Upstream Bottlenecks, Experience, Opinions, Meitner Dac

@bigwave1 I also own the MA3 and totally agree with @delm. Start with using the internal streamer connected to your router via Ethernet cable. The included  MConnect app’s user interface is bare bones but sounds great when streaming Tidal and Qobuz. I haven’t yet done a deep dive on Ethernet filtering/reclocking enhancements but the  MA3 sounds very good straight out of my router.
 

I found the MA3 to be sensitive to the quality of both the Ethernet cable and power cord. I use a Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Reference Ethernet cable and their Tesla Hologram D power cord. Depending on the tonal balance of the rest of your system, the Shunyata Sigma Ethernet cable will provide a tonally fuller sound at the expense of some air and sparkle compared the the SR Atmosphere X Reference. 

It is important to understand the streaming capabilities and source input differences specific to the MA3. The internal streaming circuitry is the same as EMM LAB’s $5k NS1 stand-alone streamer. I would think (hope?) that means the MA3’s streaming performance is more on par with $5k+ external streamers vs lesser internal streamers inside most competing streaming DACs. Point being that It may take a significant investment in an external streamer/cabling/filters/reclockers/switches to better its internal streamer’s sonic performance.

Second is that the MA3 only supports PCM up to 24/192 and base-rate DSD (DSD64) via SPDIF (coax), AES/EBU, and optical while its USB and LAN inputs support PCM up to DXD frequencies (352.8/384kHz) and twice the basic DSD rate (DSD128) via DoP. Plus, only its USB and network inputs recognize and decode MQA.

Seems to me that Meitner designed the MA3 to perform best with its internal streamer and USB input (although the latter requires an external streamer or conversion unit thus making its internal streamer superfluous and lowering the MA3’s value quotient vs non-streaming DACs). 
 

All that being said, I am of course curious to read feedback from anyone actually using an external streaming solution and/or the latest SOTA LAN filters/switches reclockers (ENO for example) with the MA3 after giving its internal streamer “au naturale” a thorough audition.

@ghasley Thanks. I suspected as much.

@bigwave1 Right. I had forgotten to mention the MA3’s sensitivity to isolation so I’m glad you did. I use a Symposium Ultra platform underneath it and found that I like the sound with Synergistic Research’s MIG 2.0s between the two.  
 

BTW I think Small Green Computer sells (or used to sell)  a server (Transporter) for use as a Roon Core/storage that has both Ethernet in and out so the need for USB for ripped files could be eliminated.