Mytek Brooklyn DAC+
Pre-amplifier of the Year
James A. Michener in his 1971 novel ‘The Drifters’ indulges in a bit of cheap psychologising, suggesting hi-fi fans are principally interested in a sense of control. That flies in the face of the minimalism of the past few decades: the shedding of tone controls and graphic equalisers, and the preference for having only a volume knob for control. That said, when it comes to digital audio there are things that are worth controlling. Michener’s mythical control freak would love the $3199 Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ because it has adjustments for just about everything. Hi-fi purists will love it too, for its other virtues… and, perhaps for those adjustments too.
First, though, why is a DAC winning our preamplifier category? Well, it is a DAC, yes. But it is also a headphone amplifier. And it has not only digital inputs but also an analogue line-level input and even a phono input for a turntable. Put all that together with the volume knob on the front, and there’s really nothing missing to make it not a preamplifier, though those with a wide range of analogue sources would need to find something more comprehensive.
Its digital input section, though, is plentiful, with two coaxial digital inputs, one optical, a USB-B socket for use with a computer, and an XLR input for the professional AES/EBU digital audio standard. The USB-B connection supports up to 32-bit PCM at 384kHz, and DSD to DSD128. It is also fully MQA-compatible.
There’s also a word clock I/O, so you can externally clock the DAC if you want to get that deep into things. Its own built-in clock is the Mytek Femtoclock Generator, rated at 0.82ps jitter. By way of comparison, even with 384kHz sampling, the interval between each sample is 2,600,000 picoseconds.
Control is via the four buttons on the front panel, along with the knob. It’s pretty straightforward and you soon learn how to do it. There is also a control panel for Windows if you’re principally using it via your computer. The supplied remote control looked very familiar, because it is the one that came with Gen 2 AppleTVs. We have no problem with that, since we always thought this to be a miraculously simple design.
The front-panel display is also among the best we’ve seen, whether in its clean simplified version or the fussier, fuller display. If you like to know exactly what you’re listening to, you’ll love the level of information given here.
If you like options, you’ll be happy too. You can choose between a digital volume control and an analogue one. Or you can bypass this so that it only affects the headphones, while the line and XLR outputs bypass the volume control (in this configuration it does, strictly, stop being a preamp). Watch out, though, as the output in this mode from a full-scale 16-bit PCM signal is the more pro-level 5V RMS, rather than the 2V output more common on consumer gear.
The sound delivered by this DAC was — how to put it? — perfect to the limits of our listening capabilities, let’s say. Noise? None. Our measurements showed an amazing -109.4dBA noise level. Distortion was low. THD was 0.0013% for all signals. IMD was around 0.0045% for 16-bit signals, and 0.003% or better for 24-bit signals.
Control? As good as it gets. Tonal balance? Exact. List your favourite audible characteristics of a piece of high-fidelity equipment, and the Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ will meet or exceed them. If you want the highest quality of sound and control from your DAC or pre-amplifier, look to the Mytek Brooklyn DAC+. More info: www.addictedtoaudio.com.au
JUDGES’ COMMENT “It’s a DAC, it’s a headphone amplifier, it’s a phono preamplifier, and since it has a volume control, it’s reasonable to label the combination as a preamplifier. As for performance, list your favourite characteristics for a piece of high-fidelity equipment, and we reckon the Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ will meet or exceed them all.”