Bricasti Design M11 Stereo D/A
The M11 Stereo D/A pairs analogue-like timing with strikingly neutral transparency, exposing vocal texture, spatial depth and low-level detail without digital glare. The Ear admired its fluent dynamics and quiet precision, while The Absolute Sound found its musical flow and natural tone exceptionally involving. Broad connectivity and optional network streaming complete a deeply capable ladder DAC.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
90/100
Features Connectivity
86/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Exceptionally neutral, transparent presentation with natural, communicative vocals and convincing tonal colour.
High resolution and quiet backgrounds reveal fine recorded detail without grain, glare or hard leading edges.
Fluent timing, clean dynamics and precise imaging make both dense music and acoustic performances highly engaging.
Strong build quality and extensive inputs, with optional Ethernet streaming offering an especially relaxed presentation.
Cons
Ethernet streaming capability is an added-cost option rather than standard fitment.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviewers describe an unusually natural, neutral and deeply involving presentation, combining high insight with fluent timing and freedom from digital hardness. Its quiet backgrounds, clean transients and ability to make both simple vocals and dense recordings convincing are recurring strengths.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
95/100
The Ear calls the M11 genuinely neutral, transparent and uncoloured, saying it reveals voices “in their full glory” and handles difficult material with exceptional coherence. The Absolute Sound likewise found vocal tone “simply beguiling,” while both reviews praise its relaxed, fluent and highly engaging musical flow.
Resolution and Detail
92/100
The Absolute Sound reports high detail without grain, with an ability to hear quiet recorded information normally masked by more prominent instruments. The Ear hears impressive clarity and depth, with attacks, tonal colours and decays retaining distinct shape and position even within complex music.
Digital Performance
95/100
Both reviews stress the M11’s very quiet backgrounds, clean leading and trailing edges, and lack of edginess or grain. The Absolute Sound says it approaches analogue more closely than anything the reviewer had heard in a long time, while The Ear praises its natural transients and precision without hard digital edges.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
90/100
The Ear specifically praises the high build quality, broad input provision and the sense that the M11 is built to last. Its anodized-aluminium chassis, substantial connection set and adjustable output arrangements support that impression, although the reviews provide little discussion of internal construction details.
Features Connectivity
86/100
The M11 provides AES/EBU, BNC, coaxial and optical S/PDIF, USB, balanced XLR and RCA outputs, adjustable or fixed output level, PCM to 384kHz and native or DoP DSD256 through USB. An optional Ethernet input adds network capability, and The Ear considers this option essential for listeners without a separate streamer or network bridge.
Value for Money
85/100
At $9,000, the M11 is positioned firmly in the premium DAC market. The reviews are emphatically positive about its performance and ownership appeal, but neither offers a direct comparison of its price against competing converters or makes a clear value-for-money claim.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Digital Inputs
- XLR: AES/EBU 24 bit Single Wire, BNC: SPDIF, RCA: SPDIF, Optical: Toslink 44.1- 96k, USB 2
- Sample Rates AES, SPDIF, AUX in
- 44.1 kHz, to, 192khz
- Sample Rates USB
- 44.1 kHz, to, 384kHz, DSD 64fs 128Fs 256Fs Native or DoP
- Sample Rates Ethernet (optional)
- 44.1 kHz to 384kHz PCM, 64x 128x Native and DoP
- Jitter
- 8 psec @ 48k / 6psec @ 96k
- Balanced Analog Outputs
- XLR balanced (pin 2 hot)
- Impedance
- 40 ohm
- Output
- Adjustable +8 dbm to +22 dbm, or fixed at +13.5 dbm
- D/A Conversion
- 20 bit Ladder type
- Frequency Response @44.1k
- 10 hz- 20 kHz +0dB, -.2 dB
- Dynamic Range
- >120dB A-Weighted
- THD+N @ 1k
- THD+N @ 1k: .0020% @ 0dbfs<
- Unbalanced Analog Outputs
- RCA
- Impedance
- 40 ohm
- Output level
- +8 dbm (2V RMS)
- D/A Conversion
- 20 bit Ladder type
- Frequency Response @ 44.1k
- 10 hz- 20 kHz -.2 dB
- Dynamic Range
- >120dB A-Weighted
- THD+N @ 1k
- .0020% @ 0dbfs
- General Specifications
- EMC: Complies with: EN 55103-1, EN 55103-2, FCC part 15 and Class B
- RoHS
- Complies with: EU RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC
- Safety
- Certified to: IEC 60065, EN 55103-2
- Operating Temperature
- 32 F to 105 F (0 C to 40 C)
- Storage Temperature
- -22 f to 167 F (-30 C to 70 C)
- Finish
- Anodized aluminum, nickel plating with brass knobs and buttons.
- Dimensions
- 17” x 12“ x 2”
- Weight
- 15 lbs
- Shipping Weight
- 18 lbs
- Shipping Dimensions
- 22”x 17”x 7”
- Mains Voltage
- -100, 120, 220, 240 VAC, 50 Hz – 60 Hz factory set
- Trigger out
- TRS mini jack, Tip ground, Sleeve 5V
- Power consumption
- 28 Watts (6W standby)
- Warranty parts and labor
- 2 yrs non-transferable.
Manufacturer's Description — Bricasti Design
The Bricasti Design
Model 11 R2R D/A Converter
The M11 R2R is the concentration of the Ladder D/A technology found in the flagship Bricasti Design M21. The M11 features the fit, finish and sonic qualities of our classic analog design, classic chassis and MDx processor.
Elegant and refined
The M11 utilizes resistor ladder D/A technology coupled with the latest proprietary MDx digital platform, clocking algorithms and filter technology for exceptional performance without the use of SRC's so signals stay native and true. The digital section is coupled with a pristine analog path with the goal to deliver the truest possibly representation of tonality, precision and dimension.
Superb Analog
A high-performance linear power architecture allows for a clean signal with extremely low noise and expansive headroom. Featuring Point-to-point wiring and stillpoint isolation integrated directly into the chassis, you will experience new depth, detail and dimensionality in your music. Improved spacial cues and separation create a truly immersive experience.
Network Player
The optional Network player offers one of the most sonically advantages avenues for audio playback created in the last decade, with pristine data transmission over long distances, without loss of signal or degradation from cable runs. This means your server can be located anywhere on the network rather than in your listening space, creating a clutter-free listening environment and ground-breaking performance.
Masterfully connected
The M11 digital input selection is well appointed to fit most any system. It also features a fully differential design which creates a less resistant output signal path, ideal when matched with fully differential M20 preamplifier and the Bricasti M28 and M25 amplifiers.
Handcrafted in the USA
All of our products are crafted in the old world tradition, in a classic brick mill building in Massachusetts USA by a team of individuals dedicated to excellence.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Bricasti Design M11 Stereo D/A
- Akalın Muzik Ltd. — in-store — İstanbul, Turkey (website)
- Alma Music & Audio — online and in-store — San Diego, California, United States (website)
- Audio Archon — online and in-store — Libertyville, Illinois, United States (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- AV Solutions - Italy — online and in-store — Aosta, Valle d'Aosta, Italy (website)
- East End Hi-Fi — online and in-store — Brookhaven, New York, United States (website)
- Erdal Stereo — in-store — Erdal, Vestland, Norway (website)
- Fat Cat Audio — United States (website)
- Fred's Sound Of Music AV — in-store — Portland, Oregon, United States (website)
- Jordan Acoustics — in-store — Christchurch, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 27 more verified dealers