Musical Fidelity M1 DAC User manual

Instructions for use
Thank you for purchasing the Musical Fidelity M1 DAC.
The M1 DAC consists of a top quality over sampling 24 bit digital-to-analogue converter circuit which upsamples all
incoming data rates to 192kHz. This moves the digital artefacts to well outside the audio band, allowing easy removal
without detriment to the top end of the audio band. Our well tuned filtering circuit gives immeasurably small jitter,
noise and distortion artefacts allowing astounding imaging, detail and transparency, to deliver all music types exactly
as the artist originally intended.
The M1 DAC has been carefully designed to be partnered with M1 series, and also matches well with M3 and M6
series products. These combinations will yield one of the best high-fidelity systems available at any price.
Used carefully, it should give many years of outstanding musical reproduction.
Dust regularly with a soft duster or soft brush, but be careful when using cleaning or polishing agents - they may
harm the surface finish.
If there are any questions about the audio system, please consult the dealer who is there to help and advise.

CONTENTS
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 2 of 11
Section Page
Safety Information – Mains plug (UK only), modification warning 3
General advice – Installation precautions 4
Disposal information – EU disposal information 5
Installation – Introduction, cleaning, installation, power connections, audio
connections, digital connections
6
Facilities and connections – Illustrations - main unit front & rear panels 7
Operation – SPDIF COAX input
– AES balanced input
– OPTICAL input
– USB input
8
Problems? – Basic fault finding 9
Specifications 10
Manual history 11

SAFETY INFORMATION
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 3 of 11
IMPORTANT! (U.K. only)
This unit is supplied in the U.K. with mains lead fitted with a moulded 13 amp plug. If, for any reason, it is
necessary to remove the plug, please remove the fuse holder and dispose of the plug safely, out of reach of
children.
It must not be plugged into a mains outlet.
The wires in the mains lead supplied with this appliance are coloured in accordance with the following code:
Green
and yellow .............................Earth
Blue................................................ Neutral
Brown..................................................Live
WARNING – This appliance MUST be earthed
As the colours of the wires of the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured markings
identifying the terminals in the plug, proceed as follows:
• The wire which is coloured green-and-yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked
with the letter E or coloured green or green-and-yellow, or by the earth symbol:
• The wire which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or
coloured red.
• The wire which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or
coloured black.
• If connecting to a BS1363 plug, a 13 amp fuse must be used.
WARNING:
ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THIS PRODUCT NOT EXPRESSLY
APPROVED BY MUSICAL FIDELITY WHO IS THE PARTY RESPONSIBLE
FOR STANDARDS COMPLIANCE COULD VOID THE USER'S
AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THIS EQUIPMENT.

GENERAL ADVICE
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 4 of 11
Installation, Precautions & User Information
This new M1 DAC is designed and built to provide trouble-free performance, but as with all electronic devices it
is necessary to observe a few precautions:
• Heed all warnings shown on the back of the product.
• Only connect the M1 DAC to a mains outlet having the same voltage as marked at the back of the unit.
• Always ensure that when disconnecting and reconnecting your audio equipment the mains supply is
switched off.
• Position the mains lead and signal interconnects where they are not likely to be walked on or trapped by
items placed on them.
• Do not use near water, or place water-filled containers on the M1 DAC, for example, a flower vase or potted
plants. If water does spill inside, immediately pull out the mains plug from the wall socket and inform
the dealer, who should then check the unit before further use. Entry of liquid into the M1 DAC is
dangerous, and may cause electric shock or fire hazard.
• Do not place the unit near direct heat sources such as radiators, direct sunlight or other equipment.
• Do not remove any covers or try to gain access to the inside. There are no user adjustments or fuses to
change without qualification. Refer all service work to an authorised Musical Fidelity agent.
* Note: Unauthorised opening of the equipment will invalidate any warranty claim.
• Dust regularly with a soft cloth or soft brush but be careful when using cleaning or polishing agents - they
may harm the surface finish.
The electronics in modern hi-fi equipment is complex and may, therefore, be adversely affected or damaged by
lightning. For protection of the audio system during electrical storms, remove the mains plugs.
If after-sales service is required, to help the dealer identify the M1 DAC please quote the serial number located
on the rear panel of the unit.

ITEM DISPOSAL INFORMATION
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 5 of 11
DISPOSAL
The crossed out wheeled bin label that appears on the back panel of the product indicates that
the product must not be disposed of as normal household waste. To prevent possible harm to the
environment please separate the product from other waste to ensure that it can be recycled in an
environmentally safe manner. Please contact local government office or retailer for available collection
facilities.
DISPOSITION
La poubelle sur roulettes barrées X, qui apparaît en logo sur le panneau arrière du produit, indique que celui-ci ne
doit pas être traité comme un déchet domestique commun. Afin de protéger l'environnement, ce produit électronique devra
être géré séparément et donc recyclé selon les nouvelles normes Européennes Rohs concernant les déchets d'appareils
électroniques. Prière de contacter les services concernés gouvernementaux ou votre point de vente pour l'élimination et
l'enlèvement de déchets électroniques équipés de composants électroniques.
DISPOSAL
La etiqueta cruzada hacia fuera del compartimiento que aparece en el panel trasero del producto indica que el
producto no se debe reciclarse como basura normal de la casa. Para prevenir daños posible al ambiente separe por favor el
producto de otras basura para asegurarse de que puede ser reciclada de una manera ambientalmente segura. Entre en
contacto por favor a su oficina gubernamental local o a su minorista para las instalaciones disponibles de la colección.
RIFIUTI
L'etichetta del cassonetto barrato riportato sul retro dell'apparecchio indica che il prodotto non deve essere
smaltito tramite la procedura normale di smaltimento dei rifiuti domestici. Per evitare eventuali danni all'ambiente, separare
questo prodotto da altri rifiuti domestici in modo che possa venire riciclato in base alle procedure di rispetto ambientale. Per
maggiori dettagli sulle aree di raccolta disponibili, contattate l'ufficio govenativo locale od il rivenditore del prodotto.
FACHGERECHTE ENTSORGUNG:
Das auf der Geräterückseite angebrachte Label deutet darauf hin, dass das Produkt nicht mit konventionellem
Hauskehricht entsorgt werden darf. Um Schäden und Verschmutzungen an Umwelt und Mensch zu vermeiden, muss das
Produkt fachgerecht entsorgt und von anderem Abfall getrennt werden. Wenden Sie sich bei Fragen hierzu an Ihren
Fachhändler oder an eine öffentliche Informationsstelle.
AFVAL
Het label op de achterzijde van dit apparaat, een afvalbak op wielen met een kruis doorgehaald, geeft aan dat dit
apparaat niet samen met gewoon huishoudafval mag worden weggegooid. Om mogelijke schade aan onze leefomgeving te
voorkomen dient dit apparaat, gescheiden van gewoon huishoudelijk afval, te worden afgevoerd zodat het op een
milieuvriendelijke manier kan worden gerecycled. Neem voor beschikbare inzamelplaatsen contact op met uw gemeentelijke
reinigingsdienst of met uw elektronica leverancier.
HÄVITTÄMINEN
Yliruksattua jäteastiaa kuvaava tarra tuotteen takalevyssä kertoo, että tuotetta ei saa käsitellä normaalina
talousjätteenä. Ympäristön suojelemiseksi on tuote pidettävä erillään muusta jätteestä ja se on kierrätettävä ekologisesti
kestävällä tavalla. Ota yhteyttä laitteen myyjään tai Pirkanmaan Ympäristökeskukseen lähimmän kierrätyskeskuksen
löytämiseksi.
AFSKAFNING
Logoet med en skraldespand med kryds over på bagsiden af apparatet indikerer at dette produkt ikke må kasseres
som normal husholdningsaffald. For at forebygge mulig skade på miljøet, bedes De separere dette produkt fra andet affald,
og sikre at det bliver genbrugt på en miljørigtig måde. Kontakt venligst de lokale myndigheder eller din forhandler for
oplysning om nærmeste tilgængelige opsamlingssted for elektronikaffald.
ΔΙΑΔΙΚΑΣΙΑ ΑΠΟΡΡΙΨΗΣ
ΤΟ ΣΗΜΑ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΔΙΑΓΕΓΡΑΜΜΕΝΟ ΤΡΟΧΗΛΑΤΟ ΚΑΔΟ ΑΠΟΡΡΙΜΑΤΩΝ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΙΣΩ ΟΨΗ ΤΟΥ
ΜΗΧΑΝΗΜΑΤΟΣ
ΔΗΛΩΝΕΙ ΟΤΙΤΟ ΠΡΟΙΟΝ ΑΥΤΟ ΔΕΝ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΔΙΑΧΕΙΡΙΣΘΕΙ ΣΑΝ ΣΥΝΗΘΙΣΜΕΝΟ ΟΙΚΙΑΚΟ ΑΠΟΒΛΗΤΟ.
ΠΡΟΣ ΑΠΟΦΥΓΗ ΕΝΔΕΧΟΜΕΝΗΣ ΕΠΙΒΑΡΥΝΣΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΠΕΡΙΒΑΛΛΟΝΤΟΣ, ΞΕΧΩΡΙΣΤΕ ΤΟ ΠΡΟΙΟΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΑΛΛΑ
ΑΠΟΡΡΙΜΑΤΑ ΩΣΤΕ ΝΑ ΕΞΑΣΦΑΛΙΣΘΕΙ ΗΑΝΑΚΥΚΛΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΠΡΕΠΟΝΤΑ ΤΡΟΠΟ.
ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΟΥΜΕ ΝΑ ΕΠΙΚΟΙΝΩΝΗΣΕΤΕ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΤΟΠΙΚΗ ΥΠΗΡΕΣΙΑ ΑΝΑΚΥΚΛΩΣΗΣ ΗΜΕ ΤΟ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΗΜΑ ΑΓΟΡΑΣ
ΓΙΑ ΠΕΡΙΣΣΟΤΕΡΕΣ ΛΕΠΤΟΜΕΡΕΙΕΣ.

INSTALLATION
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 6 of 11
Introduction
Congratulations on the purchase of the new M1 DAC. This unit will give top quality performance when used as
a top quality digital to analogue converter, delivering the best performance possible from any digital source. It is
designed to upgrade CD players, DAB tuners, Minidisk, and any other source providing digital stereo PCM
outputs.
Cleaning
Before cleaning the unit, switch off power at the mains switch and remove the mains plug from the wall socket.
Clean the cabinet and remote control unit using a moist cloth. Using solvents, white spirit or thinners is not
advised, as they could damage the surface finish.
Installation
Position the M1 DAC on a stable, horizontal surface where there is no risk of it being knocked, or subjected to
vibration such as from loudspeakers.
Important note:
In normal operation, the unit dissipates a small quantity of power at all times, and it is important
that it is adequately ventilated. The M1 DAC must be protected from humidity – if the unit is
moved from a cold place to a warm room, leave the unit for an hour or so to allow sufficient time
for the moisture to evaporate.
Please note: Musical Fidelity currently do not make any interconnecting cables, nor do we endorse any
particular manufacturer’s cables. If necessary, please refer the dealer who can advise on quality cables for any
particular setup.
Power Connections
The M1 DAC is supplied with a standard IEC mains cable which plugs into the IEC socket at the back of the unit
Audio output connections
RCA audio outputs: Use good quality RCA phono audio cables (fully connected signal and ground), for
optimum signal transfer.
XLR audio outputs: Use good quality XLR audio cables (fully connected hot and cold signals and ground), for
absolute optimum signal transfer.
Digital input connections
COAXIAL input: Connect RCA digital source to digital input RCA socket. Use a good quality fully connected
(signal and ground) coaxial digital cable, for optimum signal transfer.
AES BALANCED input: Connect AES/EBU digital source to balanced digital input XLR socket. Use a good
quality balanced DIGITAL cable, for optimum signal transfer.
OPTICAL input: Connect optical digital source to optical input socket. Use a good quality “Toslink” cable, for
optimum signal transfer.
USB input: Connect computer or similar USB “host” source to USB input socket. Use a good quality USB 1.1 or
2.0 “A to B” type cable, for optimum signal transfer.
If connecting to Home Theatre Processor, TV or DVD, or similar Home Theatre sources,it may be
necessary to change the digital output of that source to “16 bit stereo PCM”, or similar, which is the format the
M1 DAC will understand. Please refer to the source’s manual for information on how to do this.
This is because the M1 DAC does not recognise the information in multichannel (e.g. 5.1 surround sound)
digital audio streams.

FACILITIES & CONNECTIONS
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 7 of 11
1 2 3 4 5
1 POWER Mains ON/OFF button and LED
2 INCOMING SAMPLE RATE blue LEDS
3 UPSAMPLING green signal LED
4 INPUT LEDs
5 INPUT selector button
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
6 XLR BALANCED OUTPUTS right and left
7 RCA OUTPUTS right and left
8 AES BALANCED digital input
9 USB digital input
10 OPTICAL digital input
11 COAXIAL digital input
12 IEC MAINS INPUT
XLR Balanced input and output lead
connections:
(for reference only, no XLR signal leads supplied)
Pin functions:
Functions:
1 Ground (cable shield)
2 Normal polarity ("hot" or “+”)
3 Inverted polarity ("cold" or “-“)

OPERATION
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 8 of 11
COAXIAL input
To use the COAXIAL input, press the input select button on the front panel until the COAXIAL input LED is lit.
The “UPSAMPLING at 192kHz” green LED will light if a valid digital signal is present. The incoming sample rate
is also indicated by a blue LED in the row below.
N.B. This shows the actual sample rate of the digital data going into the M1 DAC; which is not necessarily the
same as the original source material sample rate.
AES BALANCED input
To use the AES BALANCED input, press the input select button on the front panel until the AES BALANCED
input LED is lit. The “UPSAMPLING at 192kHz” green LED will light if a valid digital signal is present. The
incoming sample rate is also indicated by a blue LED in the row below.
N.B. This shows the actual sample rate of the digital data going into the M1 DAC; which is not necessarily the
same as the original source material sample rate.
OPTICAL input
To use the OPTICAL input, press the input select button on the front panel until the OPTICAL input LED is lit.
The “UPSAMPLING at 192kHz” green LED will light if a valid digital signal is present. The incoming sample rate
is also indicated by a blue LED in the row below.
N.B. This shows the actual sample rate of the digital data going into the M1 DAC; which is not necessarily the
same as the original source material sample rate.
USB input
To use the USB input, press the input select button on the front panel until the USB input LED is lit. The
“UPSAMPLING at 192kHz” green LED will light if a valid digital signal is present. The incoming sample rate is
also indicated by a blue LED in the row below.
N.B. This shows the actual sample rate of the digital data going into the M1 DAC; which is not necessarily the
same as the original source material sample rate.
Computer settings for USB
A good quality USB A to B cable is required to connect the unit to the computer.
Plug the B (square) end into the socket in the back of the unit, and the A (rectangle) end into a free USB socket
on the computer.
The computer should now detect the new hardware and install a generic driver automatically (No setup or driver
disk should be required).
CD, MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC, and all other audio file types played on any software should now play through the
unit. This device has been designed to work with PC Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista and 7, as well as Apple
Macintosh OS X, Snow Leopard and later.
Mac users-PC users- Check the computer has picked up the device and
is currently using it by clicking: (MAC OS X)
Check the computer has picked up the device and
is currently using it by clicking: (most Windows
versions) - System preferences
- Hardware- Start
- Sound- Settings
Check that “USB audio DAC” is selected under the
OUTPUT tab.
- Control panel
- Sounds and Multimedia
If the computer’s warning sounds/chimes are to
played through the unit, make sure it is selected
under the
- Audio
Check that “USB audio device” appears under
PREFERRED AUDIO DEVICE tab
SOUND EFFECTS tab too.A second mixer will now be available which will be
the default mixer whenever the unit is plugged in.
Use this mixer to select the source or adjust levels
if required.
Note: USB may also be selected as an output in
some individual programs.
Please note: This device is a high speed serial data processor, and by its nature, requires a very high volume of
USB band width. It will benefit greatly from being the only device connected on its USB ‘bus’. Sharing the same
bus with other devices may cause unwanted artifacts such as dropouts or temporary loss of signal. This
especially includes the use of the unit on a USB hub/splitter alongside other USB components

PROBLEMS?
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 9 of 11
Basic problem-solving with a DAC is similar to troubleshooting other electrical or electronic equipment. Always check the most
obvious possible causes first, such as the following examples:
Problem Probable Cause Remedy
No power / display Power plug is not inserted into socket correctly Plug in securely into unit’s IEC
socket.
Excessive hum from system
speakers
Audio connector plug not fully pushed in
Cable Fault
Unsuitable Cable
(e.g. cable grounds not connected)
Insert plug securely
Check cable is connected at both
ends.
N.B. some esoteric cables have
internal wiring intentionally
disconnected/modified. For best
results on all inputs analogue AND
digital, please use good quality
screened coax; signal and screen
directly connected both ends.
UPSAMPLING…. green LED will
not light
No connection to that input
Incorrect input selected
Wrong data type sent to DAC
Check connection and cable.
Select correct input
Check source digital output is set for
“16 bit stereo PCM” or similar. This
particularly applies to some TVs,
most DVD players, and other home
theatre type devices that may give a
MULTICHANNEL digital output.
Refer to the source’s manual for
further information.
No audio output, or too low level
output
Incorrect or missing connections
USB Driver not selected (PC or MAC)
Check connections and make sure
they are secure.
See P.8 PC users or MAC users
section
Dropouts in sound Digital input lead not properly connected
Faulty digital input lead
Faulty optical lead
Check input lead is fully secured
Change lead. Please use a good
quality straight-through signal-and-
ground phono to phono lead.
Optical lead breakage. This can
occur if the optical lead is bent into a
radius too small. Avoid tight corners
in routing optical leads.
No audio output from USB input USB Cable not connected
USB Driver not selected (PC or MAC)
Check connections and make sure
they are secure.
See P.8 PC users or Mac users
section
Not detected when connected to
USB
USB Cable faulty
USB not working/enabled on computer
Correct USB drivers not installed
(can happen particularly with factory- preinstalled
Windows operating systems)
Check and replace cable
Check USB port functions with
another device.
Please check with the computer
manufacturer. Enquire about USB
driver or update.
Dropouts in sound (USB input) Shared USB port with another device
Computer busy with another application
Computer low on resources
Avoid sharing the USB port with
other devices, if possible.
At times an application (program)
may intervene, sometimes invisibly
e.g. a virus scanner. When this
happens, computer resources are
temporarily used up, and playback
may suffer. This is not a fault. Try
running fewer applications if
possible.

SPECIFICATIONS
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 10 of 11
Output
Output impedance 47 ohms
Output, digital 0dB level RCA output - 2.2V r.m.s. nominal (RCA) 4.4V (XLR)
DAC
DAC circuit 24 bit Delta-Sigma (bit stream) dual differential 8x over-sampling
to 192kHz
Total correlated jitter <12 picoseconds peak to peak
Linearity <0.1dB down to -96dB
Frequency response 10Hz to 20 kHz -0.1dB max.
Channel separation >105dB 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Signal to noise >119dB “A”- wtd.
Total harmonic distortion <0.0025% 10Hz to 20 kHz
Connections
Line level outputs 1 pair line level RCA (phono), left and right
1 pair line level XLR (balanced), left and right
Digital inputs 1 XLR AES balanced digital input
1 RCA coaxial connector SPDIF 32-192 kbps (16-24 bit stereo PCM)
1 TOSLINK optical connector 32-96 kbps (16-24 bit stereo PCM)
1 USB type ‘B’ connector for computer/PDA 32-48 kbps
Power requirement
Mains voltages 115/230VAC 50/60Hz (factory pre-set)
100VAC 50/60Hz (alternative)
Consumption 10 Watts maximum
Weight
Unit only, unboxed 3.4 kg (7½ lbs)
In shipping carton & inc. accessories 4.1 kg (9 lbs)
Dimensions
Wide 220 mm (8⅔”)
High, including feet 100 mm (4”)
Deep (front to back) including terminals 300 mm (12”)
Standard accessories
IEC type mains lead (10-Amp type)
Musical Fidelity reserves the right to make improvements which may result in
specification or feature changes without notice.

MANUAL HISTORY
M1 DAC issue 2 Page 11 of 11
RELEASE DATE CHANGES
Issue 1 16th April 2010 1st issue
Issue 2 6th May 2010 Specifications updated