CEntrance M8 V2 ($750)...an updated classic
CEntrance has a rich history, even in the scant 22 years, with many well-known producers, artists and engineers using the company wares since 2000. Everyone who works for the company also has a tie to music somehow. Founder Michael Goodman had the goal of “working with every audio company in the world.” He has largely succeeded as his products are used on stages, in recording sessions and finishing studios around the globe.
Roughly speaking, in 2009 the decision was made to enter the portable market, with the help of Head-Fi founder Jude Mansilla. Making a portable DAC/Amp in the DACport, the company pretty much helped rewrite the market on what a portable should sound like. 2013 saw the original M8 come to fruition, and it was of course a hit. The V2 is an updated model, even though the first gen is still available. 2021 saw the Ampersand, a high-powered portable amplifier follow suit (review coming...). The combination will be reviewed separately but will of course be used together as well. The CEntrance was used across many sources and with various headphones/IEM’s ranging from the Fir Audio Frontier Series (all three), the Empire Ears Legend X, the Kennerton Rognir, and DDHiFi Janus 2 w/Air Nyx cable.
First Impressions:
Some time ago, I borrowed a Ray Samuel’s Intruder portable amplifier from a fellow audiophile for about a month. A basic headphone amp, with only 3.5se and 6.35se headphone jacks (it now comes in balanced as well), it was an early iteration that stuck with me for its brutality of presentation. In a good way. I had never heard such a powerful amp that could fit in my pocket yet sounded so damn good as well. With a gain switch as high as 21dB, the Intruder was a monster. One you want by your side permanently. I still think of the day it returned home. Until the CEntrance (and a Cayin C9) arrived, I had not felt that strongly about a portable amplifier. Not even with my old friend, the iFi micro Black Label, which was darn good as well.
As brutal as the Intruder was, it sounded so darn good, that you forgot the high price of it. You really couldn’t use it with IEM’s it was so powerful. Now though, that seems to be the norm for something such as that and pales pricewise compared to the Cayin. The M8 V2 takes that brutality and smoothes the character out. It is still a beast when it comes to power and such but put it this way. If the Intruder was Tydeus from Hercule’s, raw and will fight for you to the death; the M8 V2 is Hercule’s. Strong as all get out, but with the character to finish the deal. Both are sensationally good. Both are heroes.
M8 V2
Specs/Features:
In Version 2, the D/A resolution has been updated, along with further improvement of noise and distortion specs. Adding bluetooth input and four headphone outputs (two balanced and two unbalanced) continue the upgrades from V1 for the 20th anniversary product. An LED VU meter, a USB C jack for charging and one for source, along with many other improvements, makes the HiFi-M8 V2 the next generation of portable amplifier for the demanding audiophile. Even though many of the above listed items are including on both desktop and portable DAC/amps, the CEntrance can muscle its way right to the forefront due to the combinations.
Able to muster as high as 32-bit/384kHz, you get the latest song rates to go along with the Balanced Bluetooth implementation allowing wireless high fidelity as well. The VelvetSound™ AKM AK4493 D/A converter provides low levels of noise and THD and a digital volume control results in perfect level tracking between channels. The Hybrid Power System isolates sensitive circuitry from noise and interference and the battery supply reconditions wall power to deliver clean signal to your headphones. A nice feature here is that the unit will stop charging if plugged in with a 100% battery. No overcharge happens. You can also charge via the source cable on the front when hooked to a computer (or other), thus keeping the charge of the battery when no charge cable is attached.
The exclusive Stamina Mode re-configures the power supply for longer battery life by a switch on the front, turning power off to the back side (6.35 & XLR connections) when activated. With a total of 8 amplifiers inside: 4 on the cool side and 4 on the hot side outputs, plus two balanced & two unbalanced headphone jacks supporting four headphones, this is where the Stamina switch can save battery power by turning off the amps not in use (and headphone jacks). Personally, I left the switch on the whole time, attaining very close to the 8 hours listed after multiple attempts. Trying the Stamina switch off, I did get 15 hours of operation. These numbers were repeated over three tests each way.
I found the bass and treble switches to be of a more subtle character than my iFi Pro duo, but that is all right. The bass switch added more sub bass than mid bass, so more rumble was felt; but it was not of a thunderous character. Treble moved the highs up a bit, but not too bright for my tastes. This did change depending upon headphones and IEM’s used. The gain switch worked well but was of a more subtle character than the Intruder as well. I kept it on for most of the time, allowing the digital volume knob to control what I heard.
Bright lights on the front right middle, show the charge of the battery, when going without dedicated power. They are bright, and I found they did hinder my ability to see the controls surrounding them. Above that are two bright lights dedicated to BT and connectivity. When blinking, the unit is searching for a connection. Upon connecting, the light stays solid. Again, this light set up is a bit too bright to allow seeing the controls.
Dead center are two rotating wheels. The left one controls the LED lights, which act as VU light meters when music is playing. This can reduce battery use, but the old school in me still kept them lit. The one on the right controls the volume. A larger jack can hinder ease of use, but that is the nature of a smaller device such as this. And this device can get quite loud volume-wise. To say that it is powerful would be like saying a Ferrari can go “pretty fast.”
The M8 V2 is light as well, making this quite portable if you like. And yes. Yes I would like.
How Does It Sound?
The M8 V2 is vibrant and smooth at the same time. Providing a north of mainstream sound, I really dig what I am listening to. Simple Man through the M8 V2 and my Legend LX with Eletech Socrates is rich, strong and smooth.
Summary:
Even with the treble & bass switches off, the sound is of a richness pervading my senses. Smooth has now been mentioned three times in three sentences. There is a reason for that. Because it is. But this does not make it less vibrant. No, that smooth character breeds strength and power, but with more character than the Ray Samuels. Controlled instead of raw. Voluminous of power, but controlled power, with many adjustments to change the note. Not lost in this is a very good midrange, with vocals both male & female sounding especially sumptuous. Not plump or overly presented, but full and with good verve. The power of the device shows through in the M8 V2 in detailed presentation as well. Clarity can be changed a bit with the treble & bass switch adding or subtracting with the on or off of each.
Deeper:
Power may be the forte of the M8 V2, but how that power is handled is what really shines here. I really like the Intruder, but its major “fault” to me was the lack of fine control in that power. With the CEntrance, you can adjust that sound more to your needs. Want a down low bassy sauce? Turn the bass switch on but leave the treble off. Want something better for Classical? Treble on, bass off. Want a raucous good time? Leave both on and gain on high. This is how Lynyrd Skynyrd should be appreciated. Both switches on and gain on high. Just make sure you have a headphone or IEM that can handle the power.
Running both switches off and gain on low, you gain more fine-tuning control, such as you might need on a fine Classical Overture. Little adjustments are needed here, and this is the perfect recipe for that. Good deep, down low Blues demand a solid bass line. Leave the treble off and bass on. High gain allows the guttural responses of John Lee Hooker’s or BB King’s voice to shine like it should. Or Tinsley Ellis’s vibrant guitar.
This ability to shine across many genres is not unique on a DAC/Amp such as this, but the simplicity with which you can adjust them is to me. And this sets the M8 V2 apart from most of its competitors to me. Yes, something such as the excellent Cayin C9 (at over 2x the price) provides more tuning opportunities but is it needed? The ease of changing the M8 V2 makes it all the more appealing. I do wish the switches to change bass & treble were a bit more accessible but understand why the necessity of protecting them. The last thing you want is something to change your setting mid-concert. One could easily fashion a pouch to attach the key, so you have it with you all the time. Or do like I did and keep it at the bottom of the velvety string bag.
Running the M8 V2 via Bluetooth will of course diminish the sound a bit. But as that gap closes between cabled and BT sound, one can clearly see that the time is fast approaching where it will not matter. Here there is a difference in detail and clarity (cabled is better) with better definition of the sound signature across the spectrum. I did quite a bit of listening via BT and appreciated that the gap is closing, but it is still there. To me the BT option is more apt when going portable. This would be one less cable you need. But, the M8 V2 is not a two-way BT, only receiving from the source so you would still have the IEM/headphone cable. No big deal really for this high of an audio quality.
The Ending:
Part of this test was pairing the M8 V2 with the excellent Ampersand headphone amp. That part will be covered in the Ampersand review, which is forthcoming as well.
To sum up the M8 V2 you get a rich, vibrant tonality emanating from within a box, which is now smaller than most Smartphones on the market. It is light as well. But neither of those characteristics can shadow the superb audio radiating from within. That rich, smooth character pervades my senses and the resolution wrought on Tuesday’s Gone comes across as well, and I turn the volume up to listen. Bass exudes from within me. Fine treble song follows suit, giving the notes a thoroughly satisfying amount of clarity and detail. This is not a DAC/Amp to be toyed with. This is serious stuff, and the more I listen, the more I rate this highly. VERY highly. It is as if they took a Ray Samuels, and injected some maturity into it, along with a modicum of controls. Mind you, the Intruder is a damn fine amp in its own regard, and a used one should be snatched. Quickly. But here, the CEtrance takes that game and raises the ante with better control and better options with which to listen across the board. A full-sized XLR instead of a mini-XLR? You betcha’. Power to drive all but the hardest headphones? Indeed. And in what I would call a very affordable package.
The CEntrance M8 V2 could easily be the go-to DAC/Amp in your portable set up as well as your desktop DAC/Amp, it is that good. Plus, when your mates come calling into your office and wonder where all of your other expensive gear went, you can let them listen to this little gem. They will be smitten, as am I.
CEntrance has a rich history, even in the scant 22 years, with many well-known producers, artists and engineers using the company wares since 2000. Everyone who works for the company also has a tie to music somehow. Founder Michael Goodman had the goal of “working with every audio company in the world.” He has largely succeeded as his products are used on stages, in recording sessions and finishing studios around the globe.
Roughly speaking, in 2009 the decision was made to enter the portable market, with the help of Head-Fi founder Jude Mansilla. Making a portable DAC/Amp in the DACport, the company pretty much helped rewrite the market on what a portable should sound like. 2013 saw the original M8 come to fruition, and it was of course a hit. The V2 is an updated model, even though the first gen is still available. 2021 saw the Ampersand, a high-powered portable amplifier follow suit (review coming...). The combination will be reviewed separately but will of course be used together as well. The CEntrance was used across many sources and with various headphones/IEM’s ranging from the Fir Audio Frontier Series (all three), the Empire Ears Legend X, the Kennerton Rognir, and DDHiFi Janus 2 w/Air Nyx cable.
First Impressions:
Some time ago, I borrowed a Ray Samuel’s Intruder portable amplifier from a fellow audiophile for about a month. A basic headphone amp, with only 3.5se and 6.35se headphone jacks (it now comes in balanced as well), it was an early iteration that stuck with me for its brutality of presentation. In a good way. I had never heard such a powerful amp that could fit in my pocket yet sounded so damn good as well. With a gain switch as high as 21dB, the Intruder was a monster. One you want by your side permanently. I still think of the day it returned home. Until the CEntrance (and a Cayin C9) arrived, I had not felt that strongly about a portable amplifier. Not even with my old friend, the iFi micro Black Label, which was darn good as well.
As brutal as the Intruder was, it sounded so darn good, that you forgot the high price of it. You really couldn’t use it with IEM’s it was so powerful. Now though, that seems to be the norm for something such as that and pales pricewise compared to the Cayin. The M8 V2 takes that brutality and smoothes the character out. It is still a beast when it comes to power and such but put it this way. If the Intruder was Tydeus from Hercule’s, raw and will fight for you to the death; the M8 V2 is Hercule’s. Strong as all get out, but with the character to finish the deal. Both are sensationally good. Both are heroes.
M8 V2
Specs/Features:
In Version 2, the D/A resolution has been updated, along with further improvement of noise and distortion specs. Adding bluetooth input and four headphone outputs (two balanced and two unbalanced) continue the upgrades from V1 for the 20th anniversary product. An LED VU meter, a USB C jack for charging and one for source, along with many other improvements, makes the HiFi-M8 V2 the next generation of portable amplifier for the demanding audiophile. Even though many of the above listed items are including on both desktop and portable DAC/amps, the CEntrance can muscle its way right to the forefront due to the combinations.
Able to muster as high as 32-bit/384kHz, you get the latest song rates to go along with the Balanced Bluetooth implementation allowing wireless high fidelity as well. The VelvetSound™ AKM AK4493 D/A converter provides low levels of noise and THD and a digital volume control results in perfect level tracking between channels. The Hybrid Power System isolates sensitive circuitry from noise and interference and the battery supply reconditions wall power to deliver clean signal to your headphones. A nice feature here is that the unit will stop charging if plugged in with a 100% battery. No overcharge happens. You can also charge via the source cable on the front when hooked to a computer (or other), thus keeping the charge of the battery when no charge cable is attached.
The exclusive Stamina Mode re-configures the power supply for longer battery life by a switch on the front, turning power off to the back side (6.35 & XLR connections) when activated. With a total of 8 amplifiers inside: 4 on the cool side and 4 on the hot side outputs, plus two balanced & two unbalanced headphone jacks supporting four headphones, this is where the Stamina switch can save battery power by turning off the amps not in use (and headphone jacks). Personally, I left the switch on the whole time, attaining very close to the 8 hours listed after multiple attempts. Trying the Stamina switch off, I did get 15 hours of operation. These numbers were repeated over three tests each way.
I found the bass and treble switches to be of a more subtle character than my iFi Pro duo, but that is all right. The bass switch added more sub bass than mid bass, so more rumble was felt; but it was not of a thunderous character. Treble moved the highs up a bit, but not too bright for my tastes. This did change depending upon headphones and IEM’s used. The gain switch worked well but was of a more subtle character than the Intruder as well. I kept it on for most of the time, allowing the digital volume knob to control what I heard.
Bright lights on the front right middle, show the charge of the battery, when going without dedicated power. They are bright, and I found they did hinder my ability to see the controls surrounding them. Above that are two bright lights dedicated to BT and connectivity. When blinking, the unit is searching for a connection. Upon connecting, the light stays solid. Again, this light set up is a bit too bright to allow seeing the controls.
Dead center are two rotating wheels. The left one controls the LED lights, which act as VU light meters when music is playing. This can reduce battery use, but the old school in me still kept them lit. The one on the right controls the volume. A larger jack can hinder ease of use, but that is the nature of a smaller device such as this. And this device can get quite loud volume-wise. To say that it is powerful would be like saying a Ferrari can go “pretty fast.”
The M8 V2 is light as well, making this quite portable if you like. And yes. Yes I would like.
How Does It Sound?
The M8 V2 is vibrant and smooth at the same time. Providing a north of mainstream sound, I really dig what I am listening to. Simple Man through the M8 V2 and my Legend LX with Eletech Socrates is rich, strong and smooth.
Summary:
Even with the treble & bass switches off, the sound is of a richness pervading my senses. Smooth has now been mentioned three times in three sentences. There is a reason for that. Because it is. But this does not make it less vibrant. No, that smooth character breeds strength and power, but with more character than the Ray Samuels. Controlled instead of raw. Voluminous of power, but controlled power, with many adjustments to change the note. Not lost in this is a very good midrange, with vocals both male & female sounding especially sumptuous. Not plump or overly presented, but full and with good verve. The power of the device shows through in the M8 V2 in detailed presentation as well. Clarity can be changed a bit with the treble & bass switch adding or subtracting with the on or off of each.
Deeper:
Power may be the forte of the M8 V2, but how that power is handled is what really shines here. I really like the Intruder, but its major “fault” to me was the lack of fine control in that power. With the CEntrance, you can adjust that sound more to your needs. Want a down low bassy sauce? Turn the bass switch on but leave the treble off. Want something better for Classical? Treble on, bass off. Want a raucous good time? Leave both on and gain on high. This is how Lynyrd Skynyrd should be appreciated. Both switches on and gain on high. Just make sure you have a headphone or IEM that can handle the power.
Running both switches off and gain on low, you gain more fine-tuning control, such as you might need on a fine Classical Overture. Little adjustments are needed here, and this is the perfect recipe for that. Good deep, down low Blues demand a solid bass line. Leave the treble off and bass on. High gain allows the guttural responses of John Lee Hooker’s or BB King’s voice to shine like it should. Or Tinsley Ellis’s vibrant guitar.
This ability to shine across many genres is not unique on a DAC/Amp such as this, but the simplicity with which you can adjust them is to me. And this sets the M8 V2 apart from most of its competitors to me. Yes, something such as the excellent Cayin C9 (at over 2x the price) provides more tuning opportunities but is it needed? The ease of changing the M8 V2 makes it all the more appealing. I do wish the switches to change bass & treble were a bit more accessible but understand why the necessity of protecting them. The last thing you want is something to change your setting mid-concert. One could easily fashion a pouch to attach the key, so you have it with you all the time. Or do like I did and keep it at the bottom of the velvety string bag.
Running the M8 V2 via Bluetooth will of course diminish the sound a bit. But as that gap closes between cabled and BT sound, one can clearly see that the time is fast approaching where it will not matter. Here there is a difference in detail and clarity (cabled is better) with better definition of the sound signature across the spectrum. I did quite a bit of listening via BT and appreciated that the gap is closing, but it is still there. To me the BT option is more apt when going portable. This would be one less cable you need. But, the M8 V2 is not a two-way BT, only receiving from the source so you would still have the IEM/headphone cable. No big deal really for this high of an audio quality.
The Ending:
Part of this test was pairing the M8 V2 with the excellent Ampersand headphone amp. That part will be covered in the Ampersand review, which is forthcoming as well.
To sum up the M8 V2 you get a rich, vibrant tonality emanating from within a box, which is now smaller than most Smartphones on the market. It is light as well. But neither of those characteristics can shadow the superb audio radiating from within. That rich, smooth character pervades my senses and the resolution wrought on Tuesday’s Gone comes across as well, and I turn the volume up to listen. Bass exudes from within me. Fine treble song follows suit, giving the notes a thoroughly satisfying amount of clarity and detail. This is not a DAC/Amp to be toyed with. This is serious stuff, and the more I listen, the more I rate this highly. VERY highly. It is as if they took a Ray Samuels, and injected some maturity into it, along with a modicum of controls. Mind you, the Intruder is a damn fine amp in its own regard, and a used one should be snatched. Quickly. But here, the CEtrance takes that game and raises the ante with better control and better options with which to listen across the board. A full-sized XLR instead of a mini-XLR? You betcha’. Power to drive all but the hardest headphones? Indeed. And in what I would call a very affordable package.
The CEntrance M8 V2 could easily be the go-to DAC/Amp in your portable set up as well as your desktop DAC/Amp, it is that good. Plus, when your mates come calling into your office and wonder where all of your other expensive gear went, you can let them listen to this little gem. They will be smitten, as am I.
Wiljen
I listen to a lot of strings, classical, and jazz and for at least the strings and orchestral pieces I prefer the M8v2 over the Mojo2. I do like the resolution on Mojo2 but think the stage and tonality are a bit more natural on the M8v2 in comparison.
Lépine
Thank you for the helpful information.
I was in the market for some portable DAC/Amps, and luckily it just so happened that I had a need right as my trip to CanJam came around. I was looking at the options from iFi with the Hip DAC, and from FiiO with the Q3 with its THX AAA amp. There unfortunately wasn't much at the event, especially not under $1000 that I was really into. I loved the Hugo 2, but again, it was well out of my price range with its MSRP at nearly $2,000.
But low and behold I would find this thing while doing the rounds for that raffle ticket (which I unfortunately did not drop in before 3:30!!). On the first day of the con, I didn't pay much attention to the CEntrance booth, and it was only by chance of me and my friend wanting to do the raffle that I dropped by. While demoing it, I was impressed. For every feature I discovered about this thing, two more would be hidden around the bend. As I describe here, and in person with the representative at the booth, it is quite literally a clown car.
Why a clown car? Well, it's small, and things just keep pouring out of it. When I found the guys were selling this with a floor discount of $150 off with even more deals with extra accessories, I jumped on the opportunity for this item and its waterproof case, which I will get to soon. That case in of itself is a shocker.
Without further ado, let me get into the specifics. TL;DR at the bottom.
Specs & In The Box
| Freq. Response | 20 Hz…20 kHz ±0.2 dB | ||
| THD+N | 0.004% (0 dBFS, 1kHz) | ||
| Noise Floor | 6 µV RMS (A-wtd), max gain | ||
| Output Power, XLR | 1.6 W (max total, 75Ω) (this is dangerously high, please take care of your hearing) | ||
| Output Power, ¼” | 532 mW (max total, 32Ω) | ||
| Output Power 2.5mm | 360 mW (max total, 47Ω) | ||
| Output Power 3.5mm | 130 mW (max total, 32Ω) | ||
| Unit Dimensions | 121 mm (4.76″) (L), 70 mm (2.76″) (W), 36 mm (1.42″) (H) | ||
| Unit Weight | 250 grams (8.9 ounces) | ||
| Bluetooth input: 15 HRS, USB input: 8 HRS (Stamina Mode ON, 4 amps active) | ||
| Battery Runtime |
| ||
| DAC | Dual AKM 4493 | ||
| Inputs | 3.5 mm (1/8"), 6.3 mm (1/4"), 2 mm Balanced, 4-pin XLR Balanced, 2 USB C (1 Power, 1 Power+Data), Bluetooth (APTX, AAC, SBC, MP3) | ||
| Switches | Input Button, Power Button, Treble Boost, Bass Boost, Charge On, Stamina Mode On, Gain Switch |
The above is copy/pasted from their site's specs sheet and typed some things myself. I included what I felt was important. For full info, check out their site page on it here.
I know the output power ratings look weird but trust me, I think this thing can drive things pretty well considering it managed to get my highest impedance headphones, the HD 58x's to listenable volumes even on low gain.
Included in the box is the device itself, a velvet drawstring pouch, a 3 ft USB-C to USB-C cable, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, 3M rubber feet, a SIM tool, and the manual/quick-start guide.
If you're curious as to why there's a "Charge On" switch and one USB-C port labelled as both power and data, we'll get into that next.
Features
Let me tell you, this thing is packed with value. Not only does this have 4 inputs for headphones (which btw, can all output at once) and USB-C, but it comes with other features in the form of tiny switches you flip with either their provided SIM card tool or whatever small household tools you got (they recommend toothpicks or paperclips).
On top of your usual low/high gain switch, you have two EQ options. A Bass Boost, and a Treble Boost. I don't know what exactly the amount they add to the boosts, but it's pretty sizeable. I think it can either enhance your experience or bork the sound, but it depends on the headphones you're running and how well they adapt to EQ. From my tests, over-ear headphones handle EQ better while IEMs tend to get messed up, but hey, mileage may vary.
There are also two special settings which I list under "Switches" in specs, these being the Charge switch and the Stamina switch. Each of these affect how the DAC/Amp handles power.
The Charge switch basically tells the DAC/Amp to also utilize the USB-C data port for power, basically meaning you can run it purely off of USB bus power from your PC/laptop, or charge it via your phone. If it is turned off, it otherwise requires you to utilize the power port on the back where the "hot" ports are located.
The Stamina switch is an excellent feature I didn't see from my research on other portable DAC/Amps. It basically turns off the "hot" ports on the back and the LED VU meter in order to save battery life in cases where you don't need to run insensitive headphones. What makes this even better is that the Bluetooth mode also requires less power, and the manual basically recommends using Stamina mode in conjunction with Bluetooth to get the maximum battery life, which at the rated 15 hours, is pretty frickin' sweet.
Of course easily one of the coolest features for me is the LED VU meter. VU meters are always great and it's no difference here with the dots.
Bluetooth is here as well and under my testing, it works great. On the showroom floor at CanJam, I was able to walk halfway across the convention room floor and still get a stable connection that is crystal clear. Under my "real world" test in my own home, though it did break up occasionally, for the most part it was still crystal clear while I was downstairs, with my phone in my room. Of course, the moment I got into a place where's too many walls, or too far with additional walls, it began breaking up regardless of me streaming Qobuz or my compressed Opus files on my phone.
To swap between USB or Bluetooth, you simply push the Input button (duh!). It gives you a beeping noise whenever you switch.
Overall Impressions (& That Waterproof Case)
Okay, let me get this out of the way first. I got this waterproof case with my order for $20 extra. The rep told me it floats. And well, I'm here to say:
IT. FREAKIN'. FLOATS.
Also does a pretty good job of repelling water from getting inside! I only noticed a tooth pick sized droplet in the case. Though I think just in case, I'll still wrap the thing in the velvet bag when I put it in there. Especially since it has zero padding and the thing rattles around in there. Of course, this goes without saying, but please don't do what I did and purposefully endanger your item. I only did it once for testing purposes since I'm the first poster for it here and I will not do it again. So, impressions regarding that case: YES. GOOD.
While setting it up for my PC, I came to the first speed bump. This thing is not natively compatible with Windows. I just...what? I literally had to go to CEntrance's site, sign up with my email, get the link from that email which was in my spam, then download and run the .exe. But wait! There's more! I had to reboot my computer in order to for Windows 10 to actually recognize it. Thankfully, I have an SSD so it was quick and without hassle, but for those who don't have a SSD boot drive...yea, total pain in the ass.
What really irks me about it too is that it worked flawlessly with no modification on my Android phone. And from what they say, it's native on Mac OS and iOS too! So what gives? Well, low and behold, I boot up Windows and open up the Sound Control Panel. What do I see?
That's right, line output. This sucker does not have UAC. I soon figured that out when I decided to try on my PS4 and Switch nearby. And guess what? Didn't recognize it at all. I think for the asking price of $750, this is a little ridiculous. Why wouldn't you have native compatibility with the most popular home computer OS, much less not utilize UAC for those who use consoles? So, console gamers, you might wanna look at Schiit's or Creative's DAC/Amp offerings instead.
I was also disappointed to find that I couldn't lower the bitrate or sampling rate down to 24/48. Why that you ask? Why would that be a con? For me, that's the perfect rates since most audio rarely exceeds 24/48. Even the highest quality FLACs, such as those for Xenoblade Chronicles 2's OST I have in my library, only reach up to 24/48. In my tampering for the Modi 3, I found I preferred how it sounded under those settings versus the highest possible quality where I thought things didn't sound...right, for lack of better term.
Don't get me wrong though, I still love this thing, 100%! I just felt the need to get those annoyances/cons off my chest first. For the rest of this, expect me to sing this thing's praises.
During my testing, I utilized a combination of Hi-Res Qobuz streaming, 24/48 streaming over UPnP via Foobar2000, playing FLACs off Foobar on my PC, as well as watching movies and gaming on said PC. I tested both Bluetooth and USB connections. As for my usage, in comparison to my personal Magni 3+/Modi 3 stack on my PC...crap dude. Those AK4493s produce this level of clarity, fullness, and detail, that not even the 4490 of the Modi 3 could under the same bit depth and sampling rate of 32 bit/48 kHz.
During my A/B versus my Modi 3, I utilized Xenoblade 2's OST. The dual AKM 4493, as I say here, provides this level of clarity yet fullness and richness to the sound that made me fall in love with it when I demoed it at CanJam SoCal 2021. In comparison to the AKM 4490, it just has this level of detail and presentation that I think makes it a clear winner. The violins and acoustic guitars in the track "Torigoth Day" sound amazing, with the guitar's plucking being heard loud and clear. In "Monster Surprised You", this thing gives the cymbals a lifelike quality, and the orchestral segments gave me goosebumps while listening with my Dunu Falcon Pros.
Make no mistake, I'll be keeping my Modi 3 for a while, but let it be known that my Modius & Modi Multibit upgrades may come soon than I think!
It really began to shine when I took on Qobuz and listened to tracks like Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" (my personal favorite "litmus test" track), Michael Jackson's "Bad" album, and Sturgill Simpson's album "Sound and Fury". Much like when I first listened to Hybrid Theory on my Schiit stack for the first time in Christmas 2020, I found a new level of appreciation for the tracks. MJ's "Speed Demon" has this punchiness and attitude to the bassline I never experienced before, yet it was so detailed. Michael's forceful voice was more powerful than ever before, and his lower toned sections had this velvety texture to them. "Sound and Fury"? Oh, I understood every aspect of his bigger disco influence in that album.
In terms of power, it was able to drive most of my cans I own to audible volumes even on low gain through the lower powered ports on the "cool" side. Though of course to get at the volume I listen to, which is a bit on the louder side, I either had to swap to the "hot" port of the 1/4 inch jack on the other side while still on low gain, or set the gain switch to high, or in some cases, both hot and high gain. I have a feeling there won't be any issue driving high impedance headphones. I will update this once I get my 600 ohm DT 880's though to let you guys know if it can deal, since I think that headphone will be a great stress test.
Given that this thing has balanced, and my Dunu's came equipped with balanced connectors, this was also my first time utilizing balanced connection. With regard to this, I thought I heard something better there than in SE sometimes. But the more I intently listened and swapped, the more I realized I was wrong in that regard. Perhaps it's the fact that these are $220 valued IEMs (bought with showroom deal of $200). These are the most expensive headphones I own and I'm willing to bet that had I owned a pair of cans that costed $300+ or $1000+, it'd be a different story.
But as it stands, my impressions of balanced audio for headphones is that the only difference I found between it and SE is the amount of amplification power the ports gave me. You can hate me for this, I don't care, but I think I agree with my friend in finding it not worth it beyond the use case of either long cable runs or needing to drive inefficient cans on the go. I'll definitely be sticking with SE otherwise for all future gear.
The TL;DR; Final Thoughts
As a whole, I am very much satisfied with my purchase. Especially for a discount of $150 off from the showroom floor deal. I'm excited to finally have a portable DAC/Amp solution that I feel gives me everything I could have ever wanted and so much more. I swear, every thing I listen to on this, it just gives me goosebumps. The good kind!
It legit has me wanting to improve my desktop audio gear because otherwise it competes with my stack in a way that makes me feel like I can't ever go back. I think I can deal and hold out for the time being, but man would my Magni/Modi stack be jealous if they were living creatures.
Despite me loving this thing, I had to dock half a star for not using UAC1 nor being natively compatible with Windows. The former I can deal with. I got a Modi 3 and a J-Tech HDMI Audio Optical Extractor for console audio.
But the latter? No Windows native compatibility...for a modern DAC/Amp...that is $750?! I think that's quite frankly a little ridiculous, if not straight up unacceptable at this price. Had I not absolutely love everything else about this thing, I definitely would've taken off a full to 1.5 stars off the rating.
All that aside, if you're not a console gamer, this wholeheartedly gets my recommendation. I am a very happy camper after using this.
An Update
Well, unfortunately, this thing is getting docked another star from me. It seems this thing is not exactly drop-resistant. It may seem like a stupid reason to dock to you, but hear me out. I'm a bit of a klutz. My hands shake and sometimes they just drop things. I never intend to do so on purpose. I can count the amount of times I dropped this on two hands and it was never dropped on concrete.
Nor were any of the drops from some exceeding height. No, the worst drop is maybe some times I dropped it on hardwood flooring while my arm was down by my waist...yet it survived it just fine. Eventually one day, sitting on a chair and down it goes again and...the left channel is dead. This thing had survived just fine with not a single change before, even with headphones plugged in.
Worst of all the drop that killed it was by and large the smallest height drop this thing ever had. I don't know what exactly happened and neither was David from Centrance, but needless to say at $750, it's not encouraging to see him say "yea that might happen". I'm thankful that Centrance offers repairs at all even out of warranty, but not gonna lie I'm a little disappointed that a portable device as sturdily built as this, with pricing nearing that of a midrange Android phone, doesn't come with the same endurance as one. I've dropped my phone a lot and I've never had any problems with the USB C port.
At this point, I'm unsure whether I'll pay for the repair or try to find an alternate solution like a Dragonfly Red or not.
