Mutec USB Interfaces: MC-1.2 & MC-3+ Smart Clock USB

@Luckbad, I finally got my impressions up on my blog.

 

Sorry if this is a dumb question guys. I'm just having some thoughts how this (the MC1.2) may work with my setup.

Could this possibly have say, 2 inputs - USB and SPDIF, output to AES? I assume the front panel button will allow selection of an input and output of choice, so I could choose either USB to AES or SPDIF to AES?

Or am I entirely off tangent here?

 

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Yes you can choose to run any input to any output. You just can't have both going on at once like a mixer, of course.

 

Thanks!

 

Reading all the ramblings about Schiit DACs USB implementation supposedly being a weak point finally got me thinking about exploring available solutions and Mutec USB interface appeared like a good option to explore. Thanks to a loaner program organized by Wfojas and sphinxvc I was able to spend couple of days listening to the changes Mutec 1.2 brought into my audio chain. Have to say I was quite looking forward to my time with it after seeing all the positive things few influential members shared about around these waters.

My headphone chain is fairly simple: Lenovo Yoga 2 pro with JRiver 19 media Center (kernel streaming) connected via USB to Schiit Yggdrasil which is connected to Schiit Ragnarok via XLR to RCA cables and then you guessed it, into Audio Zenith PMx2 headphones.

I inserted Mutec between my PC and Yggdrasil using provided BNC interconnect. First impression was positive; soundstage opened up, became more airy and sounds appeared to gain more decay, everything including vocals became clearer. When tonal balance stays the same while all the aforementioned improvements are in place then spending a few hundred dollars on Mutec seemed like a great investment. What a nice little gem I thought to myself and started looking around for a unit to purchase.

In the meantime I remembered that someone, somewhere said how low frequency reproduction became somewhat different with Mutec. I decided to double check paying closer attention to that department and went back to listening. Unfortunately it didn't take me long to realize LF became weaker. I listened for some more then took a break, listened again not remembering what connection I was using last and essentially making it sort of a blind testing (direct USB into Yggdrasil or through Mutec/BNC). Unfortunately the result was still the same, I was easily able to recognize LF becoming limp dickish with Mutec in chain.

In comparison, Yggdrasil connected directly to my PC USB port sounded dense, full, pure and lifelike with realistic soundstage, vocals and instrument positioning, correct overall tonality, transients and decays. Soundstage wasn't as expansive yet appeared to be more natural.

I then started analyzing the overall sound signature change and finally figured that airiness and sound stage extension I first noticed with Mutec came along with lessened density to all the sounds which translated into a bigger stage and more of a see through soundscape.

Yes, we all want to have a bigger stage while listening to a pair of headphones, even subconsciously. Bigger stage typically translates into a better separation, clarity and resolution. Unfortunately, when all of the above is gained with apparent loss of sound density the whole presentation becomes sounding fake.

Next thing I decided to check was different settings for JRiver USB interface while listening between Direct, Asio, Wasapi and Kernel streaming I initially used. This was another surprise, because I don't recall any of my other DACs sound signatures being so dramatically affected by the different USB modes. In case of Mutec 1.2 Asio sounded clearly like having a sphere like soundstage with extremely dense and pronounced outer shell where center image was almost hollow. The Wasapi sounded with most of the image concentrated around a center line going between my ears. Direct was probably the most balanced out of all four but I had a feeling it was artificially brought to where things needed to be in the first place which was still inferior to a natural and very lifelike sound coming from Yggdrasil connected directly to the USB port on my PC.

Very curious how is it that no one else mentioned such sound differences between different USB modes with Mutec? Did I do something wrong or am I just imagining things?

 

@Audio Zenith

I never tested a Schiit dac with the Mutec 1.2 for the review. I will say that the bass got better with my X-Sabre, but that was on a Mac system. As for soundstage stuff I tried all the asio, waspi, and direct on my pc with foobar and settled on Wasapi push. All the others did not sound right.

I never did get to hear the 1.2 with a Yggdrasil, but will tell you my personal experience with the Yggdrasil in a reference speakers setup sound better USB direct than with a Hydra Z or Bryston bridge. I know that goes against the experience of a lot of Yggdrasil owners who really dig the Mutec 3+ with it.

Just a reminder about warm up time with the Mutecs, takes about an hour to come into it's own.

 

Yes, different output modes (ASIO, WASAPI, DS) make a difference. My preference is usually ASIO.

 

I'm using the V3.30.0 driver for MC-3 USB on Win7, curiously Foobar2000 with ASIO doesn't seem to lock the audio exclusively... Youtube from Chrome happily plays over it. No probs when using WASAPI. Anyone else have the same "problem"?

 

I have this exact "problem" too. Only it was Turok that clued me in.
Can't find a check box anywhere obvious for an exclusive mode.
Same driver as yours but with an MC-1.2 and Windows 10.

 

I get it on the Mutec 3+USB on Win 10 also, which are the same drivers (as far as I remember). Will see if this happens with other devices. Keep posting imnpressions!

 

I recently had the Mutec 1.2 loaner. My chain is PC->Wyrd->Gungnir Multibit->[Mjolnir2 or Kenzie]->HD800(SDR mod). I started by inserting the Mutec in between wyrd and Gungnir Multibit, using BNC.

I wasn't sure what to expect as I don't really have the greatest track record hearing differences between digital sources. However, the difference after adding the Mutec was immediately noticeable - more soundstage depth, layering, detail retrieval and transparency. I was surprised how much of a difference it actually made.

I tried with and without Wyrd in front of the Mutec. It did not make much difference, maybe a little smoother with Wyrd included.

I tried optical to Gungnir Multibit instead of BNC and it was a little bit worse, just not quite as much of all of the Mutec improvements.

The biggest improvement is the soundstage depth and layering. Upon removing the Mutec, the depth collapses and the music sounds flatter.

Thanks to @Wfojas and @sphinxvc for arranging the loaner! I'm going to put this on my to-buy list.

 

As for the Mutec ASIO non-exclusive mode issue. Here's something I discovered:

Under Mutec USB Audio Control Panel, Buffer Settings, If you set ASIO Buffer Size to 64 Samples and playback using ASIO output, your ASIO sound will have dropouts. While that is happening, if you launch youtube to play, the sound from the youtube seems to be free from dropouts.

 

Do you by any chance have a write-up illustrating how to go about modding the MC3+USB for receiving DC from an LPS? Also, are you by any chance selling any of the 3d printed power receptacles? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Mutec 1.2 loaner:


my chain:
JRiver everything off > Regen USB > Musette > HD 800 modded
vs
JRiver everything off > Mutec 1.2 coaxial > Musette > HD 800 modded

I listened to my music a while before putting in the mutec, I wanted to get a baseline feel and wanted to warm everything up as well. I also went back and forth because I can easily change the source by pressing a button on the musette and changing JRiver settings.

tl;dr
When I put the mutec 1.2 in I noticed a darker background, increased clarity, stronger transients and impact. The mutec might be giving it a small volume boost (probably not) because those transients have a strong attack, it just doesn't make sense to me.


The transients seem more natural, I feel my audio chain already had good strong transients going but putting the mutec in pushed it up a notch.

I noticed better clarity, it is easier to separate the instruments, the soundstage and imaging improved as a result.

Darker background results in better contrast, combined with the better transients, transient sounds just jump from a black background only to fade away back into the dark.

I noticed more impact from the sounds, the bass had more energy in it. Maybe there really is a small volume boost?

So mostly everyone here heard the same things so it must be doing something real to the music, reducing jitter does have big changes. I don't think mutec actually increased the volume but when things feel stronger it just makes me think of volume.

I'll probably go regen into mutec tomorrow or later tonight if I have time.

 

No, no writeup. I followed the instructions / images that can be found on the web. Re: receptacle - send me a pm; we'll work out a price and I'll print you one.

 

I have quesion about this. I want to get music from computer through USB to DAC which only have SPDIF inputs, can i connect two DAC's same time playing there?
Like: computer -> USB cable -> Mutec-1.2 -> AES3 output to one dac and SPDIF to another or just use same time 2x SPDIF output to TOSLINK and BNC to different DACs?

Or it justs converts one singal to another?

 

Double check in the manual (available from Mutec site) but I think all outputs are live on the Mutec so you can have multiple DACs hooked up as you describe.

 

I'm not sure about the rest but my MC-1.2 would not function as a pass-through for optical to optical. So in some cases not all outputs are active. Or I failed to understand the blinkenlights on the front when selecting the input.
e.g. Xbox One > optical cable > MC-1.2 > optical cable > Bifrost Uber > e.t.c