From separate streamer and DAC to al-in-one suggestion

@patrickdowns

I just wanted to give your another option to consider if you are pursuing MA3 which is not nearly as good as DA2. And yes, I liked DA2 until I auditioned +player :-)

The DA2 is one of the best DAC’s but the DAC inside +player is not one or two notches but quite a few notches above DA2. In direct comparison, the DA2 sounded ‘congested’ especially with high resolution content like DSD’s. Merging pedigree with DSD mastering in recording studios clearly shines through +player. That’s why I went all out with +player by adding external +power supply and +clock.

I’m not sure why you would separate instead of upgrade the DAC. The bang for the buck would be in the final component before the pre-amp correct ? Just my thoughts 

Looks like the Meitner MA3 is creating a buzz here. As is often the case, it is accompanied by some disinformation as well. Prior to the release of the MA3, EMM Labs released a major upgrade (known as “V2”) to the DA2, DV2, and DAC2X and provided current owners with a factory upgrade path to V2. Several reviews and forum posts have said that the V2 upgrade provides a monumentally significant improvement in sound quality and a very different sound character than the pre-V2 version. Suffice it to say that the pre-V2 EMM Labs DACs do not represent current EMM Labs nor Meitner products’ sound.

The Meitner MA3 utilizes the same custom DAC modules, clock and digital circuitry as the V2 version of the EMM Labs DA2 and DV2. The DA3 retails for $10,500USD and the DV2 for $30,000USD.

Hardware differences between the EM Labs V2 DAC and the MA3 are explained in a review by The Computer Audiophile on the Audiophile Style website:

“Huge cost savings were passed on to consumers with the new all metal chassis, smaller remote control, circuit boards, and different power supply of the MA3. The DV2 employs Ed Meitner’s proprietary switch mode power supply and ceramic circuit boards with tighter tolerance components, whereas the MA3 has a custom specified power supply meeting the voltage, noise and current performance requirements of Ed and his team, and conventional FR4 circuit boards.”

For $19,500 (or nearly 2/3s) less, of course the MA3 is not quite the sonic equivalent of the DV2 V2, but several reviewers have placed the MA3’s performance very close to its 3x priced brethren and intimated that is sounds better than EMM Labs pre-V2 models.

Additionally, the MA3 includes the circuitry from EMM Labs $5,000 stand-alone NS1 streamer internally, which is not included in the DA2 V2 nor the DV2 V2. Simply connect the MA3 to your router via an Ethernet cable and hear the MA3 at its best using the included MConnect App. Re:Roon, The MA3 is a certified Roon endpoint but does require an external server as a Roon Core processor, which can be had from Small Green Computer for $999 (i5) to $1400:(i7). So under $12k retail all in for the MA3 with full Roon capability and ready to play.

A few like-new MA3s have shown up for sale around $7k. @kray, if you can stretch another $2k, I think you find the MA3 to be a great sounding pedigreed Player/DAC, unmatched by the competition for anywhere near that price..

In closing, I feel sure that the aforementioned Merging Technologies + products (at over twice the retail price of the MA3 including the SGC i7 server) sound great, but I will not speculate on a comparison SINCE I HAVE NOT ACTUALLY HEARD THE CURRENT MERGING + PRODUCTS.

I have had both the Cary 600 and 700. Jack of all trades. But if you just basically just stream the Bricasti M3 w/ network card is a nice step up. They can be found used for 4,000-4,500. 

“I feel sure that the aforementioned Merging Technologies + products (at over twice the retail price of the MA3 including the SGC i7 server)”

To my best knowledge, Merging +player with built in Roon Core / end point retails for $14K. In comparison, the MA3 ($10,500) including the SGC i7 ($1400) server adds up to total retail of $11,900. The SGC i7 does not come with linear power supply, add $285 for LPS plus the cost of a decent Power Cord for LPS. Not to mention, we are now dealing with Ethernet optimization on two separate devices SGCi7 and MA3 as opposed to one.

I am not here to debate what I’ve heard in my system nor here to dispute anyone else perception of what’s deemed to sound best at 1/3 the cost. No two systems are alike not to mention how each individual’s perceives sound :-)

Fortunately, there are so many options to put together a decent digital streaming system. If someone seeking a one box Roon based streaming component with DAC/VC/Headphone Pre, Merging +player deserves a mention. Apart from its superb sonic attributes in my system, Merging +player offers open path to future expansions (external power supply and clock) for SOTA digital playback.