Matrix Audio Mini-i 4 Streaming DAC Review + Comparison with EverSolo DMP-A6

[@Flavius7]

The Matrix Mini-i PRO 3 MQA is one of the best IF NOT THE BEST ALL-IN-ONE solutions I have ever heard for under 1000 Euro. Awesome dac, good enough streamer, decent amplification for your not so hungry headphones. You can have almost everything under one roof without spending a fortune. I expect Mini-i4 to also shine at many aspects and become a go to budget device for consumers that crave for quality without big compromises. Plus every Matrix design is friendly and easy to include in your interior design language. Fantastic review, as always!

[@erikvanmeer222]

Recently I purchased the Matrix i4 as an upgrade for my Bluesound Node N130. What immediately struck me was the increase in SQ, everything opens up a couple of extra notches in resolution and imaging. The only thing I wished; For the virtual volume control within the app you use a virtual volume knob with is not so handy to use as a slider (Node), especially for greater increments. So the remote also for me is a musthave.

[@MaZ-tg7ch]

Very good review, thanks. How do you compare both DACs against D70 Pro that you just reviewed?

[@restcarl83]

Thank you Sandu for giving us another great reviews of a fresh product! Now, if we can ignore its price and features for a moment, at what level is the Mini i-4's DAC: TOPPING D70 PRO; SMSL SU-10, Gustard A26?

[@Soundnews]

It's not on the same level with such units, it's more or less on the same boat with the SMSL DO200 mk2, Topping E70, Gustard X18...along those lines.

[@JorgedeLumiarFerreira]

Great video, as usual. Thank you. I haven´t decided yet between the DMP-06 or using a dedicated DAC (SMSL MK500 III or the Topping D70Pro Sabre) and using it with an iPad/PC/SmartTv as a source. For that purpose, one relevant advantage of the this Matrix is the HDMI input, that is not featured in the Eversolo. Also, it was curious that you didn't detect differences in detail retrieval between the two different DAC chip sets. I was expecting some improvement with the new 9039Q2M...

[@rogerschofield3324]

Would you consider reviewing the streamer only unit Matrix Element S ?

[@Mattiu75]

From my perspective, instead of highlighting the missing VU meters feature (which is quite frankly just a showy feature which doesn't even deserve to be mentioned) comparing to the Eversolo I would have mentioned the lack of an internal SSD option and the CD playback/ripping option using a cheap external USB disk reader, which I think are much more substantial features to mention in favor of the DMP-A6. If you add this to the missing wireless connection and the lack of option to connect an external DAC I find very difficult that even the yet to come Roon Ready certification could make this newcomer preferable to the Eversolo, even considering the price difference or the arguably slightly better/personal taste for the sounding performance.

[@MaZ-tg7ch]

Good points except VU meters. I'd pay $200 just for this gimmick which makes night sessions so much more appealing to me

[@pchlars5666]

One downside is lack of digital output. Many people has their beloved expensive DAC and want to use it.

[@Soundnews]

Agree, but then again, that price. They want us to use it as an all-in-one box with a power/ Hp amp.

[@MottiShneor]

Question: (I don't have a DAC and neither a streamer and I'm contemplating what to buy). If you ALREADY HAVE your "beloved expensive DAC" why would you not buy one of those "streamer only" very-cheap things (like... AppleTV or any other streaming device) and connect it to your DAC on the first place? these cost very little, and you could have both wonderful "beloved" sound, and probably better streaming experience from devices who focus on that feature? I think this device was made for people who do NOT have a DAC yet, or are really building some budget audio system with minimal amount of space and money. Am I wrong here? Also - the matching between this produce and the EverSolo DMP-A6 makes sense - but can someone please tell me how this one fares against an "Expensive beloved DAC" ??? Where is the difference? is it audible? to what extent? I have a VERY OLD hybrid (tube preamp+transistor power) Analog amplifier (Ensemble Tiger) which I love - dearly - and I remember myself comparing zillions of combinations before I invested in this one. But amplification, especially Analog, is more like a music instrument and I understand where differences may (and will) arise. Where comes the difference in DACs who actually are all electronic devices running at such high clocks that I can't see how a human is to even differentiate between them? Can someone here shed a little light on the subject?

[@pchlars5666]

@@MottiShneor New higher end streamers come with better technology, better sound , more convenient software. Time passes by and look at new products from Eversolo like A8 or A10 they both have digital outputs to answer the needs of a broader group of users. Also people are on many levels of their audio journey. Some have a dac and need a preamp streamer, other all in one, some are willing to change all system and buy every piece separately.

[@VeliborSI]

Btw. Reinaldo Brahn in his song: Out of the blue is humming/singing rhytm from the right side corner behind the instruments in that song and not the left corner 😊. Check speaker connections 😂. Nice review thou, thumb up.

[@palmcreative1114]

Thx for this video and comparison with Eversolo..really helpful and informative..I wanna change my Bluesound n130 for this Matrix!

[@tam2877]

How it is compared to the fiio k9 or the fiio r7?

[@carlosalvarez7445]

No digital output? We do need USB output if we want to send native DSD to an external DAC, why streamer designers don't think about this?

[@hushpuppykl]

It’s built to be an all-in-one solution. Also, not that many people are into DSD.

[@carlosalvarez7445]

@@hushpuppykl Yeah, I've heard that before, but if not so many people are into DSD why taut the DAC capability? I think it's just a glitch of bad design of an otherwise good streamer... and certainly not the only one with the same shortfall.

[@hushpuppykl]

@@carlosalvarez7445 … I guess Matrix is targeting the desktop/lifestyle crowd who want to keep it simple, a single box solution. They discontinued the X Sabre Pro DAC, which is a pretty good unit. The focus seems to be desktop. But soon they are coming out with their streamer transport. Confusing …

[@Soundnews]

The internal DAC section does DSD and they want us to use it as an all-in-one unit, without additional electronics (apart from an amp).

[@Soundnews]

@@hushpuppykl My feelings are mirroring yours.

[@asan1050]

Thank you Sandu !

[@Soundnews]

My pleasure, buddy

[@MrSplit57]

Would like to have more information about its control app. Every reviewer neglect that part and I find it very important for the future usage. Especially I am into problems with managing album?tracks library on some physical storage: how fast is in refreshing ie 1k albums library? Is there any filtering, searching options? what information you have: album name only or album and artist (when you have a dozen "The best of" albums you will appreciate that feature). One more: I was surprised that EverSolo app cannot make queueing !? If that is true, that is a big NoGo for me!

[@ltlai9465]

Will you review the ELEMENT X PURE that come dual 9039PRO chips.

[@auronthas]

thanks for the detailed review. The downside there's no digital output, the upside is with headphone amp and this mini 4 now includes MA player app, UPNP, DNLA than previous version. Do you think this a good upgrade from CXN V2 to Mini 4 or Mini 4 Pro...? My external DAC is Ares II . Appreciate your advise

[@Revan83]

Thanks for the review! But how does it sounds with that pretty Aune S17 Pro headphone amplifier?

[@robvp85]

hello …. very good video… I wanted to know if it plays Dolby Atmos format from Apple Music or Tidal. Greetings from 🇨🇱

[@RobertAntonyJameson]

Have you tried FiiO R7 as well?

[@liamporter1137]

Thanks for sharing. I almost wanted to buy the Matrix but bought the A6 instead mainly due to A6 has digital output, internal SSD, WiFi etc.

[@Marius.1926]

Hi, because no one ever says how long to turn on these devices they have in the pre sett for example I press a button and my favorite radio starts etc.

[@emilianpredescu3477]

So...Matrix or Eversolo? Which one for fac and which one for streamer? Simple question! Thank you!

[@eruilluvitar]

Unfortunately, no volume knob and no digital out means I have to skip this generation. I'll just have to stick to the i3

[@Soundnews]

I can feel you

[@auronthas]

Thanks for the good review and comparison. IMO, I still think my CXN V2 is all in one music streamer, with digital output to external DAC.

[@i.b15]

I don't really understand, so it can be connected to a headphone amplifier?

[@Soundnews]

....yes, via RCA and XLR outputs

[@chendavid8824]

Pro version can

[@radissimo1]

@@chendavid8824 Pro vesion has Amp build in

[@rosswarren436]

I'm leery of anything running a flavor of Android. Will it end up in a landfill in 2 or 3 years when it no longer will run the native streaming apps?

[@wooster1173]

I understand that Apple Music is not embedded, contrary to the DM6, so it’s a deal breaker to me.

[@Thiago_TS_BR]

Like brasilian music ?

[@Soundnews]

From Reinaldo to Sepultura and everything in between, those guys are putting a lot of soul into their music.

[@Thiago_TS_BR]

@@Soundnews I agree ! 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@mplusnetworknanji1812]

very nice

[@andrewholt5659]

No digital out? That is really stupid in this day and age. Deal breaker for me.

[@radissimo1]

audiophiles like knobs, Matrix should learn from terrible haptic controls from some Volkswagen cars, NAD it applies to you as well, Thanks for review, otherwise its a great device it seems

[@jackytangahheng]

no wifi connection, lousy one, no Bluetooth