Musical Fidelity M1 DAC

[mbovaird]

Anyone have any experience with the Musical Fidelity M1 DAC? I will be connecting it to a Mac and then into my Onkyo 5508 Pre-Amp. My question is, will I still need a separate USB/SPDIF converter?

 

Mike

 

[Viola_Player]

Mike,

 

If you want to use Hi Resolution audio files you will need a separate USB to S/PDIF converter since the MF M1 DAC only goes to 48KHz on the USB input. That's one of the reasons I'm still looking, I'd like to avoid multiple boxes. The Halide Bridge solves the problem nicely, but it costs almost as much as the M1 DAC...

 

Ray

 

[mbovaird]

Ray - I found that out (the hard way) late last night after ordering the M1! Anyway, I ended up going with the April Music Stello U3/USB Link to solve that problem. My only question now is do I use RCA (preferred due to limits of my Preamp) or XLR on my Onkyo 5508 preamp? I likely will try both - but unless I hear a substantial difference - will end up going with RCA out of the M1.

 

You could also consider the HiFace. I did, but felt the Stello U3 had better parts.

 

Mike

 

[jcpom]

Three months ago I mail-ordered MF M1 DAC (my first DAC) and hooked to my MacMini's Toslink connection with satisfactory results. Recently I added MF's V-link and can't really say the results were night/day but pleasing nonetheless. I use M1's RCA analog outs to Onkyo 885 Pre-Pro (which was retired from service in my HT and now used as a switcher between DAC, SACD player and CD Jukeboxes) whichs feeds my 225-wat stereo amp that drives a pair of Paradigm Studio 60s (lovely sound). I use Audirvana to play mostly ripped DVD-As/downloads @ 96/24 (or 88/24). I very much enjoy the results especially vs 44.1/16 but confess to having no experience with other DACs, as there are few people (and no dealers) in Central PA who even know what a DAC does. (BTW, I use M1's XLR outs to feed an old headphone amp when wife complains!)