Meitner MA3i DAC Review

@audphile1 , I use this right now.

https://a.co/d/81uQMKa

It's an inexpensive, well built, low gauge solid core cable that performs very well. I needed to finalize placement of my components so I would know what length cable I would need long-term before investing in anything more expensive. I plan to try some "audiophile" cables in the near future to determine if more expensive results in any benefits

@buzz it looks similar to my linkup cable 

https://a.co/d/eTGIjAy

Good cable for sure but Purist beats it. 
 

I keep reading with interest about this MA3i.  Ergonomically, and as a system interface, it would be perfect for me. I would feed the MA3i from my Roon dedicated server that is in a separate room with my network gear, and would use the MA3i to perform as a Roon endpoint/streamer, system volume control, remote, and volume display, and then send the signal through my SMc Audio unity-gain buffer and on to my amps.

I am really curious how close the sound would be to my Aries Cerat Helene DAC (which is not ergonomically perfect for me, but sounds great) and I also wonder how much is left on the table against the comparable EMM Labs model, which is close to 3x the cost. Having become accustomed to R2R DACs, I suspect I would prefer the sound of the Aries Cerat, and maybe even my Mojo Audio DAC, but the MA3i would sure streamline my front end by taking the place of a streamer/endpoint, DDC, and a volume control.  If it were close in sound quality, it sure would be tempting.  I should really try to hear one. It seems from this thread, at least one user prefers the MA3i over the Bricasti M3. What other DACs have users replaced in their with the MA3i?

Speaking of attenuation, @ayang90 said,

“While I know preamps should just be an attenuator, it just added a smidge of cohesiveness that wasn’t there when going direct.”

This is the fallacy that sends people who use DAC volume controls back to using preamps for better sound.  You don’t need a separate preamp but you do need an active stage for impedance matching and to drive the IC cables.  You don’t even need gain, just an active buffer stage (or maybe transformers or AVCs).  Ralph Karsten has explained this multiple times on this site. It is also why folks like Steve Nugent of Empirical Audio and Vincent Brient of TotalDAC offer buffer stages that customers find beneficial to the sound quality when driving amplifiers through the on-board volume controls in their DACs.

@mitch2 I replaced Bricasti M3 and Aurender N200 with MA3i. I bought the Meitner while I still had the other two pieces so that I can compare. 
I don’t know what Helene DAC sounds like I am sure it is fabulous. I can tell you that the MA3i is very clear and open sounding. It’s also very engaging. I use it as a Roon end point and I love the simplicity and the sonics of the MA3i. 
Not sure where you are in the country but if you email Isis Graham over at EMM Labs she might have a suggestion on how you can audition this DAC in your system.  https://emmlabs-meitner.com/pages/contact-us

As to volume control, the MA3i has a very high quality volume control according to EMM Labs/Meitner. I use the dac at 100 volume setting as it drives my Boulder 866 integrated.  Yet another reason to audition it in your system to see if there’s synergy

Hope this helps  

@audphile1 - helps a lot. Thank you!