Micromega M-100/150 field reports

There is a new firmware update and network update on the website as of this morning.  Fixed an iPhone app crash for me.

I’m having so much fun again with music, I got a new set of speakers - Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S.  I can confirm that the M100 is a wonderful match with these speakers.  Warm, detailed, great bass.  I can be happy for a long time with this combo.

Fun continues here too, M-100 such a champ and delight every time I listen.  All genres, all recordings - including the bad ones, which M-100 is unabashedly, brutally revealing with.

Extending my speakers with dual Syzygy SLF870 sub's, eagerly waiting for them to arrive.  Did lengthy research and shopping, skipped REL this time (current owner) and settled on Syzygy for all the reasons, esp. forward-thinking design & features.  Will report with results in another appropriate thread.

Just purchased an m100 with MARS.  With a little luck it’ll be here before the weekend.  Moving from a Parasound Halo Int.  I’m geeked about trying the room correction.  Everything I’ve read about it seems to be very positive.

When the extended M-100 "system" works, it’s a delight.

But only when it works. Network module continues to be intermittently and infuriatingly unreliable, such that the M-100 gets "lost" on my LAN and needs a f’ing amp and network firmware reinstall to recover.

M-One android app continues to be the outdated POS from 2016 ... waiting again to hear from Micromega with an update on the app update they said would be released in December 2018  : |

re-asking in case anyone might have updated information.... does anyone know (or has measured) the gain of the phono pre-amp? 

does anyone know (or has measured) the gain of the phono pre-amp?

p'diego,

Email Micromega and ask.  They do respond.

Recent reply on update to the Android app:

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject:   Re: Micromega Android app avec M-100
Date:   Thu, 21 Mar 2019 23:16:19 +0100
From:   m-one@micromega.com

The new Android app is getting ready for certification with TIDAL, QOBUZ and TIDAL inside. I hope to release it within the next weeks.

It will not be long until i will be able to open the possibility to install the app as part of a BETA program in Google Play Store. Probably end of next week.

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject:   Re: Micromega Android app avec M-100
Date:   Fri, 15 Mar 2019 18:57:41 +0100
From:   m-one@micromega.com

Hope you doing fine.

Actually we are finishing the new Android version which should be ready more than soon.

CC'd the lead in charge of the development [who] would tell you more precisely when exactly we could expect the release!

I would believe about the end of March…

Have a great day,


> Le 15 mars 2019 à 11:49, usery a écrit :
>
> Bonjour,
>
> Is the new version of the Micromega Android app available yet? I am not seeing it on the Google Play Store - only the older version is there.
>
> Merci

thanks for your reply. i have tried numerous times on the website email 'form' and have not received a response. i'll try the m-one email address you show in your response -- again, thanks!!!

Just got M100 last month to pair with Martin Logan Clarity, it has been a wonderful experience so far and love the sound coming from this combo. Currently 100% listening done thu TIDAL streaming , and wondering anyone here has compared which connection is the best? Laptop USB >M100 direct? Laptop USB>USB to Coax(DDC)>M100 Coax or LAN by connecting to network? 

"...which connection is best?"

Do whatever's easiest? That any of those connection paths will make a
audible difference for you & your hearing is the subject of lots of fighting and mumbo-jumbo.

From my LAN (and a inexpensive hub) I use the RJ45 (ethernet) connection on the M-100. To satisfy superstition, place laptop some distance from amp.

@usery, thank you for the reply, unfortunately placement of m100 now is a bit difficult running RJ45 to it, and my toddler just snapped my M2tech hiface 2 (DDC), therefore I'm asking anyone here has done the comparison between each input. I guess I have just to suck it up and get another DDC and run RJ45 to do the comparison. I will report back my finding. 

roni44 said: "...get another DDC"

Yeah I’m wary of interfaces like that ... especially at that price, those reviews, and that it’s apparently a ’chi-fi’ product. I have nothing against ’chi-fi’ per se - IF the companies are well-established, with records of credibility and honest value (think iFi or iBasso).

Is your laptop your only available NAS option?

I did notice big improvement over lower end DAC from Schiit after I plugged in hiface 2, M2tech do make some reputable products and it's Italian company specialized in DDCs, and DACs. My toddler broke my hiface 2 before I can sit down and have serious A/B session, therefore I'm stuck with USB direct to M100 for now. Maybe my mind is playing a trick on me but I felt USB direct to M100 for some reason doesn't sound as alive and detailed compared to Hiface 2 to Coaxial. Anyhow, I'm looking into Audiophilleo 2 with pure power make sure keep it away from my toddler this time. 

Quick update after few months with M100, I've added Isoacoustics newest Orea Bronze feets (3) under M100, and Gustard DDC-U16 between MacBook Pro and M100 via I2S input. Source is MacBook Pro with Tidal Hifi from Audirvana 3.5. @usery, you are right, M100/M50 sounds great no matter what input, however with a good USB Converter for my setup just gave that little extra push. The sound stage is deepen, a bit more 3 dimensional, and added micro details still amazes me each every listening session. 

I realize this thread is a little out of date, but hoping the previous contributors might be able to respond.  I just got my M100 back from repair where it apparently had an “intermittent fuse case holder”, and bad “varistors”.  Anyway, seems fine now.  
On to my question.  I’ve downloaded the app for iOS.  I’ve never connected it successfully to my m100.  The app always says “make sure your devices and smart phone are connected to the same network”

do I need to connect the m100 to WiFi?  I’ve not been able to figure out how I might do that. Seems others have connected no problem.  Do I need a LAN connection to my home network for that to work?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

s7horton said:

"I’ve downloaded the app for iOS. I’ve never connected it successfully to my m100. The app always says “make sure your devices and smart phone are connected to the same network”

Did you reflash the M100 network firmware after the repair? If not do that - see the user manual for instructions (easy).

"do I need to connect the m100 to WiFi? I’ve not been able to figure out how I might do that. Seems others have connected no problem. Do I need a LAN connection to my home network for that to work?"

Yes you need a LAN connection - the M100 only has a RJ45-type network interface (ie wired), no built-in wifi support. So you need either a ethernet cable run from your main router to the M100, or a wifi router/extender bridged from your main router then a short ethernet cable to the M100. The former is waay preferable if your house layout allows it.

Thanks for the response.  The simple solution is for me to connect an extender via Ethernet.  I’ll give that a try tomorrow.

Does it have user EQ as well? Loudness ? Adjustable crossover for sub out and main speakers ?

Server function ? (Stick a hard drive to the USB port. No expensive audiophile router, nas and cables needed?)

I have an M-100 but without the so-called M.A.R.S. room EQ kit (unlocked firmware + mic). You can read about M-One features from here: https://micromega.com/en/products/mone-range/. I’m not aware of any "user EQ".

ps: expensive ’audiophile' routers, nas’s and cables are poor investments.

How to airplay from spotify? Which mode on the amp to select?. I found the device on my Iphone spotify app but there’s no sound coming out.

I have a M-150. Sound is lovely, really, but I too experience some anoying problems, especially with its networking implementation. I don’t like the IOS app, it has as several problems. So I tried to integrate the M into my LMS ecosytem, via UPnP. Unfortunately the M-One quite often "disappers" as UPnP device. In this case neither the app nor any other UPnP component can find it. Ping works. The only solution is to do a reboot on the device (or pull and replug the 230V).

Is anybody from you using the M-One as UPnP device without problems?

I tried to contact the manufacturer regarding this issue and Roon inegration but they’ve never answered. I have flashed the latest firmware and network driver (in fact, several times...).

"...anybody using the M-One as UPnP device without problems?"

After some early poor reliability, which a couple firmware reinstalls & reboots seemed to fix, my M-100 has been very reliable on the network as a UPnP renderer. I use the Micromega Android app to control volume and input sources only - other UPnP control point apps are much better, especially the BubbleUPnP android app (sadly not an option for iOS). On Mac OS I use upplay as control point app, also quite good if not rough in its ux implementation.

Direct-message me for a contact at Micromega en Boissy-Saint-Léger (he’ll connect you with a tech support person who can help).

@usery, can you please PM me tech support for Micromega, I need help with failed LAN. Thanks in advance. 

Hi guys 

I have bought few months ago m100 great amp and dac ! 
 

however I noticed that I don’t have tidal access on Micromega app, it’s not supported anymore ?thanks

 

 

ok I got answer from Micromega  

 

"It turns out that these have totally changed the way to connect these streaming services with the app. This explains your inability to connect to the streaming service from the Micromega app.

We are not able to update the IOS app currently and advise you to go through your Tidal app in order to stream on your M100."

I'm hoping some of you might have some insight to share...

I currently have a Hegel HD30 DAC, H30 amp, and Revel Concerta 2 F36 (the speakers may seem like the weak link, but they sound far superior to my ears compared to many other speakers I’ve had that cost multiples/thousands more... so I’m "dabbling" in Revel’s entry level before deciding to move up the stack). Cables are various Ansuz (C2) and I’m using power conditioning. Digital front end is an Aurender 100 (USB-out only).

Here’s my frustration... the system sounds incredibly high-resolution and nuanced, but yet lacks an organic musicality or "soul" that stops just shy of becoming emotionally involving. I suspect most of this signature is related to the digital front-end/DAC.

So I’ve been looking for a musical sounding DAC for some time but have been reluctant to buy blind... and also frustratingly most well-regarded DACs omit volume control which would necessitate the $$ purchase of a pre-amp (and additional pair of balanced cables).

So I’m theorizing... the Micromega M100 gives me several options... one of which is likely to improve sound quality along the lines I’m hoping for (more organic/musical/lush): A) use it as a pre-amp; B) use it as a DAC/Pre-amp; C) use it as a DAC/Pre-amp/amp. You get the ideal... basically it would allow me to see what changes in my system might move the needle of the sonic signature I’m after (DAC, Pre-amp, and even amp).

I’d love your thoughts...

Thanks!!