Musical Fidelity M1 DAC

falconcry72

After comparing several DAC's, I ended up going with the Audio GD NFB-7 (thanks Jake!), and I need to move this one. The NFB-7 barely edged out the M1, but it should have, given that it retails for twice as much: $1400 vs $700.

I believe that this Musical Fidelity piece gets you to a SQ level where spending 2, 3, or 5 times as much will get you very little in return. This DAC is right in the optimal "bang-for-your-buck" zone, IMO. It has a very smooth sound.

I am the original owner. I will conservatively rate it a 9, but looks damn near flawless to me, and I have 20-15 vision! Hell, even the bottom is clean! I listened to it for a couple weeks on and off, so it has very few hours on it.

It operates perfectly. The LED's are a nice blue color when lit.


Some specs:

- Balanced and unbalanced analog outputs
- Toslink Optical, Digital Coaxial, AES/EBU, and USB inputs
- Front panel LED's show you what input is selected and what sampling rate it's locked onto
- All inputs, except USB, can accept 32khz, 44.1khz, 48khz, 88.2khz, 96khz, 176.4khz, and 192khz, at 16 or 24 bit
- USB goes up to 96khz @ 24, I believe

It comes with all the original equipment:

- Box
- Manual
- Letter from Musical Fidelity
- Power cable
- Toslink plug

* Buyer will also get (1) specially-made burned CD including a few of my favorite reference recordings to try out on your new DAC!:afro

The remote and Stella pictured ARE NOT included, but if you pick it up locally, you may get a free beer or two out of it and listen to some tunes, if you want.

The original packing foam is nice and firm and leaves a lot of space around the unit to the bottom and sides, but I added some bubbles to the top just to be sure, that's why the top of the package is bulging slightly.


Polkie Price:

- $575 shipped in the CONUS with Paypal gift. Shipping will be FedEx Ground.

- $550 local pickup with cash

If it doesn't sell here in a week, it goes to the 'bay where it will likely go for more like 6 plus shipping.

Let me know if you have any questions.


Thanks,

Ben

falconcry72

More pics.

samnor

minor thread derail but would you mind mentioning what were the other dacs you compared.

falconcry72

samnor wrote: »

minor thread derail but would you mind mentioning what were the other dacs you compared.

The (4) DAC's involved:

- Parasound DAC-2000 Ultra (made in 1998)

- Benchmark original DAC-1 (made in 2005)

- Musical Fidelity M1 (made in November 2010)

- Audio GD NFB-7 (made sometime in the last few years)


The Benchmark and M1 sound extremely similar: very resolving, and capable of accepting all hi-res sampling rates. The Benchmark leans a little on the brighter side, and the M1 leans a little on the smoother side.

The older Parasound DAC is not as resolving as the (2) above, and cannot handle anything above 48khz, but it has better dynamics due to its superior analog section.

The NFB-7 combines the resolving ability of the other (2) modern DAC's with the overbuilt analog section and dynamics of the Parsound.

I would have been happy to live with any of them except the Parasound because my unit has a cold solder somewhere that gives it a little fuzz sporadically.


In case you're interested, here's the fate of all (4) pieces:

- Audio GD NFB-7: my 2-channel rig :biggrin:

- Benchmark DAC-1: my dad's 2-channel rig (he wanted headphone outs, otherwise we would have taken the M1)

- Parasound DAC-2000 Ultra: my backup. It's worth more to me to keep than it would be to sell, given the cold solder and lack of modern sampling rate capabilities.

- Musical Fidelity M1- ?????

falconcry72

Spec I forgot:

- Up-samples all inputs to 192khz @ 24bit


Manufacturer's product page:

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/M1-Series/M1DAC/M1DAC.asp

falconcry72

Thread about the (4) DAC's:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?122132-Wyred-DAC-1-vs-Benchmark-DAC-1-(NON-USB)&highlight=wyred

Drenis

Couple things.

1. Stella's! Great beer. Sipping on one right now.
2. I've been researching this unit and think it would be an awesome addition. Why do you CP members sell such great stuff when I have no extra money?

GLWS

falconcry72

Drenis wrote: »

Couple things.

1. Stella's! Great beer. Sipping on one right now.
2. I've been researching this unit and think it would be an awesome addition. Why do you CP members sell such great stuff when I have no extra money?

GLWS

1. Yea, I dig it. I've moved on to Pilsner Urquell for the rest of the night, though.

2. We, as a collective organization, have access to your bank accounts and wish lists, and when the two are diametrically opposed... we STRIKE!.

That last one wasn't true.

falconcry72

FYI, the bonus CD has now been made, and it includes some VERY tasty nuggets.

If these tracks don't sound good on your system, you've got major problems!

falconcry72

Forgot to put where local pickup is:

- Northern VA 22308

falconcry72

anonymouse wrote: »

That cold solder is almost guaranteed to be on the actual DAC module. You cannot miss it - its a big plastic thingie - the largest module on the board. Just go over all the pins on that module with silver solder, making sure you heat it through so the original solder melts. Let me know how it goes.

Nice, thanks for the tip. I'll check it out. Does the fact that the fuzz only comes through one channel mean anything?

falconcry72

Playing hardball, are we? Looks like there's been a guy on the bay selling these used for about 570 shipped, so I'll beat him for Polkies:


525 shipped FedEx Ground w/ Paypal Gift

500 local pickup w/ cash


Goes to the bay for 570 shipped on Monday.


edit: I will now include (2) reference quality mixed cd's, (1) jazz-based and (1) rock-based.

Systems

Why must you parade such things in front of me Ben?
On the scale: Food or DAC?
Its pretty close!
They say you can go for 7-10 days without food.

Any trades?
Gots lots!

falconcry72

pepster wrote: »

Why must you parade such things in front of me Ben?
On the scale: Food or DAC?
Its pretty close!
They say you can go for 7-10 days without food.

Any trades?
Gots lots!

Ha. A week without food, or a week without music... that is tough.

Trades, hmm, let's see. Well you're already making some cables for me, so we could deduct their respective values. (you better not tell me the IC's cost 525 now!!!)


Other trades (these go for everyone):

- A good sub for my two-channel system. It must be flat to 20hz and be able to be crossed over as low as 30-35hz. And be quick and tight, of course.

- A USB to SPDIF converter that's higher quality than the V-Link or Digital Interface.

- 1960's Amperex or Telefunken 6922's or 7308's. Also Siemens CCa's.

- Possibly a Squeeze Box touch with controller to test vs. my USB to SPDIF converters.

- A Bryston 4BSST power amp. Oh, and make sure it's black with the 19" faceplate, k tks.

- A CD transport of higher quality than my Parasound CDP-1000.

- MIT Shotgun speaker cables.


If I can think of anything else, I'll post it.

Cheers,


Ben

Systems

Ben your mailbox is full.

falconcry72

Whoops. Thanks. Cleared.

Systems

(you better not tell me the IC's cost 525 now!!!)

Yeah, I meant to talk to you about that.
Looks like you owe me money AFTER sending me the DAC!:twisted:

Great DAC, great seller!
GLWTS!:biggrin:

falconcry72

Now on the bay for 570 shipped:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170706970748#ht_981wt_1139

Polkie prices still good:

525 shipped FedEx Ground w/ Paypal Gift

500 Local Pickup

Drenis

Good bye pretty DAC *waves*

GLWS dude.

falconcry72

I lowered my ebay BIN to 540 shipped.

polkies:

500 shipped

475 local pickup.

Toolfan66

This is one of those I want it but don't need it good deals!!!!

falconcry72

Nevermind guys; it just sold on ebay within 30 minutes of being re-listed.:eek:

Mods, please mark as s.o.l.d... SOLD!!!

Thanks,

Ben