Post by Bigman80 on Sept 26, 2021 10:35:18 GMT
After all the furore surrounding the reasons for the effectiveness and influence of the Mutech MC-3 + USB device, I decided to get down to what really matters. Does it actually do anything, or am I imagining it?
Already having a DAC bakeoff with our very own firebottle in the calendar for today, we decided to throw in a bit of Mutech variation too.
Knowing that the Mutech failed to impress at Al’s, I was keen to see whether he would hear the same thing as me in my system. So with that said, I just want to put a few points across before you read any further.
I am only discussing what both Alan and I heard, said or discussed in the context of the system we have heard the devices in. What would/could happen in other systems is not something I can comment on. I am not urging anyone to spend money, or trying to convince anyone of the device's effectiveness. I do not make any gain from my views here.
So, First of all we got a few tracks under our belt with the Soekris 1421 with external LPSU and Mutech in the system. Once we were happy with our levels of familiarity, we settled on the 16/44 CD rip of Sera Una Noche’s “Nublano” as a suitable test track for dynamics, soundstage and transparency.
The first combination of 1421 & Mutech provided an almost boundary-less soundstage. Alans first comment was “I have never heard this track with so much depth”
He was right. The soundstage seems to range into the room behind my listening room and the width easily extends beyond the width of the speakers.
As we listened on, there was superb tonality and a veiless window into the music, as i have come to expect from the Soekris.
With Alan suitably impressed, we took the Mutech out.
Instantly, the soundstage shrunk and flattened off. There was also a minor amount of flab added to the bottom end which made the sound feel a little heavier.
AL - “Oh, stop it and put the Mutech back in, quick!”
We laughed a little, but to be honest i was sincerely relieved to know he heard what i had thought i heard.
We played a few more tracks and commented on how the Mutech has a focussing effect on the sound. Improvement in resolution seemed to be unanimous and also the soundstage being a huge benefactor of it’s addition. More than that, the detail and finer points were easily available.
Next we tried Alans Soekris 1321 with LPSU & Mutech
The Little Soekris was somewhat,.....little. Even with the Mutech on it, there was an almost measurable reduction in soundstage. Due to this the track seemed busier...more congested.
As we chatted, we were talking of our surprise that this device would sound so different to the 1421. I reminded Al that the 1421 was a very early one with much better tolerance resistors and that it may be a point to consider.
We took the Mutech out and the 1321 became quite stodgy. Tonality drifted towards almost sounding dark. Again, the Mutech had made an improvement to it, but not enough to make this DAC a contender vs the 1421, or to make a purchase of a Mutech worthwhile.
I don't want to be too harsh on the 1321, as the 1421 is very special IMO. It will become clearer later on as to how good the 1321 is.
Next up, we put the Musician Pegasus in with the Mutech. In my humble opinion this was a bit of a mixed bag. The soundstage was similar in overall size to the 1421, but it wasn’t as deep. I also noticed a little bit of a veil in comparison to the 1421. I put on the 16/44 Lou Rawls track - Shadow of your smile to listen to our now infamous ice cubes.
They were there, but I felt the glass and ice making contact sounded a little soft, or to be precise, maybe a little rolled off. We took the Mutech out and like the Soekris before it, the tonality changed to a darker presentation.
Knowing that the 1421 does those ice cubes far more justice, I put it back in with the Mutech and pressed play. The transparency of this DAC cannot be questioned in my opinion. It hit the glass and rolled round. Not only did it do that, but it did it in glorious space.
For me, the 1421 was a good way ahead of the 1321 and the Pegasus. The 1321 having a more neutral and in my case, preferable tonality.
We spent a little while listening to the 1421 and Mutch combination and for my money, it's a stunning combination, with the caveat that the Soekris is sporting a LPSU and a lovely array of resistors. Do not just buy a Soekris, it needs work to make it like this.
Talking of the tonality changes that occured with the Mutech in and out of the path, it was the only idea I could suggest that in fact it was indicative of a system that had been cleaned up somehow. The darker, murkier sound that emanated from these DACs without it had sounded much heavier, unpleasantly so. There was no obvious lack or reduction of bass with the Mutech, nor was there any loss of weight or gravitas. In truth I actually felt it was easier to distinguish the bass guitars, or double basses from the rest of the track which suggests to me it is somehow cleaning up or refining whats being pumped out of the speakers.
To test this, we blasted through INXS’s “Need you tonight” (16/44) The slam and dynamic power that shifted through the room was utterly stonking. A propulsion of impressive speed and power made this a sit up and take notice track. Oodles of space, depth, scale and anything else you’d like to hear.
The importance of today though, was to confirm to me the undisputable audible evidence of the impact the Mutech had in my system. The Mutech did that. It did it so well that I cannot, nay! WILL NOT go back to digital listening without it.
Whether it’s Jitter busting, playing on my subconscience or actually doing something that yet remains unexplained. The upshot is that there was a clear and unanimous opinion on it’s performance. An opinion that if you were to cross examine, would be almost word for word identical between them.
Remembering that Alan previously heard this do bugger all of note all in his system, this suggests that rather than imagine it, he heard it. As did i.
If ANYONE wants to bring a DAC here, and hear if the Mutech has any influence on their DAC/s you are more than welcome to try it out.
Already having a DAC bakeoff with our very own firebottle in the calendar for today, we decided to throw in a bit of Mutech variation too.
Knowing that the Mutech failed to impress at Al’s, I was keen to see whether he would hear the same thing as me in my system. So with that said, I just want to put a few points across before you read any further.
I am only discussing what both Alan and I heard, said or discussed in the context of the system we have heard the devices in. What would/could happen in other systems is not something I can comment on. I am not urging anyone to spend money, or trying to convince anyone of the device's effectiveness. I do not make any gain from my views here.
So, First of all we got a few tracks under our belt with the Soekris 1421 with external LPSU and Mutech in the system. Once we were happy with our levels of familiarity, we settled on the 16/44 CD rip of Sera Una Noche’s “Nublano” as a suitable test track for dynamics, soundstage and transparency.
The first combination of 1421 & Mutech provided an almost boundary-less soundstage. Alans first comment was “I have never heard this track with so much depth”
He was right. The soundstage seems to range into the room behind my listening room and the width easily extends beyond the width of the speakers.
As we listened on, there was superb tonality and a veiless window into the music, as i have come to expect from the Soekris.
With Alan suitably impressed, we took the Mutech out.
Instantly, the soundstage shrunk and flattened off. There was also a minor amount of flab added to the bottom end which made the sound feel a little heavier.
AL - “Oh, stop it and put the Mutech back in, quick!”
We laughed a little, but to be honest i was sincerely relieved to know he heard what i had thought i heard.
We played a few more tracks and commented on how the Mutech has a focussing effect on the sound. Improvement in resolution seemed to be unanimous and also the soundstage being a huge benefactor of it’s addition. More than that, the detail and finer points were easily available.
Next we tried Alans Soekris 1321 with LPSU & Mutech
The Little Soekris was somewhat,.....little. Even with the Mutech on it, there was an almost measurable reduction in soundstage. Due to this the track seemed busier...more congested.
As we chatted, we were talking of our surprise that this device would sound so different to the 1421. I reminded Al that the 1421 was a very early one with much better tolerance resistors and that it may be a point to consider.
We took the Mutech out and the 1321 became quite stodgy. Tonality drifted towards almost sounding dark. Again, the Mutech had made an improvement to it, but not enough to make this DAC a contender vs the 1421, or to make a purchase of a Mutech worthwhile.
I don't want to be too harsh on the 1321, as the 1421 is very special IMO. It will become clearer later on as to how good the 1321 is.
Next up, we put the Musician Pegasus in with the Mutech. In my humble opinion this was a bit of a mixed bag. The soundstage was similar in overall size to the 1421, but it wasn’t as deep. I also noticed a little bit of a veil in comparison to the 1421. I put on the 16/44 Lou Rawls track - Shadow of your smile to listen to our now infamous ice cubes.
They were there, but I felt the glass and ice making contact sounded a little soft, or to be precise, maybe a little rolled off. We took the Mutech out and like the Soekris before it, the tonality changed to a darker presentation.
Knowing that the 1421 does those ice cubes far more justice, I put it back in with the Mutech and pressed play. The transparency of this DAC cannot be questioned in my opinion. It hit the glass and rolled round. Not only did it do that, but it did it in glorious space.
For me, the 1421 was a good way ahead of the 1321 and the Pegasus. The 1321 having a more neutral and in my case, preferable tonality.
We spent a little while listening to the 1421 and Mutch combination and for my money, it's a stunning combination, with the caveat that the Soekris is sporting a LPSU and a lovely array of resistors. Do not just buy a Soekris, it needs work to make it like this.
Talking of the tonality changes that occured with the Mutech in and out of the path, it was the only idea I could suggest that in fact it was indicative of a system that had been cleaned up somehow. The darker, murkier sound that emanated from these DACs without it had sounded much heavier, unpleasantly so. There was no obvious lack or reduction of bass with the Mutech, nor was there any loss of weight or gravitas. In truth I actually felt it was easier to distinguish the bass guitars, or double basses from the rest of the track which suggests to me it is somehow cleaning up or refining whats being pumped out of the speakers.
To test this, we blasted through INXS’s “Need you tonight” (16/44) The slam and dynamic power that shifted through the room was utterly stonking. A propulsion of impressive speed and power made this a sit up and take notice track. Oodles of space, depth, scale and anything else you’d like to hear.
The importance of today though, was to confirm to me the undisputable audible evidence of the impact the Mutech had in my system. The Mutech did that. It did it so well that I cannot, nay! WILL NOT go back to digital listening without it.
Whether it’s Jitter busting, playing on my subconscience or actually doing something that yet remains unexplained. The upshot is that there was a clear and unanimous opinion on it’s performance. An opinion that if you were to cross examine, would be almost word for word identical between them.
Remembering that Alan previously heard this do bugger all of note all in his system, this suggests that rather than imagine it, he heard it. As did i.
If ANYONE wants to bring a DAC here, and hear if the Mutech has any influence on their DAC/s you are more than welcome to try it out.
