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DAC’s

Hello, curious on everyone’s thoughts. I’m still building my system. I came across a really good deal on a Meitner MA3 dac. It’s from an authorized dealer and they offered to sell me one NIB for 7k. I have read and read about dacs and I am getting tired. Haha. I really like the Denafrips Terminator 2, Holo and the lumin T3 being the cheapest of them all. Once I factor in a streamer I am already close or over the 7k. Also I don’t need a dac for anything other then just streaming. Thank you 

shtr74sims
ddafoe
243 posts
 

I own the MA3 and am very happy with it.   I replaced a just slightly cheaper (MSRP wise) Mojo Audio R2R NOS DAC that I also really liked.   I think the MA3 offers many of the same sound qualities as my Mojo did, and just takes a few of them further allowing me to hear more yet into my favorite recordings. 

If you throw in it unfolds MQA, has an integrated Roon capable streamer, Meitner's digital volume control, and is made and serviced in North America, I personally think it is (relatively speaking in hi-end terms :)) good value at the used/street prices it goes for.

I do agree that I think it sounds slightly better with a decent quality external streamer.   I'm using a Bricasti M5 with AES and I prefer it slightly to its integrated streamer.  If I didn't already have the M5, I don't think I would rush out to buy it.

I think this review https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/meitner-audio-ma3-integrated-da-converter-review-r1086/ is a pretty good representation of the MA3 based on my experience with it.

Of course, YMMV...

willgolf
936 posts
 

Get the best Lumin DAC / Streamer that you can.  i had the D-2, U1 mini, A1 and X1.  You kill two birds with one stone nd great sound and ease of Ap use.  you can find them used.  You might be able to find an X-1 on the used market for $7800 to $8400 and that is the flagship.  

plumptonvinyl
49 posts
 

T+A DAC 200 for less money ?

urbie
275 posts
 

I like the Wyred4sound 10th anniversary DAC very analog sounding and three dimensional wide sound stage, not cheap 4500 US.

mahler123
3,318 posts
 

I detect a sense of exhaustion from the OP.  This is supposed to be fun.

My 2 cents is keep the DAC and streamer separate.  The DAC is the larger determinant of the sound, but the streamer can make or break the experience.

A great sounding streamer that has a poor software controlling package, or that doesn’t connect well, can make you frustrated and miserable.  Keeping DAC and streamer separate allows you to change one or the other independently.  There are already a couple of comments in this thread that the streamer end of the Meitner may be subpar.  That would scare me off.

  I think that in general DACs get better as you go up the financial ladder but the rest of the system matters as well.  Have you been able to demo anything in your own system

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