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Integrated Amp with Built-in DAC and Phono Stage
How do you improve upon a wildly popular hi-fi component? With more inputs, increased power and virtual monoblock power amps, the new M3si integrated amplifier from Musical Fidelity makes huge strides from the outgoing M3i model. And that's no small feat, considering the craftsmanship that went into the M3i and the worldwide popularity of that bestselling amplifier.
Musical Fidelity's five-year old M3i integrated amplifier has been a very strong product in the hi-fi market, offering great sound and exceptional value at a very affordable price. In fact, the M3i was honored as a "Recommended Component" for 2013 in Stereophile magazine, which called it "one of Musical Fidelity's best integrateds ever, which is saying a lot."
So why change a really, really good thing? With the resurgence of consumer interest in vinyl, the increased popularity of computer-based music files, combined with the refinement of Musical Fidelity's circuit design and SMD PCB layout techniques, the scene was set for a revolution of the original M3i design concept. Enter the M3si.
Design Inspired by Premium M6si Amp
The M3si uses the same exclusive SMD layout techniques that appear in the more expensive M6si. These techniques significantly reduce the circuit’s footprint on a large PCB, achieving increased layout flexibility. As a result, Musical Fidelity's engineers were able to give the M3si more inputs and, more importantly, greater power amp power supply capacitance. The M3si has a pair of big power supply capacitors for each channel, offering a power increase to 85 watts-per-channel. This is a significant advance.
A System's Worth of Connections
The M3i has a system's worth of connections for your audio gear. On the input end, it features four pairs of line level RCA connectors (CD, Tuner, and 2 Aux). One of the inputs is configured as an Auxiliary / Home Theater input which is configurable via a rear panel switch. In the Home Theater mode, this input is unaffected by the M3i's volume control, allowing the volume control on an external home theater processor to be used directly.
The M3i also includes a phono input with built in MM moving magnet phono stage and a 24-bit 96 kHz asynchronous USB input.
Outputs include one pair of line level RCA connectors comprising constant level tape outputs plus one pair of line level RCA connectors as preamp outputs for bi-amping or for using the M3i as a dedicated preamp. There is also a trigger in/out. Speaker outputs consist of combination banana plug/binding posts.
Front panel controls consist of Power/Standby/Mute and Volume, plus input selection (CD player, USB, Phono, Tuner, AUX1/HT, AUX2). You can also use the included M3 'universal' wireless remote, which also controls other Musical Fidelity M3 gear.
Powerful Output, Low Distortion
The new M3si delivers a healthy 85 watts per channel with very low distortion (0.007% at 1 kHz). Even at 10 kHz, distortions hovers around 0.01%. While the circuit design and layout of most other hi-fi amplifiers results in a huge increase in distortion with rising frequency, the M3si’s very low HF distortion proves that the layout circuit and circuit design are operating in perfect harmony, resulting in very low distortion at high frequencies.
The signal-to-noise ratio has been improved by more than 3dB compared to the M3i. This is a significant step, which allows more music to be heard with a greater dynamic range.
Built-in High Quality Phono Stage
If you have been itching to hear what the excitement over vinyl is all about or if you simply want to bring out fine details in your favorite records, the M3si has you covered. The built-in high performance MM phono stage allows you to plug your turntable with MM moving magnet phono cartridge directly into the back of the amp with no separate external phono stage required. The phono stage has very accurate RIAA equalisation, within ± 0.5dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, maintained out to 50 kHz. Noise ratio is an outstanding 88dB down,, with distortion at less than 0.3%.
Asynchronous USB
Using the exactly the same circuitry as Musical Fidelity's highly regarded V-Link, the 24-bit 96 kHz asynchronous USB input distills the finest details from computer-sourced music. Jitter is virtually eliminated, noise is incredibly low, and distortion is virtually non-existent.
Superior Sound Quality
With increased power and double the capacitance, the M3si offers listeners deep, wide, and stable stereo images with a substantial dynamic range. Moreover, the M3si offers a sweet musical sound with a clear, effortless quality. The virtual mono power amp configuration with increased capacitance, delivers a bottom end with punch and excellent speed of attack.
The M3si will aesthetically match with present and future M3 series products. Such a combination will yield one of the best high-fidelity systems available at any price. In fact, in spite of rising costs over the past five years, Musical Fidelity is offering a new M3si that surpasses the old model in every way, yet remains at the same price as the outgoing model.
