Bricasti Design M21 Stereo D/A
The Bricasti Design M21 Stereo D/A delivers vivid transparency, organic musicality and commanding bass without sacrificing delicacy. HiFi News admired its exceptional separation, detail and fluidity, while its triple conversion architecture, direct-to-amplifier capability and extensive high-resolution connectivity make it a deeply accomplished digital hub for revealing systems.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
93/100
Features Connectivity
89/100
Value for Money
81/100
Pros
Exceptionally clear, detailed and spacious presentation that uncovers complex mix information while remaining organic and musical.
Authoritative, tightly focused bass and lifelike transient attack, balanced by nuanced treble and midrange texture.
Superb Sigma-Delta measured performance, with high resolution, very low distortion and excellent rejection of data-related jitter.
Premium CNC-machined aluminum construction, plus flexible inputs and variable-output operation that can drive power amplifiers directly.
Cons
Its five-figure price makes it a major investment.
Operation is less immediately user-friendly than some rivals, with certain functions split between the front panel and remote and no dedicated control app.
Ladder DAC mode measures less cleanly than the Sigma-Delta path, with higher distortion, spurious tones and reduced low-level linearity.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
The M21 is described as an exceptionally involving converter, combining organic musical flow and tonal richness with unusually incisive detail. Reviewers also found it composed, quiet, and technically assured, with a powerful yet controlled presentation that remains easy to listen to over long sessions.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
95/100
Stereophile heard palpable, lush and silky sound, with Patricia Barber's low voice brought fully to life and bass described as tactile. Hi-Fi News likewise found the M21 organic, musical, fluid and exciting, praising authoritative bass that never became overtly rich.
Resolution and Detail
96/100
Hi-Fi News repeatedly praised the M21's ability to uncover tiny mix details, texture and separation while preserving the music as an enjoyable whole. Stereophile heard fine vocal breathiness without sibilance and excellent instrumental tone and detail, while its measurements found very high resolution.
Digital Performance
94/100
Stereophile found no sonic or musical compromise with CD-resolution material, saying the M21 made the best CDs and streams sound as good as one could wish. Measurements showed very low distortion, excellent data-jitter rejection, a flat audioband response, and immunity to data-related jitter in Sigma-Delta mode.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
93/100
Construction receives unusually explicit praise: Dagogo describes the front, rear, top, and bottom panels as CNC-machined aluminum blocks. Hi-Fi News calls the standard Classic version lovingly built, noting its solid-aluminum machining, Stillpoints feet, and heavyweight remote; Audio2G also found its construction beyond reproach.
Features Connectivity
89/100
The M21 is comprehensively equipped with AES/EBU, RCA and BNC S/PDIF, TosLink, asynchronous USB, and Ethernet inputs, alongside both balanced XLR and RCA outputs. It supports high-resolution PCM and DSD, offers selectable conversion paths, network playback, remote and front-panel operation, display controls, and a variable-output analog preamp mode.
Value for Money
81/100
At approximately $16,500, £17,249, or €21,000 depending on market, the M21 is clearly a major purchase. Audio2G calls it economically challenging and frames ownership around having the required funds, although its review also regards it as a very interesting music machine rather than questioning its performance.
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 and DoP
- Sample Rates Ethernet
- 44.1 kHz to 384kHz, DSD 128 Native
- Jitter
- 8 psec @ 48k / 6psec @ 96k
- Balanced Analog Outputs
- XLR balanced (pin 2 hot)
- Impedance
- 40 ohm
- Output
- @ full scale +16.5 dbm (5.2V RMS)
- Output Level
- 90db in 1 db steps
- D/A Conversion
- PCM 24 bit delta sigma 8x oversampling, DSD direct 1 bit, 384Khz ladder dac
- Frequency Response @44.1k
- 10 hz- 20 kHz +0dB, -.2 dB
- Dynamic Range
- >120dB A-Weighted
- THD+N @ 1k
- .0008% @ 0dbfs / .0004% @-30dbfs PCM sigma delta<
- Unbalanced Analog Outputs
- RCA
- Impedance
- 40 ohm
- Output level
- Full scale at front panel +6 dbm (1.2V RMS)
- D/A Conversion
- PCM 24 bit delta sigma 8x oversampling, DSD direct 1 bit, 384Khz ladder dac
- Frequency Response @ 44.1k
- 10 hz- 20 kHz -.2 dB
- Dynamic Range
- >120dB A-Weighted
- THD+N @ 1k
- .0008% @ 0dbfs / .0004% @-30dbfs PCM sigma delta
- 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 4.5”
- 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 21 Digital to Analog Converter
The M21 Platinum Series is the trifecta of digital to analog conversion. Three independent and user-selectable digital to analog signal paths are available: delta sigma and ladder dac for PCM conversion and for DSD playback, true direct DSD. All digital input types are supported, with direct output or hard-wire bypass of the analog attenuator.
The M21 Digital to analog converter is the continued evolution of both the M1 Special Edition and the M12 Dual Mono Source Controller
D/A performance X3
With the M21's advanced architecture its now possible to select, evaluate and enjoy three independent digital to analog converter signal paths: 24 bit delta sigma, 20 bit ladder dac and true 1 bit DSD for DSD content. Engineering autonomous conversion paths creates a super-efficient platform for you to enjoy your music and explore the advantages of each. The M21 also incorporates the Bricasti Design high-performance MDx processor.
Network Streaming
The M21 connects seamlessly with your network offering one of the most advantages avenues for audio playback. Once detected by your network via wired ethernet, the M21 is recognized as a DNLA device and becomes a powerful media renderer offering pristine data transmission over long distances, without loss of signal or degradation. Now your server can be placed anywhere on the network and run remotely lending to a clutter-free listening environment.
Direct or Analog
The M21 utilizes precise analog gain control for its execution of direct DSD functionality and driving amplification. It features a true hard-wire bypass analog attenuator, setting this control to 0 db makes possible the use of the M21 direct to an external preamp as well. Flexibility is what the the M21 design is all about.
Masterfully connected
The M21 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 amplification like the Bricasti M28 and M15 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 M21 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