M2TECH HiFace 2

[rawhide]

Has anyone on the forum heard this new model, maybe a pre-release version?

http://www.m2tech.biz/

 

I bought the original version just 3 weeks ago.... :-(

 

Best regards.

 

[Part-Time Audiophile]

Wonder if it sounds better.

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Interesting. It looks like M2Tech addressed the major issues.

 

[Part-Time Audiophile]

You'll give us the verdict, once they start shipping, right? :-P

 

BTW, Chris -- have you seen the other products that M2Tech is shipping?

 

There's the Evo Clock for upgrading the Evo DAC / hiFace Evo.

 

 

And there's the Evo Supply for delivering battery-powered goodness to those devices, too.

 

Any chance you've arranged a review sample???

 

 

 

[DomieMic65]

I have both evo hiface & dac and I have auditioned the supply too... it really is a very big improvement to the performance of the m2's!

I will buy it as soon as possible...

 

[Schneider]

The drivers for Windows are out on the M2tech website.

 

And, as presumed, the USB chip is an XMOS, so natively supported under Linux and OsX.

 

[Purite Audio]

The 2 is a significant improvement on the original unit,

Keith.

 

[ferenc]

Works very well with a Naim DAC from a Mac and Amarra Hifi for M2Tech.

 

[dennis88]

Could you please explain the improvement?

I use a hiface and it has a latency of about 300ms i think. Do you know if this has Bern adressed in the new version?

 

[John_Foxx_Fan]

Hi.

 

Just thought I would add my experience to this thread.

 

I have just bought and received the HiFace Two today.

 

Previously I was using a V-Link with my Rega Dac.

 

Well first impressions are OMG!! A veil has been lifted! The haze has gone!

 

I put on David Bowie Outside, basically because I have found the mix on some of the tracks to be hazy and confused. Now I've always been unsure if it was the V-Link or the DAC that was the problem. Well straight away from the first track I knew it was the V-Link - the mix came alive!

 

The background voices that were previously muffled were perfectly clear! I could hear new things in the mix - it like I was peeling away all the haze and hash of the V-Link and getting a deeper insight into the mix of each song. The bass was more textured and powerful. Bowie's voice took on a life like quality that, during the track 'A Small Plot of Land', it was like he was in the room! I could hear all the nuances of the guitar solo on 'Strangers When We Meet' that put a big grin on my face. I could hear backing vocals that I had not heard before. The list could go on.

 

I've only managed to listen to four tracks tonight because I started late and I don't play stuff after 9pm because of the neighbours. But first impressions are extremely positive. Its like I've bought a new DAC.

 

I can't wait to have another listen tomorrow!

 

I never bought the original so I can't comment on the differences between the two.

 

On a negative note Pure Music crashed when I chose another song, which it never did with the V-Link. I hope its just a one off.

 

Thanks.

 

[Krisbee]

And, as presumed, the USB chip is an XMOS, so natively supported under Linux and OsX.

 

How do we know it's an XMOS based device? There's no mention of this anywhere on the M2tech site.

 

 

 

[Lowlands]

Any word on M2tech coming up with a similar update of the EVO? (&when...)

If this is native class 2, does that mean it does integer mode on Mac with SL?

That would likely feed my upgrade bug....

 

Thx,

Hans

 

[eatapc]

JFF, can I ask where you bought it? I still can't find it for sale in the U.S. Would love to upgrade from my original hiFace. Thanks.

 

[John_Foxx_Fan]

Hi.

 

I bought it from Purite Audio over here in the UK.

 

www.puriteaudio.co.uk

 

Email and have a word with Keith. He usually answers within 10 minutes. Top bloke.

 

I think he is the main dealer for m2tech stuff over here in the UK.

 

 

 

[Schneider]

Extracts:

 

!!Soundcards recognised by ALSA

!!-----------------------------

0 [M20 ]: USB-Audio - M2Tech USB Audio 2.0

M2Tech M2Tech USB Audio 2.0 at usb-0000:00:1a.7-3, high speed

 

!!Loaded sound module options

!!--------------------------

 

!!Module: snd_usb_audio

async_unlink : Y

device_setup : 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0

enable : Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y

id : (null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null)

ignore_ctl_error : N

index : -2,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1

nrpacks : 8

pid : -1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1

vid : -1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1

 

 

!!USB Mixer information

!!---------------------------

--startcollapse--

 

USB Mixer: usb_id=0x249c930b, ctrlif=0, ctlerr=0

Card: M2Tech M2Tech USB Audio 2.0 at usb-0000:00:1a.7-3, high speed

Unit: 10

Control: name="M2Tech Clock Selector Playback Volume", index=1

Info: id=10, control=2, cmask=0x0, channels=1, type="S16"

Volume: min=-32512, max=0, dBmin=-12700, dBmax=0

Unit: 10

Control: name="M2Tech Clock Selector Playback Volume", index=0

Info: id=10, control=2, cmask=0x3, channels=2, type="S16"

Volume: min=-32512, max=0, dBmin=-12700, dBmax=0

Unit: 10

Control: name="M2Tech Clock Selector Playback Switch", index=1

Info: id=10, control=1, cmask=0x0, channels=1, type="INV_BOOLEAN"

Volume: min=0, max=1, dBmin=0, dBmax=0

Unit: 10

Control: name="M2Tech Clock Selector Playback Switch", index=0

Info: id=10, control=1, cmask=0x3, channels=2, type="INV_BOOLEAN"

Volume: min=0, max=1, dBmin=0, dBmax=0

--endcollapse--

 

!!-------Mixer controls for card 0 [M20]

 

Card hw:0 'M20'/'M2Tech M2Tech USB Audio 2.0 at usb-0000:00:1a.7-3, high speed'

Mixer name : 'USB Mixer'

Components : 'USB249c:930b'

Controls : 4

Simple ctrls : 2

Simple mixer control 'M2Tech Clock Selector',0

Capabilities: pvolume pswitch penum

Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right

Limits: Playback 0 - 127

Mono:

Front Left: Playback 127 [100%] [0.00dB] [off]

Front Right: Playback 127 [100%] [0.00dB] [off]

Simple mixer control 'M2Tech Clock Selector',1

Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined penum

Playback channels: Mono

Limits: Playback 0 - 127

Mono: Playback 127 [100%] [0.00dB] [off]

 

So for an MPD installation, the alsa section should be:

 

audio_output {

type "alsa"

name "M2tech Hiface Two"

auto_resample "no" # important

device "hw:0,0"

# format "44100:16:2" # important: line to be commented

mixer_type "hardware"

mixer_device "hw:0"

mixer_control "M2Tech Clock Selector"

mixer_index "1"

}

 

[roboss38]

I just ordered one today from Tweek Geek. Good people to talk with. Here's their link.

 

http://www.tweekgeek.com/

[eatapc]

Ordered from TweekGeek 10 days ago. It just arrived today -- drop shipped directly from TEAC America. Won't get a chance to listen until this weekend, but I'll post a follow up.

[Musiq]

Hello,

 

I did a lot of tests and have written an article a few days ago about the hiface release 2.

 

if you would like, feel free to read it: http://musiq-audiophile.blogspot.com/2012/04/m2tech-hiface-two-english-version.html

 

This is a very interesting upgrade compared to the first version, I also compared it to EVO box and Stello. If you wish to have more information on my tests, just ask

 

Regards

Musiq

[pawel8]

Hello,

 

I did a lot of tests and have written an article a few days ago about the hiface release 2.

 

if you would like, feel free to read it: http://musiq-audiophile.blogspot.com/2012/04/m2tech-hiface-two-english-version.html

 

This is a very interesting upgrade compared to the first version, I also compared it to EVO box and Stello. If you wish to have more information on my tests, just ask

 

Regards

Musiq

Hi

 

I would like to know how it compares to Stello U3

 

Thanks

Paul

[jaynyc]

How does the HiFace 2 compare to the Halide Bridge?

[Elberoth]

Yesterday, during the Hi-End show in Munich, I have talked to Mario from M2Tech. Apparently, the EVO upgrade to still at least one year away, since that would require a complete unit redesign.

 

The HiFace 2 is based on XMOS chip.

[Elberoth]

You'll give us the verdict, once they start shipping, right? :-P

 

BTW, Chris -- have you seen the other products that M2Tech is shipping?

 

There's the Evo Clock for upgrading the Evo DAC / hiFace Evo.

 

 

And there's the Evo Supply for delivering battery-powered goodness to those devices, too.

 

I have both units at home right now (Evo PSU and Evo Clock). Combined, they bring tremendous difference to the standard EVO.

[Musiq]

Hi

 

I would like to know how it compares to Stello U3

 

Thanks

Paul

 

Hi Paul,

 

The M2Tech hiface2 does not perform as well as Stello U3. Due to XMOS usage, music sounds very close with each of the transports.

 

Clarity, details and firm bass are all present. With Stello U3, the global stage is better defined, tones are also more natural such as it is with EVO (especially on battery). Even if hiface2 is a very well positionned for such a price, Stello U3 outperforms it on all registers in the overall.

[Elberoth]

The M2Tech hiface2 does not perform as well as Stello U3.

 

Stello U3 ($499) should be compared to the M2Tech HiFace Evo ($475), not the entry level HiFace 2 ($189).

[pawel8]

Hi Paul,

 

The M2Tech hiface2 does not perform as well as Stello U3. Due to XMOS usage, music sounds very close with each of the transports.

 

Clarity, details and firm bass are all present. With Stello U3, the global stage is better defined, tones are also more natural such as it is with EVO (especially on battery). Even if hiface2 is a very well positionned for such a price, Stello U3 outperforms it on all registers in the overall.

 

Thank you very much for the information

I was trying to figure out the best possible interface powered by USB only(no more outlets in my wire clogged system).

I have Berkeley Alpha Series 2

There are few options like Stello u3,M2tech ,,V-link 192,Audiophileo and Soulution USB 590.