It is easy to say that 2020 was not without it fair share of drama. When it comes to consumer manufacturing, all manner of hiccups can befall the relationship between designer and factory. It sadly appears as though digital audio favorite Mytek was also subject to some of this turbulence with their manufacturer and EU distributor HEM Electronics.
As a result of a “loss of confidence”, according to a recent PR release, the dual Warsaw and Brooklyn company will now take its manufacturing (and EU distribution) to a Poland-based Mytek Europe Corporation for all products save the upcoming flagship Empire Steamer. To accommodate this, most of their previous products will be discontinued (but still supported) and all new set of audio series will take their place based around Roon OS and Linux Audio platforms.
9 new products in four tiers are slated to hit the market in 2021. Priced in a range starting with the entry Liberty Series to a new “cost no object” Empire streamer for $/€ 19,995. From the Mytek PR release:
Liberty Series is a selection of very compact, high performance “one function” products:
Mytek PR Release, 2021
February 28th Liberty THX AAA™ Headphone Amplifier $/€ 1,495
March 15th Liberty DAC II PCM/DSD/MQA/HPA DAC $/€ 995
April 15th Liberty Phono Preamplifier with built-in SU Transformer $/€ 1,495
Brooklyn Series models are compact, very high performance, “feature packed” products:
Shipping now Brooklyn Power Amp+ (dual-mono, 2x 250W, Fast class D) $/€ 2,495
April 30th Brooklyn Bridge II w/ROON Core, DAC, preamp, HPA & phono $/€ 3,495
Manhattan Series models are full size, ultra high performance products for demanding audiophiles:
Summer 2021 Manhattan Dual-mono Power Amp (GanFET module, 2x 200W) $/€ 6,995
Summer 2021 ManhattanBridge w/ROON Core, DAC, preamp, HPA & phono $/€ 6,995
Empire Series represents extreme, uncompromising, “cost no object”, flagship products:
February Empire Streamer Bridge w/ROON Core, DAC, preamp, HPA & phono $/€ 19,995
Summer Empire Mono block power amplifier (GanFET module, 1000 watts) $/€ 9,995 ea.
Each of Mytek’s four product series has its own unique narrative; a Liberty component provides a single dedicated function in a “feature rich” package that is much more advanced when compared to similarly priced competitive offerings. The Brooklyn series is like a multi-faceted swiss army knife, heavy on the number of functions, but each one implemented to a very high standard. Manhattan offers the end user genuine high-end audio performance that has been consistently recognized as “best in class” across the globe. Finally, the new Empire series offers extreme State-of-the-Art performance through a cost-no-object implementation of numerous cutting-edge technologies that most of the competition can only aspire to.
Several very significant in-house designed technologies will make their way into the 2021 Mytek product lineup. They include (i) the new Linux-based Mytek OS Platform to be found in all three Mytek streaming products and (ii) the revolutionary Mytek GanFET Power Module for amplifier output stages, using ultra fast Gallium Nitrate FET transistors. This technology will be used in the Empire and Manhattan power amplifiers.
More info: Mytek Audio