Musical Fidelity Releases The X-Tube Buffer Amplifier
All Image Credit: Musical Fidelity
So you have an all solid-state setup, but love the distinct sonic signature of tubes. Well, Musical Fidelity, under the stewardship of Pro-Ject’s Heinz Lichtenegger, has brought back the stereo tube buffer as the first product in the new series of X products. The new cylindrical X-Tube is designed to sit between a source component such as a; DAC, CD player, phono stage or pre-amplifier and the associated amplifier in order to deliver; the tonal characteristics of a pair of 6922/E88CC dual triode tubes, provide a better impedance matching between the source device and the amplifier and “maximize signal transfer” and “reduce distortion due to wrong impedance matching”.
The X-Tube is a pure Class A triode tube line stage that utilizes two E88CC (6922) triode tubes arranged in a unique, non-traditional way. Both valves process the entire signal in a single-ended manner. Single-ended designs can exhibit faster transient response, meaning they can handle rapid changes in volume within the audio signal with minimal distortion. The X-Tube has a clean, high impedance tube input, meaning it won’t put as much strain on the output drive capabilities of connected source devices. On the output side, the X-Tube’s clean, low impedance tube output buffer has plenty of drive and will not struggle with any low or high impedance amplifier input
Connectivity is simple in that the design includes the AC power supply with unbalanced analog signal connectivity offered on stereo RCA connectors to support; 1 x input, 1 x output and 1 x bypass.
Feature At A Glance:
- Tube Output Buffer
- Adds tube like tonal characters, such as depth and richness to every digital and line source
- 2x E88CC triode tubes
- Impedance matching amplifier
- Maximize signal transfer
- Reduces distortion due to wrong impedance matching
- Protects your amplifier from reactive loads
- Superior mechanical circular design. The X-line provides, a super-anti-resonance free cabinet made from extruded aluminum
- The X-Tube is the first product out of a series of X-products
- Dramatically improves any digital and analogue source
- Enhancement for budget digital/streaming/CD sources that use all-in-one chip designs and lack proper output stages
- Ultimate impedance matching if used between preamplifier and amplifier
- Direct mains input, no external power supply allows for clean setup
Specifications:
- Tubes: 2x 6922/E88CC dual triode tubes
- Frequency Response: 20Hz to 80kHz + 0, – 0.3dB
- THD: < 0.003% 10Hz to 20kHz
- SNR: > 96dB unweighted ref. full output
- Crosstalk: > 95dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
- Gain: 1dB
- Input impedance: 470k Ohms
- Output impedance: < 33 Ohms
- Inputs & Outputs – stereo unbalanced:
- Inputs: 1x RCA
- Bypass: 1x RCA
- Output: 1x RCA
- Mains input: AC 100-230V 50/60Hz IEC C14 socket
- Consumption: <0.25 Watts in Standby
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 108 x 105 x 274 mm
- Weight: 2.29 Kg net
MSRP:
- US: $TBA
- UK: £459.00
- EU: €499.00
For more information visit the Musical Fidelity web site.
Related posts:
