Does anyone have a digital system that is as involving as their analogue front end?

@gbmcleod 

I think you're talking about Keith Jarrett. If you are, listen to his album "Keith Jarrett/Charlie Hayden" and you'll hear songs the way I think you like them, but with ultimate minimalism and soul. Keith Jarrett has also recorded Bach. He's a master, or at least he was until he had his stroke. 

@audphile1 

The Meitner MA3 has the relaxed analogue ease of vinyl. The instruments do not sound like they went through a blender and were reconstituted. But the sound is a bit "thick." Vinyl when done right can give a very focused sound so that the notes are tight and that also gives the recording more air. Does the MA3i upgrade help to fix that?

@audio-b-dog I wouldn’t describe MA3 as thick sounding but I would say when it comes to image focus and image placement precision it is a bit “diffused” so to speak. 
The MA3i improves upon this greatly. The key is to have enough precision and focus without crossing over into the presentation with etched out images that distracts you from music. The MA3i balances this act very well. 

@audphile1 

Thanks for the response. I inherited a Matisse drawing from my mother that I thought was real. I knew it was a real drawing and it was signed by Matisse and it was damned good. Better than any of the artists whom I knew could do. 

I took it to the Matisse archives in Paris to get it authenticated. The woman who ran the archives knew in one look that it was a forgery. Matisse used a fine fountain pen and this was done with a slightly thicker sharpie. Matisse's fine fountain pen was much more elegant. And that's what I think of when I say a note is focused or thick.

In a way the Meitner reminds me of tube gear of old that was lush and "musical," but distorted. 

@audio-b-dog that’s why I bought MA3i. The concerns I noted with the original MA3 are addressed. 
I’ll also add that Pass Labs gear tends to homogenize things a bit. That in combination with the sonic signature of MA3 might be too much of a good thing. 

I’m also confident you can improve upon the MA3 with better Ethernet cable or by adding a network filter or isolator. Removing an extra layer of network induced smearing might help clean things up a bit.