Musical Fidelity M6X DAC
Musical Fidelity M6X digital-to-analogue converter with dual mono design, featuring two ESS ES9038Q2M DACs and a high-resolution USB input compatible with DSD512 and MQA.
Description
The M6X DAC from Musical Fidelity is a digital-to-analogue converter designed for hi-fi installations demanding the highest sound quality. It converts digital streams from a network player, computer or CD player into an analogue signal, before passing them on to an amplifier or preamplified system.
Its design is based on a dual mono architecture combining two ESS ES9038Q2M converters, one per channel, which limits interference between the left and right channels. The circuit uses the 32-bit ESS HyperStream II architecture along with a dedicated Time Domain circuit for managing stream synchronisation. Total correlated jitter remains below 12 picoseconds peak to peak, a level that limits distortion linked to timing offsets in the digital signal. Linearity is maintained within 0.4 dB down to -130 dB, channel separation exceeds 130 dB at 10 kHz, the signal-to-noise ratio is above 120 dB and total harmonic distortion remains below 0.0005% at 1 kHz. Frequency response spans from 10 Hz to 20 kHz.
In terms of connectivity, the USB-B input accepts streams of up to 32-bit/768 kHz, as well as DSD512 and MQA, allowing high-resolution audio files to be played from a computer or compatible network server. The coaxial, optical (two of them) and AES/EBU inputs accept streams of up to 24-bit/192 kHz, thereby covering most conventional digital sources such as CD players, digital tuners or older network players.
This DAC is intended for users who already own a quality preamplifier or integrated amplifier and wish to upgrade the digital-to-analogue conversion stage of their system. Its headphone output also allows for direct headphone listening, without going through a separate amplifier.
Technical specifications
| Jitter/total correlated jitter | < 12 picoseconds peak to peak |
| Linearity | < 0.4 dB down to -130 dB |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz to 20 kHz |
| Channel separation | > 130 dB at 10 kHz |
| Signal to noise ratio | > 120 dB |
| Total harmonic distortion | < 0.0005% at 1 kHz |
| Coaxial input | 24-bit/192 kHz |
| Optical inputs | 24-bit/192 kHz |
| AES/EBU input | 24-bit/192 kHz |
| USB B input | 32-bit/768 kHz, DSD512 and MQA |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 110 x 440 x 390 mm |
| Weight | 6.9 kg |
What to check before buying used
The USB-B connector and its cable are worth checking: this is where the most demanding streams pass through (32-bit/768 kHz, DSD512), and an oxidised contact or a socket weakened by repeated unplugging can cause micro-dropouts. Also check the coaxial, optical and AES/EBU inputs one by one, as a faulty receiver module on a single channel can easily go unnoticed during a quick test. Finally, make sure the MQA function and DSD512 recognition respond correctly depending on the source used, as these specific decoding processes are more sensitive to any firmware updates that may not have been carried out.
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