Meitner MA3i DAC Review

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.

@yyzsantabarbara awesome! I’m a fan of Coda amps. The 11 should be as good as new after the recap.

I am doing some uber level headphone tests with some gear that I will have for 1 more week.

- imersiv D-1 DAC (I own)

- Meitner MA3i DAC (will buy)

- Allnic HPA 15000 OTL/OCL headphone amp ($15k, I do not need it)

- RAAL 1995 Magna headphones (demo)

- RAAL TI-1b amp adapter box

- Sonore OpticalRendu fibre streaming

- Ethernet streaming for the Meitner but just regular CAT5 cables.

I am adding some hours on the Allnic as a favor to a friend who is taking it to NYC CanJam. The Allnic has direct RAAL support along with regular XLR headphone output. I am using the regular output with the RAAL TI-1b adapter because that is how I use RAAL phones with my other gear and I want an apples-2-apples comparison.

The imersiv D-1 has more resolution than the Meitner MA3i, likely more than ALL other DACs. On headphones that can be tricky to deal with. You hear more of everything with the D-1. With tube amps, like the Allnic and also my now sold RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp the D-1 generates some hints of fatigue. It is not much but I notice that little bit of stress. I think what is happening is that the D-1 has so much data coining out (a firehose of data) that the 2 tube amps cannot handle it perfectly. Maybe most people would not notice and just appreciate the increased resolution. I was streaming via ROON and my Sonore OpticalRendu (fibre). I did not test this today, but I know that my $400 used Schiit Aegir v1 amp used as a headphone amp can handle the D-1 great. All my Class A amps, like the CODA #16, #11, Aegir v1 handle the D-1 with perfection.

I then tried the Meitner via Ethernet streaming using the same tracks. Resolution is less than the D-1, but a very nice listen nevertheless. No fatigue at all. I just noticed that the ROON endpoint for Meitner streaming has a volume adjustment. Very nice and super useful to lower or increase volume from an iPhone when not close to the gear. My old KRELL k300i integrated had this feature too and I love it. My Sonore OpticalRendu does not support this.

I then tried the Metner with the Sonore OpticalRendu. It was a cleaner sound than with the Ethernet on the Meitner. 

- Best sounding imersiv D-1 + Sonore OpticalRendu fibre optic streaming.

- Most relaxing for headphones, but not as resolving, Meitner MA3i Ethernet

- Best of both worlds, Meitner MA3i + Sonore OpticalRendu fibre optic streaming.

In all likelihood I will use the Ethernet streaming in the Metner for headphones. I like to relax with headphones and do not want to change Sonore USB cables between the 2 DACs. I need to shut down the D-1 to safely do this.

I need to figure out a good Ethernet cable and maybe try an Ethernet-to-fibre-to-Ethernet conversion. That conversion may better the sound on my Ethernet.

BTW - I have heard some of the most expensive headphones in the world but the best one for me is the RAAL SR1a which is now discontinued but available to buy remaining stock. I see these on USAM for around $2K with the Schiit jR amp. I am a 2-channel guy so my love of the SR1a over the more expensive phones is understandable.