Millennia Media imersiv D1

One caveat for me on the D-1. I really like the D-1 with Class A amps. A tube amp had an issue for me, the $7k RAAL Requisite VM-1a with the D-1. I sold it because it was a bit fatiguing with the D-1 and replaced it with a used $400 Schiit Aegir v1 amp (Class A 20 watts) + imersiv D-1. This was great.

I should also mention that John La Gou of imersiv is about to release a new switch using transformers with dual XLR and RCA inputs and outputs. Something Danny was also going to build but pivoted to do another project. The idea is that you could use 1 imseriv D-1 for multiple amps.

That unit would allow me to run my office, Livingroom, and RAAL Requisite SR1a headphone setup with a single imersiv D-1 DAC. Now I was planning on buying this unit from Danny (now John) but I am not going to since the D-1 cannot do DoP over SPDIF. The MA3i can and it sounds almost as good.

@kumizi first of all the review is, as you already noticed, for the original MA3. 
And who is this guy and why should anyone take him seriously? He pooped on dCS Bartok and Meitner but is promoting Schiit and Chi-Fi. 

In addition, I had the original MA3 and I was very impressed with it. Highly resolving but sweet sounding DAC. Where it lacked was in dynamics and drive. It was definitely not rolled off or overly warm but kind of polite and reserved. Not for large scale where you expect slam. 
 

The new MA3i resolves every single issue I noticed with the original. It’s a terrific DAC that sounds like music and gets out of the way.
If you’re looking for a hi-fi autopsy of a recording, then may be the D1 is for you. My personal preference is for the sound to resemble live performance as closely as possible. I get it with Meitner every time. It will not sound mechanical. It will not sound like a recording studio monitoring tool, which DACs like Benchmark and D1 really are.

Auditioning is key. Otherwise you hop on a merry go round and never get off…

 It will not sound mechanical. It will not sound like a recording studio monitoring tool, which DACs like Benchmark and D1 really are.

I have to disagree with this point. The D-1 is a very musical sounding DAC. The review I posted above is saying the same thing. I am listening to this DAC about 6 hours a day (like right now) and it is sweet and detailed. Just a unicorn DAC.

Some feedback on the low-cost transformer-based switch from imersiv ($500). The one I mentioned in my previous post is going to cost more, likely a lot more. The low-cost one does the same thing but for a single input.

(9) imersiv D-1 DAC (HDR-A) | Page 8 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

 The imersiv > imersiv transformer box > WA24 seems to have slightly more intimate staging (nothing extreme), but noticeably improved imaging, dynamics, and clarity compared to the Zahl preamp chain.

Same thing I observed with the Schitt Aegiv v1 amp with Danny’s transformer and the imersiv D-1.

@yyzsantabarbara Steve waa evaluating the D1 with Burson mono amps. If you watched his review of these amps he mentions on more than one occasion that they’re warm sounding. Without any doubt it’s possible to balance things out in a system by pairing a very analytical dac with warm amp and speakers. I get it. It works in your system because you paired it with the right equipment. Swap it places with the Meitner and it will most likely destroy synergy. 
That’s why I said auditioning is key