Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl

Seen as a substantial advancement of the M6x Vinyl, the M8x Vinyl is an exquisite piece of electronics that incorporates major refinements in virtually every facet.

Like its smaller sibling, it is built entirely from discrete elements, but in parallel, its architecture is now fully balanced, meaning that the positive and negative half-loops of each channel have their own amplifier stage, with all that this implies in terms of the number of components used and overall complexity.

The fundamental gain section has also been improved, consisting of 3 stages that are capable of delivering higher gain while exhibiting lower noise and distortion.

Another important new feature of the M8x Vinyl is the built-in mains filtering and DC blocking circuitry. Also in the phono stage, the printed circuit board (PCB) for the power supply is three times larger, with the aim of supplying extremely clean power to the devices responsible for processing the delicate audio waveform.

There is one key contribution here: one of Musical Fidelity's sophisticated "Super Silent" transformers, encapsulated in order to protect the ultra-sensitive phono stage from potential external electromagnetic radiation. In parallel, Decca and Columbia curves have been added to the traditional RIAA, as well as a double passive EQ stage, a two-step subsonic filter, extra inputs and even additional load settings for optimal matching of a very wide range of pickup capsules.

The icing on the cake of this genuinely high-end phono preamp is its beautiful, unmistakable aesthetics and robust all-metal (aluminium) construction, making it the perfect complement to the celebrated M8 Series amplifier electronics.

Features:

• Reference phono preamplifier.
• Compatible with moving coil (MC) and moving magnet (MM) capsules.
• Executed with audiophile-grade discrete components.
• Fully balanced circuit topology.
• 3-stage gain circuitry.
• New mains filtering and DC blocking circuitry.
• RIAA, Decca and Columbia equalisation curves.
• Balanced and unbalanced analogue inputs and outputs.
• Frequency response from 20-20,000 Hz, +/-0.2 dB with MM and MC capsules.
• 8 gain positions (XLR): 40, 43, 46, 49, 49, 60, 63, 66 and 69 dB.
• MM input sensitivity/impedance: 5 mV/47 kilo ohms.
• MM input capacitance adjustable between 50 and 400 pF.
• MC input impedance adjustable between 5 ohms and 47 kilo ohms.
• Signal-to-noise ratio greater than 102 dB at MM and greater than 90 dB at MC.
• All-metal (aluminium) construction.
• Available in black and silver finish.
• Manufactured in the European Union.
• Dimensions: 48.3 x 10.2 x 38.1 cm (W x H x D).
• Weight: 10.6 kg.