HiFi-M8 redefines the portable DAC/Amp.
This innovative, category-defining product sets a standard
others will be judged by. We've done that before with
our award-winning MicPort
Pro and DACport.
We did it again with HiFi-M8.
A unique combination of sound quality,
output power and battery life, HiFi-M8 sets you free
to explore your world, audiophile sound in the pocket.
HiFi-M8 (pronounced "Mate") creates
a perfect listening experience anywhere you are —
at work, on a train, or in the gym; helping you through
the workday or soothing you at home. Take your high-res
music with you. That's freedom.
HiFi-M8 is a USB DAC and an audiophile
sound card for your iPhone, iPad and iPod. It extracts
digital audio from computers and Apple's portable devices
and converts it to analog, for purest sound reproduction.
HiFi-M8 is also a powerful headphone
amplifier with balanced outputs. Gone are the days when
you needed to carry a separate DAC, Amp and a battery.
HiFi-M8 has all components built-in and carefully matched
to preserve sonic fidelity.
HiFi-M8 enables audiophile on-the-go
listening by combining 24-bit/192kHz audio quality,
over 6 hours of battery life, balanced headphone output
and multiple sonic shaping features within a single,
integrated, portable device.
HiFi-M8 is a highly flexible product
with two input options (M8 and M8 LX). If you don't
use an iPhone, pick the LX, which replaces iDevice input
with an optical TOSLINK (SPDIF) input — perfect
for people who use a DAP, such as AK-100.
The four output options (4XL, RSA,
CMB, PRO) offer a broad selection of jacks, ensuring
compatibility with a wide variety of headphones. Two
input options by four output options makes eight different
models! That's flexibility.
CEntrance got on the cover of Stereophile
with our award-winning DACport
and DACmini
products. With HiFi-M8 we raised the bar yet again.
Here is how:
Support for Balanced AND Unbalanced
headphones: IEMs and over-head
Compatibility with iPhone/iPad/iPod,
Android, Mac and PC
Three levels of output
impedance, for best headphone linearity
Three levels of headphone
gain, for fine-tuning the loudness
Three levels of bass sonic
shaping, for a subtle boost in the low
end
Three levels of treble
sonic shaping, for a subtle boost in the
highs
Choice of portable or desktop
operation (battery or wall-powered)
Ability to charge the phone/tablet
off the power adapter while playing
· Made in USA. HiFi-M8 is designed
and precision-assembled by skilled craftsmen in America. CEntrance
takes pride in the quality of its products. We test every unit before
it goes out the door, so you get a great experience.
· Built tough. Lightweight and durable,
the extruded aluminum body is styled to please. The curves are smooth
on the hand and easy on the eye. Super looks and scratch resistance
are given by the laser-engraved anodized finish.
· Portable. HiFi-M8 packs a powerful
Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery for the highest amount of power
density. That means longer play time between charges. Battery status
is conveniently displayed on an LED bargraph.
· Versatile. HiFi-M8 is a portable
DAC/Amp with iPhone/iPad/iPod and USB inputs. This device does it
all! Use your HiFi-M8 with your computer at work and with your iPhone
on the way home.
· Audiophile. HiFi-M8 supports most
headphones on the market. High output level means you never run
out of loudness. The built-in gain, impedance and tone-shaping switches
allow for dialing the sound just right.
· Dual Core. HiFi-M8 uses a dual-core
XMOS microprocessor to achieve the dual functionality of a USB DAC
and an iPhone Dock. HiFi-M8 runs custom CEntrance code, supporting
24-bit/192kHz, asynchronous USB audio.
· Driver Support. HiFi-M8 supports
up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution with Macs and PCs. With Macs, no
drivers are required. For Windows, CEntrance offers a free download
of its world-renowned Unversal Driver.
· Worldwide Use. HiFi-M8 is designed
for real-world use. The bundled power supply works around the globe
and charges both HiFi-M8 and the attached Apple device. HiFi-M8
can also be charged from a car or a boat.
Controls
HiFi-M8's controls are illustrated below. CMB option is shown. Production chassis are all black.
Globally compatible, 90...240V
AC power supply included
DC Powering
+9...+20V DC (3A) from external
adapter, car, boat, etc.
Internal supplies
Battery-isolated, filtered ±10V,
super-clean analog rails
Unit Dimensions:
127 mm (L) x 82 mm (W) x 33 mm
(H)
Shipping weight:
2 lb
Versatility
CEntrance designed HiFi-M8 to be extremely versatile.
We created a total of eight models, featuring a variety of inputs
and outputs to meet every need.
· On the input side, there is HiFi-M8 itself,
for those who use an iPhone. And for those people who have another
Digital Audio Player, such as Astell & Kern AK-100, there is HiFi-M8
LX.
· On the output side, a total of four models
are available to satisfy any balanced or unbalanced headphone configuration.
There is even a PRO version, designed for Pro Audio, DJ and Live Sound
use.
2) Up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution can be accessed via
the USB B jack using the Apple Camera Connection Kit (CCK).
Brand
CEntrance HiFi-M8
Sony
Fostex
V-Moda
CLAS
Retail
$699.99 (599.99 for PRO)
$600
$650
$650
$579
Phone Input
iPad/iPhone/iPod
iPad/iPhone/iPod
No USB, no iPad
No USB, no iPad
No USB
USB input
24/192
24/96
No
No
No amp
Balanced out
Yes
No
No
No
No amp
Output type
Balanced + Unbalanced
Unbalanced only
Unbalanced only
Unbalanced only
No amp
No. Outputs
Two
One
One
One
No amp
Output jack
XLR and ¼" pro
type
3.5 mm consumer
3.5 mm consumer
3.5 mm consumer
No amp
Output power
700 mW/ch
175 mW/ch
80mW/ch
150 mW/ch
No amp
Impedance
3 position switch
No
No
No
No amp
Tone shaping
Hi: 3 pos , Low: 3 pos
No
2 pos., combined
No
No amp
Battery meter
Yes
No
No
No
No amp
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Some photos shared by our customers and beta
testers
Jude Mansilla from Head-fi.org doing
an excellent video review for HiFi-M8!
Amos Barnett from Head-fi.ord: "Centrance
has crafted one of the most versatile DAC/amp units available today
with desktop-grade power in a portable unit."
Here is our own Michael Goodman, explaining
the product at the RMAF in Denver, CO
This video interview was shot by Jude
Mansilla from Head-fi.org at that same show
Here is a video from Tyll Herstens
of Innerfidelity. He caught Michael Goodman on jetlag -- Michael
just flew in from Asia, was very tired, but the video has good stuff
on crowdsourcing...
Reviews and user comments
"The M8 is a portable audio Swiss Army
Knife. When I'm listening with my Westone ES5 I'll tip the treble
up a bit; with my Audeze LCD-2 I'll tip it up more; with my Sennheiser
HD 800 I'll put the output impedance up all the way for a bit smoother
sound. Again, all of these changes are subtle, and very welcome
to my somewhat fanatic and critical ears. The CEntrance HiFi-M8
gives me a great sense of control to my mobile listening experience....
The amp simply delivers the goods with any and all headphones.
The CEntrance HiFi-M8 is going up on InnerFidelity's
"Wall of Fame" as the best hard core headphone enthusiast
portable headphone amp. I certainly won't go to a trade show
where I have to audition numerous headphones without it, and when
I'm in need of a movable music feast the M8 is the first thing I
grab. Highly recommended!"
- Tyll Herstens, Inner Fidelity (USA)
"Well-executed product that holds it
own against the growing competition. Its diverse pairing, inputs
and outputs make it a fine fit for almost every headphone on the
market."
- Brian Van Eerden, AudioHead (USA)
"A prime example of how a competent engineer
(and Michael Goodman is just that) is able to achieve the maximum,
regardless of constraints."
- Pavel Dmitriev, AppleInsider (Russia)
"Now I can understand all the hype about
the HiFi-M8. This thing looks like a Professional unit and sounds
that way, too. There's hardly anything better."
- Christian Rechenbach, Einsnull (Germany)
"CEntrance’s HiFi-M8 is arguably
the most versatile and accomplished portable headphone amp/DAC you
can buy at anywhere near its price. Precious few portables can match
the HiFi-M8’s well-balanced mix of flexibility (the combination
of effortless iDevice, Android device, Mac, and PC compatibility
is tough to beat), bulletproof driver software, sonic refinement,
and sheer output power."
- Chris Martens, HiFi+ (United Kingdom)
"HiFi-M8 is the best sounding all-in-one
portable digital converter/headphone amp the Audiophiliac has ever
tested."
- Steve Guttenberg, CNET
"The BEST portable rig I have ever heard."
- Michael Mercer, Audio 360
"I'm addicted to the CEntrance HiFi-M8.
I can't pull myself away from it! Another mark of a great audio
component is when it inspires you to listen to all sorts of music
you haven't heard it years, or explore new music.
A beast of power and musical engagement."
- Part-Time Audiophile
"Sounds fantastic! The sound from the
built-in DAC and headphone amplifier is outstanding -- neutral,
very transparent, very revealing. I love its well-implemented tone
controls!
HiFi-M8 sounds more like a desk DAC/Amp combo
than a portable one. It has enough power to use HE-6, HE-500, LCD-2
and 3, HD-800 and other [headphones]."
- Jude Mansilla, Head-fi.org
"I'm BLOWN AWAY! HiFi-M8 is a
new class of product when it comes to portable DAC/Amps, especially
multipurpose DAC/Amp combos. It's sheer power, the gestalt of the
music! It has such a wonderfully dark and airy backdrop that
the midrange clarity maybe wholly unmatched in this category
(portable DAC/hphone amps), at least to my ears.
The HiFi-M8 has now become THE component I
will bring with me everywhere."
- The Daily Swarm
"The CEntrance HiFi-M8 is a superb piece
of equipment and a marvelous feat of engineering. It drives everything
from IEMs to full-sized over the ear headphones and sounded stunningly
good with all the headphones I threw at it...
If you need a great sounding DAC/amp combo
which is small and light enough for you to take it with you on your
travels, look no further. If you value compactness and simplicity,
you just can't go wrong with the M8."
- Roger Ngaw , Headfi Journey
"I give the HiFi-M8 PRO an "A+"
- five stars. It worked as specified and sounded fantastic. Super
portable, especially if the battery is charged up...(no PSU to haul
around)"
- Paul D., Early User
CEntrance™,
HiFi-M8™, JitterGuard™, PortableNirvana™, DACport™,
DACmini™ and others are trademarks or registered trademarks
of CEntrance Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Apple,
iPhone, iPad, iPod, iOS and others are trademarks of Apple.
Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
