About the Matrix Audio ND-1 DAC

@kirkwallace 

So do you have both the Aero and the Z-Q installed?  I’d love to hear your thoughts on the differences. I went to the Mojo site and other than saying that they were sold out until July, I could not glean any information about the difference between the Z and the Z-Q.

@curiousjim i had both installed. 

My brief comparison comments

@audphile1 

Beats me. I only suggest it as a possibly less expensive way to demo the Aero, depending upon TMR’s re-stock fee vs. LTA’s. In terms of my budget, demoing the Aero and sending it back to LTA was not exactly cheap, but of course this is subjective. 

@stuartk oh no I didn’t mean to scrutinize your recommendation. I just had my mind blown by TMR prices. I bought plenty from them including DAC, cartridge, cables, etc over time. I don’t remember used prices being 1% less than new retail. It wouldn’t be hard to get a much better deal on literally any new item from authorized dealers. 

@curiousjim , this how Benjamin describes the difference between “regular Z NC” and Quantum

”Along with the highly regarded vintage PCM58P DAC chips, and all of the other circuit upgrades that come with our Mystique Z DACs, the Mystique Z Quantum incorporates all of our best component part upgrades, and integrated Bybee Quantum Purifiers. 

• Two Bybee Gold Slipstream Purifiers to polish the analog outputs.
• Three Bybee AC Purifiers to cleanup AC noise without restriction.
• Copper foil and advanced ERS Paper EMI/RFI shielding.
• Lundahl nano crystal core choke upgrade included.
• ISO Acoustics OREA footer upgrade included.

The result is an even lower noise floor, even darker background, and even more transparency and depth. There's even a bit more micro-details, a bit more micro-dynamics, and a bit faster transients. Everything you've come to love about Mojo Audio DACs taken to a whole new level of performance.”

Z Quantum Page