Grace Design m920 High Resolution Monitoring System

I've owned the earlier Grace Design m903 for several years as the centerpiece of my A/V system. I've recently needed to set up another listening area. Based on my experience with the m903 (and a visit to the Grace Design facility, see below), the m920 was virtually a no-brainer choice for the center of that system as well.The m903/m920 product design gives maximum flexibility and usability in a compact package. I've had occasion to use every input/output, which include: analog in (balanced and unbalanced), digital in (USB, TOSLINK, S/PDIF, AES), analog out (balanced and unbalanced). I've also used the excellent-sounding headphone outputs (1/4") though my primary use case is "analog and digital preamp" feeding my power amp directly.Upgrades incorporated by the m920 include (1) new USB circuit design (the USB 2.0 driver is XMOS vs. Thesycon for the m903); (2) DSD conversion capability; and (3) PCM up to 384k vs. 192k for the m903. On the menus I noticed that the m920 provides several user-selectable digital filters vs. fixed filter on the m903.To my ears, the sound is perfect - what comes out is a precise and unflappable (but also un-enhanced) representation of the input. As with the m903, my feeling is that the m920 is not likely to be the limiting factor in any except the most tricked-out "high-end audiophile" system.A few months ago I had the opportunity to take a short tour of the Grace Design facility in Lyons, Colorado. The production-test procedures are focused intensely on delivering quality and reliability: 100% burn-in of assembled units, 100% measurement check of every input/output, a final listening test of every unit. If you appreciate and need this level of performance and quality, then Grace Design pricing is an excellent value and very competitive.

Lows and mids are pretty sweet. Instrument separation, clarity, imaging are all amazing compared to the Aune X1s I have. The highs just kill all the fun for me. I paired it with HD650 and HE-560, the highs were too piercing. This isn't a big problem if you only listen to well mastered music, but my music collection isn't consistently good in quality. Things turn for the worse when i start playing youtube videos which have poor audio quality; sometimes it's a little painful. It's a pro gear, so build is pretty good and has a ton of input options. I can see how this could be useful for a real pro user who also own a ton of headphones which go well with this specific gear, but not for me (HD650 & HE-560). And oh, the highs ... and for the price...!!

This DAC sounds detailed, harsh, and grating, like all the other Sabre DACs I've heard. The GraceDesign electronics didn't fix any of the problems inherent to the Sabre DAC chip, regardless of which filter I used. I found the minimum-phase filter to be the most pleasing of the three, but could not get around the fact that I wanted constantly to turn the volume down. Very detailed but fatiguing with audible artifacts. Not musical, toe-tapping, or enjoyable.Other than that major flaw, the DAC has a fairly good design. It has a great set of features that let you control how it handles outputs, volume, etc. The cross-feed mixing is helpful in some instances of headphone listening (when there is no channel mixing in the recording), but hurts the sound stage in other instances (when the recording already has some cross mixing). Would probably be better if it cross fed a little less to find a balance. I only used USB interface, so I can't speak to the s-lock jitter control.This is the fourth Sabre DAC I've tried. Obviously, I haven't liked any of them. In the non-Sabre category, I have also tried the Schitt Yggy, the PS Audio PerfectWave MKII, PS Audio DirectStream, and the NAD M51. Of these, the NAD M51 and the PS Audio DS are my two favorites that I use routinely.Note: those of you using this for headphone listening may find the levels a bit weak for inefficient headphones. I was routinely at 97 out of 99 for my HD600s. More inefficient cans would need an external amplifier, which sort of defeats the purpose of this DAC/Amp combo.

(This is not to insult anyone’s intelligence here with prior reviews.)But, please keep in mind regarding the M920’s Sabre dac implementation is PRIMARILY meant to be used in a pro environment for the mixing and mastering of audio where neutrality is of the upmost importance, in which the M920 is doing exactly what it’s designed to do. The M920’s dac and headphone section pretty much ‘stay out of the way’ of the music and lets you hear the music ‘as it really is’. The M920 doesn’t add or take away anything from the music. Pre-recorded tracks mastered well will sound good; tracks not mastered well will not sound good, etc. For the ‘audiophiles’, THEN you have to decide which peripherals that will sound the best with the M920 for your own ears to decide (that synergy YOUR looking for). Otherwise, for the pro music scene, neutrality (among other traits) is the main goal again (in which the M920 delivers in spades). I don’t work for Grace Design and I do own the unit.Best Regards-Tim

Optically connected to my Squeezebox touch, perfection.

very good!