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Villy
68
Mar 12, 2016
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Last Saturday I received my M8 from the last drop, it was burning since then almost non-stop and today I put thru some (more or less) critical listening. This is my impression for those interested in how the DAC performs. It is my personal opinion of course. I also bought SMSL's linear power supply, and I'll add notes for that too.
M8 impressed me at right out the box, spent about 5 mins or so but knowing there is more to come after burning I thought it was very good. Especially considering at its size, common, this thing is really tiny looking at it next to my Matrix X-Sabre. Then I let it burn undisturbed for some 5 days or so.
I won' t bore you with highs, lows and mids. The bottom line is: M8 rocks any way I slice it. Comparing it to X-Sabre (costing about 9 times more) isn't fair - even when M8 is hooked to the LPS, the Matrix DAC has notably larger soundstage, deeper lows and more details. But that isn't a fair fight, is it? Next I compared it to three other DACs I happen to have in my possession - iFI Nano iDSD, Korg's DAC-100M and Grace m9xx. M8 sounds better than the first two, and trails m9xx by just a hair, really. Now, this is with SMSL's LPS. I did a number of A-B listens with/without the power supply, and came to the conclusion that the LPS is worth buying - increases the overall soundstage, adds some detail and refines lows (add some fine texture). Now, are the improvements LPS is adding dramatic? - No, they are not. Do they jsutify getting the LPS? - For me yes. The LPS is not expensive (though at $100 is 2/3 or M8's price), plus it has a second adjustable output (5, 9 and 12v) to supply another device and I used that to power a small balanced amp I have.
The comparisons to the above mentioned DACs - m9xx is better yes, but is the difference it as notable as with the X-Sabre? No, still it is notable. m9xx is really exceptional value in my opinion, all around - phenomenal design and execution, rich sound albeit somewhat warm (and that is good in my book, not tiring), and truly portable (I use it on the road and power it with a phone battery bank). But M8 is so close, one must do A-B comparison, and a close one at that, to tell them appart. As for the iFI and Korg - I thought M8 was more refined than either, which was a surprise to me especially for the iFI DAC as I hold it in high regard (another diminutive champion). The iFi still holds one huge advantage over M8 though - it's has an integrated battery that will last for about 7-9 hour session, and has an integrated amp. And so does the Korg, the Korg has no battery but is also a true portable device with the size of a flask, it runs off USB and can be taken anywhere in your pocket so it has it's niche too (and I run it off battery bank too).
Back to M8 - in short, M8 is a keeper in my book, a real keeper. If you don't have a DAC or have an old one (DSD-less, oh yes, I tested M8 with DSD64 and DSD128 - all is good) - then get it, this thing is dirt cheap for what it delivers. Excellent value, excellent! Don't judge it by it's size, it delivers the goods just as many big boys. I would recommend getting the LPS too, your millage may vary of course depending on the house/apartment wiring and what else is on line/proximity, but if you can afford the linear power supply, I recommend getting it.
Mar 12, 2016
Leffe
3
Mar 14, 2016
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VillyThanks for your impression. Unless you do a proper side by side test with two setups of one M8 with stock power supply and the other connected to LPS, placebo might come in to effect. LPS effect is very mixed, some saying no difference at all, some saying they do. I think it heavily depends on how resolving your headphones/IEMs are as well as your amplifier. Of course conditions are different for everyone, but happy to know that LPS makes a difference for you. Might try one in the future though.
Mar 14, 2016
Villy
68
Mar 14, 2016
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LeffeI did not do side-by-side, have only one set :\ but did a number of quick-switching back and forth. And yes, how resolving the rest of the equipment is makes a difference. I used Music Fidelity's v90-BHA amp (it is a tiny balanced amp, the most affordable fully balanced amp with XLR inputs, though I used naturally the RCAs) and Massdrop/AKG collaboration K7XX. Keep in mind that I rewired the headphones and made them balanced, and must also mention that I used extremely detailing cable (balanced, pure silver 28AWG solid core wire, made it myself, can't afford such thing otherwise). And for the evaluation I used a set of songs, all 24bit and at least 96khz, including Dr. Chesky's Ultimate Headphone Demonstration which has a bunch of tracks that allow for exploring sound, imaging and stage depth among others. So yes everyone's millage may and will likely vary, as it depends on what follows M8 in the lineup, adding LPS may or may not feel like an improvement, I agree. That is way I noted this is my personal experience and opinion (not that it matters to anyone but me :) And I still think that M8 is a tremendous bargain, LPS or not.
Mar 14, 2016
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