Musical Fidelity Announces M8x Vinyl Phono Preamp
All Image Credit: Musical Fidelity
Musical Fidelity has announced their latest flagship phono amplifier in their M-series, the M8x Vinyl. According to Musical Fidelity, this latest design builds upon the highly regarded M6x Vinyl and offers enhanced phono preamplifier performance and a host of improvements aimed at delivering a superior listening experience. It is housed in an all aluminum case that is available in a black or silver finish.
Compared to the M6x this new MM/MC design is fully balanced throughout and is again an all discrete component design. It has an improved gain stage design that now consists of three stages, which are able to provide more gain than before and operate at lower noise and distortion offering gains of; 40, 43, 46, 60, 63 and 69dB.
Improvements have been made to the power supply that provides two high-quality symmetrical low-noise power supplies. The new Super Silent Power Transformer is now encapsulated to protect the very sensitive phono stage from electro-magnetic radiation, and the addition of an EMI filter and DC blocker stops interference and eliminates transformer hum all helping to minimize the overall noise and interference.
Flexibility has been expanded with the addition of dual split-passive RIAA, DECCA & COLUMBIA equalization and a two-step subsonic filter. Additionally the balanced and unbalanced inputs support MM with variable capacitance loading, and variable resistive loading for MC cartridge tuning. All cartridge loading is switched using JFET transistors.
Control is available using the front panel source and gain rotary controls in conjunction with several buttons to select various features.
Finally, rear panel connectivity includes; two stereo pairs of XLR and RCA inputs with associated grounding lugs, and one pair of stereo XLR and RCA outputs.
Features At A Glance:
- Fully balanced and discrete design 3-part gain stage with Class A circuitry – NEW
- 3-part gain stage with Class A circuitry – NEW
- Dual passive split RIAA, DECCA & COLUMBIA equalization – NEW
- Two-step subsonic filter (Switchable: OFF – Mild – Standard) – NEW
- MM (40dB) & MC (60dB) capable with +3/6/9dB option – NEW
- More inputs and more load settings for ultra-precise cartridge tuning – NEW
- Encapsulated super Silent Power Transformer – NEW
- Discrete input power filtering and DC blocking circuitry – NEW
- Separate output and input stages – connect multiple inputs and outputs simultaneously
- 2x RCA inputs, 2x balanced XLR input
- 1x RCA output, 1x balanced XLR output
- Uncompromisingly rigid mechanical construction
- Front/side/top panels from extruded aluminum profile
- No display enables excellent shielding against outer electromagnetic fields and timeless looks
- Full aluminum buttons and control wheels
- Load settings stored for each input
Specifications:
- MM Input:
- Gain at XLR outputs: 40dB, 43dB, 46dB, 49dB
- Frequency response: ±0.2dB
- Input sensitivity: 5mV IN for 500mV OUT (at 40dB, 1kHz)
- Intut impedance: 47kohm
- Input capacitance: 50-400pF selectable
- THD at 1 kHz: <0.005%
- Overload margin: 32dB
- Signal to noise ratio: >102dB „A“-wt. at 40dB
- MC Input:
- Gain at XLR outputs: 60dB, 63dB, 66dB, 69dB
- Frequency response: ±0.2dB
- Input sensitivity: 500μV IN for 500mV OUT (at 60dB, 1kHz)
- Input impedance: 5 ohm to 47kohm selectable
- Input capacitance: 400pF fixed
- THD at 1 kHz: <0.008%
- Overload margin: 32dB
- Signal to noise ratio: >90dB „A“-wt. at 60dB
- EQ curves: RIAA, DECCA, COLUMBIA
- Subsonic filters: off, mild (IEC), standard (at 20Hz with 18dB/octave)
- Inputs: 2x RCA, 2x XLR
- 1x RCA output: unbalanced, left and right 500mV nom, 5V max
- 1x XLR output: balanced, left and right 1V nom, 10V max
- Mains voltages: 115/230VAC 50/60Hz (factory pre-set); 100VAC 50/60Hz (alternative)
- Consumption: 20 Watts maximum, <0.5 W in standby (orange LED ON)
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 483 x 102 x 381 mm
- Weight: 10.6 kg net
MSRP:
- US: $TBA
- UK: £TBA
- EU: €3,999.00
For more information visit the Musical Fidelity web site.
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