{"product_id":"musical-fidelity-m8x-32-bit-dual-mono-dac","title":"Musical Fidelity M8x 32-Bit Dual Mono DAC","description":"\u003ch1\u003eMusical Fidelity M8x DAC\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA high-end dual-mono DAC with dual ES9038Q2M conversion, 768 kHz PCM, DSD512, hardware MQA decoding, fully balanced discrete analog output stage, and balanced headphone amplifier\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Musical Fidelity M8x DAC is a high-end digital-to-analog converter built around a dual-mono, dual-differential DAC architecture, a fully balanced discrete analog output stage, and a powerful discrete headphone amplifier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt its core are two ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chips operated in dual-mono mode, supported by 16-core XMOS processing and a CPLD MAX II Altera processor. USB input supports PCM files up to 768 kHz, DSD256 via DoP, and native DSD512, while the SPDIF inputs support PCM up to 24-bit\/192 kHz, MQA up to 384 kHz, and DoP DSD64.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M8x DAC includes switchable upsampling, switchable reclocking, eight selectable digital filters for PCM, and an oversampling bypass mode. For system integration, it offers USB, optical, coaxial, AES\/EBU, and I2S digital inputs, plus fixed\/variable RCA and balanced XLR analog outputs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFully Balanced, Fully Discrete Output Stage\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M8x DAC uses a fully balanced discrete analog output stage instead of an op-amp-based circuit. The dual-mono DAC section feeds fully differential balanced output and headphone amplifier stages, preserving the balanced signal path from conversion through output.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHigh-Power Headphone Amplifier\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe built-in headphone amplifier is also fully balanced and discrete, with a 6.3 mm output for unbalanced headphones and a 4-pin XLR output for balanced headphones. It is designed to drive demanding headphones down to 8 ohms, with up to 3.9 W from the balanced output into 8 ohms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAdvanced Digital Processing\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSwitchable upsampling and reclocking let the M8x DAC tailor its digital processing to the source. In oversampling bypass mode, selected through filter 8, the DAC bypasses the ESS chip’s oversampling FIR filter for ultra-high-resolution material, allowing the highest sample rates to enter the DAC block directly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSuper Silent Power Transformer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M8x DAC uses Musical Fidelity’s Super Silent Power Transformer design with separate discrete power filtering, DC blocking, and isolated power-supply sections for digital and analog circuitry. The power supply is designed to keep noise and interference away from the sensitive DAC, output, and headphone amplifier stages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRigid Mechanical Construction\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M8x DAC uses a heavy aluminum chassis with front, side, and top panels milled from extruded aluminum profiles. The design omits a large display, reducing a potential source of electromagnetic interference while preserving the clean, purposeful look of the component.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual ES9038Q2M DAC chips in dual-mono configuration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e32-bit HyperStream II DAC circuit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFully balanced discrete analog output stage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFully balanced discrete headphone amplifier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e6.3 mm unbalanced and 4-pin XLR balanced headphone outputs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSB input supports PCM up to 768 kHz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSB input supports DSD256 via DoP and native DSD512\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSPDIF inputs support PCM up to 24-bit\/192 kHz, MQA up to 384 kHz, and DoP DSD64\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull hardware MQA decoding for USB and SPDIF inputs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e16-core XMOS and CPLD MAX II Altera processors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSwitchable upsampling and reclocking\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEight selectable digital filters for PCM\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOversampling bypass mode\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSB, optical, coaxial, AES\/EBU, and I2S digital inputs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFixed\/variable RCA and balanced XLR analog outputs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrigger input and output\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuper Silent Power Transformer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscrete input power filtering and DC blocking circuitry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAluminum front, side, and top panels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDAC\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDAC Chip:\u003c\/b\u003e 2 × ES9038Q2M, dual mono, with 8 digital filters\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrequency Response:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026lt;-0.1 dB at 10 Hz–20 kHz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal Correlated Jitter:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026lt;100 femtoseconds peak to peak\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLinearity:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026lt;0.1 dB down to -130 dB\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChannel Separation:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026lt;-114 dB at 10 kHz @ 0 dBFS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSignal-to-Noise Ratio:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026gt;100 dB, A-weighted, at 1 kHz @ 0 dBFS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHD+N:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026lt;0.001% at 1 kHz @ 0 dBFS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOutput Voltage (RCA, XLR):\u003c\/b\u003e 2 V RMS, 4 V RMS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOutput Impedance:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026lt;100 ohms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHeadphone Amplifier\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOutputs:\u003c\/b\u003e 6.3 mm stereo jack unbalanced, 4-pin XLR balanced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePower (Balanced Output, 8 Ohms):\u003c\/b\u003e 3.9 W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePower (Balanced Output, 32 Ohms):\u003c\/b\u003e 3.2 W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePower (Balanced Output, 300 Ohms):\u003c\/b\u003e 400 mW\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOutput Impedance:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026lt;5 ohms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrequency Response:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026lt;±0.1 dB at 20 Hz–20 kHz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHD:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026lt;0.005% at 1 kHz @ -6 dBFS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSignal-to-Noise Ratio:\u003c\/b\u003e \u0026gt;96 dB, A-weighted, at 1 kHz @ 0 dBFS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDigital Inputs\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eUSB Input:\u003c\/b\u003e USB Audio Class 2, requires USB 2.0 or higher on computer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eUSB PCM Sample Rates:\u003c\/b\u003e up to 768 kHz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eUSB DSD Support:\u003c\/b\u003e up to DSD256 via DoP and native DSD512\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMQA Support:\u003c\/b\u003e full MQA decoding by hardware\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOptical Inputs:\u003c\/b\u003e 3, up to 24-bit\/192 kHz PCM, MQA 384 kHz, DoP DSD64\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCoaxial Input:\u003c\/b\u003e 1, up to 24-bit\/192 kHz PCM, MQA 384 kHz, DoP DSD64\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAES\/EBU Input:\u003c\/b\u003e 1, up to 24-bit\/192 kHz PCM, MQA 384 kHz, DoP DSD64\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCD I2S Input:\u003c\/b\u003e 1, MCLK out 16.9344 MHz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAnalog Outputs\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRCA Output:\u003c\/b\u003e 1 pair line level, fixed\/variable, 2 V RMS at 0 dBFS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eXLR Output:\u003c\/b\u003e 1 pair line level, fixed\/variable, 4 V RMS at 0 dBFS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eGeneral\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrigger:\u003c\/b\u003e input and output\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMains Voltages:\u003c\/b\u003e 115\/230 V AC 50\/60 Hz factory preset; 100 V AC 50\/60 Hz alternative\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePower Consumption (Max, Standby):\u003c\/b\u003e 70 W, \u0026lt;0.5 W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions (WHD):\u003c\/b\u003e 19\" × 4\" × 15\" (483 mm × 102 mm × 381 mm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 23.4 lb. (10.6 kg)\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Musical Fidelity","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":53676261179576,"sku":"M8XDAC-BLK","price":4599.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Silver","offer_id":53676261212344,"sku":"M8XDAC-SIL","price":4599.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1564\/1247\/files\/M8x-DAC-Black-front.jpg?v=1783451059","url":"https:\/\/upscaleaudio.com\/products\/musical-fidelity-m8x-32-bit-dual-mono-dac","provider":"Upscale Audio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}