Musical Fidelity M8x DAC - Digital-Analogue-Converter

The Musical Fidelity M8x DAC is a world-class digital-to-analogue converter that upholds Musical Fidelity’s legacy of audio excellence. Designed for purists, it transforms digital signals into breathtaking analogue sound using class-leading discrete amplification, ultra-low jitter technology, and a fully balanced architecture.

Free from unnecessary displays, wireless interference, or compromises in build quality, the M8x DAC is engineered for those who demand the purest, most dynamic listening experience - whether through speakers or high-end headphones.

Technical Excellence

The M8x DAC features dual ES9038Q2M chips in differential mode, creating a pristine dual-mono design. This enables support for PCM files up to 768kHz, DSD256 via DoP, and native DSD512 via USB. SPDIF inputs are also upgraded, now supporting MQA (up to 384kHz) and DSD (DoP 64), ensuring compatibility with a vast range of digital files.

Advanced Digital Architecture

The M8x DAC utilises an ultra-low-noise regulator optimised for high-resolution audio. A Time Domain Jitter Eliminator ensures superior signal-to-noise ratio and minimal distortion, delivering exceptional transient response. With the proprietary clock design, jitter is reduced to an unrivalled level - below 100 femtoseconds - outperforming many renowned audiophile clock generators.

Other advancements include optional upsampling, reclocking, and an oversampling bypass mode, all powered by a 16-core XMOS and CPLD MAX II Altera processor, ensuring smooth digital filter and MQA processing. Unlike the M6x DAC, MQA processing is now available on both USB and SPDIF inputs.

Upsampling, Reclocking & Digital Filters

The CPLD MAX II processor, paired with the XMOS microcontroller, brings high-quality processing to PCM, DSD, and MQA signals. Users can toggle upsampling and reclocking for PCM, while DSD and MQA use their respective format-specific settings and filters. The M8x DAC also offers eight selectable digital filters for PCM signals, allowing listeners to tailor their sound.

Discrete and Fully Balanced Output

The M8x DAC features a massively improved discrete output stage, immediately recognisable by its extensive PCB space. Unlike the M6x DAC, which used integrated circuits, the M8x DAC is fully discrete and balanced from input to output. This design enhances sound quality, longevity, and sustainability, as discrete components remain serviceable even when chips become obsolete.

High-Power Balanced & Discrete Headphone Amplifier

The M8x DAC’s headphone amplifier rivals many standalone designs. Unlike typical chip-based solutions, it uses a fully discrete, DC-coupled design with transistor-based power amplifiers. It includes a 6.3mm jack for unbalanced headphones and a 4-pin XLR output for balanced headphones. The fully differential balanced amplifier significantly boosts performance, delivering 3900mW into 8 ohms (compared to 2000mW unbalanced) with peak outputs exceeding 10W.

Class A operation is maintained up to full power for headphones with 30-ohm impedance or higher. Even low-impedance headphones (down to 8 ohms) benefit from the amp’s high-current capabilities, ensuring a powerful, distortion-free listening experience. Whether using balanced or unbalanced connections, the M8x DAC delivers a breathtaking soundstage.

Fully Balanced Design

The M8x DAC employs a true fully balanced architecture throughout. Dual ES9038Q2M DAC chips operate in differential mode, feeding both the balanced output stage and headphone amplifier. This design extracts the most musical detail while minimising noise and interference. Unlike pseudo-balanced designs, which sum signals before processing, the M8x DAC keeps the left and right channels fully independent, doubling amplifier sections for superior noise rejection and dynamic range.

Precision Power Supply

The M8x DAC benefits from our Super Silent Power Transformers and a dedicated power filtering PCB to minimise noise. High-quality EMI filters and DC blockers eliminate interference and transformer hum. A low-saturation toroidal transformer, custom-designed for digital and headphone applications, ensures ultra-low electromagnetic radiation and ample headroom to power the sensitive discrete output and headphone stages. The power supply for digital and analogue circuitry is carefully isolated to prevent high-frequency interference.

Technical Specifications

DAC

• DAC Chip: 2x ES9038Q2M (dual mono) with 8x digital filter
• Frequency Response: < -0,1dB at 10Hz -20kHz
• Total Correlated Jitter: <100 femtoseconds peak to peak
• Linearity: <0.1dB down to -130dB
• Channel Separation: <-114dB at 10kHz @ 0dBFS
• SNR: > 100dB „A“-wt. at 1kHz @ 0dBFS
• THD+N: < 0,001% at 1kHz @ 0dBFS
• Output, digital 0dB level: RCA 2V RMS, XLR 4V RMS
• Output impedance: < 100 ohms

Headphone

• Outputs: 6.3mm stereo JACK unbalanced; 4-pin XLR balanced
• Power (balanced output): 3.9W / 8 ohms; 3.2W / 32 ohms; 400mW / 300 ohms
• Output impedance: < 5 ohms
• Frequency response: < ±0,1dB at 20Hz-20kHz
• THD: < 0,005% at 1kHz @ -6dBFS
• SNR: > 96dB „A“-wt. at 1kHz @ 0dBFS

Digital Inputs

• 1x USB input: USB Audio Class 2 requires USB 2.0 or higher on computer
• USB PCM sample rates: up to 768kHz
• USB DSD support: up to DSD256 via DoP and native DSD512
• MQA support: full MQA decoding by hardware
• 3x Optical input: up to 24bit / PCM 192kHz, MQA 384kHz, DoP DSD 64
• 1x Coaxial input: up to 24bit / PCM 192kHz, MQA 384kHz, DoP DSD 64
• 1x AES/EBU input: 1x up to 24bit / PCM 192kHz, MQA 384kHz, DoP DSD 64
• 1x CD I2S (MCLK out 16,9344MHz)

Analogue Outputs

• 1 pair line level RCA fix/var @ 2V RMS at 0dBFS
• 1 pair line level XLR fix/var @ 4V RMS at 0dBFS

Power Requirement

• Mains voltages: 115/230VAC 50/60Hz (factory pre-set); 100VAC 50/60Hz (alternative)
• Consumption: 70 Watts maximum, <0.5 W in standby

General Information

• Trigger In/Out
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 483 x 102 x 381 mm
• Weight: 10,6 kg net / 14 kg in shipping box

Further Information

Musical Fidelity M8x DAC - User Manual (PDF)