The new M-DAC+ doesn’t do this – think of it as a brilliant refinement, rather than the reinvention of the hi-fi wheel. It was so good at its £600 price point that it turned the market upside down. It wasn’t until the arrival of the Audiolab M-DAC in 2011 that cash-strapped audiophiles had a genuinely flexible yet fine-sounding DAC. I’d recommend new purchasers spend a few weeks switching these filters around to find their favourites, although they may find they vary from recording to recording, or even track to track. It’s difficult to be definitive about the sound of these because it depends very much on your system and ancillaries.
Digital to analog audio converter jb hi fi plus#
The plus inherits seven PCM filter settings from the original, and adds four more for DSD playback. To this end, the company has included a number of user-selectable digital filters, letting people tune the sound to their taste. In truth, most users will be using this new Audiolab for a little bit of high-resolution PCM file playback via USB, and a lot of 16-bit/44kHz CD playback via one of the coaxial inputs. True, but the emphasis is very much on the future because right now there’s still a paucity of DSD files of any type. But the headline news is DSD support (DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256), which Audiolab says: “has an important role to play in the developing high-resolution downloading and streaming scene”. The M-DAC+ now runs PCM right up to its 32-bit/384kHz ragged edge via USB, meaning it is unlikely to be obsolete for a while. With the choice of fixed or variable outputs, the J-FET Class A output stage can feed an integrated amplifier or a power amp direct. These join the M-DAC’s twin coaxial and twin optical digital inputs, optical and coaxial digital outputs, single-ended RCA and balanced XLR analogue outputs and the usual 12V trigger loop. Around the back, there are more digital inputs than ever, including an AES/EBU socket and an additional USB Type A input – ideal for connecting Apple devices – alongside the existing USB Type B connection. It’s much more svelte and grown up, whereas the M-DAC seems more of a button-pushing geek’s dream. It’s considerably nicer to use than the original, although the central OLED display is smaller than the M-DAC and less informative.Īs a package, the M-DAC+ feels far more like a piece of budget esoterica, than its predecessor. One selects volume, and the other is a multi-function controller for source and setup. Hence a smoother and less crowded front panel with two main controls replacing the four buttons and one knob of the M-DAC. Beautifully made from aluminium, its casework has been updated visually to match the look of the new 8300 series. It makes this new box quite a bit heavier than its predecessor, and it stands taller and deeper too. From there, multiple power supply sections feed the necessary voltages to each area of the DAC, keeping any crossover interference to a minimum, Audiolab says. It’s a high-quality toroidal affair using multiple windings to feed separate analogue and digital rectification stages. The new version is considerably larger than the original, mainly on account of the fact the power supply has been brought inside the unit.
Basically, the M-DAC had a great start in life. Also, interestingly, it was one of the first DACs to use the (then) new and highly regarded ESS Sabre 9018 DAC chips. Indeed, it got off to a good start because it was essentially the digital converter section of the 8200A CD player – itself one of the best silver disc spinners under £1,500, thanks to designer John Westlake’s prodigious talent. When it came out, the original M-DAC ( HFC 359) had no real rivals at its £600 price point. Meet the new and updated version of Audiolab’s excellent digital-to-analogue converterĪnd so it comes to pass that after nearly five years, the Audiolab M-DAC finally gets itself a bigger brother! Rather like that famous difficult second album that recording artists battle with, it was never going to be easy for Audiolab to improve on one of the strongest products it has ever released.
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