Matrix Audio mini-i 4 Streamer Review

[Chrisnew]

It's a bummer they have the cec function backwards. They are aware of it. Hopefully they can fix it. I just leave mine on with the display off. I set the top buttons to wake or sleep the display with a tap. I'm going to give it a few more months to decide if I will keep it or not. Holding out the the wiim ultra. If that doesn't work I will slum it with a nad c700.

I agree it's a pity. It would have been great if it was perfect out of the box. There are users like us who will gladly pay for HDMI arc

 

[Gyosa1]

I had to have hdmi arc. It is the center of an audio/tv/gaming setup

Me too , that’s why I got the Eversolo A8

bk

 

[Antlestxp]

Me too , that’s why I got the Eversolo A8

bk

I love that unit but not the size. It's too close to full size. I should still give one a try to see if it's worth dealing with the space it takes up. How well does hdmi arc work? Does it switch over to hdmi when the tv commands a source change? Does it wake and sleep with the tv?

 

[Gyosa1]

I love that unit but not the size. It's too close to full size. I should still give one a try to see if it's worth dealing with the space it takes up. How well does hdmi arc work? Does it switch over to hdmi when the tv commands a source change? Does it wake and sleep with the tv?

I love it . ARC works great for volume, it’s not CEC compliant, so “no“ to the other questions.

bk

 

[Antlestxp]

I love it . ARC works great for volume, it’s not CEC compliant, so “no“ to the other questions.

bk

Well hopefully with enough poking we can see this function in the future. This seems to be something all the bigger names have figured out already. They (nad, marantz, Yamaha, to name a few) have the convenience down but not necessarily the audio quality. Is it too much to ask to have both lol

 

[jruser]

Does this use XMOS for the USB DAC?

 

[Chrisnew]

Interestingly, it's not mentioned anywhere.
@MatrixAudio ?

 

[Tedaz]

Does this use XMOS for the USB DAC?

mini-i pro 4 started from USB dac, and then added/attached streaming functions, and then reduced allocation of dac function, it's a shame.

 

[Tedaz]

Yup my units popped up under roon a week ago

could help upload a snapshot, how mini pro4 shown in roon? thanks

 

[Chrisnew]

could help upload a snapshot, how mini pro4 shown in roon? thanks

Pro is still in the process of certification. Only non pro version is certified now

 

[Antlestxp]

could help upload a snapshot, how mini pro4 shown in roon? thanks

 

[Antlestxp]

mini-i pro 4 started from USB dac, and then added/attached streaming functions, and then reduced allocation of dac function, it's a shame.

why?

 

[Tedaz]

why?

there are majorly two types of all-in-one:

A - traditional USB DAC, added/attached medial player function, i.e mini-i (pro) 4, thus the medial player function has no UI control, no hardware remote control, fully depends on iPhone/android phone to operate the media player. in this case, the DAC is generally great on sound quality and normal DAC functions such as input switch.

B - medial player, added/attached DAC function, i.e. SMSL DP5, thus the medial player functions can be controlled by the unit more or less, as well as hardware remote controller; whereas the DAC function may buggy, i.e significant delay (>0.1 sec) and very complex to switch inputs.

Matrix mini series are traditional USB DAC, and as of Mini-i 3 Pro, it equips XMOS XU216 and femto-second clock – the famous Crystek CCHD-950. however, Mini-i 4 (pro) cut down all these hardware; and added the local file playback function as compensation.

 

[Antlestxp]

there are majorly two types of all-in-one:

A - traditional USB DAC, added/attached medial player function, i.e mini-i (pro) 4, thus the medial player function has no UI control, no hardware remote control, fully depends on iPhone/android phone to operate the media player. in this case, the DAC is generally great on sound quality and normal DAC functions such as input switch.

B - medial player, added/attached DAC function, i.e. SMSL DP5, thus the medial player functions can be controlled by the unit more or less, as well as hardware remote controller; whereas the DAC function may buggy, i.e significant delay (>0.1 sec) and very complex to switch inputs.

Matrix mini series are traditional USB DAC, and as of Mini-i 3 Pro, it equips XMOS XU216 and femto-second clock – the famous Crystek CCHD-950. however, Mini-i 4 (pro) cut down all these hardware; and added the local file playback function as compensation.

I don't see why it is a shame. The device works well for its intended use as a multi media hub with great dac implementation. It's isn't sold solely as a dac.

 

[Chrisnew]

Femto Seconds VS Pico Seconds.

The better Jitter clocks are now implementing femto seconds vs pico seconds. Have you found an audible difference in the change. Any graphs to show the difference.

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