DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend

So I tested two more DACs recently as we have become Meitner/EMM Dealers and I have the MA3 and DA2 here.  First write up with be about the MA3 which is proving to be quite a phenomenal DAC considering its price point and feature set.  

The MA3 is an FPGA based DAC with an on-board renderer player and preamp/volume control that fully unfolds MQA.  Its closest competitors are the Weiss 501 and Bricast M1.

Regarding listening, In a Sentimental Mood had good top-end with sparkle in the piano without becoming fatiguing.  Detail in the drum rolls is very good and air around instruments in solid.  

Be Still My Beating Heart lacks the scale of Bricasti in terms of raw soundstage size but sounds without sibilance in Stings voice.  Noise floor is very low and the balanced circuitry is showing up well.

Liberty sounds great.  The sound effects are coming from outside the speakers.  There remains no sibilance in her voice and there is no glare with the saxophone.  

In Duende the air around the instruments is good, not elite.  The bass is good but overall there are some soft edges in my full tube system.  

The Berg piece sounds right size.  Great separation of strings with no glare.

Overall, this unit is a touch warm vs. neutral and is a little softer sounding than the Weiss or Bricasti.  This is not bad and would be a top choice for me to be paired with SS amps like Hegel or Chord or some OTL Tube amps like Octave.  Any system that is a little clinical could benefit from the addition of this unit.  

Big fan of the Meitner MA3, would be curious what you think of their new preamp as well as the NS1 streamer.

When I had the MA3, I only got the magic with an external pre and separate streamer.

I am 100% certain I am bringing in and am going to test the NS1 streamer.  At some point I am sure I will hear the preamp but it is not a priority.  In my system I am using the Canor Hyperion P1 preamp. 

It is rare that I hear any DAC that sounds as good with its internal pre/volume control vs. an external.  I do agree that external streamers are essential to get the most out of any DAC but the on-board streamerrs to me are better than on-board preamps.  

@verdantaudio 

I have debated pre vs no pre for two years.  I got rid of my Pre when I got my Lampi Pacific and Horizon.  I could not hear any loss of sound quality.  That said, I did order the Aries Cerat Ianus Ageto Pre.  I can't tell you why except at 69 years of age, I basically said why not.  You only live once.  

@willgolf Those are two of the DACs on my shortlist of units that are fine without a preamp.  I would also say the MSB Reference and Select would fit here, but MSB equips them with a full preamp stage.  

After that, it is preamps equipped with very good DACs like the AGD Andante or AVM Ovation SD 8.3 that I think are your best buys if you lack a preamp stage in your system.  I think the AGD is an insane value when you consider the quality of the DAC and Phono Stage in it.