Musical Fidelity M8x DAC  
The M8x DAC is a high-end DAC with upsampling,
balanced discrete output stage & headphone amplifier
 
The M8x DAC proudly continues Musical Fidelity‘s legacy of pioneering world-class DAC technology. Back in the early 90s, Musical Fidelity revolutionized audio performance by being one of the first to develop separate DACs to enhance CD player sound quality.
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The M8x DAC In Brief
 
DAC Circuit: 32 bit Hyperstream II
DAC Chip: 2x ES9038Q2M (dual differential)
Discrete balanced output stage
High-power balanced & discrete headphone amp
Balanced XLR headphone output
Drives power hungry and low impedance headphones down to 8 ohms with ease
16-core XMOS and CPLD MAX II Altera processors
Switchable Advanced Reclocking
Switchable Upsampling
Selectable Digital Filters
Oversampling Bypass
Full Hardware MQA Decoding for USB and SPDIF inputs
Roon Tested
Super Silent Power Transformer
Discrete input power filtering and DC blocking circuitry
1x Asynchronous USB: up to 768kHz
USB: DSD 256 (stereo DoP), DSD512 (stereo native)
1x coaxial, 3x optical SPDIF; 1x AES/EBU: up to 24bit/192kHz
1x I2S for new Musical Fidelity CD Players
1x RCA, 1x balanced XLR outputs: variable/fixed switchable
Trigger In/Out
Uncompromisingly rigid mechanical construction
Front/side/top panels from extruded aluminium profile
No display enables excellent shielding against outer electromagnetic fields and timeless looks
Full aluminium buttons and control wheels
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In today’s digital audio landscape, Musical Fidelity stands out by transforming digital signals into breathtaking analog sound, thanks to decades of hardware expertise. The M8x DAC embodies this commitment, featuring:
Class A discrete analog amplification for pure, detailed sound
No displays, WiFi, or Bluetooth to eliminate electromagnetic interference and jitter
Toroidal transformers and robust mechanical construction for clean power and durability
 
Superlative Headphone Amplifier The M8x DAC includes a high-end, ultra-powerful headphone amplifier, capable of driving even the most demanding headphones with ease. Whether using speakers or headphones, users experience Musical Fidelity’s signature sound: soft yet powerful, clear, and effortlessly musical.
 
Technical Excellence The M8x DAC utilizes 2x ES9038Q2M DAC chips in dual differential mode, supporting up to 768 kHz PCM and DSD512 via USB, and MQA/DSD via SPDIF. Its digital architecture features a low-noise regulator, a Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, and proprietary clock design, achieving jitter rates below 100 femtoseconds. The 16-core XMOS and CPLD MAX II Altera processors ensure seamless handling of PCM, DSD, and MQA, with optional upsampling, reclocking, and eight selectable digital filters.
 
Oversampling Bypass For ultra-high-res audio, the oversampling bypass mode disables FIR filters, allowing source data to be upsampled to 352.8kHz or 384kHz, or processed directly at 705.6k/768kHz. This reduces on-chip noise and improves signal clarity.
 
Discrete and Fully Balanced Output The M8x DAC features a fully discrete and balanced output stage, ensuring superior sound, longevity, and serviceability. This design doubles the amplifier sections, offering the best signal-to-noise ratio and noise suppression.
 
Advantages of Discrete Circuits Discrete circuits, using individual components rather than integrated chips, deliver a more natural, dynamic, and vivid sound—hallmarks of Musical Fidelity’s audio philosophy. The M8x DAC’s headphone amplifier, fully discrete and DC-coupled, provides up to 3900 mW into 8 ohms, handling both low and high-impedance headphones with ease.
 
Fully Balanced Design The M8x DAC’s fully balanced circuitry processes both positive and negative signals independently, doubling the amplifier sections and maximizing noise suppression. This results in exceptional audio clarity and power.
 
Discrete Power and Build Quality The M8x DAC features a Super Silent Power Transformer, discrete power filtering, and a rigid aluminum chassis that acts as a Faraday cage, shielding sensitive internals from interference. The absence of a display further enhances electromagnetic immunity, focusing resources solely on audio performance.