Meitner MA3i DAC Review

@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. 

@audphile1 Thank you, great comments. I will keep the Meitner firmly on my list.

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. 

The Meitner is not warm nor is it analytical. It has a lot of detail but puts it out there in an unforced or natural way. It reminds me for the KRELL DUO lineup of amps. One of the most pleasing to listen to amps as is this DAC. It is more relaxing than my imersiv D-1, but I always like the D-1 more. Likely suits my uptight personality.

I am listening to the Meitner MA3i on a CODA #16 amp which is amazing. However, I am going to sell the #16 to buy the Meitner and going with a Class D amp or Schiit Wotan Class AB amp. Thiis is for my office system so I can downgrade a bit. Now that could be a bad move amplification wise. but it does not matter I would rather have a great DAC over a great amp.

My other DAC, the imersiv D-1 is even better than the Meitner and I use that a couple of ways. Using a great CODA #11 amp on speakers and also with a $400 used Schitt Aegir v1 2-channel amp for headphones. That Aegir v1 + imsersiv D-1 setup was the best I have heard the phone, even better than a dedicated $7k headphone amp (which I sold). This made me realize I want to spend $$ on the source. The $7k amp could not handle the firehose of data from the imersiv D-1 and was fatiguing.

BTW - the imaging on the Meitner is something really special. The stage is also huge. Today I listened to the Meitner since 7AM until 10PM (so far) and I am sick today with the flu. The thing sounded wonderful.

EDIT2: I think I am repeating myself with this post. I did mention that I am a little spacy today.

@yyzsantabarbara why not get a used Coda 8? That’s a very nice amp and should have good synergy with the Meitner DAC. 

@audphile1 I have owned the CODA # and it was a very good amp. I like the #11 and #16 more. I found the Schitt Wotan at $2k to be about the same as the #8. I sold it after I got the #11.

If I can find another #11, I would take that over the Wotan.  I am going to order for a home demo the Class D GANFet amp at $1000. A lot of people on A'gon seem to recommend that amp. Cannot hurt trying it.

My office system is a $2k Magnepan Mini speaker setup on stands. It sounds great in a room where it should not. A nightmare room but Maggies are kind of easy to minimize reflections. Using a $16k amp was sonically mind bendingly good but not a smart allocation of funds.

I moved the #16 from my best speakers, Yamaha NS5000, to the Maggies because the 20-year-old #11 was so good with the NS5000, and imersiv D-1 DAC. The #11 is actually at CODA today getting recapped and whatever else to keep it going for the next 20 to 30 years.