Meitner i upgrades

This is what I have learned about the MA3i upgrade after speaking to Meitner. The improvements are based upon learnings as they developed their other product lines. I have not heard an upgraded unit so realize this is coming from the manufacturer.

Whats changed:

- Completely new analog stage

- New input stage, improved USB

- New network streaming protocol

- A few small tweaks to the FPGA

Impact of these changes:

- Increased bandwidth and lower distortion

- Better low end slam

- More visceral impact

Overall the changes do not fundamentally alter what we like about the MA3. However customers who have upgraded have provided overwhelming positive feedback. 

Personally I have a lot of trust in EMM/Meitner engineering so I am going to take the plunge with the upgrade. 

I got my upgraded MA3i last Friday and let it burn in for 96 hours, which is what the dealer recommended.  By the way, Rick Brown of Hi-Fi One handled the upgrade and he was great.  He took care of everything, kept me up to date, and coordinated with the factory to keep the turnaround time short.  Great service.

I’m very pleased I upgraded.  The noise floor is lower.  I can hear quiet passages, such as during a Mahler symphony, more clearly.  Micro dynamics are better.  It’s easier to hear subtle slight changes in volume.  Tone and timbre is better.  Instruments sound more like the real thing.  Horns have more brass, nylon strings more nylon, etc.

I can’t hear any downside to these improvements.  The new i doesn’t sound brighter, hi-fi, or analytical.  It’s still smooth.  There’s less fatigue because the music is more intelligible.  I noticed and categorized the improvements over the first few days, now I don’t focus on them much.  If you like the character of the original MA3 and want it to sound a bit closer to the real thing, I highly recommend it.

I replaced my MA3 with the new MA3i. The difference is huge. Gone is the softness associated with the old unit. New 7nit is a lot quieter, more dynamic and more nuanced. You can really hear into the music. Same wide and deep soundstage. I  believe this to be a really worthwhile upgrade.