July 2026

Mojo Audio Mystique Z Quantum DAC — High End R 2R DAC For Hi Res & Lossless Audio Music Lovers And Purists
Our in-depth exclusive audiophile review of Mojo's latest NOS design, engineered for natural tone, transparency, and uncompromised high-fidelity home stereo playback.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott

   I have now reviewed several Mojo DAC's: the B4B, the Mystique X SE, and now the Mystique Z Quantum. Benjamin Zwickel is the brainchild behind Mojo and believes in advancement through evolution. He believes in the power of the R-2R design and has essentially spent his professional life improving upon what can be achieved. So when Ben emailed and asked if I'd be interested in reviewing his latest component, I expected a little bit better and a little bit more expensive. To jump to the end, what I got was a little bit more expensive and a whole lot better!

Design Details
The Mojo aesthetic of the component is as simple as one can achieve. It's essentially a black box with buttons on the front and all the necessary (and nothing unnecessary) jacks on the back. Input selection buttons for USB Type-B, S/PDIF coaxial, and TosLink optical are on the front (Ben is very proud of these buttons and their ability to work without issue until our Moon slips from the grip of Earth's gravity!), with matching input jacks on the back. Outputs include a pair of balanced XLR outputs (4.8V peak-to-peak) and a pair of single-ended RCA outputs (2.4V), as well as two micro slide switches.

The USB micro switch lifts two 5-Volt power supplies, while the DC ground lifts and disconnects the DC ground from the AC, chassis, and Earth grounds. These micro switches give you an idea of the level of detail Ben goes to to take every possible opportunity to increase performance. Finally, there is the AC IEC (15-Ampere) and the power switch. The unit utilizes a self-resetting thermistor instead of a fuse. The enclosure is not milled but is sufficiently thick to not ring, has a thick front aluminum panel, and is solid, well-built, and rests firmly on Ben's less-is-more philosophy.

Internally, they "use LC choke input power supplies: the largest, heaviest, most expensive, and least efficient of all power supply typologies. LC choke input power supplies yield the best time and tune and the most articulate attack/bloom/decay because they store both current and voltage." The unit comes standard with Lundahl ferrous core chokes, but can be upgraded to Amorphous or Nano Core chokes for $1,000 and $2,000 more.

If you are wondering what the Z offers that the X does not, here is a summary:

-Burr-Brown PCM58P R-2R ladder DAC chip used, which is four times the size of the chip used in the older X and previous DAC's, and the PCM58P has four fine-tune bit adjustments compared to the older AD1862N-J's one fine-tune adjustment.

-Active buffered S/PDIF coax and TosLink optical inputs
-Improved steep slope anti-aliasing low-pass digital filter circuitry
-Paper-in-oil bypass capacitors in the analog power supplies
-Four-bit trim adjustments
-Additionally, reduced signal paths and power paths
-Additional internal anti-resonant and grounding designs and topologies.
-Smaller chassis (1" lower) and even less noise.

Internally, "three independent power supplies isolate digital and analog circuitry to eliminate bit-read errors. The main power supplies incorporate a bank of extreme-duty high-temperature anti-resonant organic polymer capacitors. The analog power supplies are bypassed with a vintage mil-spec paper-in-oil capacitor. The main power supply banks feed nine Belleson SPX ultralow-noise ultrahigh-dynamic regulators to isolate each type of IC chip, discrete module, and clock. The analog output stage is direct-coupled to eliminate output coupling capacitors or transformers. The direct-coupled output stage incorporates ultralow-noise ultrahigh-transparency Vishay TX2575 "Nude" resistors laser matched to 0.1% tolerance and Staccato class A discrete op amp modules. The hardware-based demultiplexing circuit assures 100% phase and time coherency between channels by using a bank of six low-noise logic gates to perfectly align the bits of the left and right channel digital words to the same clock cycle.

For isolation from grounding noise, an advanced hybrid star grounding schema is used to isolate input, digital, and analog grounds."

The Mystique Z "Quantum" (as reviewed) includes internal component upgrades like integrated Bybee "Quantum" Gold Slipstream purifiers, Bybee AC purifiers, Copper foil, and advanced ERS Paper EMI/RFI shielding, NC Nano crystal core choke upgrade, and IsoAcoustics OREA footers (x3). I have learned that an upgrade is not offered unless the perceived differences are significant, so if you can swing the extra, then you should go for it.

I want to quickly touch on the micro switches again. The ability to lift USB power and isolate the digital signal from external noise is something I truly believe in. I use an external power lift and have always found it to be effective. The fact that Ben included that is appreciated. Ben, as I do, believes that USB can be the best digital transmission resource if optimally utilized. Regarding the ground lift, this is also a nicely built-in option. In most cases, the system is just quieter with the ground lifted, but ground loops or local transmissions may necessitate relying on chassis ground to reduce noise. Attention to detail, combined with years of problem-solving and listening to customers, goes a long way towards optimizing client satisfaction and component performance.

The manual suggests using the single-ended overbalanced outputs, highlighting the opportunity for "better timbre and musical flow." In my system, I found that to be the case. Both should be tested, and user results will vary depending on your pre-amp, cables, etc. The manual also suggests a minimum of 150 and a maximum of 1000 hours for proper burn-in. I have always found Digital to take at least 500 hours to start settling and 1000 hours to sound its best. Again, I agree with Ben on this point. He also suggests leaving the unit on all the time, without concern for damage, so it's warm and ready whenever you are to listen. If you're getting my point, Mojo Audio is managed by a designer who has years of experience as both manufacturer AND enthusiast, who not only knows what sells, but what audiophiles want, how we listen, and what makes our music sound better.

As another side point, the manual (sorry, I'm talking a lot about the manual but I was impressed at the points it made that no other manual I have ever seen ever touches on) points out that with the unit on all the time, it is only formally burning in while it is on, receiving a compatible digital signal which is also the source selected on the front, and the analog output is loaded to a preamp or amp. And it makes a final point to highlight the fact that the DAC will make well-recorded and mastered files sound good, and bad ones sound bad.

As an enthusiast, Ben assumes the consumer will use his own audiophile-grade vibration isolation, so he does not include footers attached to the unit. Since it is a light unit, footers can be attached with adhesive or simply sit on the footer of choice. The manual mentions they include Sorbothane footers if you choose to use them, and includes instructions on where they should go. My unit came with upgraded IsoAcoustics OREA footers, which I am a HUGE fan of. Unless you are spending a lot more, IsoAcoustics gives you insane performance for the money, and you will never regret having a few sets of them around to use and pop in when a friend brings something over to listen to.

If you are using a Linux or Apple OS X-based digital source, then the drivers are built in, while you will need to download and use the JLSounds Windows driver for any Windows-based digital sources. The Mystique Z JLSound USB input module utilizes an XMOS chip, which is asynchronous, has ultra-low-noise Femto clocking, and is galvanically isolated. As such, the unit must be on before the source is turned on to allow a proper sync to occur for USB. They also suggest avoiding external reclockers and regenerators, and allow the JLSounds input to do what it does best with nothing to muck up the signal before it gets to the Z.

All three inputs can accept any type of Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM) digital music format up to 24-bit 192KHz, including: WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, AAC, MP3, MP4, and WMA. "The digital and analog power supplies are isolated, and the digital input board has its own secondary on the power transformer, its own zero-recovery Schottky diode bridge, and uses five Belleson SPX ultralow-noise ultrahigh-dynamic discrete regulators. One regulator is used for USB input, one for USB output, and three for coaxial/optical inputs."

For those who know the parts and the upgrades and the minutiae of DAC design and fabrication, this little DAC literally incorporates and implements the best old school design principles and new school tech available today, without taking the expensive next steps of fully milled enclosures, ultra exotic internal wiring, custom in house made chips and software and slapping an ultra top tier name like DCS or MSB so they can charge 17 times as much....

The heart of the system (as in all Mojo DAC's) is a non-oversampling, direct coupled R-2R with no filtering, upsampling, oversampling, error correction, or interference using just the signal and nothing but the signal.

Listening Notes And Impressions
To be honest, I have always loved Mojo. They offer a value for dollar that most bigger brands can not approach. Add to that the simple fact that Mojo sells direct, so there is no need for the additional mark-ups to cover the costs of aggressive advertising, distribution, and retail sales. Just adding those fees in conservatively would make this $13,000 DAC closer to a $27,000 DAC. So, for those who are complaining that everything is twice as expensive as it should be, here is your solution! The Mystique Z Quantum sounds like music; really, really, really good music.

It does nothing wrong and everything right. It works flawlessly, it's dead quiet, cool to the touch, takes up less space than two dozen CDs, and sounds good with decent cables or insanely good cables. It replaced my LampizatOr Poseidon for several months, and although I could tell the differences, I never honestly missed my Poseidon. Not that I don't prefer my Poseidon with ultra exotic tubes, but the Mystique Z Quantum kept my feet taping and my head bobbing with no less emotion or exuberance.

And... here it comes, folks.... Yes, it was so good that I did, in fact, purchase the review unit. It sounds great, can be left on forever, works seamlessly with everything, sounds great with everything (including electronics and speakers WAY more expensive), seems to be somewhat immune to interconnect and power cable quality, and just sounds like music. What more can a reviewer or an audiophile ask for?

PS - No, it is not replacing my Poseidon. First off, my Poseidon is also my pre-amp. Second, my Poseidon is vacuum tubes, and I can't use it to burn in anything else; so having a solid-state, reliable, terrific DAC is a huge benefit to me. Third, it was so good, and I just didn't want it to leave. So it stayed!

Manufacturer's Comments
A unique combination of the best of 100-year-old, 40-year-old, and modern technologies. Each circuit and component are carefully selected to assure the most musically transparent presentation possible. Our discrete, Class A, direct-coupled, analog output stage has no coupling capacitors or transformers to limit bandwidth or color the sound.

Unlike many so-called R-2R DACs that are segmented with multiple resistor ladders that are weighted and combined using algorithms (like discrete R-2R DACs or the PCM1704 and AD1865 DAC chips), the PCM58P DAC chips we use in our Mystique Z incorporate a simple 18-bit single resistor ladder. Another reason the PCM58P DAC chips have such a transparent and open sound is that they incorporate the same Nickel-Chromium (NiCr) resistor metallurgy that's used in the Vishay TX2575 "Naked" resistors we use in our analog output stage.

And... At Mojo Audio, we are music lovers first and engineers second. Technology is a necessary evil so that we can listen to music in our homes. We feel no need to gild a lily. Form follows function, and the function we seek is the most musically transparent products possible. That is why our products appear to be so simple in function and features when compared to most. Our products are engineered to sound natural, musical, and coherent. We never use voicing or attractive distortions to impress or enhance. Rather, we seek to reproduce the harmonic structure of music as accurately s possible.

Benjamin Zwickel
Owner, Mojo Audio

Specifications
Type: Hi-Res Audio DAC
Various Bybee devices
Burr-Brown PCM58P R-2R ladder DAC
Converts PCM files up to 24/192 via USB, coaxial, or optical.
Asynchronous galvanically isolated USB with ultralow-noise Femto clocking.
Lundahl amorphous core input transformer on the coaxial digital Input.
Direct-coupled output built around Staccato Class A discrete OpAmp modules.
No output transformers or coupling caps to narrow bandwidth or distort phase.
MSB, 2nd bit, 3rd bit, and 4th bit optimization fine-tune adjustments.
Furutech FT-909 low-mass RCA jacks directly soldered to PC board.
Neutrik gold-plated XLR connectors directly soldered to PC board.
Schurter AC input connector and medical-grade AC input filter module.
Ground lift switch isolates signal ground from Earth, chassis, and AC grounds.
Resonance dampened high-rigidity extruded aluminum chassis.
Copper foil and advanced ERS paper EMI/RFI shielding.
ISO Acoustics OREA anti-resonance footers.
Field convertible from 110VAC to 250VAC.
Dimensions are 9" x 3" x 16" (WxHxD)
Weight is 19 pounds
Price: $8,999, as reviewed $12,999

Company Information
Mojo Audio Inc
11600 Academy Road NE
#1315
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111

Voice: (949) 438-6656
E-mail: info@mojo-audio.com 
Website: Mojo-Audio.com