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RE: My journey with Grace Design M920

Posted by DanWKW (A) on June 11, 2015 at 23:44:05

In Reply to: My journey with Grace Design M920 posted by DanWKW on June 11, 2015 at 22:17:47:

Grace Design M920
As some inmates ask for advice on DAC/headphone amp, I gonna write up a mini preview of what I found with this little sweetie, Grace Design M920. Unfortunately it has just been used for less than one month with around 30-40 hours of listening after break-in. I wish it could at least serve to shed some light for someone who is searching in this price range. In order to cut it short, I will point them out briefly as follows:

Topology, Functions & Compatibility
1) Standalone DAC for CDP with ESS Sabre DAC 9018K2M (the 2nd best performance stereo DAC from ESS 9018 series according to ESS website)
2) Sophisticated s-lock dual stage PLL clocking (I am not particularly obsessive with measurements
3) USB DAC for PC audio with asynchronous USB playback (see below for more details)
4) High quality pre-amp for other line sources
5) Headphone amp
6) Very compact sized topology with very short signal path (Please see photo)
7) Outputs and inputs (Please see photo)
8) My complaint: only provide outputs via RCA (unbalanced) and 1/4 TRS jacks (balanced). What I gonna to do with my expensive XLR balanced cables!

Build quality and heat generation
1) Built like a tank? (Not sure as I didn't dare to step on it to test! )
2) Detailed and graceful craftsmanship (see photo)
3) Feet with adjustable heights. Nice for balancing on uneven surface.
4) Chassis looks like a younger brother of a Swiss made brand
5) In comfortable room temp, M920 just generates little heat on the top plate of the chassis right above its toroidal transformer.

User-friendliness, user's notes and after-sales service
1) Manual: "Back it up with our unrivaled 5 year transferable warranty. " (No complaint up to this moment. Touch wood!)
2) The person in charge of after-sales service is called Alex. His reply was quick and his advice was precise and very helpful. Thanks again, Alex.
3) Compact sized chassis. Extremely convenient to put it anywhere close to my main audio system and my computers.
4) Easy to place it for a blind test with remote control.
5) Easy to hide it up without our wives even knowing. (Please see below)
6) USB 1.0 set as default in M920 has been pre-installed supporting up to 24/96
7) A separate USB 2.0 driver has to be installed for latest PCs in order to support up to 32/384
8) User's Note: In order to make USB 2.0 work, M920 USB 2.0 (U2) function must be selected before the installation. Every time we reset the unit, M920 goes back USB 1.0 as default.
9) User's Note: In order to make M920 as a fixed output DAC, we must open the chassis and re-arrange the output jumpers manually.

Remote control and digital filters:
1) Easy installation for my Logitech Harmony. Most of the M920's functions are accessible with my Harmony remote such as volume control, input selections, "Crossfeed", and the 7-segment menu display. As mentioned in the manual, we may also pair an Apple infrared remote control to M920. (But I didn't try)
2) For digital filter selections, we have to press the knob Filter PCM (FP) manually before doing so with the remote. It would be very handy for someone who intends to conduct a sudden blind test without the knowing of the listeners. In fact, I did so with some of my audiophile friends. For those forget to press the knob, he has to walk back and forth:-)
3) There are lots of DAC with various filters. Nevertheless, the ones I have experienced with usually ask for more in the range of US$5000 to 10,000 which are too pricey for me. Of course, they usually look bigger with a more stunning appearance and extremely extravagant. Someone would prefer them when he/she looks for a stunning chassis, more functions which might not be touched for the rest of the DAC's life. Who knows?
4) I don't have M902 for direct comparison. But the DAC design of M920 is sophisticated and versatile with 3 choices of digital filter response. I have compared M920 with some CDP and DAC costs at the same price range and much higher. M920 could deliver a silky smoothness (you may say "not edgy") with Slow (S) filter, blends with a strong sense of transparency without digital harshness with Minimum Phase (P) filter and could squeeze out more sparkling harmonics at the top with Fast (F) filter. I prefer S and P most of the time with my ATC SCM-100A and HD700. YMMV, however, as you know it all depends on system synergy and matching.
5) Don't forget: the rule of diminishing return still applies. In this respect, M920 would be a giant killer if we could blend it with your existing system and when M920 suits your taste.

Sound or sonic signature: My first priority!
1) The three filters seems to be built around with the notion of neutrality in mind, rather than in pursuit of a particular warm, something with unrealistic detail retrieval which usually characterizes in close microphone arrangements. I could find myself more engaging with music and the performers. Actually I never felt myself necessary to dig into the audio jargons until I decided to write up this preview.
2) It has proved the effects of different digital filters are so audible and apparent to most of us. This is undoubtedly a heartwarming bonus to suit various recording preferences and listening taste. No recordings are made equal. Some are warmer. Some are leaner. Some are with more analogue warmth. Some are clinically digitalized. Some are natural. Some are artificial and manipulated with excessive processors and EQ techniques.
3) In a nutshell, M920 always makes the music fresh like a daisy. How fresh? It can tug at your heartstrings with your long-lost CDs and other digital music. It's like meeting your puppy love on the street. The aftertaste is so memorable and long-lasting.
4) Why do I say so? In fact I am a vinyl die-hard fans who spend most of my leisure listening to LPs. I might be a bit biased on vinyl records especially those made in the 60s and 70s. In fact, I have found myself lost with my CD collections and other digital formats for years. I have tried numbers of DACs and CDPs until I met M920.
5) You would never feel disappointed with the sonic performance of M920 as a standalone DAC. M920 could blow away some older DACs and CDPs with some obsolete digital architectures in a few seconds. So please forget those old 20-bit or 24/192 upsampling designs. They are not the contenders at all, possibly, except some UK exotic 18-bit tubed design which sounds extremely analogue to me.
6) Although it isn't fair to compare the versatility of crossfeed function with an SPL Phonitor or a top-notch Meridian, the headphone section of M920 to me is an extra bonus for a decent pair of monitors such as Sennheiser HD-700 (150 ohm). To most of us, M920 is still better than some standalone $600-800 range Japanese made DAC/headphone amp. I could listen for hours with no fatigue in exchange of slightly less pin-pointed images. Just one click to choose. It is like the Eco/Sport/Insane modes of your supercars. Better to have it than not. (Note: I prefer X-feed on most of the time)
7) If you look for a DAC with a warm, lush presentation, buy something else. If you look for even more digital filter options, buy something else. If you are addicted to an in-house DAC architecture, you are simply RICH. I certainly like to be rich and live long. However, when I have a vision that my wife might curtain up a home-made Avenger 3 and pack up with her expensive handbags and watches, when M920 is tiny enough to hide itself somewhere behind the closet, when she doesn't even notice and suddenly ask me why the sound of our CDP is so pleasant today, M920 is the way to go. You may now imagine the divorce rate is so low here, you bet!
8) In particular, M920 is a value product for those who plan for a versatile digital audio system. No matter streaming with Tidal, as a standalone DAC for your hi-rez files and CDT or a high quality pre-amp for your main audio system, you might find M920 the cream of the crop within the same price range.

My 2 Cents:
In terms of sonic performance, IMHO, M920 is like a down-to-earth version of something even pricier. To be honest, I would still listen to my vinyl setup more as most of my music collections are LP records! But I will start listening more to CDs and hi-rez digital files by now. After all, CD, LP and digital files are just media for my music enjoyment. More bang for your buck? M920 appears to be in pole position! My journey with M920 will go on (updating coming soon)

My System:
Turntable: Acoustic Solid Wood Ref/Triplanar VII/Phasmation PP-1000
Phono Amp: EAR 88
Pre amp: Nagra PLL
Speakers: ATC SCM-100 ASL
Headphones: Sennheiser HD-700 (main)
Music Genre: Classical, Jazz, Vocals, Pop, Rock'n Roll & World Music, etc. (No heavy metal and folk song)

Edits: 06/12/15 06/12/15 06/12/15 06/12/15 06/12/15 06/12/15 06/12/15 06/16/15

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