Hi guys,
I was thinking about upgrading my current setup and this device prom Matrix Audio came up - and boy I have to admit I am attracted to its display too, like a moth to a bulb (as one of our colleagues said in few comments before). But I am not convinced if it is really an update.
I have: SMSL M500 with SMSL SP200 for convenience with balanced output. I listen only to headphones, in particular Hifiman Sundara 2020 (balanced cable), Monoprice Monolith M1060C, AKG K702, AKG K361, occasionally IEMs, such as Tinhifi TinP2 and CCA C12. As a source I use Raspberry Pi4 with Volumio. For future sessions I will probably get some other planars, like Audeze or higher Hifiman tier.
What I want: Great value/performance ratio DAC/Amp or Combo for headphones around 1000 USD with balanced out. Since I have time to listen to the music on my gear like once a week I think that I don’t really need more expensive setup. I don’t mind cables (combo is optional) and like displays. It must have pre out (for future speakers) and would be good to have remote (remote is ideal, but not necessary). Support of MQA full decoding is a must (I like streaming because I have a small flat with no space for CDs or LPs – I plan to move to a bigger flat, hence the preout for speakers/amp). I do not use roon and I do not have an iPhone (although AirPlay is also possible with Android devices).
Questions:
- Is this Matrix mini-I 3 pro step up from my SMSL M500 from the DAC perspective (I know that the chip might not be, but what about the clock)?
- Is its headphone output impedance such an issue in real life, especially with my headphones? They’re quite low impedance and I am worried if the rule of 8s won’t screw my listening experience in this particular case.
- What if I’d keep the SMLS M500 and go on with the Topping A90 instead? Wouldn’t it be a better choice from the sound quality standpoint than the Matrix? Franky I kind to tend to this solution but I am not sure and I would appreciate any input on this matter.
Thank you all for any inputs.
S