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

@audphile1 

I wonder if you would know the difference not on an A/B test, but if your wife changed cords and you left your music room for a fair period of time. Say half an hour. Power cords are one of the things I've never gotten into. I do have a couple of upgraded cords. One I got when I traded a turntable for something and the guy threw in a thick pink power cord. I use that on my CD player and have no idea how it affects the sound. When I inherited my amp and some other cool things, I got a power cord and it's plugged into the amp. I never had interest in an A/B test because I already own them, and I think it's one of those things that you can hear when you're concentrating on an A/B test, but you'd have no idea if nobody told you they changed cords. 

I am now listening to "Nardis" on "Cafe Blue" and the cymbals sound fantastic. I don't have the album to compare them to, but I felt that everything was there on the cymbals. Now that the Meitner is burned in a bit, it seems nothing is lacking to my ears. Give me an expensive dCS and I'd probably hear some differences. The guys at Stereophile who reviewed the MA3i did compare it to dCS 1/4 million dollar stack and said they could hear the difference, but once that comparison was over they were perfectly happy listening to the MA3i. Not the MA3, however.

@audio-b-dog no idea how the MA3i sounds with a stock cord but testing the Kimber against Nordost I was very thorough. I took my time evaluating each power cable for days. I had the Frey 2 for a long time so I was familiar with it. Reason I decided to try the kimber was that EMM Labs has a long time partnership with Ray Kimber and they run all their EMM and Meitner gear with Kimber cables at shows. 
I like the PK14 Ascent, which is significantly less expensive than the Frey 2, much more. Frey 2 appeared to add coloration to the highs and mids where treble sounded slightly dryer and mids were more sibilant. I always knew the Frey 2 power cord was in the system - it kind of announces its presence. Changing over to Kimber the sound became more dynamic and neutral. Gone is the dryness in treble and sibilance on vocals. 
So I do not need my wife to swap the cords. I took weeks to evaluate what each cable was doing. 
I also switched my interconnects from Nordost Tyr 2 to Kimber KS1116. Once again, the sound became more organic and has better dynamic drive. 

I’m really glad you are happy with your MA3i! It’s a great DAC that just gets out of the way and lets you enjoy music!

Yes, I am happy too. The Meitner is as involving as vinyl, all differences aside.

On the power cord question, here has always been my thinking. I have a $16,000+ preamp, and an amp that would probably cost today $20,000+. The Meitner MA3i is an $11,500 streamer. If custom power cords really sounded all that much better, wouldn't high-end manufacturers put them on their equipment? They're not even available as upgrades. Maybe if I have an open-to-buy again some day, I'll order one from Music Direct because I can send it back. But now I'm very happy with what I have.

If custom power cords really sounded all that much better, wouldn’t high-end manufacturers put them on their equipment?
 

EMM Labs components are shipped with Kimber power cables. There are other high end manufacturers that include upgraded power cords. 
However, in general manufacturers supply a basic power cord so that you can be up and running in minutes, as well as to keep the overall cost down and leave s power cable choice to you. Same with tubes. All tube equipment comes with new production tubes. It’s up to the individual who buys this equipment to use stock or upgrade to pricey NOS tubes. 
 

Kimber runs specials on eBay, with 30 days return policy. Here’s a 2m PK14 Ascent for $319 https://ebay.us/m/UOJhwy

That’s the model power cable I use on the Meitner. 

@audio-b-dog 

I tried a full loom of Kimber cables their build quality is very good. They sent me the power cable for free to try, could not hear a difference with any of my gear so I sent all of it back including the free power cable. One great thing with Kimber their return policy is super great, no questions asked. A/B listening with my Blue Jean cables I still have my Blue Jeans cables. I am old too, 73, all those  expensive cables and tweaks make a lot of people very rich. Hooking the MA3i to the Pass preamp you cant hear what the MA3i can do, I noticed that when hooked up to my Pass Labs preamp…the Meitner needs to take control and fly to the heavens with its voice, more smooth sounding. I will never go back to a preamp with the MA3i.Get off you buns and crawl around and make it happen, your wife will love you when you sell that preamp and turntable…