LTA Aero vs Merason Reuss vs Mojo Audio Mystique Y?

Thanks for your insights @mitch2 ! Your DAC comparison thread is a big reason I've landed on these three haha, so I really enjoy all your contributions that help people understand which DAC might work best for them.

My biggest reservation with the Mystique Y, aside from its aesthetics, is that Benjamin explained that Mojo Audio's DACs should, in theory, sound their best through their RCA outputs, whereas I want to use XLR outputs to make the most of my amp. However, in your thread I saw you actually preferred the XLR outputs of the Mystique Y and found it sounded more vibrant and dynamic, which is an important aspect of sound to me. Benjamin also said the "better" output mostly comes down to preferences, so maybe I shouldn't be concerned about not getting the most out of the Mystique if I were to use its XLR outputs.

The hardness you found with the Aero seems to be avoidable with a tube roll. As you pointed out in your thread, Michael Lavorgna of Twittering Machines also found the DAC exhibited a bit of hardness with the stock tubes but not with his preferred NOS tubes or the Ray Reserve 6SN7s. I would like to avoid any nervosa / tube rolling obsession though so that's my reservation with the Aero. But if I just upgraded to the Ray Reserve 6SN7s and stuck with those, maybe the tube aspect wouldn't have to be a hassle especially since LTA's implementation keeps them cooler and very long-lasting.

And the Reuss would be a pretty direct upgrade from my current Frerot, but there have been recent price hikes that make it more expensive, at least at MSRP, compared to the Mystique Y and Aero. And it's harder to get an at-home demo. I like the BB1794A in the Frerot, but I also maybe prefer the idea of the fully NOS and R2R AD1865. So maybe I'll rule out the Reuss.

Regarding the chokes in the Mojo Audio DACs, you posted the following written by AI:

From AI:

The core material affects how the power supply delivers current, which in turn influences the sonic presentation.

• Ferrous Core (Entry Level): This core provides more "gestalt and slam" to the sound, with a more energetic and exciting presentation. It has a robust, impactful sound, though some reviewers note it can be slightly less subtle or textured compared to the higher tiers.
• Amorphous Core (Upgrade): The amorphous core provides an intermediate step, offering more micro-details, micro-dynamics, and a more pronounced texture than the ferrous core. The sound has a slightly lower sine wave energy representation (per Mojo Audio’s analogy), which translates to more nuances and more refined textures in the audio reproduction.
• Nanocrystal Core (Top Tier): This is the top-of-the-line option and offers the greatest refinement. The nanocrystal core provides the most profound sound quality, with a very low noise floor that allows for subtle and complex harmonic details to become apparent. The sound is more relaxed, with better timing, tune, harmonic structure, and overall musical flow, leading to more engaging emotional expression. It provides the best resolution and the most natural timbre, bringing the listener closer to an analog, vinyl-like experience.

In summary, as you move from ferrous to amorphous to nanocrystal cores, the sound signature becomes less "digital" and more organic, with increased resolution, better harmonic coherence, and a more natural, emotionally engaging presentation. The fundamental energy remains the same, but it is delivered with greater texture and nuance with the advanced core materials.

Do you have any additional thoughts from your own listening experiences regarding the relative strengths of the AM and NC chokes and what preferences might lead to someone liking the AM chokes more?

Thanks again!

FYI - There is a DAC1 MkII listed on TMR right now.

@davebull 

FYI, Choice Audio has a demo Reuss. The owner (I forget his name) offered to send it to me for a home demo. I decided not to, after reading reviews of the Reuss, but I expect you could approach him.  

https://choiceaudio.com/products/merason-reuss-dac-trade-in-model

As far as the Merason DAC 1 MK 2 on TMR goes, keep in mind that you will pay a 5% restock fee plus shipping for the privilege of auditioning it. 

https://tmraudio.com/fresh-arrivals/merason-dac1-mkii-d-a-converter/?searchid=1946918&search_query=merason

Regarding chokes, I am not sure I could reliable describe the sonic differences between them.  My progression thorough the Mojo Audio line-up included all of the different chokes but each change also came with a component upgrade so the changes I heard were not from the chokes alone.  The last three Mojo Audio DACs I had here each included the NC chokes and each of them sounded great.   The Mystique Y I had here for review had the AM chokes and it also sounded very nice.  

I suggest relying on Benjamin’s descriptions of the chokes and the sonic signature of each, but I wouldn’t consider the difference between AM and NC chokes alone as a make or break proposition.  One of my favorite Mojo Audio DACs, the EVO PRO that I previously owned, had AM chokes.

@davebull if you do end up trying the LTA Aero, let me echo some of part 2 of Michael Lavorgna’s review where he gets into some tube rolling, that you referred to earlier.  (Link here for others’ convenience:

https://twitteringmachines.com/review-linear-tube-audio-aero-dac-part-2-tube-rolling/ )

I love the Aero (i own 2), and i have not compared the stock GE tubes to Ray Selects or Reserves, but the sound difference from the the stock tubes to the Tung Sol oval plates is really stunning.  I think the Aero sounds very nice  with the stock tubes, but I understand why some people report a certain thinness or hardness. With the NOS Tung Sol ovals, that all is gone and one gets complete, lit from within sonic’s from low to high frequencies (at least with my speakers in the 2 systems where Aeros are providing the D to A conversions).  I’m sure that @mitch2 ’s Helene sounds better — and if i ever figure out a listening space that can be acoustically treated, I’d love to give the Kassandra II or the Helene and maybe even more resolving speakers a home trial — but keeping within your described size and budget considerations, not to say that the Mojo or the Mearason wouldn’t also be as good or even better, the Aero with Tung Sol ovals will not disappoint you.