Had an M3 for a few years, very good DAC. Have not heard the M1. Moved to an Ayre QX5, to my ears, a significant jump up from the M3. I try to buy American as much as possible. Bricasti and Ayre are two of the best, quality, build, sonics, support, etc.
Bricasti Model 1 Series II DAC
This DAC seems pretty interesting from both an analogue as well as digital conversion point of view:
https://bricasti.com/en/consumer/m1s2.php
I currently own a highly modded DirectStream MKI DAC, but this DAC I really want.... MSRP is around $12K....
Any opinions on this DAC?