Hear the High-Res Advantages of a Discrete Analog Output Stage, Fully Balanced Architecture, Dual Differential DACs, and Audiophile Build Quality with the Musical Fidelity M8x DAC/Headphone Amplifier

Able to process any file you can buy or stream with exceptional detail, dynamics, and definition, the Musical Fidelity M8x DAC/headphone amplifier transforms digital signals into analog-like art that give you the full breadth of the musical performance. Featuring a discrete analog output stage, a dual differential DAC section with dual SABRE ES9038Q2M chips, and an encapsulated toroidal transformer, the fully balanced M8x DAC achieves sonic heights that most streaming-oriented companies and their products cannot near.

Bolstered by 16-core XMOS and CPLD MAX II Altera processors, the Roon-tested M8x DAC provides switchable advanced reclocking, switchable upsampling, and oversampling bypass. Discrete input power filtering and DC blocking circuitry complement high-end parts that include an WM 8805 S/PDIF digital input chip, Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, and separate power supply unit for the digital section.

M8x DAC is engineered to supply the highest of high-resolution audio. One asynchronous USB input (up to 768kHz), one USB input (up to native DSD 512), one coaxial input, one AES/EBU input, and three optical inputs coexist with a pair of balanced XLR outputs and pair of line-level RCA outputs — giving you tremendous flexibility. Full MQA decoding is also here, along with enviable measured specs that include a THD+N of less than 0.0001% and SNR above 100dB.

For all the prowess of its DAC abilities, M8x serves as an equally impressive, fully discrete headphone amplifier. Connect your ‘phones to the XLR headphone output or 6.3mm jack, and experience tremendous driving power, even with low-impedance models.

Housed in a robust chassis with front, side, and top panels milled from extruded aluminum, M8x DAC intentionally forgoes a large display to allow for excellent shielding against electromagnetic interference. All-aluminum buttons and control wheels further complement the rigid, elegant build quality and instill pride of ownership.

Read more about the technical specifics and world-class design below, or just dial us up at 312-433-0200 with any questions about this EU-made unit.

Discrete and Fully Balanced Output
M8x DAC bolsters a massively improved discrete output stage. Immediately noticeable by the enormous space requirements on the PCB – owing not only to the fact that it is fully discrete but also fully balanced - it is a major evolution. This design also makes M8x DAC fully balanced from beginning to end. Not only is this benefitting sound characteristics, but also longevity and sustainability. The M8x DAC remains easy to maintain and repair as chips go eventually out of production and might not be replaceable many years later. But discrete components will always be built and can always be serviced.

The Advantage of Discrete Circuits
A discrete circuit is composed of electronic components which are disparate, individual devices, also called discrete components. These can be “passive” components, like resistors, capacitors and inductors, as well as “active” components like transistors. The opposite to this would be an integrated circuit (IC = chip), which can, for example, be used as an operational amplifier (Op-Amp) in the signal chain. The high-end often employs specialized IC Op-Amps built for audio applications, which allow the production of very small and efficient electronics. However, countless hours of listening tests and years of experience have shown that even the very best ICs do not tend to be so neutral, natural, dynamic or vivid – all of which are characteristics of Musical Fidelity. They are also difficult to repair. Where standard headphone amplifiers or output stages with integrated circuits have a few tens or hundreds of components, discrete designs will employ hundreds or thousands of components by comparison.

Discrete Headphone Amplifier
M8x DAC features a headphone amplifier that outclasses many other stand-alone designs. Unlike almost all modern solutions that use chip-based designs, M8x DAC incorporates a fully discrete design with DC-coupled power operational amplifiers using transistors. Equipped with a 6.3mm jack output for unbalanced headphones, M8x DAC also features a 4-pin XLR output for use with balanced headphones. By using a fully differential balanced amplifier design, performance metrics are raised, achieving a mighty 3900mW of power into 8 ohms, compared to 2000mW with unbalanced headphones. Short time peaks way in excess of 10 watts (for one cycle) are handled with ease. And it gets even better. The amp has been carefully tuned to work completely in Class A up to full power for 30 ohms headphones or more. The terminal transistors used also allow the use of low load headphones down to 8 ohms, ensuring their high-current demand is comfortably met at all times. Whether you’re driving demanding low-impedance headphones or high-impedance studio-grade monitor headphones, M8x DAC ensures a powerful, distortion-free experience. Its ability to handle load impedances as low as 8 ohms, while maintaining incredible clarity makes it a versatile choice for any audiophile.

Fully Balanced
M8x DAC employs fully balanced circuitry throughout. Dual mono DACs - two ES9038Q2M chips are used in dual differential mode - are feeding the fully differential balanced output and headphone amplifier stages. A fully balanced design principle consists of a hot and a cold (also called + and -) signal. Both the + and – signal chains effectively carry the same musical information. A true balanced amplifier can now extract the final musical information out the +/- signals and subtract, remove, all noise that could potentially be added along the transmission. A “pseudo-balanced” amplifier will not process the + and – signals independently, but add them together before they are processed. Pseudo-balanced designs will not benefit from the advantages that balanced connections have to offer, like fully balanced amplifiers do. In a true, fully balanced device, the + and – sections of both the left and right channel are treated individually, which doubles the amplifier sections by 2 as a result. You need twice as much space on the circuit board, twice as many electrical components and be twice as careful with planning your circuit board layout. As a result, M8x DAC excels at suppressing unwanted noise, errors and interferences and offers the best signal to noise ratio possible.

Discrete Power
M8x DAC displays the continued development of super-silent power transformers. Additionally, it uses a sizable separate discrete power filtering and DC blocking PCB to keep noise and interference painstakingly low. Industrial grade power sockets with EMI filter and DC blocker stop interferences and eliminate transformer hum. The encapsulated toroidal transformer with low core saturation has been purpose designed for digital audio and headphone applications alike. Of special note: demands are drastically increased as everything in M8x DAC is fully balanced. Engineers deal with twice as many electrical components as regular single-ended designs. The power supply for digital and analog circuitry is carefully separated to provide immunity and isolation of the analogue amp and buffer stages from any possible digital HF interference. Each output and headphone amp stage has a DC servo ensuring optimal DC mode. Powered by two high-quality symmetrical low-noise power supplies, one for each channel - all passively filtered and regulated.