Musical Fidelity M6sR DAC

https://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/m6series/m6sr-dac

I've always been a fan of the sound of Musical Fidelity's DACs, which used to be more prevalent in the USA back in the day but are now more of a Euro company. They seem to produce a really big soundstage with excellent detail - without being too analytical or too rolled off sounding, really well balanced. The M6sR is their latest DAC, I can now get it for a decent price in the USA - the price is about halfway in between a Schitt Gungnir Multibit and a Yggdrasil.

But, it uses an ESS 9028PRO DAC and that kind of scares me because nearly every implementation of ESS I have heard has been bad (usually lacking body). With the exception of my LG V40 smartphone ironically - which somehow pulls off a decent (not amazing) implementation with headphones under 150ohm impedance.

Have seen a few reviews of this unit, one German mag compared to a Chord Qutest and put it ahead of the Qutest... but that doesn't mean much.

I really like this company's signature DAC sound but the ESS part is scaring me off a bit. Has anyone heard this (or its recent predecessor the M6S DAC which is very similar w/ same ESS chip)? I currently have the MX-DAC and love the sound of that on a variety of amps (burr brown PCM1795), but teetering on pulling the trigger on the M6sR... I may just have to take the plunge because I am guessing the amount of people who have actually heard this unit is very small.

Will be paired with DNA Starlett / HD800S. I'll post an update if I decide to pull the trigger blindly. So far I've found one user review in a Russian forum and they were underwhelmed, though user didn't seem that knowledgeable.


Looks like this dac has about the same amount of pcb as my mx dac. Mainly a box full of air:
https://www.hifitest.de/images/testbilder/big/musical-fidelity-m6s-dac-da-wandler-47173.jpg

Not that I'm gonna use it but they had this much empty space and decide putting the 1/4" headphone jack directly under the volume knob was ergonomically good somehow?

EDIT: I have decided to pass on the deal. I just don't trust that this will sound better than my current MX-DAC (Burr Brown PCM1795) that I am extremely happy with w/ my system synergy, and I don't need the extra features it offers. Would still love to hear it if the opportunity ever arises, but I don't think that is going to happen anytime remotely soon if ever.

 

I to have found myself contemplating the MF M6SR DAC because I to love the Musical Fidelity Sound Signature; but worry it won't live up to expectations. What DAC did you end up going with? I haven't heard the Schitt Yggdrasil, have you? it seems to have received some good feedback.