MOON AUDIO Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3 Instruction Manual

: June 6, 2024
: MOON AUDIO

Table of Contents

MOON AUDIO Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3
Features
Setup
What’s in the Box
Input Options
Output Options
Settings
Specifications
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

MOON AUDIO Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3

MOON AUDIO Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro
3 pro

Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro

Matrix Audio introduces streaming functionality into the Mini-i product line with the Mini I Pro 3. Now you can enjoy the quality of a Matrix Audio DAC/Amp with a huge selection of music from online streaming services. As Roon Ready(TM) device, you can connect this device directly to Roon for easy set- up. As a Streaming device, you can play back bit-perfect music streams through the Mini-i Pro 3 over a LAN and Wifi. Push music to the Mini-i Pro 3 from an iPhone, iPad, or any MAC computer on the network using AirPlay. The Matrix Mini-i Pro 3 uses a two-color aluminum shell in silent black and space gray with a 3.3-inch LCD screen and a brand new user interface. The Mini-i Pro 3 provides an improved user experience and stunning good looks. The Mini-i Pro 3 features 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 the 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. Like the previous generation, Mini-i Pro 3 also has various digital audio input ports. They are first models with IIS LVDS input port in the entry product line. This means the Mini-i Pro 3 can get a performance improvement through an external audio interface (such as the Matrix Audio X SPDIF 2.) The USB Type-C connector improves the connection reliability and transmission efficiency of the digital audio signals over the previous generations’ USB ports. 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(you will need a separate phono stage), it can be connected to a digital audio system with the help of Mini-i Pro 3. MOON AUDIO Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3 1

Features

Two-color aluminum shell with an embedded 3.3-inch LCD screen and a brand new user interface.
AirPlay2 Support
Balanced headphone AMP
MQA full decoder (available for mini-i Pro3)
Bluetooth 5.0 support LDAC/APTX HD,
5GHz and 2.4GHz dual-band Wi-Fi (available for mini-i Pro3) and Ethernet
Crystek CCHD-950 Femto Clock
ES9038Q2M DAC chip
IR remote supported

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 acts as an endpoint in the Roon streaming media system, they transparently discover and connect to Roon without any configuration, and bit-perfect audio is deliv-ered from Roon to Mini-i Pro 3.
HD Bluetooth & Dual Frequency Wi-Fi
When the Mini-i Pro 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 Pro 3 for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
MQA Core Decoding and Rendering
MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original mas-ter 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.

Setup

MOON AUDIO Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3 3

Let’s go over one thing before we go any further!

The Matrix Mini products have a voltage switch found on the side of the unit near the power plug.
Look at the red switch and check what number is shown. This switch can show either “230” for 220 to 240VAC or “115” for 110 to 120VAC.
If using this device in North America this switch should be set to show “115” before powering it on.
Additionally this switch is recessed in the side of the unit, so you might need a thin screwdriver (or similarly shaped tool) to change the switches orientation.

What’s in the Box

In your package you’ll find the follow-ing contents:

Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro3 DAC
Documentation
Power Cable
Remote

Input Options

If you plan on using this device with your network, we strongly recommend using the direct LAN connection for the best experience. If you need to use Wifi make sure your device is as close to the main wifi router as you can place it.

Wifi Mesh Networks and Signal Repeaters can cause issues with any streaming devices (like the Matrix Mini). If you are using a Mesh Network or a signal repeater, see if using a direct Ethernet cable to the LAN Port of your device is possible.
Once connected to your network, you can update the device’s firmware right from the Mini I 3 and Mini I pro 3. We will show this process towards the end of the video.
You have the following inputs available when using this device with a local audio source such as a CD transport, MAC, PC or Game Console.
1 Coaxial, Optical, and USB-C port as well as an I2S(eye-squared-ess) Low-Voltage Differential Signaling Input.
The I2S port looks very similar to a tradition HDMI Port, and an HDMI connector will fit in the port but it WILL NOT work with any traditional HDMI audio source. This port only works with I2S outputs (such as the one found on the Matrix Audio X- SPIDF 2 or The PS Audio SACD Transport.)

Output Options

How will you listen to your music?

this device as just a DAC by using the “Fixed” Setting. For listen with headphones, the Mini I PRO 3 has a 1/4” Single ended port and a 4.4mm Balanced Pentaconn port on the front of the unit. If your headphones do not have one of these connections you can purchase a custom cable from Moon Audio.com or you can look for an adapter to your cable connector.

Operating the Device and Settings

To power on the device, press in once on the knob located on the front of the device. MOON AUDIO Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3 7

For listening directly via Active Speakers or to passive speakers via an external amplifier you have a pair of pre amplified XLR and RCA ports on the back of the unit. If you change the line out mode in the settings menu, you can use

Settings

MOON AUDIO Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3 8

When you press “in” the knob from the main menu, it will open up the input settings menu. In this menu you select the audio source you are using. If using your network for this, you will select the “streaming” option. Press the knob again to select your audio source.

If you are using the streaming option, make sure this device is selected in your Roon, Plex, or other streaming service app!
For more settings, you will need to press the tiny button near the power cable on the back of your unit. Pressing this in from the main menu will take you to an advanced menu to further fine tune your device’s settings.Pressing in on the knob for each option here will take you to a new screen with a setting description, modes to change through using the dial, and a “back” button on the top left of the screen.
For example the PCM Filter options shows you the roll off Graph with each option. As you scroll through the options it will update the device’s display accordingly.
If unfamiliar with PCM settings we recommend trying different filters with music you are familiar with until you find the one that sounds best to you.

LineOut Mode – 2 modes Fixed or adjustable volume. Fixed for DAC only and adjustable to control your volume with the knob.
Line In Gain – 3 positions (- 6 dB, 0 dB and + 6 dB) you will be controlling the gain of the RCA input to match with your amplifier or active speakers.
PLL – High, Normal or Low. Controls you will be controlling the bandwidth of the crystal clock, if you are using old equipment that stutters when you play music, you can try the High position to increase the bandwidth.
Bluetooth – Standard Bluetooth connect or disconnect options.
IIS (I squared S) Config – If using and I squared S source you can try different audio options.
Remote – you can use this to resync your remote or sync a different remote to the setup
Background – lets you choose a different background image.
Standby – you can enable a 5 or 10 minute standby timer. IT will go into standby if it doesn’t detect an incoming signal in those time frames. There is also an option to turn “standby” off.
Network – Can connect to wifi and LAN. Gives you options between the two. it is recommended to connect to your network for updating the firmware directly on the device even if you’re using a local audio source.
Language – Switch between English or Chinese
Info – Shows your model, serial number, Firmware version and local LAN or WLAN MAC addresses
Load Default – Returns everything to defaults
Firmware Update – If the device is connected to your network, pressing it will search for an update, if there is one you can press the knob in to download and install the firmware
Exit – Will return you to the main screen.