Matrix Mini-i Balanced DAC+HP amp - Page 8

Possible All-In-One Solution

Before posting my question, hello all! I have a quick, sad story to relate: Having ordered drum heads/sticks/hardware from Musician's Friend about a year ago, I arrived at my studio 2 days later to the comment 'Hey, your headphones arrived.' Instead of 42 dollars in percussion gear, I'd received an UltraSone 650 kit. Desiring good karma, I did send them back - after giving them a single once-over. Sad, sad day to give them up - but I certainly feel better for it (even if my Shure SCL3 kit isn't quite up to snuff).

Onto the question: I've been enjoying this discussion immensely, and as a project-studio engineer/mastering engineer, my curiosity is piqued.

In short: I had to move my single monitor controller to my recording studio - a major upgrade involved replacing my mackie desk with an RME setup (bonus for me). Controlling my mastering studio's monitors is now achieved through the use of their included remotes (JBL 4328 mains/Samson Resolve 8 sub). Additionally, my DA is horrid - an M-Audio Delta 44. That sounds stringent, but after replacing a pair of M-Audio Delta 1010s with RME AD/DA I can tell the difference.

I'm looking at a minimum $225 (used) for just a monitor controller, and that doesn't address DA. The Mini-i could, ostensibly, provide me with an all-in-one solution for all my woes. The BIG, big question - how faithful and pristine do you find the mini-i's DA to be? I'm looking for purity of signal transmission, an honest and as-little-colored-as-possible representation of what was laid down in the studio. This sounds like it could fit the bill - what say the experts?

Thank you!

Agreed that many of the DAs mentioned are too expensive - I find them to be that way myself. DA is deceptive and easier to manage, subjectively, than AD - which is why I'm looking into more esoteric answers such as Mini-i. It has just enough control and I/O for my needs (i'm not A'B'C'D'ing with monitors).

The Big Knob is just too noisy; the monitor controller I had to move to my other studio was a Presonus Monitor Station, quiet little sucker. Tiniest but of L/R staging issues at total attenuation +.5 DB, but other than that, stellar - I'd take one over a Big Knob any day.

Well thank you, sir, for your opinions! Much appreciated.

A very interesting review of this product...

have you considered sending skylab a unit to review? I'm sure many of us would like to see how well it does compared to the HLLY DMK-IV DAC he just reviewed.

That's very interesting how this person chose the replica over the real deal.

it contain a lot of facts.. maybe power supply, cap and other parts inside will change the sound.

so this thing is a replica of the bel canto?

Nah, it just looks similar...

I'm interested at this DAC also for playing hi-res audio files, so I have some questions:

1. Don't understand if the signal will be up-sampled or not (reading the MATRIX_mini-i_Manual_EN.pdf seems not). Maybe with MP3 320 kbps and WAV/FLAC ripped from my CDs the up-sampling could help to make listening more pleasant (I know not very audiophile, but its only for easy listening at PC while I'm working ).

2. The intergrated headphone amp, have black background with low impedance / hi sensitive IEM (UE TF10, JH13, ...) or I can hear some kind of floor noise or rustle? And with full sized headphones like my Grados RS-1 & SR-225?

3. Probably I'll use the Matrix with M2Tech hiFace converter and RCA S/PDIF cable. So the BNC-to-RCA adapter included with the Matrix preserve or degrade audio quality in someway?


Thanks in advance for any reply at my question.

1. No upsampling.
2. I can't hear any noise.
3. I also sell RCA-BNC coaxial cable.

Thanks coolfungadge.
I discovered that M2Tech can make me their hiFace also with BNC connector (that I prefer over RCA for impedance matching) with a little rise in price. So probably I'll take this and the consequent BNC-BNC coaxial cable (I see you sell also this one ).

Thanks sunneebear.
Seems bit annoying but not a very big issue (I don't turn the volume all the time... I prefer listen music ).
Only two question. For example if you want to change the volume from -60db to -50db (10 steps): you hear the electronic clicking every step of the digital volume control while you turning the knob (hearing 10 clicks) or instead when you reach -50db and stop turning the knob you hear only 1 click?
And from line-out for speaker connections (RCA and XLR) any electronic clicking of the digital volume control?

I'm thinking of buying this DAC or the MF V-DAC, can anyone comment on differences?