Marcelo critiques the MUSE HiFi M3 Extremely, an built-in ES9028Q2M DAC and twin JAN6418 tube transportable amplifier with 480mW of output energy. It’s at present priced at $109.99.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in return for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site that doesn’t have any affiliate hyperlinks. I thank HiFiGO and MUSE HiFi for this chance.
Click on right here to learn extra about different MUSE merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our present scoring tips, which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
MUSE HiFi M3 Extremely Evaluation
Abstract
The MUSE HiFi M3 Extremely transportable DAC and headphone amplifier has an prolonged, ethereal treble, and a thicker, larger-than-life bass presentation which provides the music a extra partaking and lifelike high quality. To not point out that the staging is de facto good as properly.
Professionals
Excellent sound transparency.
Big soundstage.
Holographic soundstage.
Cons
Struggles at excessive quantity ranges with headphones.
Would you want a comparatively small, transportable DAC amplifier with vacuum tubes? Effectively, me too. It’s actually nice to have the ability to deliver alongside a pocketable DAC tube amplifier, particularly when you find yourself hooked on the mellow tube sound.
The issue is that the likes of the Cayin RU9 and the iBasso Nunchaku are priced fairly excessive for the funds audiophile.
Nonetheless, MUSE HiFi believes it has the reply to that downside with the brand new M3 Extremely, a compact, gentle, and extra inexpensive transportable tube amplifier, priced at $109.99.
I’ve reviewed their bigger, dearer transportable DAC tube amplifiers earlier than, together with the gorgeous MUSE HiFi M6 Double and the M5 Extremely, and, primarily based on these experiences, my expectations are heightened for the M3 Extremely.
How will the MUSE HiFi M3 Extremely carry out? And the way wouldn’t it examine to different equally sized DAC amplifiers, together with the HiBy W4 and the xDuoo XP-2 Bal? Let’s discover out.
Options
The M3 Extremely is a comparatively small and easy DAC amplifier that includes a pair of JAN6418 military-grade instantly heated miniature pentode tubes produced by Raytheon in the US.
It is a plug-and-play gadget that wastes no assets on screens or flashy options, focusing as a substitute on a pure sound-design strategy.
It options triple Anti-Vibration know-how, which bodily absorbs shocks and prevents microphonic results within the tubes.
For audio decoding, M3 Extremely makes use of the ES9029Q2M DAC chip from ESS SABRE, from which the analog output is then handed on to the ES9603Q opamp-based headphone driver.
The sign then goes to a pair of JAN6418 military-grade tubes for amplification. The M3 Extremely’s most output energy scores are 460 mW at 3.5 mm and 480 mW by way of 4.4 mm on a 32Ω load.
What is likely to be lacking for some is Bluetooth connectivity, although I favor a purer-sounding wired connection.
Design
At first look, the M3 Extremely jogs my memory of an outdated favourite dongle DAC, the MOONDROP MoonRiver2, with its stepped design and similarity in end, black colour, and texture.
The M3 Extremely has these six rectangular steps on the entrance that descend towards the oblong gap that runs by way of the again, tastefully exposing the pair of JAN6418. The again facet mirrors the design on the entrance.
A protracted and slender quantity rocker is positioned on the suitable facet of the M3 Extremely. The M3 Extremely is small, measuring solely 65mm (L) × 16mm (W) × 46.5mm (H), and weighs solely 55 grams.
Given the simplicity of the M3 Extremely’s design intent, it has solely a quantity management on its proper facet. Fortunately, there are sufficient quantity steps to permit tremendous changes, and the M3 Extremely remembers the amount setting when it’s off.
I/O
The SA9137L USB chipset handles the highest USB port’s sign. The SA9137L is a high-performance USB audio streaming controller chip utilized in budget-friendly, high-fidelity DACs.
The M3 Extremely decodes as much as PCM 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 digital indicators by way of USB.
On the backside are the three.5 mm and 4.4 mm output jacks, which have most rated outputs of 460 and 480 mW, respectively.
USB-DAC
The SA9137L USB chipset does a very good job of managing the USB enter. I by no means skilled points connecting to my units, together with a PC, laptop computer, DAPs, and telephones.
Although I consider M3 Extremely is simply suitable with UAC 2.0 enter mode, as MUSE HiFi by no means mentions UAC 1.0.
There needs to be no downside with solely UAC 2.0 so long as you don’t use the M3 Extremely on very outdated PCs or gaming consoles. UAC 1.0 is simply used for very outdated PCs and gaming consoles.
I by no means skilled noise or radio-frequency interference, even when the M3 Extremely was positioned behind my cellphone with information and WiFi enabled.
When plugged in, M3 Extremely connects shortly, and the sound is routinely routed to it from all my digital audio gamers (DAPs), together with the OnePlus 13 Android cellphone, in addition to my PC and laptop computer.
The sound routinely reverts to the PC, laptop computer, or cellphone when the M3 Extremely is unplugged.
Packaging & Equipment
The M3 Extremely got here in a flat, rectangular black field measuring 165 x 96 x 30 mm, with a photograph of the M3 Extremely on the entrance and textual content on the again. It contains the gadget, a brief Kind-C cable, and the guide protected by foam.
Sound Impressions
I carried out a regular 24-hour burn-in to let the tubes settle. For important listening, I let the M3 Extremely run for no less than 5 minutes to heat up the tubes totally. I pay attention at reasonable to excessive quantity ranges.
No EQ was used, nor have been every other sound enhancements utilized. I used UAPP and PowerAmp music participant on my smartphone.
I primarily use my OnePlus 13 cellphone and FiiO M33 R2R DAP as sources with my IEMs and headphones, together with the DUNU Falcon Extremely Ti, Kiwi Ears Astral, and QoA Martini IEMs, in addition to the TANGZU Ox Demon King, FiiO JT3, and Sennheiser HD 6XX headphones.
Though headphones are included on this assessment, the sound analysis under relies solely on the IEMs, because the M3 Extremely has issue driving headphones at loud volumes, which I’ll talk about within the pairing part under.
Abstract
Opposite to standard perception that tubes have a heat sound with laid-back treble, the M3 Extremely isn’t that sort of heat in any respect. It has a transparent, clear, and ethereal sound with wonderful perceived higher treble extension.
The M3 Extremely is not like different warm-sounding DAC amplifiers with an analog sound-tuning type, whether or not tube or solid-state, which undergo from low perceived decision regardless of their heat. The M3 Extremely is extremely resolving.
The bass is just not as tight or as hard-hitting as with the tightest solid-state DAC amplifiers I’ve heard, nevertheless it provides thickness to the sound, making the music really feel larger-than-life and extra partaking.
I hear an excellent neutrality and transparency all through the entire midrange, and the observe weight is correct, neither too heavy nor too skinny.
I additionally like that there isn’t any apparent coloration, equivalent to forwardness within the higher midrange or bloominess within the decrease midrange.
As famous earlier, the treble may be very prolonged, leading to a really ethereal sound. I additionally just like the transparency, which presents the micro particulars of the background devices with readability and correct gentleness behind the primary vocalist.
Coloration
The M3 Extremely is coloration-free. It’s arduous to know whether or not I’m listening to a tube DAC Amplifier once I’m blindfolded.
The one factor I seen, which signifies I’m listening to a tube DAC amplifier, is that the bass isn’t as tight or hard-hitting as with a solid-state output stage. It stays properly managed and detailed all through my assessment, although.
There may be additionally a refined signal of additional power within the higher midrange and decrease treble, identified within the audio neighborhood as related to the older technology of ESS Sabre chips, which incorporates the ES9028Q2M.
However it is vitally minimal and doesn’t sound glarey in any respect. It solely brings the small print barely ahead within the soundstage.
The added bass thickness and refined elevation within the decrease treble make the M3 Extremely’s sound signature mildly V-shaped.
Staging
Because of M3 Extremely’s clear sound with micro-detail-filled, ethereal, and prolonged treble, the soundstage may be very spacious, broad, and open.
The expanse between the acute left and the acute proper is huge, and there’s additionally nice depth and peak within the soundstage, leading to a really pure feeling soundscape.
The M3 Extremely’s staging is among the many finest I’ve heard on transportable DAC amplifiers.
Devices are distinctly separated, the central vocal sound is palpable, and the microdetails of the background devices are well-defined, with a mild, unforced, and pure timbral presentation.
Dynamics
Once more, I need to reiterate that this sound analysis makes use of solely the IEMs, not the headphones, which I’ll clarify under.
The M3 Extremely has easy dynamics and really clear, undistorted sound when paired with IEMs; there’s a clear distinction between its rendition of macro and micro dynamics.
I can hear the bass pounding and the contrasting devices snapping, however on the similar time, the mild and refined strokes of different devices within the background are rendered excellently.
The added bass thickness and prolonged treble make the sound energetic and really partaking.
Utilizing my IEMs, whether or not with the three.5 or the 4.4 mm connection, the sound may be very loud, dynamic, and clear. There may be additionally loads of headroom, as I solely must set the amount to 75 % to achieve my most loudness.
Click on on web page 2 under for my really useful pairings and chosen comparisons.
