanks!

 

signaforce
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,925 posts
 

my 2 cents

a few years back i tried a mojo (believe it was a mystique v3) and after extended listening i ended up returning it to ben... it is a very suave very smooth sounding dac, but in my system it I felt it lacked some drive, openness, and ultimate transient clarity provided by other nice dacs I was comparing it to (audio note 4.1, msb analog, chord tt2/scaler)... i suspect ben’s design objective and voicing target is to conservatively remove all traces of ’digititis’ from systems that may have those characteristics (either intrinsically or due to power or front end jitter/noise issues) and for those users, of which i think there are plenty out there the dacs are wonderful ... I have certainly learned that optimizing a digital feed can be quite a pain

all this said, the mojos are nice super smooth dacs but to me the challenge for higher end users is to make sure the front end feed is optimized before selecting any ’keeper’ dac

vthokie83
1,224 posts
 

Curiousjim

I helped a friend put together a second system recently, where he used some components from his main system.....and bought a new streamer and DAC for the main system.

Long story short, he replaced his Denafrips Venus II 12th with a Denafrips Terminator 15th......it is as good as I had thought it would be, and much more. Admittedly I am a huge Denafrips DAC fan, so take that with a grain of salt.....but the Terminator 15th or Terminator Plus 15th will be a finalist when I upgrade my Pontus II next year.

signaforce's avatar
signaforce OP
549 posts
 

 

@vthokie83 @curiousjim While I am not ruling it out, I have & may continue to avoid Chi-fi. Also the Denafrips tend to be quite large & combining HT with 2 channel, my space is limited. Thanks 
@jjss49 @traubr Exactly my concern with the Mojo. My Qutest is quite incisive as (perhaps less so) are my amp & speakers. I do enjoy that, but looking for a little more smoothness without going too far. Thanks 

I will more than likely do a buy and try with the Mojo, but have been informed by my wife that she would like me to sell R11’s (replaced with Ref 3’s), prior to replacing my DAC. As I said on another thread, patience is a virtue. Thanks to all.

 

daytrader
195 posts
 

@signaforce , don’t wait till she changes her mind. The Ref 3 have it all. 

signaforce's avatar
signaforce OP
549 posts
 

@daytrader Thanks! Very happy with my Ref 3 speakers. End game for me. Thanks!

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