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Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Exceptional build quality and design, considered a 'no-compromise object with an artful eye', and true dual-mono construction
- Delivers highly accurate and transparent sound reproduction, without added flavoring, making it suitable for professional recording studio use
- Can process and decode a wide variety of digital music file types, including PCM and DSD
- Employs sophisticated technology to minimize jitter and timing errors, including asynchronous sample rate conversion and custom-built components
- Features isolated power supplies for analog, digital, and control circuitry, along with custom-built toroidal transformers and capacitor banks
Product Considerations
- The Kalliope required a field upgrade to its USB system firmware to fully unlock DSD operations all the way out to Octo DSD
- The price is a significant investment
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Gryphon Audio is at the top of the mark for both sound and build quality, while Mark Levinson lost its cutting edge
Takeaway: The Gryphon Audio Kalliope is a top-tier DAC known for its exceptional build and design. It delivers highly accurate sound and handles a wide range of digital formats, making it a great choice for audiophiles seeking high-quality audio reproduction.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Kalliope
reviews
[{"title":"Impressions: The Gryphon Audio Kalliope 8x DSD DAC","link":"https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/impressions-gryphon-audio-kalliope-dsd-dac","source":"Positive Feedback","datePublished":"2017"},{"title":"Gryphon Audio Design Kalliope","link":"https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/gryphon/1.html","source":"6 Moons","datePublished":""},{"title":"Gryphon Audio Designs Kalliope DAC Review","link":"https://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/0814/gryphon_audio_designs_kalliope_dac.htm","source":"Enjoy the Music","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- DAC: ESS SABRE ES9018 32-bit (one per channel)
- PCM Sampling Rates (USB): 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384 kHz up to 32 bits
- DSD Rates (USB): 2.822, 3.072, 5.644 and 6.144 MHz
- PCM Sampling Rates (BNC/XLR): 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, 64, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz up to 24 bits
- Power Supply: 65 VA toroidal transformer per channel
- Power Capacitor Banks: 34,000 microFarad per channel
- Standby Power Consumption: <0.5W
Description
KALLIOPE (a.k.a. Calliope, meaning "beautiful voice") is the eldest of the Muses, goddesses of music, song and dance in Greek mythology. Kalliope is the goddess of epic poetry and eloquence. In any audio system, there are certain points along the signal path that are more crucial than others. These are the intersections where the signal is converted from one form of energy into another. Such transformations occur when the needle of a phono cartridge traverses the micro-grooves of a vinyl record, converting kinetic energy into an electrical signal. At the opposite end of the signal path, loudspeakers must transform electrical input into acoustic output. But perhaps the most critical transformation of all is the conversion of the output of digital sources into an analogue signal, ideally without loss or distortion of any kind.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Gryphon amplifiers use a distinctively robust power supply featuring custom-made toroidal transformers and substantial filter capacitance, contributing to exceptional dynamic headroom and speaker control.
- The brand's industrial design, originally led by Flemming Rasmussen, combines bold aesthetics with practical functionality, creating visually striking components with user-friendly interfaces.
- Gryphon prioritizes short, direct signal paths and minimal internal wiring to maintain signal purity and transparency, enhancing sonic performance by reducing potential noise and interference.
- They offer modular designs with optional phono stage and DAC modules, allowing customers to tailor their components to their specific system needs and upgrade in the future.
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Select product comparisons
Diablo 333
- Positioning: Gryphon's top integrated amplifier, succeeding the Diablo 300.
- Description: Integrates advanced technologies from Gryphon's flagship models, offering enhanced musicality and power. Features a dual mono configuration and optional phono and DAC modules, providing flexibility and high compatibility with various audio systems. This amplifier is ideal for users with a higher budget who desire a compact yet powerful system for larger rooms.
Essence
- Positioning: The entry-level high-end power amplifier in Gryphon's lineup.
- Description: Offers pure Class A operation with a focus on sonic neutrality and dynamic ease, making it ideal for small to medium-sized rooms. Features a dual mono design with separate power supplies for the output and driver stages, which is a step up from integrated designs like the Diablo 333.
Antileon Evo
- Positioning: A mid-tier power amplifier known for its high current capability.
- Description: Excels in delivering high instantaneous current, ensuring compatibility with demanding loudspeakers, which is a significant advantage over the Essence. Uses pure Class A bias and features a dual mono configuration, offering superior control and speed.
Mephisto
- Positioning: A high-end power amplifier designed for the most demanding audiophiles.
- Description: Offers exceptional current delivery and stereo separation, making it ideal for large rooms and high-end audio setups. Features a dual mono design with separate power supplies, providing superior channel separation and control compared to the Antileon Evo.
Apex
- Positioning: Gryphon's flagship power amplifier, representing the pinnacle of their design and engineering.
- Description: Delivers immense power and refinement, capable of driving any loudspeaker with ease. Features pure Class A operation with a massive power reserve, surpassing the capabilities of the Mephisto. This amplifier is for those with an unlimited budget who demand the absolute best in audio performance and are willing to invest in a statement piece for their audio system.
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Avg. Product Price
$30,001-$40,000
Used For Sale
15
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
115
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
27
Founding Year
1985
Our take on the brand
Gryphon is one of the most respected high-end amplifier brands in the world. Its bass grip is phenomenal, thanks to an unusually high level of capacitance, which keeps everything tight and controlled, even with demanding speakers. Gryphon is also known for its bold, brutalist design—a look that a lot of people love. You’ll find their gear all over Europe and Asia, and the Diablo 333 is often considered an ‘endgame’ amp by those chasing the very best sound and aesthetics.
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Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
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What if you spend more?
Linn
Klimax DSM
42000
42000
/
5
Reviews
Linn is a hifi brand known for its modular designs, particularly the Sondek LP12 turntable where users can upgrade virtually every component over time to maintain performance across decades. The brand stands out for developing its own technologies in-house, including the Organik DAC with FPGA processing and Space Optimisation, which models room acoustics without needing microphone measurements.
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Product Strengths
- Considered the best product Linn has ever made, in the same class as the best digital products available
- Features Linn's new 'Organik' DAC, which uses custom-designed algorithms and a discrete conversion stage for improved upsampling, precise volume control, and low distortion
- Stunning looking piece of equipment eliciting responses from casual observers such as "Ohhh it's beautiful" and "Geez that looks very fancy"
- Casework is machined from solid aluminum with precision-cut partitions to minimize unwanted electrical and mechanical interactions
- Offers comprehensive features including streaming services, compatibility with Airplay and Roon, and support for various audio formats
Product Considerations
- Analog input performance may lack the subtlety and expressiveness of the digital inputs
- Some reviewers remain skeptical of the efficacy of the Space Optimization software
- When using Space Optimization, the user's blind guess is whether the value is too high or too low
- The Linn app is found to be cumbersome to navigate
- Linn's history suggests an expensive upgrade could be in the works
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to EMM Labs DV2, Klimax DSM creates the best impression of three-dimensional instruments and vocals, and it sounds even better than it had over EMM Labs' achingly good DV2
- Compared to Naim ND555/555 PS DR music streamer, Linn Klimax DSM is superior in bass grip, depth, or power
Takeaway: The Linn Klimax DSM is a top-tier streaming audio component with exceptional sound quality and a visually stunning design, representing the state of the art when it comes to streaming sound quality. It offers a directness and focus to the music, making it an inspiring choice for audiophiles.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Linn is a hifi brand known for its modular designs, particularly the Sondek LP12 turntable where users can upgrade virtually every component over time to maintain performance across decades. The brand stands out for developing its own technologies in-house, including the Organik DAC with FPGA processing and Space Optimisation, which models room acoustics without needing microphone measurements.
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dCS
Vivaldi APEX DAC
46500
46500
/
4
Reviews
dCS Audio is distinguished by its proprietary Ring DAC technology, which uses a custom mapping algorithm to reduce distortion, and its dCS Expanse headphone processing platform that enhances spatial sound. The brand's products, particularly the Bartók Streaming DAC, are favored by professional recordists and mastering engineers, while their Vivaldi and Rossini APEX systems have earned recognition for setting new standards in digital playback.
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Product Strengths
- Reproduces a sense of 'air' in recordings, accurately capturing ambient detail and instrument placement in the soundstage
- Significantly reduces distortion and improves linearity compared to its predecessor, resulting in enhanced dynamics, detail, and a more resolving sound
- Has excellent tonal purity, providing a beautiful and natural sound for both vocals and instruments
- Expands transparency by avoiding the artificial gloss and sheen, enabling the sonic power at its core
- Delivers authority, control, and the sheer drama and dynamics
Product Considerations
- Being a multi-box setup (DAC, Upsampler, Clock), requires careful setup and cable management
- While versatile with adjustable output voltage, optimal performance depends on proper gain and impedance matching with the preamplifier and amplifier
- The design, while impressive, is eleven years old
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Has a better ability to translate the still-fragmentary micro-universe of zeros and ones to the level of enhanced music listening than other DACs
- Compared to Ayon, Gryphon and Esoteric SACD players, dCS shows the signal smoothly, delivering a brighter, clearer sound
Takeaway: The dCS Vivaldi Apex DAC system brings music to life by uncovering more of the details within recordings. This system allows listeners to feel closer to their music, offering joy and an awakening of the senses.
Video review
Our take on the brand
dCS Audio is distinguished by its proprietary Ring DAC technology, which uses a custom mapping algorithm to reduce distortion, and its dCS Expanse headphone processing platform that enhances spatial sound. The brand's products, particularly the Bartók Streaming DAC, are favored by professional recordists and mastering engineers, while their Vivaldi and Rossini APEX systems have earned recognition for setting new standards in digital playback.
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Ideon Audio
Absolute DAC ε meta
51500
51500
/
4
Reviews
Ideon Audio designs DACs and streamers with proprietary technologies, including custom software and hardware that enhance standard components, and their signature femto clock architecture and zero-noise rectification technologies are built into every product. Their Absolute Stream features a unique real-time core playback system that processes audio directly from the kernel, while their massively over-engineered power supplies and modular design approach ensure both superior sound quality and future upgradeability.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- The Ideon Absolute ε DAC received a very positive review and became Cost-No-Object DAC of the Year in 2021
- The Absolute Signature Time brought a further level of calmness to the event of playing music at home
- Dynamics, and especially bass reproduction, is greatly enhanced and is instantly noticeable with either of these devices installed in a system
- The Absolute Time devices help to develop more depth and width in the soundstage, add clarity, and emotion, especially to vocals
- The Absolute trio (DAC, Stream, Time) bring out the very best they can deliver, making it one of the best complete digital sources one can buy today
Product Considerations
- The price tag puts it in a category where diminishing returns and price-to-performance ratios are not primary concerns
- Textural information was noted as being a little smooth and a slight harshness was noted in the treble region
- The Absolute Time's S/PDIF reclocking has a sample rate ceiling of 192kHz, which could be a limitation if using an upsampling CD transport
- The Absolute Time Signature is better than two Standard Absolute Times, and one should always choose the Signature version over the Standard Time devices
- The need to buy USB cables to link to the product
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- It annihilated the dCS Rossini Apex and Clock, even though it is less expensive
- The Ideon Absolute Epsilon DAC provided something along the lines of a twenty-five to thirty-five percent overall improvement over the benchmark-setting performance of the original Absolute Epsilon DAC
Takeaway: The Absolute can greatly improve the sound quality of a high-end system by enhancing timing accuracy and overall clarity, especially for those seeking the highest levels of performance. The resulting listening experience can make music sound effortless and natural.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Ideon Audio designs DACs and streamers with proprietary technologies, including custom software and hardware that enhance standard components, and their signature femto clock architecture and zero-noise rectification technologies are built into every product. Their Absolute Stream features a unique real-time core playback system that processes audio directly from the kernel, while their massively over-engineered power supplies and modular design approach ensure both superior sound quality and future upgradeability.
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CH Precision
C1.2 Mono
71813
71813
/
3
Reviews
CH Precision is known for its modular design philosophy that lets customers tailor and upgrade their units over time without replacing the entire component, with sophisticated controls accessible via tablet from the listening position. Their amplifiers offer five different operating modes (stereo, bridge, passive and active bi-amplification, and monaural) and allow users to adjust specific audio parameters like global feedback ratio and input gain settings for optimal speaker matching.
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Product Strengths
- Retains all the music's delicacy, refinement, and fluidity, being revealing without becoming clinical
- Offers a wide and deep soundstage, is timbrally spot-on and very natural, well-focused, richly textured, and well-endowed in terms of transient attack and dynamic impact
- Is significantly more revealing, without introducing any negative by-products, and is still the superbly musical and emotionally involving DAC that the C1 was, only better
- Capable of being more discerning of differences in sources and source material
Product Considerations
- Precise calibration is of paramount importance for any multi-bit DAC chip
- Files played directly from the Swiss device have a slightly contoured character
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The C1.2 is even more neutral and even more revealing than the C1, without sacrificing even the slightest hint of refinement, delicacy, fluidity, decay, or flow
- The original C1 DAC has always sounded fuller and more sonorous than other CH Precision products, for instance, the L1 preamp, with the C1.2 upgrade, the DAC has become more neutral and now sounds more in line with the L1
- The CH Precision device combines the opening of the sound with the lack of brightness better than the Ayon player
- The CH Precision delivers recordings in an uncommonly precise manner than the Weiss DA502 D/A converter
Takeaway: The C1.2 is a DAC that retains all of its virtues while becoming more neutral and revealing, and it is still superbly musical and emotionally involving. It is worth buying because of the overall enhancement in audio quality.
Video review
Our take on the brand
CH Precision is known for its modular design philosophy that lets customers tailor and upgrade their units over time without replacing the entire component, with sophisticated controls accessible via tablet from the listening position. Their amplifiers offer five different operating modes (stereo, bridge, passive and active bi-amplification, and monaural) and allow users to adjust specific audio parameters like global feedback ratio and input gain settings for optimal speaker matching.
Product Page
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What competes at this price?
dCS
Rossini Apex DAC
32800
/
Released
2022
Designed for complete flexibility and unrivalled musical expression, the Rossini APEX DAC features our pioneering Digital Processing Platform, a high-performance UPnP streamer and the latest generation dCS Ring DAC APEX
dCS Audio is distinguished by its proprietary Ring DAC technology, which uses a custom mapping algorithm to reduce distortion, and its dCS Expanse headphone processing platform that enhances spatial sound. The brand's products, particularly the Bartók Streaming DAC, are favored by professional recordists and mastering engineers, while their Vivaldi and Rossini APEX systems have earned recognition for setting new standards in digital playback.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers outstanding clarity and detail throughout the music
- The Ring DAC tech, combined with other high-end components, produces musicality throughout the music
- Delivers expressive dynamics and taut, powerful bass
- Offers a wide soundstage and excellent sonic authority
- Superior presentation of texture, overtones, and bass
Product Considerations
- The streaming module does not impress as much as the DAC section
- Has a bewildering array of filters and sonic tuning options, which may be overwhelming for some users
- Lacks Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HDMI ports
- Does not have an integrated amplifier
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Rossini Apex is better than the pre-Apex dCS Vivaldi
Takeaway:
The dCS Rossini APEX DAC is an exceptional, high-end system for audiophiles seeking to experience the soul of a performance. It provides a transformative journey into the heart of music, which could make it worth buying.
Video review
Our take on the brand
dCS Audio is distinguished by its proprietary Ring DAC technology, which uses a custom mapping algorithm to reduce distortion, and its dCS Expanse headphone processing platform that enhances spatial sound. The brand's products, particularly the Bartók Streaming DAC, are favored by professional recordists and mastering engineers, while their Vivaldi and Rossini APEX systems have earned recognition for setting new standards in digital playback.
Product Page
Product Page
dCS
Rossini APEX Player
36800
/
Released
2022
Our integrated player combines a DAC, music streamer and CD transport in a single, elegant design. Featuring the latest generation dCS Ring DAC™ APEX, this complete playback system is renowned for its precision, composure and musical purity
dCS Audio is distinguished by its proprietary Ring DAC technology, which uses a custom mapping algorithm to reduce distortion, and its dCS Expanse headphone processing platform that enhances spatial sound. The brand's products, particularly the Bartók Streaming DAC, are favored by professional recordists and mastering engineers, while their Vivaldi and Rossini APEX systems have earned recognition for setting new standards in digital playback.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exhibits a design philosophy that marries functional elegance with robust construction
- Employs dCS proprietary Ring DAC technology for exceptional accuracy in digital-to-analog conversion
- Has impressive streaming capabilities, supporting services like TIDAL, Spotify, and Qobuz, and is compatible with Roon, Airplay, and UPnP streaming
- Produces a powerful, impressive, and taut sound with more low-frequency impact
- Demonstrates exceptional capability in reproducing both macro and micro dynamics
Product Considerations
- The dCS Rossini is optimized as a 'Network Player' and sounds best when used that way, not necessarily with other Aurender products
- The Mosaic app sometimes had limited information viewable on the track
- The volume buttons on the remote are clunky and insensitive
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Rossini has a wider and deeper soundstage than the Holo Audio May KTE DAC
- Rossini APEX Player produces a really powerful, impressive and taut sound, with more low-frequency impact than the Chord DAVE DAC and M-Scaler DAC combination
- The sound is quite a bit better using the Sonore SonicTransporter i5 than that coming via the Aurender N10 regardless of which digital output is used from the Aurender
Takeaway: The dCS Rossini is a well-engineered and handsome unit with vast digital format compatibility. It delivers unmatched transparency, expansive soundstage presentation, pristine midrange reproduction, and exquisite detail, so it is worth considering to fully unlock a music library.
Video review
Our take on the brand
dCS Audio is distinguished by its proprietary Ring DAC technology, which uses a custom mapping algorithm to reduce distortion, and its dCS Expanse headphone processing platform that enhances spatial sound. The brand's products, particularly the Bartók Streaming DAC, are favored by professional recordists and mastering engineers, while their Vivaldi and Rossini APEX systems have earned recognition for setting new standards in digital playback.
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MBL
1611 F
34199
/
Released
In today's digital world, consumers have endless options when it comes to enjoying music. They can use streaming services from Spotify, Amazon, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer or Apple, to name but a few. They can also listen to their favorite playlists from mobile phones, tablets, USB sticks and, of course, conventional portable media in CD/PCM formats. Yet no matter the format, all devices share the same need – to convert digital music data into the analog world, something a tiny microchip can adequately manage. Or you can move beyond adequate to brilliant with a 23-kilogram (50 lbs.) D/A converter firmly planted on solid brass pillars milled right in our own factory; a stand-alone device whose creators have left nothing to chance: the MBL 1611 F.
MBL is a German hifi brand known for its unique Radialstrahler technology, which uses petal-like drivers that emit sound in an omnidirectional 360-degree pattern, eliminating the typical "sweet spot" found in conventional speakers. Their speakers are designed to fill rooms with concert hall-like sound through both direct and reflected waves, creating a more natural and immersive listening experience throughout the entire space.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Accepts input signals up to 96 kilohertz via USB or SPDIF input
- Comes with a multi-page USB installation guide
- Includes a JRiver license and guide for installation on Apple, Mac-based OS X environment, Windows XP, or Windows 7
- Sound is comparable to a Wandoff turntable
Product Considerations
- The review mentions using the USB functionality in the DAC primarily, so performance with SPDIF is not a focus
Takeaway: The MBL 1611F digital audio converter offers high-resolution audio playback and comes with helpful software and guides. It delivers excellent sound quality, making it a great choice for audiophiles.
Video review
Our take on the brand
MBL is a German hifi brand known for its unique Radialstrahler technology, which uses petal-like drivers that emit sound in an omnidirectional 360-degree pattern, eliminating the typical "sweet spot" found in conventional speakers. Their speakers are designed to fill rooms with concert hall-like sound through both direct and reflected waves, creating a more natural and immersive listening experience throughout the entire space.
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Meitner
DA2i
35000
/
Released
The EMM Labs DA2i represents an evolutionary leap in the realm of digital-to-analog conversion. As our flagship 16xDSD (DSD1024) converter, it stands as a testament to our relentless pursuit of perfection, crafted to redefine the boundaries of your listening experience. With unparalleled sonic clarity, the DA2i offers an immersive soundstage that transports you to the heart of the original recording.
Meitner Audio's MA3 DAC uses a unique one-bit circuit that upconverts all audio to 16xDSD, with proprietary MFAST and MDAT2 technologies for jitter removal and upsampling. The MA3 features a VControl digital volume system that maintains signal integrity without requantization, while offering network streaming and Roon Ready capability.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Represents a revolutionary change from previous versions, described as a 'homerun' improvement over the DA2 V2
- Newly engineered folded-cascode output stage, devoid of overall feedback, enhances bandwidth and delivers unparalleled stability
- Refined asynchronous clock minimizes jitter and maximizes stability
- Cutting-edge in-house switch-mode power supply (Meitner X-Power) with over 95% efficiency isolates power delivery between digital, analog, and streaming stages
- Updated custom FPGA boosts performance at higher sampling rates while preserving the proprietary Meitner Digital Audio Translation (MDAT2) scheme
- Supports Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz, Deezer, and vTuner Internet Radio, offering streaming up to 2x DSD, and DXD
Product Considerations
- The price is $35,000 USD
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs EMM Labs DA-2: The DA2i is a major upgrade from the original, with updates that improved resolution and bass
- Vs Linn Organik: The Linn Organik bettered the DA2 (predecessor to the DA2i) in some ways, but not enough to warrant selling the DA2
- Vs Wadax digital stack: The EMM Labs DA2 (predecessor to the DA2i) had been surpassed by the Wadax, particularly with respect to the resolution of low-level detail, dynamics, focus, soundstage—and noise floor
Takeaway: The EMM Labs DA2i D/A converter has significantly advanced the state of digital audio, particularly in extracting the best from Redbook sound. It offers major improvements with a redesigned architecture and enhanced features.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Meitner Audio's MA3 DAC uses a unique one-bit circuit that upconverts all audio to 16xDSD, with proprietary MFAST and MDAT2 technologies for jitter removal and upsampling. The MA3 features a VControl digital volume system that maintains signal integrity without requantization, while offering network streaming and Roon Ready capability.
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