IOTAVX MA3 Review: High-End Sound Quality in a Compact Package

All we want is everything at once, so it should be at least in one case, right? And at most, they also have a price so that there is enough left for some better speakers. And fulfill our needs, you can look at the
IOTAVX MA3, which I think they made at the request of the audiophile community: an awesome
all-in-one package that has everything.

Normal message

“We’re breaking the rules and bringing you Hi-Fi like you’ve never seen before!” – They probably thought, “We can build an amplifier that combines all the features into one box, making it a one-stop shop for our music-loving brother.”

On the other hand, there will always be connoisseurs not of sound, but of questions about sound: “What is
it made of?”, “Where?”, “Really?”. The company’s press releases tried to take all of this into account
right away and answer most of the questions directly and in such a way that they would not arise again. For example, to the question: “Where do you manufacture your components?”, they answer directly: “We won’t tell you.”

But there you can also find a mention that the company did not set a goal to invent something new or
to turn this entire ossified techno industry upside down. It simply wanted to earn money, not through
single sales, but by offering its own vision of the optimal ratio of price, quality, and sound.

And if the most inveterate enthusiasts and lovers of loud revelations remove the protective cover from
the IOTAVX component, then in some of them it will be possible to find nodes that have already been encountered somewhere.

Or maybe it won’t work out, it’s 50/50 because there is a certain unification of production, cost optimization, and other modern technological processes, which, with a competent approach, make it possible not only
to support the company and earn money but also to make a product for which you won’t have to justify yourself on forums.

Do it right and it will be right

IOTAVX MA3 seems to be exactly in this category. It requires neither defense nor justification because it is in the segment where you just have to buy. But wouldn’t such a step be too reckless? It is clear that
everything is written beautifully on paper: it is an integrated amplifier, it is a DAC, it is a streamer with
a control application, and in general, everything is good.

The future owner may have quite justified concerns: why so cheap? This will serve as the first impetus, which may be followed by a tsunami of bitter experiences, yours and others who tried to build a Hi-Fi system this way, but something inevitably went wrong. “The smartphone app is probably slow… And if it doesn’t slow down, then there is no sound because all the budget went to the app… And if there is sound, then…”

Well, something else will be found – we like to think about the bad. And we don’t like to believe that everything is, even if not perfect, at least just fine, and just quite good. When you listen, watch, and then shrug your shoulders and say: “Well, yes, why did I get so worked up… Everything is fine.”

Circuit design

This is an integrated amplifier in class AB – it is worth mentioning right away to indicate the category of interests. It is based on a toroidal transformer, which has to power everything that caring engineers
have placed in this small case.

The output stages are equipped with 2SD1047/2SB817 transistors from Inchange Semiconductor, which provide 51 W of output power per channel at an 8-ohm load. The total power is approximately 102 W, while the torus consumes 300 W at peak. It is a very prudent step from British engineers to give this budget amplifier such a power reserve.

Next comes the DAC: it was built on a dual-channel ESS Sabre ES9018K2M chip with a 32-bit HyperStream architecture. Everything was left as is here so that the high-res tracks from the collection sounded as
they should: this DAC was not prohibited from decoding material up to 32 bit/384 kHz and even DSD256.

This whole scheme is directly tied to the streaming module, which IOTAVX did not invent, but simply took
a ready-made, proven and reliable solution on the popular LinkPlay platform.

Its hardware is a LinkPlay A98M-22 v02 module with a 64-bit Amlogic A113X processor and 512 MB of DDR4 RAM. A lot of serious numbers should already convince you at this stage that all this works smoothly and quickly.

An additional advantage of this module is its cross-platform nature, because LinkPlay services are used by WiiM, Premiera, Harman Kardon, Marshall, JBL, Magnat, Vifa, Edifier and even ARYLIC. In general, if you want to organize a multi-room, you will not be limited to one brand – there is plenty to choose from. In addition, there is a choice of control applications that differ in detail. For example, you can use WiiM Home from LinkPlay or Audio System from IOTAVX.

The “external” side of this streaming platform has also turned out to be developed. It uses Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz or an Ethernet port to access the network. This opens access to all possible streaming services, of which there are even more than enough in the application, given our geolocation: Spotify, Tidal, Napster, Qobuz, Deezer, and Internet radio – this is a little of what I managed to remember.

Additionally, the IOTAVX MA3 can deliver content via AirPlay2, UPnP/DLNA, and via a Bluetooth 5.0 module that supports aptX, aptX HD, and AAC codecs. And if the all-in-one component ultimately fails to overcome your retrograde moods, you can connect a flash drive or hard drive via a USB port. But this is even unnecessary here because the control application sees all local servers on the network and quickly picks up their content.

After all, there is an MM and even MC phono preamp module installed here, which leaves no chance at all to make any claims about the MA3 in terms of equipment.

IOTAVX MA3 rear panel with inputs and outputs

Simple design

Yes, it is quite normal, and even cute in its laconicism. Here, too, there were no revelations and patents, IOTAVX MA3 was simply made so that it looked like a completely ordinary Hi-Fi, without quirks and bells and whistles. Always black, without the ability to choose – well, okay, not a big loss.

On the front panel in the left corner there is already a recognizable logo, below is a standard for all IOTAVX components power button with backlight. Here we also see the headphone output, and in the center of the panel, there is a large black window, which hides a display smaller than the window.

A clever solution, but the design turned out to be effective, it works as a visual level-up for the component. The USB A port was placed in the same window, to the right of it are the function buttons and the volume control with a circular backlight. And, of course, there is a remote control in the kit – you never know, it might come in handy.

The top panel has developed ventilation, and the back panel has developed switching. There are coaxial, optical, and LAN ports for feeding a digital signal to the DAC. There is a pair of RCA and an input to the phono preamplifier for connecting analog devices. There are analog outputs: a recording output, a preamp output, and a separate output to the subwoofer.

For the IOTAVX MA3 test, we took two pairs of acoustics: small floor-standing KEF Q550 and large bookshelf KEF R3. And it can provide itself with content, no one was needed here. And let’s start, perhaps, with a thick audiophile cocktail from the Oscar Peterson Trio with the track “You Look Good To Me”.

The picture is neutral, detailed, and decently hi-fi. No tension or concentration is required to understand the status of this sound and its character. And it even seems that for this segment, for such a device with the widest range of tasks performed, this is somehow abnormal.

Because the amplifier shows its character, and immediately demonstrates all its qualities, but the speakers will still have to be replaced because pumping up the KEF R3 is not like dragging FLACs from a network library (although you also need to be able to do that). The lack of current affected the quality of the low frequencies, and it is well known that the R3 can draw more beautiful high frequencies.

With KEF Q550 everything changes and the sound gets even more hi-fi. So much so that you even remember the myths and legends about that very thoroughbred British sound. Of course, there are many types of sound in Britain, but if you go through the key players, you can highlight two conditional directions: “soulfulness” and “precision”. IOTAVX probably chose the second option for sound development, which is quite expected.

Soulfulness in this price range can only be imitated, which immediately catches the ear of an experienced listener. But achieving precision, detail, and open and clear sound – this is possible, this is happening right now. At the same time, the sound is punchy, and dynamic, with a sparkle and pepper, which can be interpreted as a kind of replacement for the depth of overtones. In the end, the MA3 costs only 70 thousand, and it seems that we have already gone too deep in the analysis of sound.

But we can also mention the track “Birds” by Marytale so that it becomes clearer about the overtones. This girl has sensual vocals, and with IOTAVX MA3 you can hear that priority is given to the accuracy of its processing. It is not that we lose anything, because you can only lose your head if you listen to such music irregularly.

The listener is presented with a spacious stage with good balance and a bias towards micro-contrasts. The bass comes to the rescue: dense, surprisingly controlled, and deep, it creates such a background structure against which all other qualities of the MA3 look logical and understandable.

And in general, when you hear not just hi-fi, but audiophile-oriented sound from such a component, you immediately think: is this normal? And if it is normal, then why doesn’t everyone do it?

Conclusion IOTAVX MA3

So, it’s normal now. At least, within the IOTAVX brand, you can count on it. And now it’s clear why the IOTAVX MA3 won the “Top High End” award in the “Optimal Price, Quality, and Consumer Functionality” category at the 2023 Hi-Fi & High-End Show. Optimal – there’s no other way to say it.

Listen to the amplifier and you understand that the description was not a lie. Here you have 51 W – and not a watt more, so there is no point in giving it acoustics that even 100-watt models cannot always drive. Here you have network capabilities from a proven platform – and no fawning about their unique developments. Everything is honest, and this is what wins you over.

Price IOTAVX MA3 Streaming Amplifier

The price of IOTAVX streaming amplifier is – $649.99

IOTAVX MA3 FAQs

IOTAVX MA3 Best for?

The MA3 is ideal for music lovers who want to enjoy high-fidelity audio. Better for those who have Bookshelf speakers.

What awards has the IOTAVX MA3 won?

The MA3 won the “Top High End” award in the “Optimal Price, Quality, and Consumer Functionality”
category at the 2023 Hi-Fi & High-End Show.

Features:

What streaming services does the IOTAVX MA3 support?

The MA3 supports a variety of popular streaming services, including Spotify, Tidal, Napster, Qobuz, Deezer, and Internet radio.

Does the IOTAVX MA3 have Bluetooth?

Yes, the MA3 features Bluetooth 5.0 with support for aptX, aptX HD, and AAC codecs.

Does the IOTAVX MA3 have a phono input?

Yes, the MA3 includes an MM/MC phono preamp, allowing you to connect your turntable directly.

What control apps are available for the IOTAVX MA3?

The MA3 can be controlled using the LinkPlay app or the IOTAVX Audio System app.

Sound Quality:

How powerful is the IOTAVX MA3?

The MA3 delivers 51 watts per channel at 8 ohms.

What kind of sound does the IOTAVX MA3 produce?

The MA3 offers a detailed and neutral sound with a focus on precision. It creates a spacious soundstage with good micro-contrast detail and surprisingly tight bass for its size.