Musical Fidelity M3X VYNL
MPN #M3X-VINYL
Phono preamplifier.
The M3x ViNYL is a phono stage, designed to be without any practical limits. Connectivity is straight forward. You have an input and an output. Neither of them can be overloaded at the input or limited in the output driving capacity. It can be set for either MM or MC and exact loading. It offers state-of-the art technical and sonic performance just like the M6x ViNYL, but at a cheaper entry level to the epitome of the true spirit of high-end audio.
Design Philosophy
The M3x ViNYL has been switched, just like in its bigger brother the M6x ViNYL, to an entirely discrete circuitry, which results in better technical measurements and better sound. It is equipped with one single-ended input and output. But the important question is: what is so special about discrete circuits
The Advantage of Discrete Circuits
A discrete circuit is composed of electronic components which are disparate, individual devices, also called discrete components. These can be "passive" components, like resistors, capacitors and inductors, as well as "active" components, which in our case are transistors. The opposite to this would be an integrated circuit, which uses operational amplifiers (OpAmps) in the signal chain. In our industry we employ specialised Op Amps built for audio applications, which allow us to produce very small and efficient electronics, as well as saving the time of design engineers. However, countless hours of listening tests and years of experience have shown us that even the very best Op-Amps do not tend to be so neutral, natural, dynamic or vivid " all of which are characteristics of the Musical Fidelity "sound". For that reason, we're rediscovering our passion
for traditional, discrete designs. Where standard phono pre-amplifiers with integrated circuits have a few tens or hundreds of components, discrete designs will employ hundreds or thousands of components by comparison. That makes for an extended design process, but in our opinion results in the best sound for
your money.
Toroidal Power Transformer
The special audio transformer with low core saturation decreases the level of electromagnetic
radiation, which is essential because otherwise any phono amplifier will never be able to work
correctly. Together with the distance between transformer and amplification section and the
electromagnetic shielding, we are creating an incredibly high signal to noise ratio. If we are
working with the few hundreds of microvolts from a phono cartridge, everything is playing its
role; every decibel of signal to noise ratio is crucially important.
For the first time, we have implemented our new proprietary power supply solution that has zero
standby power consumption. Absolutely zero! It is a super green product and we are sure, there
isn't any other product in existence with an ecological standby function like this.
Split Passive EQ
Many other phono stages are using a single equalization network in a global feedback loop. By
means of an EQ network, the amplified signal from the output of the phono preamp is brought
back to the input of the phono preamp. This is the before mentioned feedback loop, and the
results, as you can imagine, are not in accordance with the high standards in Musical Fidelity
design philosophy.
Specifications
MM Input
Frequency response: RIAA or RIAA/IEC ±0 .2dB
Input sensitivity: 5mV in for 500mV out (at 1 kHz)
Input impedance: 47K?
Input capacitance: 50-400pF selectable
Gain: 40 or 46dB with +6dB function
THD+N: <0.028%
Signal to noise ratio: 95dB
Crosstalk: better than 100dB
MC Input
Frequency response: RIAA or RIAA/IEC ±0.3dB
Input sensitivity: 500?V in for 500mV out (at 1 kHz)
Input impedance: 25? to 1,2K? selectable
Gain: 60 or 66dB with +6dB function
THD+N: <0.28%
Signal to noise ratio: 80dB
Crosstalk: better than 90dB
Output
1 pair RCA: left and right 500mV nom 10V max Input
1 pair RCA
Power requirement
Mains voltages: 230V/115V; AC 50/60Hz
Consumption: 20 Watts maximum. 0W in standby)
Standard accessories
Mains lead: 10 Amp IEC
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