Hi everyone, suggestion for a Roon certified, WiFi DAC/headphone amp that plays MQA files? I’m only aware of Matrix Audio Element, while dcs Bartok is out of my price range.
Oh balanced headphone amp too please. 
Thanks boys and girls.
If you are willing to split the streamer out (e.g., use RoPieee on an RPi4), there are a lot more options open. Pro-Ject S2 Digital, etc.
Even more options if you forgo the MQA malarky…
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Thanks, but the Pro-Ject only has SE headphone output
I actually have the Brooklyn in my main system, not the Bridge version though, however it sits too far away from my couch and would need at least a 5-meter headphone cable to make this work.
It is a very good suggestion though, basically fitting my requirement, I do want to see if there are more options. Any chance you have use the Brooklyn to drive full size cans? I am planning to get the Meze Empyrean.
Thanks a lot.
I have a Chord Hugo2/2Go, a Chord Mojo/Poly, and a Mytek Brooklyn Bridge. Good as the Chords are, the Mytek is better. With Focal Stellias, it’s the poster child for precise audio.
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Wow, do you mean the headphone amp section or the DAC? That is indeed very high praise for the Brooklyn consider how highly regarded the Hugo is :), I am all ears!
If you get a BBridge, you may want to get the balanced output adapter (that uses both the 1/4” jacks). I use it with a 20’ Moon Silver Dragon with a 4-pin termination. Sounds great.
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Yes indeed, I have heard about that adapter. Since I have no full size cans right now, I cannot try how good the Mytek is, but from what you have said, the Mytek should not be half bad!
I have the BB and Brooklyn Amp in my main system. To tell the truth, I’ve hardly turned the Amp on since I got into headphones. Maybe just a phase, but the musical experience of good phones is imo way superior to what you get from good speakers, at least with the volume constraints of urban life.
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Totally agree, speakers will always be my preference, but with family in an apartment, hard to get a good listening session when you want one.
Any other suggestions welcome !
You didn’t mention budget.
I have four (plus one special) at widely different price points.
SMSL SU-8 DAC + Drop THX AAA 789 amp: $600
Chord 2go + Hugo 2 streamer/DAC/amp: $4000
Benchmark DAC3 + HPA4: $5,000
Chord M-Scaler + Hugo TT 2: $11,000
All balanced except Hugo 2
All USB and require a streamer except the 2go/Hugo 2 combo, which is not only a streamer but WiFi and battery powered, great out in the garden
All are excellent, SQ differences are minor but align with the price ladder.
None are MQA, I don’t use any MQA music because I have many devices including cars and portables, they are all chosen with care, I will not make MQA support a requirement, a non-standard format that doesn’t work right on all devices is not acceptable.
(The special is a Schiit Jotunheim R to drive the oddball RAAT headphones.)
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Thanks, my budget is around $3K. I have no preference over MQA but just like that as an option.
Of my choices, the THX AAA 789 is a miracle amp, cost $350 when I bought it, you can put any DAC in front of it, I chose the $200 SMSL but you can obviously go higher, including MQA I guess.
The $3000 Benchmark HPA4 is based on the same licensed THX technology, but add a DAC and it gets more expensive. But both the 789 and HOA4 are fabulous — I have written about how the 789 made me revise my notions of amps.
The Hugo 2 by itself, without the 2go, is $2700.
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Thank you indeed
I have used one to drive my Audeze LCD-3 and it works great, so I am sure it will have no trouble running the Meze empyreans.
There is also a company called Cocktail audio (or Novafidelity outside of the USA) that make some all-in-one units, but I haven’t tried them.
Just in case you haven’t seen it, here is a list of Roon partner brands. The companies will have A variety of Roon ready streamers. Here is also a List of specific devices
Just start going through them and checking out websites and you will find something that fits what you are looking for 
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Benchmark DAC 3 HGC.
$2500, I think.
Never mind. Not balanced. Mot MQA.
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Violectric v281 gets a lot of praise on many forums as a superb headamp it also looks impressive. You can add a digital board to it, but your likely better using a seperate DAC. I woulf get one if I had the spare money.
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Thank you, I have gone through the list but very hard to find a decent all in one solution, as my headphone rig will be separated from my main system, so I’m hoping to cut down on boxes and cables etc.