Great clarity, timing and control

Needs some 'tweaking' to get the best out of

I've had the Musical Fidelity stuff for a while now, building up the collection I now have over time. Initially I bought the XLP, XPSU, XPre and XA50s, which for a first 'real' hi-fi set-up, sounded far and away better than anything I had been able to afford from higher-end manufacturers (my first 'hifi' consisted of a MF tempset amp and E60 CD player with Paradigm Titans, which sounded functional if flat).

The XPre is a very cute little pre-amp, with no delusions of granduer - it does exactly what it says on the tin. It produces a very well-rounded sound, highs, lows etc and lets the music shine through.

I bought the XRay a year or so ago and it sounded great, but always seemed to fall somewhat short of my aging Linn LP12 turntable with Dynavector cartridge. Adding a REL50 sub extended the bass but only after some careful tuning.

Six weeks ago I found a secondhand pair of XA200s for sale for $800 (well, it would have been rude not to buy them at that price!) and so I bi-amped my Linn Keilidhs. I can't say I thought it was a sonic leap forward - more an improvement in separation . . . oh, and power! I then found a secondhand X10D, which further improved the separation when used with the CD player, but it still lacked a little something. Which led me to read the AudioReview pages and comments made about the valves.

I'd always been a wee bit skeptical that the XPre was a bona-fide vacuum tube amp - well, having cracked it open, I am pleased to say that it indeed contains 2 ECC88's (or 6922's, depending on who you ask). I phoned a valve supplier locally and got some opinions on the valves in the amp and for that matter the X10D. From what I gather, both sets are JAN Phillips (JAN meaning Joint Army & Navy) originally intended for military use but NOT for audio circuitry. So, I bought a couple of matched pairs of Harma valves - no, they're not as good as Siemens or Telefunken, but they're not far off and they're easily available, unlike the other two.

HERE'S THE TWEAKING - I broke into the amp and X10D and replaced both sets of valves. I have to point out here that I was amazed at how simple it is to replace these things; as long as you don't touch the valves with your hands (use gloves or a cloth), you really can't go wrong - unscrew the tube ends, remove the circuit boards, pull out the old tubes, slot the new ones in, screw up the ends. Oh yeah - don't be too disappointed when you look inside the MF tubes - apart from a circuit board, they're just full of air!!

The change was nothing short of amazing. The seperation and clarity is now in a different league - no, honestly - the valve change made more of an impact than bi-amping in terms of sheer quality. Guitars in particular (and any instrument/vocal recorded using valve equipment) sound so real you could almost reach out and grab them. Although they sounded good before, I now realise that they didn't actually sound that lifelike. Elliot Smith's 'Angeles' put's the guy in the room with you - frightening. And Supertamp's 'School' sounds fabulously pacy and dynamic. Both of these were CD tracks and for those who don't think the X10D makes any difference, just change the valves. If it can improve the XRay sound, it's got to be a bargain.

So get hold of one of these preamps and switch those valves. I assure you - you will be amazed. OK, so I'm a bit MF biased . . . but as for 5* giant killer - too bloody right!!

Current System:

MF X-Pre (preamp)
MF X-PSU (power supply)
MF X-LP (phono stage)
MF X-10D (missing link)
MF X-A50 (x2) (amp)
MF X-A200 (x2) (amp)
MF X-Links (interconnects)
Linn LP12, Rega RB300, Dynavector Karat 23R5
Linn Keilidhs (speakers)
REL50 (subwoofer)
Sony MDS-JB940 (minidisc)

Similar Products Used:

Musical Fidelity X-LP, X-PSU, X-Ray, X-10D, X-A50(x2), X-A200(x 2)

None

I've this pre-amp with me for over a year and found it to be totally satisfactory. This is also my first tubed pre-amp, whether it is truly tubed, I don't really bother about it. What I do know is that, it provides me with very good harmonics and details, sounds crispy and warm. I matched it with the NAD 216THX power amp and the results is amazing. With Richard's Clayderman - Golden instrument-CD, songs like Fernando and Don't Cry for me Argentina sounds with great details and clarity and it really brings out the harmonics of the musical instruments with warm and crispy feelings. Bass was deep and tight, drum beats sound real, with good control. I think this have something to do with my partnering equipments - Infinity 3 way floorstander/ PSB Alpha subsonic 5 sub. While writing all these, I am contemplating of upgrading to the MF X-P100 because the X-PRE has been phased out recently. I will still keep it if repairs and spare parts is available at Alpha Audio. 5 Stars!

Similar Products Used:

NAD 114/116

Mind-blowing clarity
Punchy
Easy to match

Not very tolerant of mains noise

Had it nearly a year now. When i first got it i was amazed how snappy it sounded - this is a valve amp remember! I have not lost any enthusiasm for this product - it is without doubt the best piece of hi-fi i have ever bought. At only £200 retail (£150 to me) it is a steal.
I had some problems with mains/RF noise affecting the unit. I spoke to Musical Fidelity and they were aware of it (offering to refund if necessary). I didn't want to let it go, though. I tried capacitors/resistors on the refridgerator, ferrite rings on the power cables, dedicated mains supply. In the end MF loaned me some x-link cables (which they never asked the return of!!) and this seemed to cure it!! Or the valves had 'bedded in'. I do occasionally hear RF (taxi's, i think) interference on Sundays!!!
So, apart from the noise issue, this amp is EXCELLENT. How do they make it for the money.
Discontinued now, i think.

Similar Products Used:

Rothwell stepped attenuator
Rotel RC970BX

Best price/quality ratio

None

I've chosen this little aluminium can with valves inside, most of all after a review on an italian magazine called.....AudioReview! They spoke good about it and, after six months, I can say that this is only the truth. I must admit that its design is particular, but I like it. I bought the X-Psu too, a power supply that works very good instead af the poor little transformer calculator-style supplied. Good and warm sound, no problems at all. It's worth its price fully.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel (don't remember the model),NAD 114

Clarity, Separation, Imaging, Warmth, Price!!

Needs PSU (but still a bargain)

I've had this pre-amp for about 3 months now and it sounds better as time passes. Although sounding warm in its original state, the X-pre benefitted greatly from the X-PSU which increased its clarity throughout the frequency range but especially at the treble end.

Separation and soundstaging is good - and competed very well with another valve preamp at 2.5 times the price

Even with the X-PSU this is still a bargain and is definitely worth an audition.

price, beautiful sound, mesmorizing style

i know there's more transparency out there, does seem to slows things down

i was lucky enough to inherit a mint stereo 70 amp and a not so mint dynaco pas preamp. the latter died and was replaced with an nad 114. it is certainly more transparent and cleaner, but the grainy sound (compared to tubes here) did cause fatigue. swapping for the x-pre with x-psu made a world of difference. the harshness was gone, and i was listening to music again instead of stereo. i bi-wired my paradigm studio 60s, added an msb link dac to the panasonic dvd a310, and fell further in love. the piano came alive with lifelike reverberation, the cymbals lingered, the brass didn't beg for a turntable and cartridge. the acoustic bass sounded truly like a string instrument. the female vocals never hurt the ears. with some cd's i do get a sense that the tunes are coming from a cave instead of a concert hall, but this combo cost me $400 via internet. i would not dare ask for more under the $1200 mark. i was very satisfied with the nad, but switching back to it leaves one infinitely less involved with the music. the pas was too old to draw adequate comparisons, but it kept its magical warmth to the end.

i'll caution that pairing this preamp with a solid state amp just won't work for rock 'n' roll passages- i'll agree here with other reviews that things get bogged down in those tubes and never recover the pace or bass tightness, regardless of amp choice. however, any review less than 5 stars must be comparing out of price category and or missing the psu (a must with this pre). even if i eventually replace this baby, i'll never sell it. i'm proud to own a modern hi-fi budget classic.

Similar Products Used:

dynaco pas-4, nad 114

cheap and compact size equipment that offers 5 times the value of what you're paying for.

To optimize sound benefits, you needs the Musical Fidelity PSU

I got this unit as a preamp for my monoblocks xa-50s which I previously used to drive my integrated MF xa-100r. I expected somewhat of an inferior sound compared to my more expensive and higher wattage xa-100r but I was surprised to find out that the trio offered a more superior sound because of better dynamics, excellent midrange and deeper bass. I've heard more expensive equipment that are comparable to the x-pre and x-a50 combi. This is a budget system that offers high end audio experience.

Similar Products Used:

MF xa-100r

Price, Smooth and forgiving

Could have more transperancy and better bass.

Yes it is a bargain, and no it will not slay a Mark Levison or Krell. But it might just give some good tubes and mid priced solid state a run for their money!
Firts the required, get a PSU upgrade, it will improve this unit! Second. make sure it is dampaned from vibration, 6922 tubes avery microphonic.
The bad points, basicly do not expect crytal clarity, no it is not like an old Dynaco PAS 3 or the like, it does not sound old. It just will not resolve like a $1500+ preamp will. It will hold its own against moderitly priced preamps, ie under $1500. It sounds much better than a Golden Tube preamp, a Dynaco preamp, any Preamp built before 1990 for the most part (that is up to you, if you like stingy solid state or poor noisy solid state!), and many tube preamps , with only the better tubes out shining it for the most part. $250 bucks will only go so far, but the PSU does boost it.
The good points, it is not overly warm, a slight bit, but not rolly polly bass or muted highs, it does go very low, and very high without alot of distortion often with cheaper tubes. The bass is the weaker of the two, with it getting slightly rounded, but not softened. I found lots of bass detail if the source portrays it well. If you have soft bass or low level base from your sorce (my JVC 1050 for example), you are going to get poor bass. If the bass is good, like with the steal of the year MSB Link DAC III, you lots of tunefull ryhtmacly satisfying bass. On the clarity issue, you are not going to get a Suaret or Monet pallet but more like a good painting, lots of detail, but not as good as photo, maybe a better description would be it is like a good quality point and shoot 35 mm, but not a Leica M6 by far. As with the camera analogy, just take care in useing it properly, and it will satisfy you.
The faults I can live with, because the emotion is there, great pace and drive, and yes it does rock and roll. This is all relavent to the gear you have. I love the sound staging, the tonal pallete is just slightly warmed, with older CD's this is great, on a DCC such as Elvis 24K hits, it can get a little bogged down, but is still fun listening. If your sources are soft or mia in upper and/or lower, be carefull, you may not like what it will accent. If your system is neutral, very slight warming, and if it is bright or lean, it may be just the ticket.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha C2, direct out of CD player

Great Sound

Wacky, fiddly knobs, no tape loop, cheap PSU gets too hot

This little gem sounds terrific. It looks a bit twee and gimmicky, but at the price, what do you want? Of course it cannot outshine top units, but it doesn't need to or pretend to. I have severe reservations about the crappy volume control and source selector, and the cheap PSU should be replaced with something beefier, but the latter at least isn't hard.

Although I have some reservations about MF products (based on prejudice perhaps about the "trendy looks" and mindless adherence by What HIFI etc), I have to concede this thing works. I also have an X-LP (and although I think it's a bit overpriced when you see what's in it) it too gets the job done.

I believe it's strength lies in its simplicity. Whether or not it uses a "proper" valve/tube approach doesn't matter to me, because however they do it, it simply works wonders. Sure, it seems a cheap shot, but it actually works well, at least in my system. And no, you don't need valve power amps. Whoever said that can't have heard all the possible permutations that could exist, so such comments have no credibility in my view. This product does tend to reinforce my belief that hi-fi is more about nice sound and not necessarily accuracy (the latter is ultimately unachievable in the absolute sense). So if that means chucking a couple of 6922's in the circuit, so be it. Copland's CSA14 has that too, and it also sounds nice (funnily enough, in a simlar mode to the MF).

It's not the saviour of pre-amps, but it might just suit you and it is worth an audition in your system.

Similar Products Used:

Quad, Audio Innovations, Rotel

RFI-proof, has ground connection, switchable separate MM and MC inputs, external PS (wall wart), economical, well-built.

None discovered yet.

First, this is a review for the X-LPS. If we had to wait for the Webmaster2000 to get around to creating a Review Category for every product before we could review them, we wouldn't be able to alert other enthusiasts to bargains before they go away, now could we?

First, this is specially priced new at $199 at Audio Advisor, assumedly because it is going away soon, either to be replaced by a higher-priced chrome-plated version, or because the X-series is being reduced to amps, preamps, and CD players with the odd tuner thrown in. Hard to say. I've been watching AA's demo list to catch one on it and I just did at $179, which is a stone cold deal.

I needed it to front-end an old EICO AF-4 single-ended stereo integrated amp that lacks a real (RIAA) phono stage. It has a Phono input, but only for ceramic and crystal cartridges (wouldn't be bad for a 45RPM player, though). I just rebuilt the amp and was impressed with it on my EV Marquis speakers, enough to stick the phono stage of my rebuilt PAS-3X on it to listen to records. It sounded so good that I wondered what a more "modern" phono stage that wouldn't kill me in the pocket would sound like.

As I am on the top of a hill and beeper, cellphone television, and radio towers are everywhere, RFI susceptibility was in issue. Nearly all of the reviews on other affordable phono preamps complained about RFI, especially in Creeks which aren't even switchable between MM and MC cartridges, so you have to buy one for each, which really sucks since you're already paying big bucks for a tiny ugly-ass crappy BUD minibox lookalike.

So Creek was out. The Lehman Black Box looked nice, but I only have $145 in the AF-4 anyway, and I have other gear for record playing and don't need to go broke experimenting. So no Lehman. And there are a host of other choices, all relatively expensive, and all relatively obscure, except for the Big Stuff, which was out, again on price.

Sound? Well, using a Grado Red MM on a Kenwood 2055 faux marble-based belt-drive, it has NO hum, NO RFI, is easy, natural, not overly bright nor bassy--which is somewhat of a characteristic of the Red from my experience with it--and just works. Looks good, is on all the time, and waits for me to buy a nice MC cartridge one day. I listen to Miles, Monk and Wes Montgomery albums I bought (or shoplifted--hey, it was the Vietnam era and we were all going to die), back in college in the late 60's and early 70's and played trumpet for 26 years, and I can tell you that on the X-LPS, Thad Jones (from Monk's "Five on Five") sounds like he's playing a real trumpet--no baloney, Maloney.

If you know of a better pnono stage for under $180 (or $200 new), then let me know, because I can't find one.

Be a Tissue and Organ Donor and save somebody's life if you can't save your own.

FIVE STARSKIS.

73, Roger

Similar Products Used:

Internal phono stage in Audio Not3e OTO SE Phono, cvarious tube amps and preamps (CJ, Dyna, etc.)