Musical Fidelity MX-DAC, Digital Audio Converter and MX-Stream, Network Streamer bundled together! black

Musical Fidelity MX-DAC, Digital Audio Converter and MX-Stream, Network Streamer bundled together!

MX-DAC – Overview

Musical Fidelity was one of the first hi-fi manufacturers in the world to produce digital-to-analog converters. Since then, we have remained pioneers in DAC technology. All of our devices delivered top performance, were produced to a high standard and were always available at a fair price. Initially we had decided not to bother with the DSD format because the market had not accepted it. But after intensive research and development, we proudly present our MX-DAC with DSD.

The MX-DAC is truly fantastic value for money. Its combination of outstanding technology and high quality will convince every real music lover.

MX-DAC – Technical background

The MX-DAC is a great sound artist. It produces minimal distortion, has a very wide bandwidth and low noise. Its technical performance is on par with any other top DAC, no matter how expensive it may be. In numbers: The jitter is 12 picoseconds, the signal-to-noise ratio is over 116 dB (A), the channel separation is 104dB at 1kHz, the frequency response is absolutely linear and the distortion is extremely low - namely 0.00025% at 1kHz and 0.0003% at 20kHz . These measured values ​​correspond to the latest state of the art. They demonstrate that our circuit is almost perfect.

To ensure completely neutral and accurate digital/analog conversion from any digital source, the MX-DAC has a whole range of inputs: 2 x optical (up to 24 bit / 96 kHz), 2 x coaxial (up to 24 Bit / 192 kHz) and 1x USB (up to 24 bit / 192 kHz asynchronous) and particularly important: The USB input also accepts the DSD signal 64 kHz and 128 kHz.
And almost more importantly: All incoming signals, whether optical, coaxial or USB, are processed at the DSD level. This highly attractive feature adds warmth and subtlety to the sound that cannot be achieved with a simple digital conversion.

The MX-DAC has both unbalanced and balanced outputs. The MUSICAL FIDELITY MX series impresses with beautiful aesthetics and outstanding workmanship. The front panel and housing are exclusive aluminum extruded profiles that are produced according to military standards.

The trade press is also enthusiastic. The digital specialist magazine Einsnull writes: “Regardless of whether you see the laptop as the king of source devices or want to easily upgrade a purely analogue system: MUSICAL FIDELITY fills the gap. The MX-DAC is an absolutely musical converter that suits all genres and gives digital music warmth and character.” And stereoplay sums up: “When a converter does everything right, you are almost at a loss for words.”

Specifications

• Sampling rate converter: SRC4392 upsampling to 192 kHz
• Digital > Analog Converter: PCM1795 32 bit / 192 kHz multi-bit sigma delta
• Output voltage: 2 volts RMS RCA, 4 volts RMS XLR
• Frequency response: PCM: 2 Hz – 90 kHz (± 3 dB)
• DSD: 2Hz – 40kHz (± 3dB)
• Channel separation: > 110 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio: > 115 dB
• PCM THD: <0.002%
• DSD THD: <0.003%
• Digit. Inputs coax: S/P-Dif up to 24 bit 192 kHz
• Digit. Inputs opto: S/P-Dif up to 24 bit 96 kHz
• USB input: USB Audio Class 2 (USB 2.0 or higher)
• USB data transfer: asynchronous with DSD DOP 64/128 support
• Inputs: 2x optical Toslink; 2x coaxial RCA; 1x USB type “B”
• Outputs: 1 pair of XLR balanced; 1 pair of RCA/Cinch sockets
• Power supply: 5V/2A DC (power adapter included)
• Power consumption: < 0.25 watt standby, < 1 watt max.
• Dimensions W x H x D (mm): 220 x 53 x 215 (including connections)
• Weight: 1.9 kg (2.4 kg gross)
• Finishes: Silver or Black

Description Musical Fidelity MX-Stream, Network-Streamer with Bluetooth and Airplay

Bit Perfect Audio Streamer.

Audio streaming has established itself among audiophile music lovers and the musical and technical quality levels of service providers have increased significantly in recent years. Today, streams in CD quality and far beyond are available across all music genres.

In 2011, MUSICAL FIDELITY launched its first streamer, the M1 CLiC. The devices in the ENCORE series followed in 2016. With the MX-STREAM, MUSICAL FIDELITY is now exploring the technical possibilities and presenting an audio streamer whose hardware and software are beyond any doubt. Extensive and versatile control options make it universal and easy to use – across any app barrier!

Unlike many integrated solutions, the MX-STREAM only pursues one goal - but consistently down to the last detail: It sends the best possible data stream, free of all conceivable interference, to your digital/analog converter.

Overview

• Streaming music services.
• Streaming from the home network (NAS).
• Streaming from USB (stick or HDD).
• Roon certified
• Shair Report (Airplay)
• UPNP/DLNA
• Bluetooth
• Virtually jitter-free.
• Reclocking of all incoming signals.
• Audiophile clock for the processor.
• Re-clocking of all outgoing signals.
• Bit-perfect playback.
• Separate power supply for each work area.
• Elegant and solid case.
• CD ripping and CD playing.
• HDMI output for screens as displays.
• Streaming music services.

The software architecture allows access to millions of music tracks of all styles from the popular music services Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, HighResAudio and Internet radio. In addition, almost any music service can be played thanks to the many integration options.

This allows you to transport virtually any song into your living room in the best possible sound quality. Create your personal playlists. From a like Ambient to z like Zarzuela, all possibilities for musical enjoyment are open to you. At the same time, you can listen to well over 100,000 internet radio stations and their podcasts.

Streaming from the home network (NAS).

We know of many music lovers who have stored an incredible number of top-quality music files on their home network servers and have lovingly provided them with perfect metadata. The MX-STREAM streams these files in previously unknown quality - thanks to its very complex, triple reclocking of the signal from input to output. The controls give you the opportunity to discover your collection in a completely new way.

Streaming from USB (stick or HDD).

You know it: your equally music-loving friend comes to your house with the hottest song of the year on a USB stick. Simply connect to the MX-STREAM - and you're ready to go. Of course, all music files from USB hard drives are read out, re-clocked and leave the MX-STREAM bit-perfectly.

Roon certified

Roon's goal is to bring the aesthetics of analog music into the digital world. With previous record purchases, album covers, track lists, booklets, information and song lyrics were included as a matter of course. With the digitalization of music, this additional experience was increasingly lost. Roon uses a large database and, in addition to the tags, shows other content such as information about the artist, song lyrics and much more.

The MUSICAL FIDELITY MX-STREAM has Roon certification and therefore opens up all the possibilities of this premium service. Find out more about your favorite artist and immerse yourself in an even more intense music experience.

Shareport (Airplay)

The MUSICAL FIDELITY MX-STREAM integrates into your Apple architecture as its own Airplay-enabled device. This means you can easily send your i-tunes library directly to the MX stream via iPhone or iPad without any additional operating detours.

UPNP/DLNA

The network components of the MX-STREAM integrate fully automatically into your home network. Every router currently on the market recognizes it immediately and assigns it its own IP address.

Bluetooth

Of course, the MUSICAL FIDELITY MX-STREAM also accepts audio streams via Bluetooth. For example, you can quickly and easily enjoy the audio track of a YouTube video via your hi-fi system.

Virtually jitter-free.

Jitter is the term used to describe the temporal clock jitter during the transmission of digital signals. A fluctuation in the accuracy of the transmission clock and an abrupt and undesirable change in the signal characteristics. This effect is also described with a smooth transition from 0 to 1 or how often to read the yes/no transition. Digital signals only know 0 or 1. An intermediate value caused by timing imperfections cannot be processed by digital components.

Since most common network components such as routers, network switches or hubs are only designed to function “failure-free”, MUSICAL FIDELITY takes the consistent approach in the MX-STREAM and completely re-clocks all incoming signals.

Reclocking of all incoming signals.
 
Digital circuits work with data blocks and time grids. The precise synchronization of this time grid is crucial for the best possible communication of digital components and the bit-accurate transmission of data blocks. By buffering and reclocking all incoming signals with an audio-optimized data clock, the MX-STREAM makes you independent of the quality of the upstream network architecture. Nothing can happen to a data package that is intended for playback with MX-STREAM.

Audiophile clock for the processor.

The clocking of the MX-STREAM CPU also follows this perfectionist approach and is also operated by its own audio-optimized data clock. This is completely unknown in commercially available streaming solutions, which usually work with standard CPU clocks.

Re-clocking of all outgoing signals.

And the output, which then connects to your USB 2.0-capable digital/analog converter, is also reclocked again. This gives it a definitely jitter-free signal and can fully exploit its sonic advantages. So he is the one
ideal signal supplier for the world's best digital/analog converters.

Bit-perfect playback.

Just like the clocking, the data rates of the files are also handled. Perfect. Better bit perfect. With confidence in the quality of the downstream digital/analog converter, the MX-STREAM outputs a USB data stream that leaves the codification, word width and bit depth of the original data untouched. There is no conversion of sampling rates and no upsampling/oversampling. If necessary, this remains the task of the digital/analog converter. If your D/A converter cannot convert the extremely high-resolution DSD format, there is of course the option of converting the outgoing signal into PCM before the output.

Our brand new state-of-the-art converter MUSICALiFIDELITYiM6xiDAC, with its extensive setting options, gives you all the tools you need to enjoy every conceivable music file in the best, original and unadulterated way.

The power supply.

All MX-STREAM circuits have their own separately filtered power supply and high-quality components for voltage stabilization. The entire circuit is completely new and developed exclusively for the MX-STREAM.

The housing.

The devices in the MX line from MUSICAL FIDELITY impress with the highest level of elegance and at the same time unshakable solidity. The whole unit is housed in a full metal housing with impressive wall thickness. This protects its interior from electromagnetic fields.

The lack of a large display on the front panel reinforces this effect, as the cutout required would only be a gateway for such disruptions.

CD ripping and CD playing.

For owners of an extensive CD collection, the MX-STREAM software also offers the option of CD ripping with automatic tagging and automatic music library indexing. Simply plug in a USB-capable CD-ROM drive and you're ready to go.

You can also play this CD like you would with a normal CD player. A USB-capable CD-ROM drive is required.

HDMI output for screens as displays.

Connect your MUSICAL FIDELITY MX-STRAM to your television with an HDMI cable and enjoy extensive additional information about the title, album and artist and not to forget: a large, crisp album cover. In conjunction with a USB mouse, this is also one of the many full control options for the MX-STREAM.

Apps

A variety of apps for controlling the MX-STREAM are available in the well-known stores. Be it the app from MUSICAL FIDELITY called MX-STREAM or, as another example, the app VOLUMIO.

Web interface

The web interface, i.e. the screen of the computer unit, is a one-to-one mirroring of the app. Here, too, you have full control over all functions of the MX-STREAM, even if the concept of app stores may be long gone. Simply open a web browser of your choice and enter “musical-fidelity.local/”. Touchscreen A monitor with a touchscreen is also able to access all operating options.

The sound.

The MX-STREAM consistently isolates your hi-fi system from all the harm of network-based technology. The perfect digital data stream is at its output. This means your HiFi system can fully showcase the qualities of its analog circuits. Of course, a digital center like the MX-STREAM initially does not have its own sound character. But by integrating it into your system, a lot of sonic things happen. Since the computing unit of your D/A converter is not stressed by a signal contaminated by jitter, it presents the subsequent digital filter with a cleaner signal from the outset. This basically results in a finer and much higher resolution reproduction with sound details that were previously hidden from you. And not just in the high frequency range, as expected, but across the entire frequency and dynamic spectrum. The MX-STREAM is the perfect solution for anyone who has previously viewed digital components with suspicion. He frees the music from even the slightest artificial shimmer and gives it a deep breath. Long arcs of suspense, actually a specialty of analogue playback, come into play with all their intensity.

MUSICAL FIDELITY MX-STREAM: Audio streaming taken to the extreme!

Specifications

• Inputs: 2 x USB A; 1 x Micro USB B; Network RJ45; WiFi (Wifi 802.11 b/g/n/d/e/h/i); Bluetooth Classic + EDR v2.1, v3.0, v4.0
• Audio formats: PCM 32bit/352.8kHz, DSD256
• Internal memory: 16GB
• Outputs: Audio-optimized USB A; HDMI (video)
• Streaming services: Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, HIGHRESAUDIO, TuneIn
• Certificates: Roon, Shaireport (Airplay), UPNP/DLNA, Bluetooth
• Power supply: 18V DC /1A (power supply included)
• Accessories: WiFi antenna, power supply, quick start guide
• Dimensions W x H x D (mm): 220 x 56 x 215 (including connections)
• Weight: 2.0kg (2.4kg gross)
• Finishes: Silver or Black