ЦАПы — Meitner Audio MA3i

The MA3i is an integrated D/A converter from Meitner Audio, designed and built in Canada. Meitner calls it the next evolution of its earlier MA3, and one box handles digital inputs, network streaming services and volume. Technology in it comes from the more expensive EMM Labs reference converters, and the list price is USD 11,500.

Key specs that matter

Connections start with five digital inputs - AES/EBU, coaxial S/PDIF, TOSLINK, USB audio and RJ45 network. Every input accepts PCM up to 24 bit and 192 kHz plus DSD, while the USB and network inputs also take DSD128, DXD at 352.8 or 384 kHz and perform full MQA decoding. Analogue signals leave through balanced XLR sockets at 6.0 V (+17.8 dBu) with 300 ohm output impedance and single-ended RCA sockets at 3.0 V (+11.8 dBu) with 150 ohm. The case is 435 x 400 x 92 mm and weighs 7.43 kg with the remote, and the bead-blasted front panel is offered in silver or black. A universal power supply runs from 90 to 260 V at 50 or 60 Hz, is power factor corrected and draws at most 50 W, and the unit carries CE approval.

Engineering and use context

Digital-to-analogue work is done by MDAC2, a fully discrete dual differential converter working at 16 times the DSD rate with single-bit elements. Ahead of it the MDAT2 signal processor detects transients in real time and up-converts all incoming audio. Level is set by the VControl volume system taken from the EMM Labs DV2i. Clocking uses the MFAST frequency acquisition protocol together with the MCLK3 asynchronous clock, aimed at keeping jitter low. For the USB and RJ45 inputs Meitner fitted an optocoupler that gives stronger galvanic isolation than in the MA3, blocking noise, ground currents, voltage spikes and DC offset. Streaming support covers Roon Ready endpoint duty, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, Deezer, vTuner internet radio and DLNA/UPnP playback from a NAS.

Pairing

Either pair of analogue outputs can feed a preamplifier or amplifier, and the VControl stage lets the owner adjust level from the MA3i itself. Besides the IR remote, a serial port allows wired control from an external system. A computer can use the isolated USB input and a home network the RJ45 port, the two inputs that open the higher DSD, DXD and MQA formats.

Alternatives

The Meitner MA-1 V2 is the updated version of the brand's first stereo D/A converter, with six digital inputs.