This is a review and detailed measurements of Micromega MyDAC audio DAC. It is on kind loan from a member. While it still shows up as a current product, it seems to have been released back in 2013 and is not stocked when I searched. So likely discontinued. The cost at the time was US $400.
The industrial design of the MyDAC is not anything special sans the rotating wheel to select inputs:
In use, it works exceptionally well and has a great feel to it. Not that you would use it often but is a nice touch.
Here is the back panel:
This actually points to one of the innovations they tout. Namely, the fact that they designed a custom switching power supply to be included in there. It is a nice touch although as we have seen, there is no need for anything special to get superb performance out of DACs.
DAC Audio Measurements
Let's start with our usual dashboard:
We have nice 2 volt output we like to see. Distortion and noise are kept in check at 101 dB landing the MyDAC in good category of all DACs tested:
Intermodulation and noise relative to input level shows higher noise but is otherwise good:
Linearity falls in similar category:
Frequency response is dead flat:
Jitter test shows some interference but nothing notable:
Dynamic range is good too:
The puzzler was distortion+noise relative to frequency:
Diagnosing what occurs requires looking beyond 20 kHz as this uses 90 kHz of bandwidth to capture most of the harmonics. For that, we use a wideband FFT analysis:
We see rising noise level starting at 50 kHz. This is a "normal" thing in some DAC as they attempt to push noise out of the audible band into inaudible. That, combined with harmonic distortion and some aliasing causes the THD+N figures to go way higher. Fortunately all of these things are inaudible so not a worry.
Conclusions
The Micromega MyDAC seems to be competently designed. By today's standard, its performance is not competitive, nor is its price. But still, I was pleased to see that "remaking of the wheel" as some higher-end audio companies attempt, did not deter from performance of the unit. I am not going to recommend it because you have so many other choices today. But if you have one, or can get one cheap, it will be good DAC.
Having craving for some sushi! Weather is getting cooler and with, quality of fish improves (they build up tasty reserves of fat to get through winter). Even though I am by myself, it is still going to cost more than hamburgers from fast food restaurants I usually get. So, appreciate you all donating money so I can eat well using : https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
The industrial design of the MyDAC is not anything special sans the rotating wheel to select inputs:
In use, it works exceptionally well and has a great feel to it. Not that you would use it often but is a nice touch.
Here is the back panel:
This actually points to one of the innovations they tout. Namely, the fact that they designed a custom switching power supply to be included in there. It is a nice touch although as we have seen, there is no need for anything special to get superb performance out of DACs.
DAC Audio Measurements
Let's start with our usual dashboard:
We have nice 2 volt output we like to see. Distortion and noise are kept in check at 101 dB landing the MyDAC in good category of all DACs tested:
Intermodulation and noise relative to input level shows higher noise but is otherwise good:
Linearity falls in similar category:
Frequency response is dead flat:
Jitter test shows some interference but nothing notable:
Dynamic range is good too:
The puzzler was distortion+noise relative to frequency:
Diagnosing what occurs requires looking beyond 20 kHz as this uses 90 kHz of bandwidth to capture most of the harmonics. For that, we use a wideband FFT analysis:
We see rising noise level starting at 50 kHz. This is a "normal" thing in some DAC as they attempt to push noise out of the audible band into inaudible. That, combined with harmonic distortion and some aliasing causes the THD+N figures to go way higher. Fortunately all of these things are inaudible so not a worry.
Conclusions
The Micromega MyDAC seems to be competently designed. By today's standard, its performance is not competitive, nor is its price. But still, I was pleased to see that "remaking of the wheel" as some higher-end audio companies attempt, did not deter from performance of the unit. I am not going to recommend it because you have so many other choices today. But if you have one, or can get one cheap, it will be good DAC.
Having craving for some sushi! Weather is getting cooler and with, quality of fish improves (they build up tasty reserves of fat to get through winter). Even though I am by myself, it is still going to cost more than hamburgers from fast food restaurants I usually get. So, appreciate you all donating money so I can eat well using : https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/