Meitner MA3i DAC Review

The imersiv D-1 should never be used with a preamp since you lose resolution. It sounds terrific direct to amp. I always used to say that my setups sounded better with DAC to my Benchmark HPA4 or LA4 preamp and then to amp. The imersiv D-1 was the first DAC that broke that rule for me and I sold the HPA4. The first time in over a decade where I do not have a HPA4 or LA4 preamp.

The Meitner MA3i is the second DAC that I have heard that sounds terrific straight to DAC.

I am also starting to open up to take a slight hit in streaming performance to use Ethernet and forgo the better fibre streamer. I did ROON Grouped streams and was able to easily hear the difference between Ethernet and fibre on the MA3i. The difference was small and if I go with Ethernet, I eliminate a bunch of gear.

@yyzsantabarbara 

MA3i needs something between it and the router to suppress the noise that the router might be generating. 
I have eero into trendnet 8 port unmanaged switch with wireworld starlight 10 twinax, then trendnet into Meitner with Audience Hidden Treasure Ethernet cable. 
I have found the streaming card in the MA3i to be sensitive and it won’t sound its best if you feed it less than optimal Ethernet. You can try optical isolation instead of switch but make sire you use top notch Ethernet cables. 
I love my MA3i. It’s truly an excellent DAC. 

@yyzsantabarbara Not to mix responses…

Yes the preamp section in MA3i is fantastic. No issues running direct into amp. I’ve tested that. 
Secondly, after I optimized network streaming with MA3i, it outperformed my Aurender N200 and I sold the streamer. I slimmed it down to Roon Nucleus One and Meitner. That’s it. 

@audphile1 While we are back on this subject, I would be interested in your comments comparing the Bricasti M3 (which I have, and you had) to the Meitner. How would you describe the overall sound difference? I have heard that the Meitner can be a bit warm, where I would not describe the Bricasti in that way. I am enjoying the more incisive sound of the Bricasti over my previous warmer DAC, but of course am considering an upgrade in the Bricasti line to the M1, or the Meitner. Also tossed in there is the Tambaqui. Thoughts?

@zlone sure

I will start with Bricasti…

The M3 is a fine DAC. Having owned it for quiet some time with different amps, preamps and integrated amps, the sound signature is pretty neutral and accurate. It has good details, is never in your face and keeps the presentation safe enough to not even remotely approach digital hash or harshness. I felt it was specifically designed to be a bit reserved in that regard to create an impression of refined sound but st the expense of musical engagement. It’s a matter of fact, accurate and natural sounding DAC. Soundstage is good, but again the overly cautious approach  results in kind of a general view of what’s going on in a recording and it isn’t extremely precise or focused. 
That was my impression of M3 in my system. 
 

What you get with Meitner is still a very natural and refined sound but now you have better focus, you hear deeper into the recording with more details and layers in a soundstage, better instrument separation and most importantly a very nice step up in musicality. It is not a warm or dark sounding DAC. Yes system matching is key but it replaced the M3 with all associated equipment intact. 
 

I later replaced Nordost Frey 2 power cord on Meitner with Kimber PK14 Ascent and like it better.