Review on Bricasti Design M3 DAC

I had someone help me install the MDx board in my Bricasti M21 DAC and it is working perfectly. It was an easy install and took about 30 minutes. After the install, we tested the M21 DAC using his equipment (Bricasti M28 power amplifiers). My M21 worked perfectly. The status display also shows MDx.

My M21 DAC is now playing in my system. I need to give it time to break-in but it does sound clearer, smoother with more musical details. I like it very much.

I agree with @zavato above that the MDx board upgrade is a great choice for the Bricasti M1, M3 and M21 DAC’s.

@sfseay, I asked Bricasti if they wanted the old board returned.  They said yes so I shipped it to them.   

@garynospamm, The Bricasti M3 Manual says "The M3 features 2 fully differential conversion channels, each with its own D/A converter, and analog level control circuitry. With our twin DAC design, the dynamic range for each channel is optimized by using the stereo ADI 1955 D/A converters in a mono configuration for PCM conversion, clocking is implemented with a technique called DDS (direct digital synthesis) which takes clock induced jitter to immeasurable levels. DSD is converted with our own proprietary one bit analog converter".

"The M3 features 2 digital audio conversion paths, 1 for PCM which utilizes a sigma delta type, and for DSD is a true one bit modulator of our own design and unique to the industry. This DSD conversion is a true 1 bit analog converter followed by an analog post noise filter. The result is a true a pure DSD play back unlike any other converter in the market. It is recommended that this feature be selected in the status menu labeled NDSD, setting to DSD PCM will use the ADI 1955 as the multi-bit converter which will impart a different sound character". Please see the Bricasti M3 Manual for more details. 

This means your PCM source albums use the PCM converter setting and your DSD source albums use the DSD setting. My Bricasti M21 DAC requires me to SELECT PCM or DSD based on my source material (PCM or DSD). If you need more info, please call Bricasti Customer Support.

BTW, my Bricasti M21 DAC has a delta sigma DAC setting, a ladder DAC setting and a DSD setting. There is a knob on the front panel that is used to select the required setting.