SACD Player vs SACD Transport to use the D. Bob a/k/a Digital Breakout Box

To finish of the previous question asked of me.

I put the network streamer into play just now using an old Cat5 cable. It should up immediately as a ROON Endpoint, so that was very nice. I want to listen on my earphones now since the family is sleeping and I need to see if the MA3i is good with the RAAL SR1a as was the Imversiv. The Imersiv was so good that I sold a $7k headphone amp and now using my used $400 Schiit Aegir v1 amp. 

Using the network streamer, it was terrible and I had to stop after 15 seconds. My ears were hurting. I put my Sonore OpticalRendu back on USB and it was great without any ear issues. Now nothing can be this bad from a company as good as Meitner, so I am attributing this to the Ethernet (network) input needing some burn-in. I have no time for that since I am in a time crunch to return the DAC.

I have nothing else to add on this D,BOB compatible Meitner DAC.  Serious competition to the Imersiv for my needs. 

@yyzsantabarbara 

Thanks for the info  I know you cycle thru a lot of equipment and value your thoughts!! 

@yyzsantabarbara Do you have any new updates on the DAC's you are testing?

I have the imersiv D-1 working great with my CODA #11 and Yamaha NS5000 speakers in the Livingroom. In fact, it will get even better since I sent the CODA back to the factory to get refreshed and they are going to add some new parts that they think are improvements, such as new amp speaker cable terminals.

A couple of folks on Head-Fi and Audiogon have contacted me on the D-1. I advised them on how to get a home demo, and they ended up buying the DAC. It is different from all other DACs, so resolving.

For my office, I will be buying the Meitner MA3i DAC after I sell my CODA #16 amp, I am keeping the #11 amp, and I bought a low-cost Class D amp for the office. The office does not need an amp as good as the #16. The Meitner MA3i (or the D-1) in the office makes a bigger difference.

The Meitner is not as resolving as the D-1 but is a terrific DAC nevertheless. It is incredible on SACD's with my D.BOB. The built-in streamer is also very good. The D-1 does not work with the D.BOB on SPDIF and only has XLR output. The RCA on the D-1 may not work on some systems, like mine. I need the RCA out for headphones. The Meitner is also a bit warmer than the D-1. 

At the moment I am using the RME DAC in the office and it is as functional as the Meitner. It also sounds very good, the MA3i sounds great in the office.

BTW - I heard the $10k Bricasti SACD transport with a $5k Bricasti DAC. I think the D.BOB and the Meitner are better with my $240 OPPO transport.

I see I spoke about the network streamer on the MA3i. After some changes in cabling, I was rather happy with the Ethernet into the MA3i. So much so that I sold 1 of my 2 Sonore OpticalRendu's. The Rendu's are better than the Ethernet streaming, however the Ethernet was good enough and I wanted the $1k from the Rendu sale to save up for the MA3i.

I use the remaining Rendu to stream to the D-1 DAC