Musical Fidelity M1 DAC

FheBlackPassat

This post is in response to a question by comfortablycurt reply #20 found here.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109520

I figure this should be in its own post seeing at has nothing to do with speakers.

Below are pics of my M1 DAC that I use to pipe music into my 2 channel rig.
The source of my music comes from a 2tb raid drive setup on my desktop computer in the basement. All of my music originally from cd is ripped to the harddrive with no compression.
From there I access my music through my laptop using Windows Media Player 12 (all enhacments disabled) and then feed it into the M1 DAC via usb cable.

M1 DAC specs:
True 24bit input/output @ 192kHz

DAC Circuit: 24bit Delta-Sigma (bit stream) dual differential 8x over-sampling to 192kHz
Jitter: <12 picoseconds peak to peak
Linearity: <0.1dB down to -96dB
Frequency Responce: 10Hz to 20kHz -0.1dB max
Channel Seperation: >105dB 10Hz to 20kHz
Signal to Noise >119dB A weighted
RCA output 2.2V

For those of you who don't know much about a USB DAC:
The beauty thing is, the music from your computer takes the shortest path through the motherboard bypassing all the soundcard / soundchip circuitry and sends it straight to the USB port thus allowing the best possible data stream from the computer into the USB DAC.

The purists will argue that this is just blasphemy, I'm not a purist but I do agree with said notion. I have simply gone this route because of the simplistic nature and ease of being able to access and control my music electronically in anyway I so choose.

Saludos

danz1906

Very nice Dac,how would you describe the Sound?

tonyb

Yes, a very nice dac. Don't care for the looks up front though which is strange comming from MF that makes some good looking gear. Let us know how it sounds.

FheBlackPassat

danz1906 wrote: »

Very nice Dac,how would you describe the Sound?

tonyb wrote: »

Yes, a very nice dac. Don't care for the looks up front though which is strange comming from MF that makes some good looking gear. Let us know how it sounds.

Well, so far I am very pleased with the sound. I tested it over at the local used highend store. The staff their was suprised on how good a digital sourced song could sound. After showing off my toy at the store I had something to compare it too.

At home my arrangement is not sonically ideal. My living room is situated in a way that doesn't allow me to place my speakers in the proper locations.
My speakers are about 14' apart and my listening chair is about 10' in front of them.

With that said:
The sound stage is very realistic. There is width and height. The depth is there but I cant get back far enough to really appreciate it.
The DAC doesn't color the sound at all.
As far as 16bit vs 24bit signals. It's hard to explain but the presence is definitely their on a 24bit signal.

It really is a remarkable piece for $700.

Timothy Smith

FheBlackPassat wrote: »

Well, so far I am very pleased with the sound. I tested it over at the local used highend store. The staff their was suprised on how good a digital sourced song could sound. After showing off my toy at the store I had something to compare it too.

At home my arrangement is not sonically ideal. My living room is situated in a way that doesn't allow me to place my speakers in the proper locations.
My speakers are about 14' apart and my listening chair is about 10' in front of them.

With that said:
The sound stage is very realistic. There is width and height. The depth is there but I cant get back far enough to really appreciate it.
The DAC doesn't color the sound at all.
As far as 16bit vs 24bit signals. It's hard to explain but the presence is definitely their on a 24bit signal.

It really is a remarkable piece for $700.

I'm also in Milwaukee area, just curious, where is the local used high end store???

Thanks,

Tim

FheBlackPassat

Timothy Smith wrote: »

I'm also in Milwaukee area, just curious, where is the local used high end store???

Thanks,

Tim

Audio Ventures in Waukesha

danz1906

FheBlackPassat wrote: »

Well, so far I am very pleased with the sound. I tested it over at the local used highend store. The staff their was suprised on how good a digital sourced song could sound. After showing off my toy at the store I had something to compare it too.

At home my arrangement is not sonically ideal. My living room is situated in a way that doesn't allow me to place my speakers in the proper locations.
My speakers are about 14' apart and my listening chair is about 10' in front of them.

With that said:
The sound stage is very realistic. There is width and height. The depth is there but I cant get back far enough to really appreciate it.
The DAC doesn't color the sound at all.
As far as 16bit vs 24bit signals. It's hard to explain but the presence is definitely their on a 24bit signal.

It really is a remarkable piece for $700.

Nice review-Thanks

cstmar01

FheBlackPassat wrote: »

Audio Ventures in Waukesha

Thanks for the info, never knew about them and now I gotta get a day off of work and drive over there!

leroyjr1

FheBlackPassat wrote: »

This post is in response to a question by comfortablycurt reply #20 found here.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109520

I figure this should be in its own post seeing at has nothing to do with speakers.

Below are pics of my M1 DAC that I use to pipe music into my 2 channel rig.
The source of my music comes from a 2tb raid drive setup on my desktop computer in the basement. All of my music originally from cd is ripped to the harddrive with no compression.
From there I access my music through my laptop using Windows Media Player 12 (all enhacments disabled) and then feed it into the M1 DAC via usb cable.

M1 DAC specs:
True 24bit input/output @ 192kHz

DAC Circuit: 24bit Delta-Sigma (bit stream) dual differential 8x over-sampling to 192kHz
Jitter: <12 picoseconds peak to peak
Linearity: <0.1dB down to -96dB
Frequency Responce: 10Hz to 20kHz -0.1dB max
Channel Seperation: >105dB 10Hz to 20kHz
Signal to Noise >119dB A weighted
RCA output 2.2V

For those of you who don't know much about a USB DAC:
The beauty thing is, the music from your computer takes the shortest path through the motherboard bypassing all the soundcard / soundchip circuitry and sends it straight to the USB port thus allowing the best possible data stream from the computer into the USB DAC.

The purists will argue that this is just blasphemy, I'm not a purist but I do agree with said notion. I have simply gone this route because of the simplistic nature and ease of being able to access and control my music electronically in anyway I so choose.

Saludos

What system are you running?

Timothy Smith

FheBlackPassat wrote: »

Audio Ventures in Waukesha

OK.

I know the place and have been there a few times.

The owner is very knowlegeable and helpful. They also build custom speakers.

Thanks

FheBlackPassat

Timothy Smith wrote: »

OK.

I know the place and have been there a few times.

The owner is very knowlegeable and helpful. They also build custom speakers.

Thanks

Yes they do. Stupid expensive if your willing to pay. But they sure do sound good.
By any chance did you get to listen to the A/D/S speakers they had? Those things were freakin' awesome.

FheBlackPassat

leroyjr1 wrote: »

What system are you running?

I'm running the Onkyo M506RS dual mono chassis and the P306RS pre-amp (European Versions) driving Polk's SDA SRS (circa 1986).

fishbones

You have a nice looking unit! I'd like to get my hands on that. :biggrin:

Polkitup2

fishbones wrote: »

You have a nice looking unit! I'd like to get my hands on that. :biggrin:

:eek: