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PS Audio PMG 512 DAC vs Grimm MU2 or Meitner MA3i with Roon?

I’m curious if anyone on here has compared the PMG 512 to the Grimm MU2 with Roon? I’ve had a friend lend me his MU2 and it sounds better than either the Innuos Pulsar or Eversolo A8 going into my Holo May KTE DAC. For those of you who care, the Pulsar is better than the A8 but I hate using the Sense software instead of Roon. I have also heard the Meitner MA3i in a different system and it is quite good and supports Roon but I have no idea how it compares.

I am trying to find a cheaper alternative to the MU2 that sounds as good and the PMG 512 with its Roon end point and built in streamer sounds like it might fit the bill and it has the added benefit of supporting I2S which neither the MA3i or MU2 do and I like to connect my CD Player with I2S.  The MA3i doesn't support I2S but it does function as a Roon end point.

Has anyone had actual experience comparing these three high end solutions?

And can all the trolls that want to lecture me about how DACs and Streamers have no sound go pollute somebody else's thread.

pinwa
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,833 posts
 

Can’t help with the comparison but can tell you I love my MA3i. 

bhvf
232 posts
 

Do you mean the Grimm MU1? The MU2 does not have the ability to feed a DAC. It's a streamer DAC. The MU1 is a streamer. Why don't you just use Roon with the Innuos? I know it used to sound better using Sense but Roon is a better interface (as you know).

jackd
1,123 posts
 

You might want to check out the multiple long threads going as far back as October concerning issues with the PMG 512 especially the built in streamer. The DAC itself supposedly sounds great but there are bugs in the software which is and has been a common issue with PSA products.

brbrock's avatar
brbrock
166 posts
 

I have been curious about the PMG DAC also.   I spoke to PS Audio about a week ago and sounds like they have fixed all or most of the problems with the streamer.  One thing I will mention is I was  reading last night  that people using HQ-Player have been able to improve the sound of the May quite a bit.  I am not sure how they are doing it.  I think I also read you can get HQ-palyer with roon.  You wouldn't have a streamer built in but it would be an in-expensive fix.  I think you can do a free trial for 30 minutes at a time.  You could research how to set it on ChatGPT and let it ride.  If I remember it talked about the May liking really hi sample rates and then you can make adjustment based on your equipment and what you enjoy.

pinwa OP
340 posts
 

@brbrock I have read posts by people who feel HQPlayer is an effective way of improving the sound quality of Roon although I was unaware of any comments specifically about it with the Holo May.  I do have a spare Intel i9 NUC I bought specifically to use with HQPlayer but getting the best out of it doesn't seem to be that straightforward and the NUC has been sitting unopened for more than 6 months now LOL.

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