I am listening to the 2010 version. I don’t think it’s the best, maybe because it is 16/44 and the one I was listening to was hi-rez. At certain times the cymbals sound okay. When they are being brushed across a drum or there is a long decay, the Meitner cannot reproduce it with the air and duration I hear on the album.
The Meitner is a champ at transcient attacks, on a cymbal or guitar string or whatever. But decays are really difficult. If I wanted to take the time, I could probably hear the difference on the decay of a piano note, but I don’t want to. I hear what is obvious to me, but I don’t want to search for a lack in sounds that aren’t obvious to me. I love the Meitner MA3i. I just think that digital still has a ways to go. Again, with the caveat that I have not heard the very high-priced spread.
I am now listening to the second cut on "Waltz for Debbie," Detour Ahead. It sounds great because the cymbals are keeping rhythm and are constantly being hit, so the sounds are transcient attacks that I think the Meitner does well. It also has much more air between the instruments than I’ve heard on the MA3 or my Moon 280D. The bass notes also seem very natural, they are quick and have bloom when the music calls for it. Is the decay probably a bit shorter than on a vinyl record? Probably, but again I don’t want to go digging for things that aren’t obvious to me.
