Musical Fidelity M3x Vinyl Phono Stage Announced
All Images Credit: Musical Fidelity
This new model is basically a “stripped down” version of their M6x vinyl with an attendant reduction in cost as it is now offered with just one phono input and output. While maintaining the the M6 fully discrete circuitry design approach and cartridge loading flexibilities.
Its ANALOG power supply is a completely new design based upon a custom engineered, low core saturation screened toroidal transformer, that helps reduce any electromagnetic radiation. It is placed a large distance away from the adjacent sensitive phono electronics further reducing any chance of radiated interference.
M3x Vinyl Overview:
- MM and MC input
- Selectable loading options for any cartridge
- Fully discrete circuit board design
- Special low core saturation toroidal transformer custom designed for phono stage requirements
- Environmental friendly – absolutely zero standby power consumption
- Split Passive RIAA and IEC EQ
- Heavy aluminium frontplate with steel chassis
- Minimal electromagnetic interference from power supply to phono preamp
- Big chassis design enables huge distance between power transformer and amplifier section
A Little More Detail:
This new design has moved away from the often traditional and lower costs of using even custom designed operational amplifiers to an all discrete component design; resistors, capacitors and transistors. While this approach uses considerably more components than the “op amp” approach it often provides a superior musical sound. Coupled with the use of split equalization across multiple amplification stages, that do not employ negative feedback, results in better impedance matching and lower deviation from the ideal RIAA or IEC equalization curves, adding to the tonal accuracy.
Access to all operational selections are via the front panel buttons. They control:
- Power On/Off
- MM/MC selection
- MM/MC loading with LED indication. MM – 50, 100, 200, 300, 350, 400 pF; MM – 25, 50, 100, 400, 800, 1200, ohms
- Gain – 0/+6dB
- IEC roll-off selection
Power supplies are always a “bone of contention” for me. Even 40+ years ago I used custom wound toroids with custom made mu-metal screens for all my analog amplifier builds. So it is pleasing to see that Musical Fidelity has stepped up to the plate and included a custom low core saturation toroidal analog power supply solution to ensure the best possible noise performance from its DC power supply. This supply is located as far as is possible away from the screened and highly sensitive analog input stages ensuring minimal magnetic hum or RFI pickup. A unique green feature is that this new proprietary power supply solution has zero standby power consumption.
This entire design package is all housed inside a substantial steel chassis that sports a heavy aluminum front plate all helping to keep out unwanted interfering signals and vibration. To cap it all off these amplifiers are all hand assembled and wired in the EU.
M3x Vinyl – Specifications:
Moving magnet
- Frequency response: RIAA or RIAA/IEC ±0 .2dB
- Input sensitivity: 5mV in for 500mV out (at 1 kHz)
- Input impedance: 47KΩ
- Input capacitance: 50-400pF selectable
- Gain: 40 or 46dB with +6dB function
- THD+N: <0.028%
- Signal to noise ratio: 71dB
- Crosstalk: better than 100dB
Moving coil
- Frequency response: RIAA or RIAA/IEC ±0.3dB
- Input sensitivity: 500μV in for 500mV out (at 1 kHz)
- Input impedance: 25Ω to 1,2KΩ selectable
- Gain: 60 or 66dB with +6dB function
- THD+N: <0.28%
- Signal to noise ratio: 59dB
- Crosstalk: better than 90dB
Output
- 1 pair RCA: left and right 500mV nominal, 10V max
Input
- 1 pair RCA
Power requirement
- Mains voltages: 230V/115V; AC 50/60Hz
- Consumption: 20 Watts maximum
Musical Fidelity M3x Vinyl Phono Stage Announced MSRP:
USA – $1,490.00, UK – £1,200.00, EU – 1,299.00€
For further details see here.
