Musical Fidelity M6SDAC Digital Preamplifier DAC and Headphone Amplifier

"So Impressive" DAC, Digital Preamp, and Headphone Amp

The Musical Fidelity M6S DAC is a very high-quality 32-bit, 768 kHz upsampling and reclocking DAC with DSD 64/128 capability. But that's not all! In addition to its excellence as a DAC, the M6S DAC is also a state-of-the-art digital preamp with seven inputs and a very high performance headphone amp. The signal-to-noise ratio is better than 119 db.

For maximum connectivity with a wide range of audio components, the M6S DAC has six digital inputs: three coax, three optical, and one USB. It will accept all data rates up to 32-bit, 768 kHz and DSD 64/128. All inputs are upsampled to 32/768.

The M6S DAC excels in every technical area. It has incredibly low distortion – 0.0004% at 20 kHz, which is simply breathtaking. Stereo separation is better than 120dB. The signal-to-noise ratio is better than 119 dB, and linearity is better than 110dB.

"The Doors 'Riders on the Storm' was so impressive… the distant rumbles of thunder and rain appearing so real that I thought my sofa was about to get wet," notes a January 2018 review from England's HiFi News magazine. "The MS6S DAC competes with the best DAC under $3,500."

"Utterly Stunning"

"Utterly stunning: the M6S DAC is worth every bit of its [price]," raves Rod Easdown in his June 22 2018 for Audtralia's Sydney Morning Herald," Look, I don't care if your ears are tin and you wouldn't kno. a C-sharp major if it snuggled up close and called you sweetheart, if your equipment is even halfway good you will hear brilliance, immediacy, depth and pure ecstasy you have not realised existed until now."

"There is a sensation of communication from the artists that is hypnotic and compelling," report Greg Borrowman and Tim Sleath, Australian Hi-fi Magazine, April 3, 2018. "It is so musically integrated: the whole sound is sweet and clear; the treble is completely grain free and extended. The bottom end sounds endless with tactile bass dynamics and the soundstaging is excellent: you get palpable sense of the recording venue that places the performers in a real-time holographic space."

"Its open, three-dimensional sound fully convinces," notes Christian Möller, Germany's Audio.de magazine, November 11, 2017. "The audiophile accolade is appropriate for the M6s DAC!"

Four Stereo 32-bit DACs

The M6S DAC consists of four stereo 32-bit DACs arranged in a fully differential (balanced) dual mono topology. It also features a top-quality oversampling 32-bit sample rate converter circuit, which asynchronously upsamples all incoming data rates to 768 kHz internally. This moves the digital artefacts to well outside the audio band, allowing easy removal without detriment to the top end of the audio band.

Musical Fidelity's well-tuned filtering circuit gives immeasurably small jitter, noise, and distortion artefacts allowing astounding imaging, detail, and transparency, to deliver all music types exactly as the artist originally intended.

This revised design compared to the original M6 DAC now takes into account different sampling frequencies with the upper bandwidth extending to 90 kHz for 384 kHz natively sampled input signals. The M6S DAC's fully asynchronous USB input copes with PCM inputs up to 32-bit, 384 kHz sample rate and DSD 256. This takes full advantage of the higher quality recordings now available. It works with all personal computers running Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

Fixed/Variable Output Stage

The output stage of the M6S DAC can be used in either fixed or variable mode. When used in variable mode, it functions as a state-of-the-art digital preamp that you can connect to a power amp, powered speakers, and other gear.

The balanced output stage provides both single ended RCA and XLR balanced outputs. It employs state-of-the-art components and circuitry which deliver superlative technical and sonic performance and exceptional load driving characteristics that will drive any combination of cables, cable lengths, and electronics flawlessly.

Premium Headphone Amp

The M6S DAC also works splendidly as a headphone amplifier. The built-in, premium-quality headphone amp The headphone amplifier circuit also uses the same design philosophy and implementation, and with very low output impedance will drive any headphone to its maximum potential. The music is presented on a black velvet background with incredibly low distortion and uncanny realism.

Effortless Grace and Transparency

The M6S DAC's immediate sonic impression is of effortless grace and transparency. There is a sensation of communication from the artists that is hypnotic and compelling. It is so musically integrated. The whole sound is sweet and clear, the treble is completely grain free and extended, and the bottom end sounds endless with tactile bass dynamics and light-speed fast attack and decay. The imaging is excellent, with side-to-side image placement and a palpable sense of the recording venue that places the performers in real-time holographic space.

The Perfect Partner for M3 and M6 Gear

The M6S DAC has been carefully designed to be partnered with other M3 and M6 products. Using any of these combinations will yield one of the best high-fidelity systems available at any price.

Overview

• Very high-quality 32-bit, 768 kHz upsampling and reclocking DAC
• State-of-the-art digital preamp
• Very high performance headphone amp
• DSD 64/128 capable
• Headphone amp noise ratio is better than 119 db
• 7 digital inputs: 3 x Coax, 3 x Optical, and 1 x USB
• 2 analog outputs: Unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR Single Ended and Balanced Fixed/Variable Outputs

• 3 RCA coaxial SPDIF inputs, 32-192 kbps (16-24 bit stereo PCM)
• 3 TOSLINK optical inputs, 32-96 kbps (16-24 bit stereo PCM)
• 1 USB 2 .0 input, type 'Micro B' connector for computer/PDA/other "host" 16-32 bits, 32-192 kbps fully asynchronous (actual data determined by source file/computer software settings)

• 1 pair line level RCA (no-balanced), left and right
• 1 pair line level XLR (balanced), left and right

Output (RCA/XLR)

• Output impedance: 47 ohms
• Output, digital 0dB level: 2 .2V R.M.S . nominal (RCA), 4 .4V R.M.S . (XLR)

• Power: 1.5W / channel into 32 Ω
• Output impedance: 40 Ω Suitable for 10-600 Ω headphones
• THD: <0 .005% typical 20Hz to 20kHz
• Signal/noise ratio: >115dB "A" wtd
• Frequency response: +0, -1dB 20Hz to 50kHz

• DAC circuit: 32 bit Hyperstream II
• Total correlated jitter: <12 picoseconds peak to peak
• Linearity: <±0 .1dB down to -96dB
• Frequency response: <2Hz to 90kHz typically, -3dB (192 kHz input sample rate)
• Channel separation: >105dB 20Hz to 20kHz
• Signal to noise: >120dB "A"- wtd
• Total harmonic distortion: <0 .0012% 10Hz to 20kHz

• Power requirement: Mains voltages: 115VAC
• Power consumption: 20 Watts maximum
• Dimensions: 17.3" wide, 3.9" high (including feet), 15" deep (front to back, including terminals)
• Weight: 15.2 lbs.

"The Doors 'Riders on the Storm' was so impressive… the distant rumbles of thunder and rain appearing so real that I thought my sofa was about to get wet."

"The MS6S DAC competes with the best DAC under $3,500 USD."

- HiFi News, January 2018

"There is a sensation of communication from the artists that is hypnotic and compelling… It is so musically integrated: the whole sound is sweet and clear; the treble is completely grain free and extended. The bottom end sounds endless with tactile bass dynamics and the soundstaging is excellent: you get palpable sense of the recording venue that places the performers in a real-time holographic space."

- Greg Borrowman and Tim Sleath, Australian Hi-fi Magazine, April 3, 2018

"Utterly stunning: the M6S DAC is worth every bit of its [price]… Look, I don't care if your ears are tin and you wouldn't know a C-sharp major if it snuggled up close and called you sweetheart, if your equipment is even halfway good you will hear brilliance, immediacy, depth and pure ecstasy you have not realised existed until now."

- Rod Easdown, Sydney Morning Herald, June 22 2018

"Its open, three-dimensional sound fully convinces. The audiophile accolade is appropriate for the M6s DAC!"

- Christian Möller, Germany's Audio.de magazine, November 11, 2017