Matrix Audio Mini-i 3 DAC & Streamer

New firmware update

In order to ensure that your mini-i 3 can work properly with Roon, make sure the firmware of the unit and Roon software are up to date. In the past few months, Matrix has devoted a large part of its research and development efforts to Roon Ready certification. They went through more than 4 rounds of firmware modification and tests together with Roon Labs team members located in the US and France, and solved all technical issues and passed the strict tests by Roon Labs. Roon have updated the certification status of Mini-i 3.

This is the 4th generation product under the mini-i series name from Matrix Audio continuing the classic design and superb build quality. The new Mini-i 3 uses a two-colour aluminium shell in silent black and space gray with a 3.3-inch LCD screen and a brand new user interface. The Mini-i 3 provides an improved user experience and stunning good looks.

Embrace Streaming Media

Matrix introduces streaming functionality into the Mini-i series audio DACs, so you can easily enjoy a huge selection of music sources. With Roon Ready, you can playback bit-perfect music streams through the Mini-i 3 and Mini-i Pro 3 over a LAN, or push music to Mini-i 3 and Mini-i Pro 3 from an iPhone, iPad, or any MAC computer on the network using AirPlay.

Roon Ready

Roon finds the links between your music collection and the millions of tracks available on Internet, so you can start with the music you know, then explore and discover new music. The Mini-i Pro 3/Mini-i 3 act as an endpoint in Roon streaming media system, they transparently discover and connect to Roon without any configuration, and bit-perfect audio is delivered from Roon to Mini-i Pro 3/Mini-i 3.

Balanced Headphone AMP

The Mini-i 3 and Mini-i Pro 3 feature a fully balanced headphone amplifier. This allows the left and right channel signals to pass through a nearly perfect symmetrical amplifier circuit, providing ample headphone output power with low distortion and low noise. The output power of single-ended headphone connection is increased by 50%, and the balanced headphone output is increased by 3 times compared to the previous generation. The addition of a 4.4mm balanced headphone jack makes it easier to connect various popular balanced headphones.

HD Bluetooth & Dual Frequency Wi-Fi

When the Mini-i Pro 3 and Mini-i 3 connected to an LDAC enabled Android device over Bluetooth, up to 24Bit/96kHz high-res audio can be transmitted. The aptX HD technology allows compatible devices to transmit 24Bit/48kHz high-res audio wirelessly over bluetooth. The dual-band Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections enable the Mini-i Pro 3 to have high-speed and stable network access. The enclosed antenna system covers the different bands available on the Mini-i 3 and Mini-i Pro 3 for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Mini-i 3 does not support Wi-Fi connection.

MQA Core Decoding and Rendering

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to easily be streamed. The Mini-i Pro 3 is a MQA full decoder, which enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams without any software decoding, delivering the sound of the original master recording. Visit How MQA Works for more information. Mini-i-3 does not support MQA decoding and rendering.

Connect to everything

Like the previous generation, Mini-i 3/Mini-i Pro 3 also have various digital audio input ports. They are first models with IIS LVDS input port in entry product line, it means Mini-i 3/Mini-i Pro 3 can get a performance improvement through external audio interface. The USB Type-C connector improves the connection reliability and transmission efficiency of digital audio signal.

Digital and Analog Sources All-in-One

The Mini-i 3 and Mini-i Pro 3 have multiple input and output ports witch act as a transportation hub in your audio system. Whether it is a digital audio signal from a TV, set-top box, game console, HTPC, or analog audio equipment such as a vinyl turntable, it can be connected to a digital audio system with the help of Mini-i Pro 3/Mini-i 3.

Intuitive Graphical UI

We have created an elegant UI for the Mini-i 3 and Mini-i 3 Pro, which are the first models to include a 24-bit color LCD display from Matrix Audio. You can view the input channels, streaming methods, device configurations, and additional information on the display clearly and intuitively. Even filter curves and the IIS interface definitions are displayed graphically.

The Best Components

We re-designed every details of mini-i Pro 3 and mini-i 3, the exterior and the internal structure have been adjusted and verified repeatedly, even a small part on the PCB has been carefully considered. The power supply of mini-i Pro 3/mini-i 3 has been greatly improved, both the maxmium power and the noise level are totally beyond its previous generation. The mini-i Pro 3 has added the Crystek CCHD-950 femtosecond clock*, which was only available in higher level products in the past. *Mini-i 3 uses high precision active oscillators.

Continued Development

To improve the functionality and performance of the Mini-i 3 and Mini-i Pro 3, we will continue to release new firmware updates adding exciting new features and further refinements to the user experience. Only a few simple steps are needed to keep your product up to date.

Features

Bit-perfect audio streams

Balanced Headphone Amp

HD Bluetooth

High Precision active oscillators

Features various digital input ports

24-bit colour LCD Display

Specifications

HARDWARE PLATFORM

CPU NXP i.MX 6UL Cortex-A7 @528MHz

D/A Chip ES9038Q2M

Clock Source Crystek CCHD-950 (mini-i Pro 3 only)

SiTime SiT8103 (mini-i 3 only)

DIGITAL INPUT

Coaxial & Optical PCM 16-24Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz DSD 2.8MHz (DoP)

IIS LVDS PCM 16-32Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 705.6kHz, 768kHz

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz (DoP)

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz, 22.4MHz, 45MHz (Native)

USB Audio Type C double-sided support

PCM 16-24Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 705.6kHz, 768kHz

MQA 16-24Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz MQA or MQA Studio stream (mini-i Pro 3 only)

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz (DoP)

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz, 22.4MHz (Native)

ANALOG INPUT

RCA SNR: >-102dB A-weighting

THD+N: <0.0025%@1k, <0.0030%@20Hz-20kHz

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.2 -3dB@46kHz

Channel Crosstalk: >-97dB

Input Amplitude: 2.0VRMS Maximum

HEADPHONE OUTPUT

TRS 6.35mm SE SNR: >-116dB

THD+N: <0.0006%@2VRMS

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.1 -3dB@64kHz

Output Impedance: <11Ω

Output Power: 1270mW@33Ω, 257mW@300Ω, 133mW@600Ω, 1%THD

Gain: +18dB

4.4mm Balanced SNR: >-117dB@4VRMS

THD+N: <0.0006%@4VRMS

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.1 -3dB@64kHz

Output Impedance: <22Ω

Output Power: 1900mW@33Ω, 950mW@300Ω, 510mW@600Ω, 1%THD

Gain: +24dB

HI-RES BLUETOOTH

Sampling Rate PCM 16Bit/44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz, aptX/aptx HD/AAC/SBC/LDAC

Bluetooth Version Bluetooth V5.0

Operation Distance 10-15m

NETWORK

LAN 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX

WLAN 2.4GHz/5GHz, IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Standard (mini-i Pro 3 only)

MA PLAYER LITE

Roon Ready PCM 16-24Bit 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 705.6kHz, 768kHz DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz

AirPlay 2 PCM 16Bit 44.1kHz

POWER

Power Voltage 230V position is fit for AC

220V-240V 50/60Hz

115V position is fit for AC

100V-120V 50/60Hz

Standby Power Consumption < 2W

Maximum Power Consumption < 20W

OTHERS

Dimension 223×205×48mm L×W×H including protruding parts

Weight 1.7kg