Musical Fidelity M1 DAC - Review by WHF

[WishTree]

I just read this review online. Very good review from a particular perspective. You get to know the features, the character of the sound and concludes as one of the best sounding DACs below 500 Pounds.

If I am in the market to decide between let us say Rega DAC, M1 DAC, Audiolab M-DAC or some other DAC in this price range and unable to do a back to back comparision then I am not sure how can I use this review to make the decision (which I would guess mostly be the case). So when it come to pitching agaist the other DACs, this review seems to be at best 'Politically correct'.

DO you feel so?

Is there a DAC shoot out around or in pipeline from WHF?

Please do not take this on a wrong note, as I have benefitted alot in the past and still from WHF reviews but some times a little more is needed. (Ex - Best DAC below 1000 pounds along with than best DAC below 300 Pounds, best DAC between 300 - 500 Pounds and best DAC between 600 - 800 Pounds. I can imagine the reason for the categories. YES, I really do not want to infer but want a conclusive answer from WHF for a Best DAC below 1000 pounds )

 

[plastic penguin]

Just add my tuppence worth.

from personal experience it isn't about the best sub-£1000 DAC but which DAC has the best synergy with your kit.

For example: WHFI would probably say the best sub-£1000 CDP is the new Cyrus. And would it be better than my ageing Arcam? the simple answer is probably yes. Then you have to pose the question: Will it synergise as well as my current source? Only a dem will tell you. I'd rather have the Arcam over the Cyrus, and not because the Arcam is better, but it sonically dovetails better than a Cyrus on my kit.

The simple answer is have a listen and decide for yourself.

 

[Andy Clough]

We haven't done a full-blown Group Test recently of different DACs within a specific price range, but it's something we may well do in the future. We reserve judgement on picking the best product at £500, £1000 or whatever until those Group Tests have been done. The price bands may change deending on how the market develops.

And of course our annual Awards in October highlight a huge range of products at a wide range of price bands.

 

[WishTree]

Hi PP,

I totally agree with you on this. And synergy is crucial as well as home listening.

But if we use this logic, then WHF Best Buy for individual components is almost void.

My gripe is that WHF has divided the DAC category too much (I can imagine why) but for some one who is looking to spend up 1000 Pounds (as an example) and want to know the best DAC then this might be helpful.

I definetly believe that more price does not always equate to better performace and would be really keen to see a sub 500 Pound DAC beating up a 1000 Pound DAC so it will offer one more proof that more money does not mean better performance

 

[WishTree]

We haven't done a full-blown Group Test recently of different DACs within a specific price range, but it's something we may well do in the future. We reserve judgement on picking the best product at £500, £1000 or whatever until those Group Tests have been done.

And of course our annual Awards in October highlight a huge range of products at a wide range of price bands.

Thanks Andy that is good to know. If any requests are possible, please use a wider price range for the products especially in DACs (like below 1K, between 1K - 2K and say above 3K pounds) as I believe most of us are lost, at times, with the question "what if I had spend that extra 200 Pounds or 15% ?"

 

[shafesk]

We haven't done a full-blown Group Test recently of different DACs within a specific price range, but it's something we may well do in the future. We reserve judgement on picking the best product at £500, £1000 or whatever until those Group Tests have been done.

And of course our annual Awards in October highlight a huge range of products at a wide range of price bands.

Thanks Andy that is good to know. If any requests are possible, please use a wider price range for the products especially in DACs (like below 1K, between 1K - 2K and say above 3K pounds) as I believe most of us are lost, at times, with the question "what if I had spend that extra 200 Pounds or 15% ?"

Think I'm on the same page as WishTree here. It should be quite impossible to say that this dac is the best under 500 quid. The main reasons being system matching, it makes too much of a difference to conclude that a particular product is class leading. If you want to use reviews to buy a product then you should pay careful consideration to what WHF says in the review, as in if you want good timing, neutrality or excessive detail. I think at this point that is what most of us need to say "yeah, that might sound very good in my system". Hell, thats how I've picked my system and it sounds bloody amazing for the money. Hope this helps,

Shafin

 

[shafesk]

I also think that WHF are doing a good job in the new section where they take one product and build a system around it. I think that is more helpful and bare with me here "more correct" than saying this is the best dac in this price range. Picking class leaders is a job I'm glad I don't have :dance:

 

[the_dude2]

I'm curious if they are going to be reviewing the new Beresford DAC, the Bushmaster. From what i have been reading about it, it sounds very good indeed, and i think its only about £150. Could be a massive bargain!!

 

[Andy Clough]

Update: I've just been told we have a Group Test of £300-£500 DACs planned for the September issue of the magazine, on sale July 27th. Musical Fidelity M1 DAC vs its competitors.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi PP,

I totally agree with you on this. And synergy is crucial as well as home listening.

But if we use this logic, then WHF Best Buy for individual components is almost void.

My gripe is that WHF has divided the DAC category too much (I can imagine why) but for some one who is looking to spend up 1000 Pounds (as an example) and want to know the best DAC then this might be helpful.

I definetly believe that more price does not always equate to better performace and would be really keen to see a sub 500 Pound DAC beating up a 1000 Pound DAC so it will offer one more proof that more money does not mean better performance

It isn't void. You have to remember that WHFI test all their stuff in a specialised environment, and should be used as a guide. I'm a big supporter of WHFI and their review policies, but unless your (or my) room mirrors their acoustics and/or we have access to their equipment, then it should only be used as nothing more than a reference.

As regards to many catagories then I suppose you can't please everyone all the time.

As I've found out a few days ago - when home testing the Rega Apollo - it just didn't hang together as well as the Arcam. Now back in 2007 it de-throned the Cyrus CD6S, a machine WHFI recommended so highly... so what does this tell you about the Cyrus?

Sorry I'm using this one example as it's still fresh to me...

As always the only way to determine whether the MF DAC is possibly the best sub-£500 DAC is to test it against the Arcam rDac and Rega Dac and decide from there.

 

[richardw42]

Horses for courses.

I went from a rdac (which I couldn't get on with) to the MF, and felt that it was a big improvement.

But I'll put that down to my hearing and taste in music. Over the past 20 years I've tried and tried and tried again with Arcam stuff, but just don't get it. I am in a minority with that.

 

[nopiano]

I completely understand where you are coming from, WT, and thought the same when I read the review earlier (I even looked for comments on that article but there was none).

In particular, I also wondered why no mention of the Rega, which would be a pretty obvious rival, especialy at that price point. However, I agree with PP that matching with your system (and a longer-term view arising via a Group Test) is a vital factor. And above all, I'd never buy a DAC without trying it at home, so wouldn't care too much what any magazine said as long as the design was clearly not suspect in some way (and from past experience with MF products that would be very unlikely).

Lastly, it doesn't need much reading between the lines to detect the 'flavour' of this DAC, and the headline writer clearly wanted to (and succeeded in) grabbing our attention!

 

[Andy Clough]

Well yes, we were trying to get your attention

I'd just re-iterate two points: a Group Test is being planned, and as we've always said, use the reviews on the website or in the magazine as a guide, but there's nothing to beat listening to a product with your own ears.

 

[bigblue235]

As I've found out a few days ago - when home testing the Rega Apollo - it just didn't hang together as well as the Arcam. Now back in 2007 it de-throned the Cyrus CD6S, a machine WHFI recommended so highly... so what does this tell you about the Cyrus?

Sorry I'm using this one example as it's still fresh to me...

That's fair enough, but I don't know if it says that much about the Cyrus or even the Rega, it maybe says more about your set-up and tastes?

All us punters can do is give our own, relatively unqualified, opinion. I'd imagine the guys at the mag have to make these sort of "best up to £xxx" comments as they must get asked those sort of questions constantly

 

[CnoEvil]

I completely understand where you are coming from, WT, and thought the same when I read the review earlier (I even looked for comments on that article but there was none).

In particular, I also wondered why no mention of the Rega, which would be a pretty obvious rival, especialy at that price point. However, I agree with PP that matching with your system (and a longer-term view arising via a Group Test) is a vital factor. And above all, I'd never buy a DAC without trying it at home, so wouldn't care too much what any magazine said as long as the design was clearly not suspect in some way (and from past experience with MF products that would be very unlikely).

Lastly, it doesn't need much reading between the lines to detect the 'flavour' of this DAC, and the headline writer clearly wanted to (and succeeded in) grabbing our attention!

Good to see you back making an appearance.

 

[nopiano]

Hi Cno,

Thank you, my friend. Good to read you again too. (I've been busy with work, hence relative 'radio silence').

 

[Cypher]

I use a V-dac II....................how much better is the M1 ?

 

[Anonymous]

I believe that the WHF is a good reference point for choosing kit. It is, however, the start point, as before buying any kit you should do the research, there's loads of info out there.

Once you've narrowed down your choice, be it cost, SQ or any other attributable factor them try and get a listen.

DACs are pretty good value 2nd hand too, having no 'moving' parts to wear out and can be found ex demo, in classifieds or auction sites.

I managed to get a used PSAudio Dlink at less than half the retail, and at that money, if it doesn't gel ( in my case it was exactly what I was looking for in SQ ), you can sell on at little loss.

 

[Anonymous]

I believe that the WHF is a good reference point for choosing kit. It is, however, the start point, as before buying any kit you should do the research, there's loads of info out there.

Once you've narrowed down your choice, be it cost, SQ or any other attributable factor them try and get a listen.

DACs are pretty good value 2nd hand too, having no 'moving' parts to wear out and can be found ex demo, in classifieds or auction sites.

I managed to get a used PSAudio Dlink at less than half the retail, and at that money, if it doesn't gel ( in my case it was exactly what I was looking for in SQ ), you can sell on at little loss.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry about the double post post. Don't know how that happened happened!

 

[El Hefe]

Although its good to see MF being featured again in WHF after for God knows how long....to me the review came out more than a year late. The M1 have been around since 2010 and MF fans have to keep on reading the rave reviews of rDAC, Rega and Audiolab DAC since then. The details of the review is spot on though as thats how I would describe the unit as well.

It will be great to read the review of the M1 vs other opponents article.

 

[rainsoothe]

hi. I bought an M1 DAC about two weeks ago and i think it sounds great, at least for the money. I'm not good at describing how it sounds, but i find it has a nice smooth and detailed sound. I auditioned it at the dealer out of the box along a burnt in Rega DAC and a VDAC II. It carries the same sound signature as the VDAC, but it sounds quite noticeably better - bigger and more in control. The Rega was not my cup of tea, it was a bit too fuzzy for my liking (maybe it's what that analogue sound signature everyone is talking about, but i thought the instruments didn't have enough air around them). Note that the VDAC had its stock PSU, and not an upgraded one, and I understand that makes a difference. But the dealer said that the M1 sounds quite better then the VDAC II, and I agree.

@ Cypher - depending on your money, from what I understand from reviews, you can get pretty close to the M1 if you add the VDAC PSU to your VDAC II (or any upgraded PSU, there are other less expensive ones i think). But the M1 sounds quite better then the stock VDAC II.

Also, all or most M1 DAC reviews I found say that trebble might sound thin if you're not careful with system matching, and I agree. I run mine via USB (because, as I understand, the USB on M1 takes the edge off the trebles a bit) through a Rotel RA 1520 and B&W 602 S3 (to be upgraded to XTZ 99.26 mk II) and i think it sounds great - my soundstage opened up hugely, there is detail and smoothness, and the treble doesn't sound over-emphasised to me. It is a nice and musical DAC.

 

[WishTree]

I run mine via USB (because, as I understand, the USB on M1 takes the edge off the trebles a bit) through a Rotel RA 1520 and B&W 602 S3 (to be upgraded to XTZ 99.26 mk II) and i think it sounds great - my soundstage opened up hugely, there is detail and smoothness, and the treble doesn't sound over-emphasised to me. It is a nice and musical DAC.

I used to have a M1 DAC few year back when it came in the market. I found it to be more clinical than Audiolab M-DAC and ofcourse treble was bothersome. However in your case 602S3 speakers do amazing wonders to modern electronics in the most positive way. IMO, I was mentioning this before too, most speakers & electronics tend to sound more dynamic at the price of overblowing higher frequency especilly at low to mid price range (This include B&W CM series). However the older 60X S3 was never tuned that way and offers a great match to many of the most modern electronics.

I still think I should have retained my pair of 602S3 instead of selling them away.

 

[Cypher]

Thanks Rainsoothe.

The V-dac II sounds so good already..................maybe I'll check out the M1 dac in the future but for now I'm happy with the V-dac II.

 

[Anonymous]

The problem with doing group tests based on price bands is that anything under that band but that is equal or superior to the ones inside it can be easily overlooked. Take my own new DAC for instance. I have had customers asking for one to try out against more expensive DACs in that are in the £400 to £700 price band. Next thing I knew they had their more expensive DAC on eBay or on forums and kept mine instead. This has been happening in the last two weeks. A group test wouldn't flag up up the existence of a new British designed giant killer though, even if feedback and discussions on many forums indicated otherwise.