Which one do you like best on the PMG 512, and why?
Stealth Grande on MU2 and PMG512. All cords from Stealth significantly bettered the AQ Dragon. I thought the Dragon end game at the time but progress marches on.
Within the Stealth group - D 20/20, CG, CGLE, and Grande - they all are highly resolving and great at instrument placement. They vary more in
presentation. Some more forward, some more laid back.
The Grande just seemed right in all the categories. Figures, it is the latest and most expensive of the ones above.
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Thanks, but out of my range. If I found a used 20-20 at a decent price, maybe, but the rest are beyond my limit.
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The Grande on the MU2 along with the Dream 20-20 on the PowerZone was THE magic combination if one could only have 2 upgraded power cables. Adding the CGLE to the preamp took the system a little further, though I suspect that another The Grande could potentially be even better. I also tried just a dream 20-20 to the MU2, and while not as clean and transparent as The Grande, is something I could easily live with. I wanted to try a 20-20 to the MU2 and a 20amp 20-20 to the PowerZone at the same time, but I had to swap a 20 amp 20-20 for a 15 amp 20-20, so I didn’t have both at the same time.
I have a Dragon on the MU1. I tried a Stealth CGLE and it was not a subtle improvement over the Dragon. Now that I have a Bacch addiction the MU1 is used mostly as a core and the power cable doesn’t affect the performance when it’s used for Roon core purposes only.
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Sounds like you also like The Grande more than CGLE. My understanding is their design is the same, but with different mix of metals, right? Are they sounding close?
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The Grande is extra solid and stable, soundstage-wise, and slightly more open. Could I live with dream 20-20? Easily, but would have to buy one first, lol.
Tonight, after giving back Greg’s Stealth power cables, I listened to music videos of Page/Plant (and others) recorded live, and just enjoyed listening to great music without any focus on being an audiophile.
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How refreshing!
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Since I have neither a MU2 or a PZ, I guess I don’t need those power cords! 
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I wish Greg lived near me….
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Among CGLE, AQ Dragon, and Takshaka I tried on PMG, Takshaka also has the most solid sound but not as open as CGLE. Hmm, the Grande maybe my next cable upgrade.
Wait! I only own both PMGs less than a month. I’ll try to be a music lover like you for a longer time
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I cannot find the thread”PMG DAC 512 First Impressions”, Can someone send me a link? Thanks
Interesting comparison guys. Makes me want to do a detail writeup of my journey from Chord Dave w Mscaler w Hifi Rose RS130 to PMG 512. Coming up!
I am one of first adopters of the PMG 512 here in Singapore. The PMG 512 begs for good long break in and will sound different based on DSD upsampling rate and filter.
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@Amit Please do that writeup. I for one would love to read it.
Just to update my original post, since then I had the opportunity to compare the Meitner MA3i to a Grimm MU2 in a friends system as well as to my Eversolo A8/Holo May KTE in my system. All comparisions were done with Roon as the front end and with careful level matching.
Several of us were able to listen to the MA3i MU2 comparsion and there was a consensus that the MU2 was slightly better with a bit more tonal color and dimension compared to the MA3i. It wasn’t a dramatic difference. In my system, the MA3i more clearly outperformed the A8/Holo May KTE. Again, these comparisions used the internal Roon endpoint in the MA3i and I have no opinion about how it would sound with any other front end.
I’ve gone deep down the analog rabbit hole, having bought a Garrard 401 and a Lenco PTP turntable and a couple of fantastic Ortofon SPUs, so I have sidetracked from my plans for a replacement DAC, but the PMG 512 is still on my shortlist.
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You seem to be having nice fun and making great choices! Noice!
I am in the process of selecting a new DAC to replace my PSA PerfectWave DirectStream MK2. I have not heard the PMG 512 nor am I considering it. When I compared the Meitner MA3i to the Grimm MU2 using my PSA SACD transport and Quboz Connect in my system, I preferred the MA3i over the MU2 due to better low frequency performance (impact/decay, tonality), midrange smoothness, soundstage width, and a musical engagement (very subjective and hard to describe I know but the MA3i just drew me into the music more). The differences were more apparent on high res PCM and SACD, redbook PCM was basically a wash for me. I’d be happy with both and with the MSRP of the MA3i at $11.5k vs $20.6k for the MU2 the decision between those two isn’t difficult (even recognizing the MU2 has more features).
I have not made a final decision on my next DAC yet, one more demo to go, but I won’t be purchasing the MA3i or the MU2.
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@bwegner1 In your last sentence above, did you mean to say that you won’t be purchasing either the MA3i or the MU2?
In what way did the MA3i sound better than your PSA DirectStream MK2?
What will be the final DAC demo you haven’t yet completed?
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Correct, I won’t be purchasing the Meitner MA3i or the Grimm MU2. Both are very good products and I could live with either of them but they are not as good (in my system) as the three finalists in my DAC demo journey. And yes, the three finalists are more expensive than both of them.
The three are the Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature, the Wadax Studio Player, and the MSB Technology Premier with Digital Director. I have not finished the MSB demo yet.
In what way did the MA3i sound better than the MK2? This is going to sound harsh…almost every way. That doesn’t mean the MK2 isn’t any good, it is good. It is just that the MA3i is better in my system in my room to my ears (BTW, I played a track and asked 5 friends and family which one did they like better and everyone picked the MA3i). I connected both to my preamp, level matched, and then switched back and forth between the two preamp inputs. The ONLY difference in the setup was the MK2 was connected to my PSA SACD transport via I2S and the MA3i was connected via AES. The MA3i has a wider and deeper soundstage, more detail, better defined imaging, smoother high frequency performance, deeper, tighter bass, better tonality, clarity in the midrange that gets you closer to the music. Acoustic instruments just sound more real on the MA3i.
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