Boutique DACs

Rockna

I keep hearing good things about the Meitner MA3i from everyone who hears one.  I don’t need one but would like to hear it.  Interesting the imersiv D-1 has been out for a little while now but for all the talk about evolutionary and revolutionary, I still do not see too much written about it.  $12K is not out of line, if it does what they say, IMO.  Lavorgna at Twittering Machines has one in for review (link).

@mitch2 If you are in NYC in March the Meitner MA3i that is in my home will be going to the NYC CanJam. I first need to sell an amp and a DAC before I can buy the Meitner and that may take time. My friend sells both the imersiv D-1 (I own) and the Meitner (will own). My buddy loves the MA3i and told me to have a second listen. 

The imersiv D-1 will also be at CanJam NYC likely side-by-side with the Meitner and connected to the incredible Allnic 15000 OTL/OCL headphone amp (at my house right now). The RAAL 1995 Immanis and Magna will also be there to hear this. You are not going to find any better headphone setup.

The designer of the imersiv D-1 will be demoing at NYC CanJam. All of the gear I mentioned was at the Denver headphone meet last month.

(2) Colorado Winter Head-Fi Meet Impressions -- January 10, 2026 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

(2) imersiv D-1 DAC (HDR-A) | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

Audiogon Discussion Forum

BTW - if you read a review of the imersiv D-1 that uses the RCA outs then you should really question it. I asked the designer why the RCA outs of my D-1 did not work. He told me that it MAY or MAY NOT work on some gear. He told me never to use the RCA. Not sure why they have it then.

Nadac

@jasonbourne71 I guess you didn't see the words no delta sigma dacs.

That reminds me to mention the Allnic D-15000 Signature OTL/OCL it is super expensive at $26k but one of the most detailed DACs, and it is holographic via tubes. Not a common combination. I like the imersiv D-1 more, but I think the Allnic would be more popular for most people.

There is a new lower cost Allnic lineup called the ASRA (all items under $10k) that is supposed to have a DAC very similar to the Allnic D-15000 Signature OTL/OCL. It could be great because I heard the $6.5k ASRA headphone amp at Denver and it was very close to the $15k Allnic HPA 15000 OTL/OCL that I am demoing at home now with the Meitner MA3i.

EDIT: Ignore since these are ESS chip-based DACs