M2Tech Hiface II

The M2Tech HiFace Two is a digital audio transport that sits between a computer and a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC). Its role is to extract the audio stream via the USB port, then retransmit it as cleanly as possible to an external DAC via an S/PDIF output. It is an evolution of the HiFace RCA model, with a number of improvements made by M2Tech.

The operation of this device relies on jitter correction, a phenomenon of irregularity in digital signal transmission linked to imperfect communication between the source and the DAC. When this jitter is not controlled, digital data can become mixed and generate a blend of frequencies, which harms the coherence of the musical rendering. The HiFace Two supports audio streams with a resolution of up to 24 bit at 192 kHz, extracted from the computer and then cleaned before transmission to the DAC.

This transport is intended for anyone already using a computer as a music source who wishes to pair it with an external DAC to achieve better playback quality. It applies to systems where the computer acts as a library or audio file player, with the aim of isolating digital signal processing from the disturbances typical of a computing environment.

The device is designed as a plug and play product: only one driver is required for operation under Windows, while no driver installation is required under Mac OS. This ease of implementation makes it something that can be added to an existing system without complex configuration.