Audiolab shrinks its M-DAC to Mini size

There's a new addition to Audiolab's M-DAC family. The M-DAC Mini is, as the name strongly suggests, the smallest and most affordable model in what is now a four-strong range.

Following in the footsteps of the Award-winning M-DAC, range-topping M-DAC+ and M-ONE DAC/amp, the M-DAC Mini uses the ES9018 Sabre 32 Reference DAC to do the leg-work. Like the M-DAC+ it's ready to handle PCM audio date up to 32-bit/384kHz via USB, as well as DSD64, -128 and -256 through the same input.

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Despite its size, the M-DAC Mini squeezes in optical and coaxial inputs and outputs, USB type-A and mini-B (asynchronous with discrete master clocks), stereo RCA outputs and a 6.3mm headphone socket. Wireless connectivity is via aptX Bluetooth.

M-DAC Mini is the first of the M-DAC family to include battery power - this obviously aids its portability, but equally significantly supplies clean, stable DC power. The Mini can also be mains-powered, and it can charge iOS devices whether it's using mains or battery power.

The M-DAC Mini's full suite of functionality, handy dimensions and mixture of polypropylene and aluminium materials will set you back £300 when it goes on sale next month.

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Simon Lucas is a technology journalist, with a strong emphasis on the audio/video side of consumer electronics and home entertainment, and has been since 2003. He worked for more than 14 years at What Hi-Fi?, the last six of which were spent as the editor of the magazine and website. Since then he's written for Wired, The Guardian, TechRadar, Stuff, GQ and many more besides.

In the course of his career he's developed a pretty deep understanding of the way both the publishing and the electronics industries function, as well as the sort of intimate knowledge of audio products (both specific and general) that can make people very wary of him at parties.