Musical Fidelity M6x DAC: Flagship DAC with ESS 32 Bit HyperStream technology

The Musical Fidelity M6x DAC 32 will become, according to the English manufacturer, a landmark device. This is the first model to use, like its predecessor, the Musical Fidelity M6s DAC, ESS 32 Bit HyperStream technology – but in differential dual mono, and even with an updated ES9038Q2M converter.

According to Musical Fidelity, the M6x uses boards with optimized signal paths. The ultra-quiet sealed toroidal transformer with low core saturation receives 220 volts pre-filtered and cleared of DC. A 16-core XMOS processor and CPLD MAX II Altera are used for signal processing. The new product received a switchable upsampling function and re-synchronization. Musical Fidelity also reports updated digital filters and MQA processing capabilities.

The M6x’s analog signal outputs are fully buffered unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR outputs. The latter use a differential amplifier design. As for the digital inputs, the specification is standard: two optical S/PDIF interfaces, complemented by AES/EBU, are capable of accepting PCM up to 24 bits and 192 kHz. But the full capabilities of the new product are available via USB-B and USB Audio Class 2.0 – the Linear PCM signal from a PC or Mac can have a resolution of up to 32 bits and 768 kHz and DSD – up to DSD512 inclusive.

The Musical Fidelity M6x DAC 32 Bit Dual Mono DAC also features a built-in headphone amplifier capable of delivering one and a half watts per channel into 32 ohm headphone impedance. Connection is made using a 6.3mm stereo jack on the front panel, which can be finished in silver or black. And one more important thing: the M6sR DAC was now made in the EU!

The converter has a fairly open sound, where exemplary coherence is combined with pleasant sound comfort. The device does not force dynamics, but scrupulously tries to reveal the essence of any musical work. It works quite diligently in the lower range, the bass is moderately energetic and readable in terms of structure. The only thing that can be noticed upon closer listening is a slight decrease in intelligibility at the very bottom of the working band. Artifacts are almost completely absent in the upper register even on mediocre phonograms.

The trebles are exemplary clean, and the copper shimmers incredibly naturally. The middle, traditionally for Musical Fidelity, is worked very skillfully. In addition to the high resolution in this spectrum, it is necessary to note the enviable tonal fidelity and the absence of a hard digital patina. The scene is built very large, with a clear foreground and readable distances. The images are slightly larger than usual. Musical Fidelity engineers created the M6X DAC digital-to-analogue converter specifically for those who want to enjoy the highest quality sound, regardless of where their digital audio data is stored.

Musical Fidelity M6X DAC Specifications 

DAC Circuit: 32-bit Hyperstream II
DAC Chip: 2x ES9038Q2M (dual differential)
Frequency Response: -0.1dB at 10Hz, 0dB at 1kHz, -0.4dB at 20kHz
Channel Separation: > 130 dB @ 10 kHz @ 0 dBFS
S/N Ratio: >120 dB “A”
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.0005%

Digital Inputs: 1x Coaxial, up to 24-bit 192 kHz (stereo PCM + MQA), 2x Optical, up to 24bit 192kHz (stereo PCM + MQA), 1x AES/EBU, up to 24bit 192kHz (stereo PCM + MQA), 1x USB Audio Class 2.0, ‘USB B’; up to 32-bit 768 kHz (stereo PCM + MQA), DSD 256, DSD512
Analog outputs: 1 pair RCA, 1 pair XLR, Headphone output 6.3 mm variable jack

Headphone amplifier
Power: 1.5 W/ch into 32 ohms
Output Impedance: Min. recommended 16 ohm headphones
Signal to noise ratio: >115 dB “A”
Frequency response: +0.1, -0.4 dB 20 Hz to 20 kHz

Dimensions (WxHxD): 440 x 100 x 390 mm
Weight: 6.9 kg