Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3 Review (Streamer & DAC)

[enricoclaudio]

Mini-i Pro 3 reviewed in Hi-Fi News this month. The first occasion to have a look at the full board :
View attachment 179805
Something I don't get is why this does have MA Player chip inside... but does not support MA Player... Any thoughts, @MatrixAudio ?

Surprisingly, it got a raving review. Most likely a very common thing, but not that usual from the subjectivist press when talking about good measuring Chinese products.

The chip is the MA Player "LITE", not the MA Player and that's why it does not support the MA Player app.

 

[muslhead]

Its a crippled version of the i, m and x wrt the player.
They wanted a clear deliniation of products and this will stream roon but not dlna where as the remaining elements will do both

 

[enricoclaudio]

Its a crippled version of the i, m and x wrt the player.
They wanted a clear deliniation of products and this will stream roon but not dlna where as the remaining elements will do both

Not so sure about that. My MA X-SABRE 3 comes with the MA Player Lite chip and it does DLNA, Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect as well. Pretty sure the mini-i Pro 3 can do DLNA but they decided to not implement it so like you said, make a clear delineation between products.

 

[muslhead]

Not so sure about that. My MA X-SABRE 3 comes with the MA Player Lite chip and it does DLNA, Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect as well. Pretty sure the mini-i Pro 3 can do DLNA but they decided to not implement it so like you said, make a clear delineation between products.

Thats what "crippled" meant. Sorry its not clear.
They cripple them so there is product delineation + they can use the same internal products across their line when possible and keep costs down

 

[dan_uk]

I've just got a Mini-i to use with Roon and first impressions are, it sounds amazing, very happy with sound quality.

However, often when playing via Roon it will just stop mid album, has anyone else had this issue? If I check the Roon UI it says it's stopped too. I click play and it just carries on for another hour or two and then happens again.

Thanks

 

[capitanharlock]

I would check your network connection.
Unfortunately the wifi connection of the Mini is very weak, so I suggest you to use powerlan or a cable if you are not very close to your access point.

 

[enricoclaudio]

I would post your issues at Room Community Forum as Room staff could check with you what is causing this. My mini-i Pro 3 never had lost sync with Roon. My MA mini-i Pro 3 and MA X-SABRE 3 are connected via ethernet so if yours is connected wifi, that could be the cause of the issue.

 

[dan_uk]

I would post your issues at Room Community Forum as Room staff could check with you what is causing this. My mini-i Pro 3 never had lost sync with Roon. My MA mini-i Pro 3 and MA X-SABRE 3 are connected via ethernet so if yours is connected wifi, that could be the cause of the issue.

I'm cabled in... I might run a ping test constantly and see if it drops off the network.

 

[capitanharlock]

How is the Roon core connected? Are you using the Core from some other endpoint?
Never had an Issue with my Mini I-3 when cabled.

 

[catalogguy]

I have used the Mini i-3 over wifi with no problems. For a complicated piece of equipment, it has been pretty easy to live with.

 

[dan_uk]

How is the Roon core connected? Are you using the Core from some other endpoint?
Never had an Issue with my Mini I-3 when cabled.

My core is cabled in too, everything is cabled, no WiFi.

I had a Allo USB player before MA and that never had the issue.

I've created in on the Roon community site, will hassle them on there.

 

[dan_uk]

Update - I think I've fixed the issue. This morning I discovered the 'update firmware option in the MA settings. I ran this, updated the firmware and the problem hasn't happened all day (approx 6 hours ish). The problem used to happen at least every 2 hours so hopefully..... the problem is fixed

Update 2 - Left it running over night continuously and no issues, happy days!

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

Could someone enlighten me a little.
I have no experience with Roon and so on.
I would like to have a device that can stream, and have a full-fledged parametric equalizer + HP Amp.
Am I right here?

 

[Snoopy]

Could someone enlighten me a little.
I have no experience with Roon and so on.
I would like to have a device that can stream, and have a full-fledged parametric equalizer + HP Amp.
Am I right here?

The mini i 3 is a roon endpoint. So you will need a Roon core to run the software. If you do that you will have all the EQ settings you could ever need.

Without roon you are limited to airplay.

If all you need is a roon endpoint, there are cheaper options

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

I need a DAC + HP Amp. + streaming function and parametric equalizer.
Do you got an idea ?

 

[Jimbob54]

I need a DAC + HP Amp. + streaming function and parametric equalizer.
Do you got an idea ?

I don't think there is one box that will do all that. This device and others will do the first 3 but not the PEQ. Devices like the rme adi 2 dac will do the last 3 but not the streaming and so need hooking up to either a computer, raspberry pi or dedicated streaming box.

Personally I'd get the rme and figure out the low cost option for getting the streaming into it (a pi)

 

[muslhead]

I need a DAC + HP Amp. + streaming function and parametric equalizer.
Do you got an idea ?

the mini will do all this in conjunction with roon.
If no roon, then it is missing the equalizer function

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

So is Tidal + Roon a problem on the Pro 3?

 

[muslhead]

So is Tidal + Roon a problem on the Pro 3?

tidal works with roon
Tidal works with the pro 3.
In theory, both should work. I only say in theory because i dont know since i dont use tidal but it is advertised as working with both roon & the mini (without roon)

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

I also think Amazon unlimited, Qobuz...?!