Following my earlier comments (
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/metrum-acoustics-new-dac-model-flint.877513/#post-14811821), the FLINT has run-in for some days and I thought I would give my impressions so far.
Metrum Acoustics FLINT NOS DAC (DAC TWO upgrade)
General
My primary use case for this DAC is in an Office System, which consists of an iMac running Audirvana (SoX), USB out to an Armature Hecate DDC (European version of the Singxer F1), then S/PDIF coax to the DAC and RCA out to a Schiit LYR2 hybrid amplifier, which is fitted with GE5670W tubes (via 6922-5670 adapters). Headphones were primarily MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Open, although I did also try Sennheiser HD-650 and Massdrop HD-58x.
Music is mostly acoustic jazz, classic rock/pop and some classical. 16 and 24 bit FLAC & ALAC.
Overall Sound
This is the first time I’ve listened to a NOS DAC and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Out of the box, I initially felt that the sound was very much on the warm side. It does benefit from some settling down (as did my ears/brain) and I could sense the sound becoming more refined after a few days of being on 24/7. Metrum’s recommendation for the higher models is 3-4 weeks ‘run-in’ and since my upgraded FLINT has the same DAC TWO chips, a similar period may apply (although there is nothing stated on their website).
It’s quite a difficult sound to describe. Some may say the sound is simply warm but I don’t think that’s quite right. IMO warmth tends to dull down dynamics and low-level sounds. The very low noise-floor on the FLINT reveals excellent low-level background clarity and exquisite tonal character detailing across all instruments and voices.
I would describe the overall sound as smooth, flowing and articulate, providing a relaxed listening experience. It is somewhat reminiscent of vinyl although a tad softer in presentation, by comparison.
Lows
In general, there is good detail and above-average weight and punchiness. Attack is fast.
Double-bass (and bass-guitar) goes deep, remains tuneful and is easy to follow. It’s never just a ’thud’. The chord-tones are a delight to listen to.
Drums ‘thwack’ hard and convincingly. Pedal-bass-drum gives out a good, deep and weighty tone. Tom-toms ring out as they should and decay remarkably well.
Good album examples are, Trilogy (Chick Corea Trio) … Brian Blade and Christian McBride unleash their respective arsenals of sound on drums and double-bass and the FLINT portrays them very well.
Low-notes on piano have a satisfying, deep ‘grrrrrunggg’ and decay impressively.
Back-ground reverb is notably deep and obvious. The album Pindrop (Adam Ben Ezra), the reverb is quite startling. The same with the edgy Titok (Ferenc Snetberger) album, reverb also sounds impressive here.
I felt that I might be nudging the limits of the Aeon Flow Open headphones, as far as bass is concerned. Perhaps, something like the Ether-2 might be a better pairing here. Then there’s the cost !
Mids
The stars of the show here are vocals and piano. Vocals sound natural and clear. Piano figures a lot in jazz but it is sometimes hard to listen to. For instance, block-chords in the upper-mids can sound uncomfortably shrill, but that is not the case here. The same applies to vibraphone.
Nuances are revealed clearly and are easy to hear. Guitar (both electric and acoustic) are examples here. The album, Guitar Band – Bob Reynolds is a good recording and the FLINT conveys very well the high degree of expressiveness by the guitarists and Bob Reynolds on saxophone..
Highs
Similar comments to Mids apply here.
Cymbals splash well, although I am used to a bit more airiness and sparkle.
Soundstage
The stage is forward and wide. It is not as deep as I’m used to hearing but it’s not flat either. The positioning of the instruments is particularly precise and the layering into the stage gives the impression of a reasonable depth. The instruments at the back of the stage are balanced nicely and are still clearly audible.
Album examples, Live at the Village Gate (Clark Terry) … good imaging and ambience.
Passion, Grace and Fire (Paco de Lucia) … wide stage with good imaging.
Pairing
It’s clear to me that to get the most out of the FLINT, it does need reasonable equipment to be paired with it. This is most apparent when it comes to headphones. I tried the Sennheiser HD-650 and Massdrop HD-58x. However, when compared to the Aeon Flow Open, I found them lacking in their ability to satisfyingly convey the sound characteristics presented by the FLINT. Perhaps even the AFO are slightly too warm for the FLINT although I do dislike bright headphones. The LYR 2 amplifier seems a reasonable match and it is possible to tune the sound of this via tubes. Perhaps a LYR 3 might be better still.
Recording Quality
The FLINT is revealing of not-so-good recordings, engineering or mastering. In some cases the sound quality dropped significantly, particularly with low-level detail. In some cases, the sound just fell flat. It was easy to tell the culprits apart. However, I am astounded how much detail can be revealed on good-quality red-book albums.
Conclusion
I have to keep reminding myself that the FLINT is Metrum’s entry-level DAC in their line-up. The clarity, detail and character of instruments and vocals is quite arresting and it does beg the question how much better the quality is with the higher-end models, like the ONYX. Improvements I would look for are a bit more general airiness and the stage being just a bit further back … but I am nit-picking at this price point.
In short, I found the FLINT to be engaging and addictive. I experienced no fatigue over many hours of listening. In fact, I have listened to nothing else since it arrived. I try to avoid superlatives but it’s quite hard to do that with the FLINT, particularly given the sound quality in its market positioning.
A recommended audition if you’re looking for an entry-level to mid-level DAC, where sound quality is more important than looks and frills.
Next Steps
I’d like to try the FLINT with the MJOLNIR 2 and do a comparison with the GUNGNIR Multibit.
