Letter from Hong Kong (20-19): Eric L examines Micromega MyDac
Always wanted to pick one up since it was first released for the sake of the cheap price; what the heck, if it doesn't work out, $400USD is not a big sum and I figure I could sell it easily. Somehow, it just didn't happen, as often in life.
Read a few articles on Micromega in this blog lately, as I have always wanted to get a product from them but somehow didn't get the chance. My most impressive audition of MM was their Trio CD/DAC combo played through a complete Ensemble setup at an High End Show years ago - I was sent to heaven while playing the Piano from the Three Blind Mice label.
Scrolling through Review33, a local internet dicussion forum with 2nd hand items for sale as well, one day I spotted a MyDac for sale at less than $100USD. I immediately sent the request to buy, two PMs to be sure and finally got this unit in hand.
Hooking up is easy as a piece of cake , well... except to get my laptop with Windows 10 to upsample to 24/192 using USB II was a pain in the butt. I never figured out the complicated procedure and finally gave up and just switched it back to USB1.0 and 24/96.
How does it sound? How does it compare to my Sparkler CDP using NOS and my Vega DAC through laptop? I' was all excited to find out!
Sparkler CDP vs Sparkler CDP as transport through Micromega MyDac
First of all, the attack ,openness and musicality of the CDP is no slouch and at times surpasses the Vega DAC. As soon as the MyDac was connected I felt an immediacy, which is a good sign. The bass has more definition, tunefulness , tenacity and bounciness. Midrange has fleshed out (but not blurred) and soundstage and depth have stretched out a bit. Musicality is there and it is involving and exciting. The additon of the DAC has actually bested the internal DAC. Although I'm happy with both, I slightly prefer the MyDac
Vega vs MyDac streaming Tidal music via my Laptop
Without missing a beat, MyDac replaced the Vega and I played many tunes through it for at least four days. I then switched back to my Vega.
MyDac, despite running at 24/96, is indeed an excellent DAC. With Melody Gardot's latest CD, somehow I prefer the Tidal version to the CD disc played on my Sparkler, with or with MyDac! I knew immediately I struck gold - the plugging of guitar strings, the playfulness of her voice, the tuneful bass and musicality makes one want to listen and listen yet again.
Overall, sound of MyDac is involving. Gain is slightly higher; the immediacy and involving nature are noticeable right away. The tuneful bass is well defined and provides a good foundation, whick makes my feet tap like I have Parkinson's when I played Fantasy by Earth, Wind and Fire as well as Good Times by Chic! The DAC allows me to dwell inside the music more than ever. All the virtues when connected to CDP is here and sometimes even more so. Wider and deeper soundstage; though not the ultimate, there is no point anyway? Fleshy, lush yet smooth midrange, free of grain and natural. Highs are as good as Vega.
Hooking back the Vega, lines immediately thinned out, and there's slighlty loss of the overall magic and liveliness. Yet Vega's strong point is still there: the representation of slow passages is better, compared with which the Sparkler and MyDac seem a bit restless and unrestrained.
Verdict
I did not take into account of the price factor, all are value products on their own, but I ultimately prefer the MyDac!!
Kudos to an 8 year-old product that represents superb value and has withstood the test of time!
Highly recommended!! Surprise of the year 2020!
Posts
I agree. It is a great DAC. Also the matching phono preamp, MyGroov is fantastic as well. Not sure they're still available.
ReplyDeleteHi Billy, indeed this little dac can give fits for many DAC selling up to 20k! In some areas, I much prefer MyDac to my Vega!
DeleteAbsolutely. I'm so happy with these products. The closest thing I've heard to it is a very old DAC called the Bidat by Musatex. I still have the Bidat but it needs repair. One day I'll get it running and do an A/B comparison. This sight has certainly been informative on a few of my audio purchases.
DeleteThe Bidat is Ok but will lose out in resolution and rhythmic savvy.
DeleteHi Eric,
ReplyDeleteI am curious how this MM Mydac stacks up against your H10-U? Do you happen to have use a BT receiver with digital out with the MyDac so that you can do away with you USB wire to the DAC?
I used to have an iFi Zen Blue but was totally not satisfied with it, sold it shortly. So I can't make any comparison...
DeleteBtw, just got myself an Emerson Analog by Wattson Audio streamer/dac, small in size but sound is big!
Ha Ha Eric, did I read you right? The "Emerson Analog by Wattson Audio streamer/dac" from Ken Poon? It looks like you are returning to the audio hell from the Taobao BT Receiver!
DeleteI think I lost track on the BT Receiver / Streamer that you flip around. The H10-U, I think is an less than USD$10 BT receiver that you trusted friend introduced to you.
I would be very much interested to know how that "Emerson Analog by Wattson Audio streamer/dac" (with a hefty price tag of US$1650) stack up against your Mydac or even the H10-U.
In case someone interested in the "Emerson Analog by Wattson Audio streamer/dac"
Deletehttps://youtu.be/BnsBjxFLDRE
Not exactly! I don't know if I'm in heaven or hell. But I'm comparing the Emerson to my cdp as well as my Vega, then my trusted H10U.
DeleteI use my TB BT K16 (enhanced feature from H10U) at work, had bought it home to compare against other options.
Emerson is an impulsive as I'm always looking at a proper streamer to see if difference is big or not! Be fun if my K16 is David in David vs Goliath! Haha
P. S. How do u know I bought it from Ken? 🤔🤔
Oh no, I didn't know that was by Kent Poon, someone I am not impressed with, despite all the publicity. His computer demo's using fancy I2S, Weiss DAC (as everyone knows, a brand I dislike) which is dealer of, and active Dynaudio loudspeakers. Sounds like distilled water but without the sweetness, more like a bad spring water (which is most of them).
DeleteI recommend the MyZIC too. It's not true it doesn't handle difficult to drive headphones as I have read somewhere. Sure it won't drive RAALs and Staxs ;) but I can testify it does a great job with the venerable AKG K501 which is not easiest headphone to drive.
ReplyDeleteI'm comparing it right now with the Schiit Vali 2+ and I find I prefer the MicroMega so far. It makes the K501 sound better, with a more convincing soundstage and a tad better balance, maybe even a touch more natural dynamics (not sure, but the impression is very good). Plus it provides a great user experience with a great volume control that allows microadjustment supereasily.
In Europe the Micro-... are easily avalaible for online purchase both new and used at superlow prices if you look on eBay and the usual ecommerce sources.
Yes, MyZic is great! So is MyGroov. Both have been written up in this blog.
DeleteYes, thank you. I see you wrote about the MyAmp too. That's a very interesting option for a desktop or TV small system.
DeleteMicroMega made also a MySpeaker, both in passive and active version, the latter MySpeaker BT being the last word in compactness, packing two way minispeaker, amp, DAC and BlueTooth Receiver in two small boxes. Cool.
Your description of the basic sound of the MyDac is absolutely right. It's a lovely, musical unit. Like you, I had some un-surmountable problems getting it to play 192bps files: in my case they were accompanied by constant and unlistenable stutter (using a MacBook Pro + Pure Music).
ReplyDeleteHaha, i thought it would be a breeze if you are using Apple. Anywa,I can never get past the complicated steps in order to work in my Window 10....
DeleteI am an interested follower of this blog from Vienna, Austria and feel deeply related to the philosophy towards HiFI AND above all Music ! I also enjoy the not HiFI related articles about food, wine, the Covid situation and other themes.
ReplyDeleteI built a system in my weekend domicile during the past 2 years. Starting with Klipsch Cornwall II which I could acquire for reasonable money, I managed to get a quiet satisfying system - mainly vintage gear:
> Thorens 126 III with Audio Technica AT 1010 tonearm an Ortofon OM 10 (the weak part I know- change to maybe Shelter 201 is planned)
> Rega Aria Phono Preamp
> Philips CD 608/Micromega CD 20/ Primare D20 CD machines
> Audio Research LS 7 & VT 60 Tube Amplification
Recently I bought the MyDac (new) for little money and I love the way this machine is making music via McBook Air using a Tidal HiFI account, streaming youtube etc. Anyway one problem occurred. MyDac via USB goes to standby on the beginning of a new song or album for at least 2 seconds. After starting I have to go back via slider to the start to hear the music from the beginning - quit annoying. Another method is to have another source (youtube or Spotify) constantly streaming at zero loudness so that there is an constant signal, but this seems to me a very ugly solution. Did anybody encounter the same problem ?
Best wishes to all of you and a hopefully better 2021 !
Your stuff seems quite decent and, of course, with the GREAT Cornwall one can hardly go wrong!
DeleteI hope E Lo can chip in on the MyDac. I don't use the USB often enough to remember.
I am very curious about your view of the 3 CD players.
Thank you for your kind reply !
DeleteOne of the three CD Players is very different in character compared to the other two but all are musical.
The oldest machine is the Bitstream Conversion CD 608 from about 1990, I think it has a TDA 1543 related chip. This Player was very popular here in Austria and I decided to get it after I listened to some classical CDs via headphones on this machine in one of the specialist stores in Vienna. It is robust, reads every CD without trouble and is immensely musical. Sure it does not have the ultimate resolution compared to other players but the musical flow is there and the playing not atomized into millions of distracting details. It is not the last word in slam and bigger than life presentation but you can listen to it for hours without getting tired. I mainly use it playing CDs the other players can't digest...
The Primare CD feels indeed related to the Philips although it got the AKM chip. There is just that bit more information and solidity here, better foundation and more authority. I think this is partially because of the better quality of the output stage. Also here no listening fatigue.
The Micromega is another type of machine. It got more resolution and - more important for me -a very precise playback of timbre and a certain naturalness in the presentation of instruments. Especially strings, cello and the human voice sound very convincing , the strings not too sharp if not on the recording but fruity, lively and very differentiated in the many aspects of the instrument. You can almost touch the sound of the bow and the subtle vibrations of the strings. Compared to the other two it feels fragile and delicate in a positive way.
So in this moment I prefer the Micromega especially when I listen to classical and acoustic recordings like small Jazz ensembles and the one or other Ligeti.
For electronic music, heavy rock like Rage Against The Machine or to party I prefer the Primare.
There is no necessity in having more than one player but I am a keeper of worthwhile equipment and so it just happened over the years...
It's lucky that you can have 3 cdps at the same time. For me tge Phillips is a must keep, great PQE and musical. I suggest you stay witg with Micromega as you grew older, you will become a lesser rock mudic guy and more of classical or jazz guy! Save the money to buy a Sparkler DAC!
DeleteCongratulations on your purchase of MyDac, a purchase a music lover that would never regret to own. Musical, non fatiguing yet with ripe and tuneful bass to serve as a solud foundation!
Hi E Lo,
ReplyDeletethank you for your writing but let me make clear that I am not the youngster you assume. At the age of 53 I am quiet a veteran and for about 35 years interested in music and its reproduction. Jazz and Classic is now the main part of my listening but its also fun to listen to Rock, Soul, Hip Hop etc. sometimes !
Looking forward to add an ancient Dual 1019 with Sure 75 to my collection - it´s a pity that in Dr John´s blog no entry regarding this interesting brand can be found. Maybe worth thinking about ?
That shall change soon as I have a Dual 1019 undergoing full restoration currently and will report on it when ready.
Delete53 is still young like me , haha. As of today, there remains so much to learn yet so much to screen off ~ Guess it is the fun part of it anyway! Likewise, i listen mostly jazz, some classical and lots of pop, Cantopop, oldies and some soul as well. Happy listening~
DeleteI lusted after Dual in my youth, but never had a chance to try it! I'd look forward to mrgoodsound's input! Vinyl lives!
DeleteI really think many vintage turntables are under-rated, and similarly many new ones are over-rated! Moreover, the older TTs look MUCH better and sane. Good form and function. NOT something u can say about many current ridiculous "hi-end" products!
Delete