Musical Fidelity

M6DAC | DAC (DISCONTINUED)

The M6DAC is a state of the art DAC for the modern age.

Product overview
Design + build
Specifications
Downloads

M6DAC (DISCONTINUED) - Overview

Designing and building DACs of astounding quality is nothing new for Musical Fidelity. In fact our first DAC, the Digilog, was launched right after the first digital source (the CD player) became available in the late 1980s. All of the DACs we’ve built since then have been both highly praised by reviewers and cherished by their owners.

The M6 DAC offers simply outstanding performance using the very latest, cutting edge conversion technology. Its flexible input connections allow any music lover to experience a level of emotion and detail in their music that is, so often, unrecoverable.

Alongside the traditional AES and SPDIF connections (XLR and Coax/Optical respectively), the M6 features an asynchronous USB input connection suitable for a wide array of computer sources. In addition, the Bluetooth receiver allows many portable music devices to connect and play music too.

All of our DACs have received praise from audio magazines, from right across the globe. Some have become legendary; most of them are collectors’ items. We’re confident the M6 will continue this tradition.

M6DAC (DISCONTINUED) - Design and Build

The M6 employs fully differential balanced DACs in a sophisticated dual mono PCB layout. A fully stabilized, universal precision regulated digital power supply is deployed and results in an extremely quiet electrical supply that allows music to be delivered without distortion or distraction by unwanted mains power artifacts.

All inputs are asynchronously re-clocked and upsampled to 192kHz allowing the very highest conversion accuracy without any intrusive digital filtering which so often affects music in digital systems.

The M6 DAC’s technical performance is truly outstanding with an incredibly low THD at just 0.0012%. Frequency response measurements reveal a clean and clear path for music which is far wider than the audio spectrum at all sampling frequencies. At 192kHz sampling it extends to a staggering 90kHz.

The USB input is truly asynchronous up to 192kHz sampling rates and acts as a USB “host” to a wide array of computer music sources. The Bluetooth system is also both innovative and highly useful. Using both EDR (enhanced data rate) and Apt-X means a substantial improvement in sonic performance over more basic Bluetooth systems. The M6 DAC takes an I2 S output from its Bluetooth audio section straight in to the upsampling DAC in the most basic digital language, without further conversion or interpretation. This process offers the simplest possible connection and a resulting technical and sonic performance that is outstanding for a Bluetooth connection.

As you would expect from our DAC design heritage all other digital inputs are equally blessed with class leading performance from both a technical and sound quality perspective.

The analogue outputs have not been overlooked during our no-compromise design process. Both single ended (RCA Phono) and balanced (XLR) outputs have high current capacity and very low output impedance delivering maximum compatibility with partnering equipment and astounding sound quality.

Throughout the M6 DAC we use the new LME 49720 operational amplifier IC from Texas Instruments. This new state of the art device gives ultra low distortion and amazing linearity.

The M6 DAC has a neutral analogue-like sound quality. The 192kHz truly asynchronous upsampling and reclocking eliminate all digital artifacts revealing a sound quality that is both delicate and clean while also offering an astonishingly deep and fast bass. Imaging is breathtaking; left to right; back to front and even vertically. The M6 DAC projects a beautiful wide sound stage where performers are positioned with pinpoint accuracy giving outstanding insight into the music. Put simply the M6 DAC delivers music exactly as it was recorded, …as the artists intended you to hear it.

M6DAC (DISCONTINUED) - Specifications

Performance

Jitter: <12 picoseconds peak to peak
THD(+ noise): <0.0012% 10Hz to 20 kHz
Frequency Response: +0, –3dB, <2Hz to 90 kHz (192kHz sample rate)
Signal to Noise ratio: >120dB A”- wtd.
Channel seperation: >105dB

DAC

Type: 24 bit Delta-Sigma (bit stream) dual differential 8x over-sampling with asynchronous up sampling on all inputs to 192 kHz
Digital filter (fast roll off): -3dB @ 0.49 x sampling frequency, ±0.0002dB pass band ripple
Digital filter (slow roll off): -3dB @ 0.45 x sampling frequency, ±0.001dB pass band ripple

Inputs

1x XLR AES balanced digital input 32-192 kbps (16-24 bit stereo PCM)
1x RCA coaxial connector SPDIF 32-192 kbps (16-24 bit stereo PCM)
1x TOSLINK optical connector 32-96 kbps (16-24 bit stereo PCM)
1x USB type ‘B’ host connector - 16-24 bits, 32-192 kbps (Determined by source file/computer settings)

BlueTooth

Bluetooth specification v2.1 + EDR
aptX 16 bit 44.1 kHz
Carrier frequency 2.402 to 2.480 GHz ISM band
Transmission power -2dBm (min) to +2dBm (max)
Class 2 (up to 30M (90ft) dependant on connected device)
Receiver IF frequency 1.5 MHz centre frequency
Antenna socket type RP-SMA
Antenna input impedance 50 ohms

Outputs

1x line level RCA (phono)
1x line level XLR (balanced)

General

Dimensions - WxHxD (mm): 440 x 102 x 380
Weight (unpacked / packed): 10.6 kg / 14.8 kg

M6DAC (DISCONTINUED) - Downloads

Software

Software downloads are available for this product on our Software Download Page.

Manual

M6DAC User Manual (English)