Metner MA3 vs Playback Designs MPD-6

We sell the MA3, however not the Playback Designs. The Meitner is extremely smooth, very detailed and has a wide soundstage. The upconvert to DSD, the fullness of the sound, and instrument separation are top notch. Very good build quality, volume control, and a nice remote. It helps to pair with a system that is very revealing and detailed already - think beryllium tweeters, Focal, Perlisten, Von Schweikert, or other brands with similar high frequency signatures. 

Hope that helps to describe what you get with the MA3.

Your description was very helpful, for which I thank you. Why do you think that this Meitner DAC is so unknown, particularly given its performance/price ratio?

Never heard both but read somewhere that Ed Meitner worked for Andreas Koch (of PBD) back in the day.

BTW - I have a Stream-IF streamer for sale. It works with the MPD-6 using SDPIF or PBD proprietary fibre optic Plink.

@yyzsantabarbara I think you have it backwards. It was actually Andreas Koch who was hired by Ed Meitner in 2003 to work for EMM Labs. Ed Meitner is considered a pioneer in SACD development. He worked closely with Sony and Philips in the early days of SACD and was responsible for implementing the format from concept to reality. I believe his company, EMM Labs, also built the first multi-channel DSD playback system.

@jmeyers I don’t think Meitner is as unknown as you might think. It’s true that they promote their flagship DAC more often so maybe that’s the reason for the perception. Either way, it is a fantastic DAC. When I bought the Meitner MA3, I compared it against Denafrips Terminator Plus, T+A 200, and the Aavik D-280 DACs. To my ears, it was definitely a cut above the Terminator and Aavik. It was a close call between T+A 200 and the Meitner. In the end, I went with Meitner because of the built-in streamer.

As choiceaudio mentioned, the MA3 produces a very natural and balanced soundscape. It reveals all the details in the music but in a way that it never sounds forced or ’in your face’. IMO, it doesn’t suffer from the overly detailed, etched sound quality of some other top tier dacs in the same price bracket. I have not once experienced fatigue even when listening for several hours at a time.

Having said that, the built-in streamer is good but not great. I plan to get a separate streamer in the future. Don’t get me wrong, it still sounds very good but I think I can push the envelope further. Also, if hearing every last drop of detail in a very vivid manner is your thing, you might be longing for something else. This DAC is more about painting a beautiful, natural landscape than a razor sharp image.

Sorry I don’t have much experience with Playback Designs. Hope this helps and good luck.

@arafiq "

• In 2003, Andreas joined Ed Meitner’s EMM Labs, where he designed digital audio products for both professionals and audiophiles. His work included revolutionary algorithms for sample rate conversion, D/A converters, and unique clock management architectures.

You are correct on that. It seems they both worked with Sony. Interesting thing about PBD designs is that they use a FPGA design for DACs. PBD is supposed to be the originator of that design.

The expensive Nagra DAC is also using the PBD boards, but it not the best ones. Those are saved for PBD's DACs.

I cannot find a great interview that had a lot of info on the history of Andreas and DSD.

Didn't Andreas invent the D/A converter?

Pretty sure that was Al Gore ...

So Im actually a dealer for both brands and have them both in my demo room. Let me try to be helpful for you JMeyers. Ill be direct and candid with my opinion. (24 year career).

MA-3 is a soft sounding DAC. It lacks the defined leading edge of the PBD. It is however a great value at $12K including streamer option. This DAC is best to be put into systems that are forward/strident sounding. So this is a colored sonic, best used to treat harshness in a system. In a balanced system, its too dark for my taste.

MPD-6 couldn’t be more different. Its got leading edge with no lack of definition whatsoever, while retaining organic, natural presence. Its more "real" sounding. This is the strong suit of the brand. Its simply more engaging than other DACs and real, in a natural way that is unparallelled. Yep, its a premium as well, but if you want to never buy another DAC, Playback is the stopping point in my opinion.

So the decision comes down to budget. if Playback is in your budget, its a no brainer.

Now for fact on an irrelevant subject. Who hired whom. lol stupid trivia..

Andreas hired Ed Meitner when Andreas was at Sony developing SACD for them. Ed is an analog engineer and did the output section of the DAC only. Hes good at that.. Ed left Sony to start Emm Labs. Thats when he hired Andreas to help him make the best DACs of their time. Andreas took off 3 years later and created Playback Designs and hired Bert Gerlach to do the Analog design.

As far as the home based Indonesian dealer on here Phantom Audio Visual, as I understand it, you were terminated by Playback Designs for trying to sell your demo DAC on Audiogon and pretending to ship from USA. So you are pissed off at Playback Designs for demanding integrity within their dealer network. If you are anything like the North American importer for Ares Cerat, this story makes perfect sense. Buyer beware. I had 2 people try to trade in Kassandra for MPD-8, but I will not accept Ares Cerat on trade.

LOL, I honestly feel bad for people trying to get good information here on AG.. its a shill show..

SEE ya... ;-)

Both Andreas and Ed are luminaries in the world of digital audio. I don't think anyone is trying to prove who is better. 

Also, there was no need to throw another dealer under the bus, but I guess we have come to expect this kind of vile behavior from this certain individual. 

@mikepowellaudio Do you have a PBD DAC available for home demo, either MPD-6 or MPD-8?

@arafiq its silly to even suggest anyone is "comparing" Ed and Andreas. They have completely different skill sets. They are quite literally incomparable. 

Next, if calling a dealer out for being dishonest is unappreciated, just say it. You dont want the truth. Whats "vile" is you perpetrating a narrative based on truths you dont happen to like. What you dont like is my disruptive force. Sorry if I offend your feelings. Its not my intent.   

@yyzsantabarbara a Rush fan I take it ? Yes, Ive got both, which one would you like ? 

Definitely a fan.

Good to hear that you have both DACs. I need a DAC to finish my Livingroom system. The PBD reputation made me get a PBD streamer already (a great unit). However, I want to hear a PBD DAC in my system first before I decide to spend that amount of cash. I will get in touch with you later when I am ready to demo.