Dual Sabre, variable volume and headphones: a DAC that can run the system
M6x DAC uses two ES9038Q2M chips in dual differential mode, handles 32/768 PCM, MQA and DSD512, and includes a headphone stage.
M6x DAC does more than convert one USB source. It gathers USB-B, AES/EBU, coaxial and two optical inputs, processes signals through a 16-core Altera device and assigns the channels to two Sabre ES9038Q2M converters. RCA and XLR outputs can be fixed into an integrated amplifier or variable into a power amplifier, while the Class A/B headphone stage allows personal listening without another amplifier.
Key features
- Two Sabre ES9038Q2M DACs in dual differential mode
- PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz, MQA and native DSD512
- 16-core Altera MAX II processor
- USB-B, AES/EBU, coaxial and two optical inputs
- Fixed or variable RCA/XLR outputs
- Class A/B 6.3 mm headphone output
Two chips, one channel per side
Dual differential operation assigns separate resources to each channel and combines complementary branches to reduce noise and common components. Performance also depends on power, clocking and analogue output, which makes the quiet toroidal transformer and layout as important as the Sabre name. The 32/768 and DSD512 figures describe compatibility, not a requirement to resample music.
DAC or digital preamplifier
With fixed output, M6x DAC leaves volume and analogue source selection to an integrated amplifier or preamplifier. Variable mode can feed a power amplifier directly, producing a shorter digital-only system. That route suits listeners using no vinyl or line sources; otherwise a preamplifier remains necessary. Level configuration deserves care to avoid sudden high output.
Headphones without another box
The 6.3 mm Class A/B stage uses dedicated amplification rather than a token output from the DAC chip. It allows switching between loudspeakers and personal listening from the same source selection. Owners of balanced or exceptionally difficult headphones may prefer M8x DAC; for conventional models M6x combines conversion and drive more compactly.
