Best Turntable and DAC's made in Brooklyn

Building the "Brooklyn Sound": A Local Signal Chain from Source to Preamp

Brooklyn has a rich history of manufacturing and craft, a tradition that is alive and well in the world of high-end audio. From legendary phono cartridges to cutting-edge digital converters, the borough is home to artisans creating some of the world's most musical components.

Building an audio system entirely from Brooklyn-made gear isn't just a fun exercise in local pride; it's a path to a unique, exceptionally high-fidelity sound. This post explores how to build the front end of such a system, focusing on the digital heart and the analog soul, all sourced from the borough of Kings.

The Digital Hub: Mytek Audio Brooklyn Bridge II

At the center of a modern "Brooklyn" system sits the Mytek Audio Brooklyn Bridge II. Mytek, founded by Michal Jurewicz in 1992, has its roots in professional recording studios, and that no-nonsense approach to sonic purity is evident in their home audio gear.

The Brooklyn Bridge II is more than just a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). It's a complete digital hub. It combines a high-resolution network streamer with a built-in Roon Core, meaning it can manage your entire music library without needing a separate computer. It features a reference-grade ESS Sabre DAC chipset, a high-current headphone amplifier, and, crucially for our all-Brooklyn chain, an excellent built-in analog phono preamplifier. This versatility makes it the perfect control center for both digital and analog sources.

Its sound is described as detailed, dynamic, and transparent, a perfect canvas for the music.

The Analog Soul: Grado Labs Cartridges

For the analog front end, we turn to one of the oldest and most respected names in audio: Grado Labs. Operating out of a townhouse in Sunset Park for three generations, the Grado family has been hand-building some of the world's finest phono cartridges since 1953.

While you can pair a Grado cartridge with any high-quality turntable, the cartridge itself is the critical Brooklyn component that translates the grooves of your records into an electrical signal. Grado cartridges are famous for their "midrange magic"—a warm, full-bodied, and incredibly lifelike sound that brings vocals and acoustic instruments to life. Whether you choose a model from their accessible Prestige Series or their handcrafted Timbre Series made from cured woods, you are getting a piece of Brooklyn audio history.

For those seeking the absolute ultimate in Brooklyn analog playback, Oswalds Mill Audio (OMA) in Dumbo creates bespoke, museum-quality turntables using materials like slate and cast iron. An OMA deck fitted with a top-tier cartridge is the pinnacle of analog playback.

The Complete Signal Chain

Putting it all together is elegantly simple. Your turntable, fitted with a Grado cartridge, plugs directly into the high-quality analog phono input of the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge II. Your digital music library is handled internally by the Mytek's Roon Core and streamer.

The Brooklyn Bridge II then acts as your preamplifier, allowing you to switch between your record player and digital music, control the volume, and send the final signal to a power amplifier and a pair of speakers—perhaps some made by Brooklyn's own DeVore Fidelity to complete the local loop.

Overview of Key Brooklyn Components

Here is a summary of the key components for a Brooklyn-made front end.

By choosing these components, you aren't just buying audio equipment; you're investing in a tradition of craftsmanship and a distinct musical philosophy that is proudly "Made in Brooklyn."