RMAF 2016 Show Report
Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest & CanJam 2016
Part 3 By Steven R. Rochlin

  Meitner's new ma 1 dac ($7000) see email for upgrades. Supports sampling rates up to 192kHz at word lengths up to 24-bits through all six(!) digital inputs. It also easily handles USB Class 2 Hi-Res Audio digital music files and is as easy and plug-n-play to use. Digital inputs include USB, XLR AES/EBU, two optical TosLink and two cox S/PDIF. Being of recording studio quality, as is expected when we're talking Meitner products, there is MFAST asynchronous technology for instant signal acquisition that is said to provide jitter-free performance, MDAT signal processing technology for handling 2x DSD and of course phase, frequency and dynamic integrity of the waveform is preserved. Metiner's MDAC discrete dual differential D-to-A conversion circuit, MCLK high-purity master clock and a small credit-card style remote control is included. Since Hi-Res Audio is ever-changing, plus product improvements, there's a USB service port for future software upgrades plus a serial port for wired remote control ability. Naturally there is both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR analog output. Within another room here at RMAF 2016 they were showcasing both sister company emm labs and Meitner

If there is one constant during RMAF 2016 it is the many happy, smiling people who love music. Here's a pic i took of the RMAF registration folks who were truly having a great time at the show.

Wells Audio's Jeff Wells was enjoying his time within the CanJam section at RMAF 2016 (see separate report here)  and surprised us with his outstanding new Milo headphone amplifier ($1699). It'll drive virtually any amplifier and, easily, in-ear monitors. The Milo is a single-ended solid-state vertical desktop design derived from their more expensive and standard setting Headtrip and Enigma headphone amplifiers. It is essentially an Enigma stripped of many of it's more costly extra features to allow for a less expensive version of the very successful Wells Audio headphone technology to be offered to the market. The Milo sports Bybee Tech Crystal Technology, Tocos Black potentiometer, cryogenically treated PCB's and cryogenically treated proprietary internal wire. It has 4-pin and standard 1/4" stereo outputs as well as unbalanced RCA inputs, with balanced XLR inputs available for an additional cost of $200.

DanaCables, distributed worldwide by Ginko Audio, were being enjoyed by many head-fi'ers at RMAF 2016. Both high-end digital USB and headphone cables were there to audition and the system sounded exquisite! They make balanced cables for headphones of course, and you can order a very special setup for your Focal Utopia, HifiMAN cans, and top-rates Abyss planar magnetic headphones too! Pricing starts at $1199 through $1399. DanaCables offers state-of-the-art reference-quality cables available in brown sheathing, with choices of 1/4 inch, 4-pin XLR, or double 3-pin XLR connectors. 

DanaTone's Headspace ($4000) headphone amplifier prototype, is an all discrete transistor design. There are separate, highly regulated, power supplies internally to ensure an abundance of clean power. It is interesting to note that DnanaTone is using a proprietary selective feedback design, tuned by ear, to achieve the very best sound quality. This is indeed a unique output topology so we look forward to the full production model when it becomes available. Analog outputs include both 4-pin and standard 1/4 stereo jack.

---> Click here for RMAF 2016 show report part 4 by Steven R. Rochlin.