Meitner MA3i DAC Review

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.

This looks interesting for my fibre to Ethernet conversion idea. My network switch has 2 fibre outputs.

Gigabit Fiber to RJ45 Ethernet Media Converter Dongle, Optical Singlemode 10km/Multimode 800m, PoE P

Edit:

You can get fiber into a Meitner MA3i indirectly, because the MA3/MA3i has a network/Ethernet (RJ45) input for its built-in streamer.

But the PoE part is the problem:

• A PoE-powered fiber→RJ45 dongle needs a PoE source (a PoE switch or PoE injector) to supply it power.

• The MA3i’s RJ45 jack is a network client/endpoint port, not a PoE switch port, so it won’t provide PoE to power the dongle.

What this means in practice

• If you plug that PoE-powered dongle directly into the MA3i, the dongle will not power on (unless it has some other power input like USB/DC—which many “PoE-powered micro” ones do not).

• Also, you generally don’t want PoE voltage anywhere near non-PoE gear unless the device is explicitly designed for that scenario.

Better ways to do “fiber to MA3i”

1. Use a non-PoE media converter (fiber→RJ45) that has its own AC/DC power adapter, then run copper Ethernet from it into the MA3i.

2. Put a small switch with an SFP fiber port near the MA3i (powered normally), then copper RJ45 from that switch to the MA3i.

@yyzsantabarbara I mentioned the streamer card in MA3i is sensitive and needs isolation. A good switch or if you want copper to fiber should do the trick. It needs the hash snd noise gone before it receives a feed. 
You’ll be in good shape. 
Try top of the line wireworld Ethernet cable. It has integrated filter but you will still need to clean up the signal before that connection link into Meitner. 
 

Also - if you get a chance please try Qobuz or Tidal Connect instead of Roon especially with headphones. Let me know what you think. 

@yyzsantabarbara to your other point with amps not being able to cope with D1’s detail retrieval. It’s essentially all about synergy. You have a maximum transparency amp with same sonic traits as D1 and you just compounded the sonic signature. Schiit HP amp is probably more laid back sounding and had better synergy with ruthlessly resolving D1. Your Coda Class A amps are resolving but on a warmer side of the spectrum so they match properly with D1.
It’s all about system matching as you know.
My take on Meitner DAC is they struck a good balance of detail retrieval and musicality. Where D1 is all about making you drink that detail retrieval from the firehose (you used a good analogy). I haven’t heard the D1 so going purely based on the comparison you provided.
Both approaches have their place. And you can make both work. It all boils down to your preference. 

I was thinking about how to best do the streaming after that ChatGPT response I posted, and I decided to do the following.

1) My Ubiquiti network switch is one of the best with 2 fibre outputs. I am already using 1 for the Sonore OpticalRendu. I sold my other Sonore OpticalRendu last week and now have that output free for the Meitner. I will get a long fibre cable, maybe up to 50-feet to give me future flexibility.

2) Buy a low-cost network switch to take the fibre as input from my Ubiquiti switch

3) Buy a very short Ethernet cable, under 1 foot would work. and connect to the RJ45 on the switch and then to the Meitner. I will spend a bit of cash on the Ethernet cable.

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With regards to the resolution on the D-1 DAC

• 1) The Schiit Aegir v1 is not a headphone amp but a low watt Class A 2-channel amp that I am using for headphones. The closet comparison amp is a Nelson Pass First Watt Class A amp
• The only headphone amps I have had an issue with were the 2 tube headphone amps. I am thinking the tube amps may not be the best for the D-1. My sample set is small, and this is my ears tend to be very sensitive to even tiny anomalies in the sound

• The D-1 is unlike any other uber detail gear you may have heard, think Benchmark DACs, their AHB2 amp, SimAudio North Collection amps. etc. These things are almost as detailed but there is something that still seems as if is it not as clear as it could be. The D-1 is unlike all of these things. I used this analogy on head-fi, the "the very best DACs I have heard (at any price) feel like you are looking through a very clean window, with the D-1 that window is removed". I consider the D-1 a different class of DAC.

I love the Meitner because of the attributes you have mentioned, When I compared it to the 2x more expensive Playback Designs MPD-8 ($26k) with the RAAL 1995 Magna phones I much preferred the Meitner MA3i with the Magna. 

I should add that the Magna is also a very detailed phone. A warmer phone with the tube amps maybe fine.

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The very best sound (2-channel) I have in the house is with fibre streaming to the D-1. The next best is my SACD disks played as follows:

• Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player ($240 used)
• GeerFAB D.BOB DSD extractor ($650)
• Meitner MA3i (too much $$)

The following setup requires support for DoP on the SPDIF input of the DAC. The D-1 does not support this, but the Meitner does and the Meitner is very advanced in the digital features.

I will compare the Qobuz and Tidal apps against ROON on the Magna phones.

The Meitner and the Allnic HPA 15000 amp are the best sounding phones I have ever heard. The long-term plan is to buy the baby brother, Allnic ASRA headphone amp ($6.5k). I heard this last month, and it is excellent.