CEntrance HiFi-M8 V2 Review

Design, Build Quality

The HiFi-M8 V2 arrived in a very simple, minimalistic black box with a green sticker on it with some HiFi-M8 V2 info. A very basic box for a $750 unit, but then again, it’s just a box.

We agree with CEntrance that the V2 is built like a tank. It has a pro look and feel but everything feels sturdy and it for sure can take a beating when on the go. I can’t see any issues with throwing the V2 in your backpack. The chassis is made from lightweight, extruded, anodized aircraft aluminum.

The unit measures 121 mm (4.76″) (L), 70 mm (2.76″) (W), 36 mm (1.42″) (H) and weighs only 250 grams (8.9 ounces) so it’s a bit large to put it in your jeans pockets.

If you’re interested in finding out more on the design of the V2 (also the internals), then check out the following document from CEntrance: https://centrance.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/HiFi-M8-design-criteria-R3.pdf

Accessories

The HiFi-M8 V2 comes with a quick start guide, a black soft carrying pouch, 4 tiny stick-on feet, a sim tool and a USB-C cable.

Optionally you can buy a rapid charger, a waterproof case, a tripod and a clamp mount.

For $750 USD it’s a simply package and perhaps some more interconnect cables (USB-C to USB-C & lightning) would have been useful.

Usability

The HiFi-M8 V2 because of its many outputs and options has very busy face plates, especially on the cool side.

Here you will find recessed buttons for gain, bass, treble, stamina, charge. This means you can throw your HiFi-M8 in the backpack, without having to worry that this will accidentally change a setting. At the same time it’s a bit peculiar as I don’t always carry one with me, and it’s impossible to flick the switches without a tool. According to CEntrance, you won’t be changing the settings often or on the go however so they don’t see it as an issue.

The HiFi-M8 V2 has separated data and power ports but you can flick the switch so the data port charges the unit as well (with your phone, turn this off). In the beginning all these buttons and switches might seem confusing but operation actually is easy and intuitive. Of course everything is very closely together, so if you have big sausage fingers, it won’t be the easiest.

Do note that you can charge the unit while in use and it’s perfectly safe to keep it plugged in at all times.

Layout

As said, the V2 is a featured packed device and as such the face plates are very busy.

First of all there is a cool side and a hot side. The “hot side” features a USB-C power jack as well as the balanced XLR and 6.3mm output. It’s the most powerful output side. As you can see in the pictures, the 6.3mm output somewhat sticks out of the case. Though it doesn’t annoy me in any way, it would have been nicer in a looks kind of way, had it been sitting flush in the case.

The cool side features:

• The gain switch
• USB LEDS
• USB-C data port
• The input selector
• The meter brightness adjustment
• The charge switch (enables charging from data jack)
• The stamina switch (disables the hot side and LED meter)
• The volume knob
• The power button
• The charge LEDs
• The Bluetooth LEDs
• The treble boost
• The bass boost
• The balanced 2.5mm output
• The 3.5mm single ended output

That’s quite the list! Only thing I am missing is a balanced 4.4mm output, or am I exaggerating by asking this?

On top you find the double rows of calibrated LED meters and on the bottom you find standard connecter to connect your device to a tripod or whatever.

Versatility

This has always been one of the strongest points of the HiFi-M8 and you can hook it up to your phone, laptop, DAP or your BT source (the V2 only receives a signal). No mater if you’re on Android, iOS, Windows or Linux, the V2 should work perfectly.

The new Windows driver for the HiFi-M8 will be available for download next week, from the CEntrance download page.

Hooking up the V2 via BT (Qualcomm® aptX™) is extremely easy and it works well. I have actually used the V2 this way more than I have used it cabled. But even hooking it up by cable to the SP2000 or my OnePlus 8T phone only took seconds.

Sound quality wise I found the BT connection to be a bit smoother, less resolving sounding but I’m very impressed with the wireless sound quality. My usual sources for BT listening were the SP2000 and the P6 PRO from L&P.

Sound – Intro

Four this section I used the HiFi-M8 V2 both cabled with the SP2000 and my laptop as well as wireless with many different DAPs and my smartphone. This with a large selection of balanced and unbalanced IEMs as well as full sized headphones.

Sound – Driveability

All the output power specs can be found on the last page of this article, but rather than only looking at numbers, let’s see how it really performs.

For IEMs no matter the topology, you’ll have more power than you’ll ever need and there’s plenty of headroom available. At high gain, you with very sensitive IEMs and at a very low listening volume will notice background and crackling noise but you don’t need high gain for IEMs. At low gain and at a a normal listening level, there is no direct noise audible. If I’m not mistaken the volume control is digital so there’s no channel imbalance here, even at low volumes.

For full sized headphones (using the hot side) you in low gain get all the power you need to drive most of the headphones on the market. To me these hot outputs are very quiet as well, and I didn’t notice any noise of any kind. The Audeze LCD-2 classic also gets more than enough juice on low gain. I prefer the LCD-2C on the balanced output with the bass boost turned on. The notorious to drive Hifiman Susvara in low gain gets just enough power but it’s better with high gain and with bass boost. The high impedance Sennheiser HD800S plays plenty loud on low gain, but it’s rather sharp sounding from the balanced output. I for this headphone prefer the single ended output with the bass boost, in both low and high gain.

The CEntrance HiFi-M8 V2 of course can’t be compared to a full-sized desktop amp when it comes to power and (the absence of) noise, but as CEntrance also said, it for on the go is very very acceptable, and that’s even an understatement in my opinion.

Nothing to worry about here.

More on sound on the third page of this review. Go there by clicking HERE, or just use the jumps below.