M2Tech Evo - First Impressions
Posted by: Hot Rats on 09 October 2010
My M2Tech Evo arrived in the post this morning. I had been using a Hiface in my nDAC/XPS, NAC52/Supercap/NAP250, SBLs system and I was keen to hear what the Evo could do. Keith at Purite Audio had informed me that it offered a significant upgrade over the Hiface.
He was right! Bass is much fuller and more tuneful and stereo imaging is much better defined. Vocals also benefit. The articulation is a lot better and there is a warmth to the human voice that was not as evident on the Hiface. I invited my son to listen with me. He said that the sound of the Hiface was 'in your face' whereas the Evo was more detailed and subtle.
I opted for the rechargeable lithium battery to power my Evo. Whether or not I will stick with this I don't know. I will try a mains transformer at some point and will leave the unit powered up. The lithium battery needs charging every fourteen hours according to Keith so it is not too much of a chore ... I just have to remember to do it so that I don't run out of juice! I guess that in theory, the battery should provide a cleaner power supply but I'll try it and see. Either way, it should be a better option that taking power from the USB socket of a laptop, as I was doing with the Hiface.
Although the Evo (£350 with battery and charger)is a more expensive option than the Hiface (£110), initial impressions would indicate that the Evo justifies the extra outlay.
I'll report back in a week or so when I have had an opportunity to evaluate it more fully.
He was right! Bass is much fuller and more tuneful and stereo imaging is much better defined. Vocals also benefit. The articulation is a lot better and there is a warmth to the human voice that was not as evident on the Hiface. I invited my son to listen with me. He said that the sound of the Hiface was 'in your face' whereas the Evo was more detailed and subtle.
I opted for the rechargeable lithium battery to power my Evo. Whether or not I will stick with this I don't know. I will try a mains transformer at some point and will leave the unit powered up. The lithium battery needs charging every fourteen hours according to Keith so it is not too much of a chore ... I just have to remember to do it so that I don't run out of juice! I guess that in theory, the battery should provide a cleaner power supply but I'll try it and see. Either way, it should be a better option that taking power from the USB socket of a laptop, as I was doing with the Hiface.
Although the Evo (£350 with battery and charger)is a more expensive option than the Hiface (£110), initial impressions would indicate that the Evo justifies the extra outlay.
I'll report back in a week or so when I have had an opportunity to evaluate it more fully.
There's some out of band tayloring in the system but it's very subtle and as Dave said, 50k can pass through an entire Naim system within a few DB of audio band. 
Naim was effectively addressing TIM distortion before it was brought to attention in '72.
Naim was effectively addressing TIM distortion before it was brought to attention in '72.