Musical Fidelity M3x – DAC D/A Converter

Our M3x DAC is our new entry in affordable high-end DACs. With its technical prowess, superb technical performance, careful PCB design in Musical Fidelity tradition, meticulous power supply layout, and excellent build quality, the new M3x DAC offers a truly outstanding modern high-end DAC design.

Super Silent Power Transformer

The M3x DAC displays our continued development of our Super Silent Power Transformers. Industrial grade power sockets with EMI filter and DC blocker stop interferences and eliminate transformer hum. The toroidal transformer with low core saturation is ideal for audio applications and especially perfect for digital audio due to its extremely low electromagnetic radiation.

Correct PCB Design & Layout

Digital to analogue converters, compared to analogue amplifiers, present their own design challanges. They work in different domains, have their own requirements and need to be treated as such. Power requirements are unique and solutions designed for amplifiers will not show similar results when paired with digital circuitry.

We have always held circuit board design and layout up to the highest of standards at Musical Fidelity. We are not believers of flashy board design just for the sake of looks. The design & layout need to be custom-tailored to each application, measure well AND sound as envisioned. Only then have we done our job. At this point, we have given the listener a palpable sense of the recording venue that places the performers in a real-time holographic space in their own homes.

M3x DAC In Brief

• PCM1795 DAC with SRC4392 Upsampling Chip
• 2 digital PCM filters & 2 analogue DSD filters
• PCM inputs upsampled to 192kHz
• USB: up to 32bit/192kHz
• USB: DSD 256 (stereo DoP and native)
• SPDIF: up to 24bit/192kHHz
• 1x USB, 2x coaxial, 2x optical inputs
• 1x RCA, 1x balanced XLR output
• Affordable entry into high-end DACs
• Very low noise
• Extremely low distortion
• Outstanding linearity
• Outstanding channel separation
• Super Silent Power Transformer
• Balanced and RCA output
• Heavy aluminium frontplate with steel chassis
• Minimal electromagnetic interference from power supply to DAC circuitry
• Roon Tested (*pending)
• Made in the EU
• We have to conclude that the M3x DAC has a lot of sonic charm and paints in rich, natural colors.

M3x DAC – Specifications

DAC

• DAC Chip: PCM1795
  Sample rate converter: SRC4392
  Total correlated jitter: < 48 picoseconds peak to peak
  Linearity: < 0,2dB down to -100dB
  Frequency response: -0,2dB at 20Hz, 0,1dB at 20kHz; 1,5dB at 70kHz
  Channel separation: < -115dB 10kHz @ 0dBFS
  Signal to noise: >107dB “A”- wtd 1kHz @ 0dBFS
  Total harmonic distortion: < 0,005% at 1kHz @ 0dBFS

Digital Inputs

• 2x Coax, up to 24bit 192kHz (stereo PCM)
• 2x Optical, up to 24bit 192kHz (stereo PCM)
• 1x USB Audio Class 2.0, ‘USB B’; up to 32 bit 192kHz (stereo PCM), DSD 256 (stereo DoP and native)

Analogue Outputs

• 1 pair line level RCA fix/var @ 2V RMS at 0dBFS
• 1 pair line level XLR fix/var @ 4V RMS at 0dBFS
• Output impedance: < 50 ohms

General Information

• Dimensions (WxHxD): 440 x 100 x 363mm
• Main voltages: 230V/115V Internally set or 100V optional
• Max. Consumption: 15W, <0.5W in standby
• Weight: 6.8kg