What's unique about the brand
What reviewers are saying
We read all the reviews. Here's what reviewers feel most strongly about:
- Metrum products, including those under the Sonnet Digital Audio brand, are designed around the company's proprietary R2R ladder network DAC chips, known as Transient DAC modules, providing a unique approach to digital-to-analog conversion.
- The brand is known for its commitment to non-oversampling (NOS) designs, eschewing oversampling and filtering techniques to preserve the naturalness and musicality of audio signals.
- Metrum implements unique approaches to volume control that maintain signal integrity, utilizing techniques like changing the reference voltage of the DAC modules rather than traditional digital attenuation or analog potentiometers.
Our favorite reviewer quotes:
- "Model One speakers' capability to revive the almost ghastly atmosphere with a sonic expansiveness that was almost thoughtful as far bigger floor-standing speakers was quite extraordinary. The sheer lightness of electric piano tones and shimmering metallic percussion notes were rendered with a sense of feathery float, filling the listening room with an impressively wide vertical and horizontal augmentation." (https://www.monoandstereo.com/acelec-model-one-speakers-review)
- "The Acelec Model One speakers acted as a full-blooded David against Goliath (in a form of floor stander) with their impressive transparency, subtlety, overriding credibility factor, and, above all, very engaging nature." (https://www.monoandstereo.com/acelec-model-one-speakers-review)
- "Additionally, they are perhaps the best speakers I know of when it comes to pulling off the trick of supreme detail, free of etch or brittleness. You simply get a deeper look into the stage and into the textural nuance of the instruments upon it than perhaps with any other monitor-sized speaker in my experience, but without any perceived edge or etch." (https://www.stereotimes.com/post/acelec-model-one-loudspeakers-by-david-abramson)
- "The hardest part is to put into words the overwhelming feeling of happiness that the Pavane's presentation and naturalness brought to my system, more so than any DAC that I can remember. It proves to my mind that oversampling, upsampling or DSD conversion are only necessary to overcome the shortcomings of lesser DAC chips." (https://the-ear.net/review-hardware/metrum-acoustics-pavane-digital-analogue-converter-dac)
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Products
Lineup comparison
We think it's helpful to understand how their products compare. To learn more about each, scroll to the section above to click through to individual product pages.
Metrum Onyx
- Positioning: A mid-range non-oversampling DAC designed for home sound systems.
- Description: Uses dual DACTWO chips per channel with parallel FPGA-driven R2R ladder networks for high linearity and clear channel separation. Compared to pricier models like the Pavane and Adagio, it offers solid performance for everyday listening at a moderate budget and suits setups where effective detail and balance are key.
Sonnet Morpheus MK-II
- Positioning: A versatile digital preamplifier DAC suited for integration with sensitive tube designs.
- Description: Adds a -10dB attenuator feature that allows output voltage adjustments, making it flexible for both DAC and preamp usage. Compared to the simpler Onyx and the more feature-rich flagship models, it targets buyers needing adaptable output control for specialized use cases.
Metrum Pavane
- Positioning: A flagship non-oversampling DAC aimed at delivering high-end, refined audio performance.
- Description: Incorporates advanced DAC 2 modules and proprietary forward correction techniques to produce a rich and natural sound with enhanced spatial cues. Compared to the mid-range Onyx and the integrated Adagio, it delivers top-tier sonic detail.
Metrum Adagio
- Positioning: A flagship DAC with integrated volume control that serves as a digital preamplifier for active systems.
- Description: Features dedicated DAC boards with larger, higher voltage transformers and separate toroidal power supplies to maintain low noise and precise volume regulation. In comparison to the Pavane and Onyx, it offers more functionality and controlled performance for users requiring integrated preamp capabilities.
Sonnet Pasithea
- Positioning: A premium DAC and preamplifier built with eight SDA-3 DAC modules for enhanced performance and versatility.
- Description: Delivers improved linearity, lower distortion, and a noise floor markedly lower than the Morpheus by using multiple DAC modules and flexible attenuation options. Compared to all other products in the lineup, it provides superior build quality and maximum sonic resolution in complex and demanding systems.
Used
Metrum
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About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
