Ogrady

Hello Ken, I now remember another listening test I did with both sources feeding the Mytek. Both files were DSD fs64, one source was HQPlayer connected via firewire, the other was with my Tascam DVRA-1000HD connected to the Mytek via SDIF connection using RG59 large size coax. Here again the HQPlayer clearly came out ahead, a lot. Thinking this RG59 might be a negative here I changed the coax from the Tascam to much smaller physical size coax of the same 75ohm variety (I believe) to see if the sound improved, and it did bring the sound quality difference notably closer, but not at the HQPlayer level. For me it looks like HQPlayer might be front and centre to check? I haven't had the opportunity to hear the MR-2000s though from your experience Ken I know it's mighty fine! Regards,

Hello Ken, I realized I've not listed several items that may influence sound in my comparisons with my Korg MR1000 and my Mytek. My comparisons were made playing DSD fs64 and fs128 files using HQPlayer A/B'd against the Korg playing the DSD files natively and DSD only, not PCM. Also the Mytek AC is conditioned through a Power Plant Premier. The Korg sounds better on battery, so my comparisons were made that way. My sources are live acoustic, (piano, flute, voice and such) for which I was the recordist. My Korg has the full Busman mod's both the input and output are upgraded. The Korg XLR output sounds better than the RCA. I found that my Korg does a stellar job, (line level, mic level is great, not stellar) of recording in DSD128 mode, it's the playback with the above set up for the Mytek that finally I hear is closest to the live sound I just recorded. My Korg for me playing back these live events is a tick behind. It's the 'air', or 'ambiance' and as you say, a veil is lifted except for me the other way around! Against the live event I'd always thought my Korg on playback was missing something subtle, I was very happy when my fully broken in Mytek unit stepped up over my Korg to realize that the Korg's limiting factor was its playback and not the record capability for these recording events. As a side note, I've not critically compared a rip'd SACD 64fs DSD Mytek to Korg as with my listening I feel my raw DSD files are a step above a rip'd SACD result, possibly because they're 128fs DSD? One happy camper here! Cheers, Sean

I am curious about your findings. I have a mod'd MR1000 Korg that definitely sounds better than stock. I've never heard the MR2000s though from what I've read, the Mod'd MR1000 is a match for it. When my Mytek unit arrived the very first thing I did was compare it to my MR1000. I'd say I came to the same conclusion as you have ... at first. My Mytek continued to improve and improve over time, and what a long time it was, something like 500 hours of burn in to finally come into it's own. My Mytek is 1 year old now, my Korg has been retired as my highest resolving digital playback source long ago, for me without question, it's clearly the Mytek that delivers over my Korg. Cheers, Sean

I too much appreciate this review. I as well don't find the Mytek bass to be weak in DSD. My experience with Mytek DSD playback has been in direct comparison to 15ips master tape that I've digitized to DSD as well as DSD playback of DSD recorded live acoustic performances that I recorded live myself. My experience with the Mytek playback in DSD format has been a revelation as DSD played by this Mytek DSD DAC is the first piece of gear that I've heard that will A/B against master tape such that I can't tell them apart or hear in DSD anything amiss from the live performance I just recorded. My experience with 2L DSD recordings has not been good. Compared to my own DSD recorded product 2L I'd describe as actually strident, I don't know if this is from over processing or from Pyramix capture, I do know I can pick out 2L sound within seconds, having downloaded some DSD file samples from another site to listen to, not paying attention to who recorded them to immediately hearing this strident sound within 5 seconds, to THEN go back and search the site to learn the 2 strident files were indeed 2L. I have 1 Isomike DSD file (recorded using the Pyramix system) that is also lacking, thus the connection to Pyramix again, though I suspect it's post that's messing with the sound. I've had my Mytek since October 2011 and my experience with burn-in was that it takes a lot longer than expected. It was as late as about a month ago, almost subliminally as a question, "did that Mytek just step up again?" that I noticed this. I haven't sat down to critically compare as yet, I'm too busy enjoying the music!

I'm reading with interest JB of your findings with your Busman upgraded Korg and your comment of being 'not all that impressed'. I have a Busman full options upgraded MR1000. I had all available modifications done to my unit, so not just the input mods, the output mods as well and in my testing of cables, preamps etc tripped across the fact that the XLR balanced outputs are MUCH BETTER sounding than the RCA unbalanced outputs and by elimination, it's not my downstream equipment. The difference is quite dramatic in sound stage, it's as though the Busman output mod's do nothing for the RCA unbalanced outputs. Also, with the Korg MR1000 listening with the unit powered by batteries is an improvement over AC powered. I'm using my Korg to live acoustic performance record at 5.6mhz DSD. I find my recordings to be right at the top of realism to the original performance, XLR out only. I have not heard the MR2000s unit. Cheers!

Hello Bruce, I've read on your posts that in the past you connected the DV-RA1000HD as the storage device for DSD capture of live performances with your DAD AX24. Wanted to confirm what I suspect, your AX24 has SPIF-3 I/O capability as this is the only format the Tascam supports for DSD I/O? THANKS! Sean A SDAAudio.com