Totally Redesigned Upgrade of a Bestselling Integrated Amp
Musical Fidelity's new 220-watt-per-channel M6si integrated amplifier improves on the bestselling M6i model, which earned the kind of rave reviews that we've come to expect from the British company's components. The M6si enhances your listening experience by providing more inputs and completely new internal circuitry to offer greatly improved technical and sonic performance.
Despite its highly affordable price tag, the M6si provides true high-end sound quality. Because of the considerable amount of power on tap (220-watts-per-channel at 8 ohms), the sonics are effortless and unstressed. Its stability margins are huge, so it will drive any loudspeaker easily. But this is only the beginning of what the M6si really does, which is sounding fantastically musical. Because of its preamp/power amp configuration it produces wide, stable images with an effortless, clear, un-grainy sound quality. The bottom end is delivered with a vast punch and speed of attack.
A Tough Act to Follow
The M6i was a tough act to follow. "We felt that the original M6i's package size, power and price were spot on," says Musical Fidelity Founder and CEO Antony Michaelson. What he felt was needed was the addition of extra input facilities and, if possible, an all around improvement of technical performance. "By the way, despite endless component price rises during the M6i's life, we didn't alter its selling price. This made our final requirement even harder," reports Antony. "The M6si should not be significantly more expensive than the outgoing model."
Two Completely Separate Internal Monoblock Amps
In designing the M6si, the engineers decided to use Musical Fidelity's exclusive SMD Surface Mount Design layout techniques. This reduced the size of the circuit's footprint and allowed greatly increased flexibility with the internal layout. Consequently, the M6si is configured as a preamp with two completely separate and independent monoblock power amps. In other words, the M6si is a proper preamp with its own separate regulated power supply and discrete monoblock power amps sharing same casework This is a big change from the outgoing M6i. The M6si's technical performance is a significant advance on the old model.
Immaculate Performance
The M6si performs immaculately. There is no other way to put it. Because of its preamp + two monoblocks power amp configuration, both channels perform virtually identically, which is exactly what you would expect from a preamp with separate power amps but not what you would expect from a normal integrated amplifier. The makes the M6si unique compared to other integrateds.
Distortion is very low at less than 0.005%. More tellingly, HF distortion is incredibly low. The vast majority of amplifiers suffer huge increases in distortion as you go up in frequency. The M6si's meticulous PCB and circuit design means that HF performance is virtually identical to the LF performance. This is significant for sound quality. Thus, at 10 kHz distortion is only about 0.006% and at 20 kHz it measures an astonishingly low 0.007%.
Channel separation is remarkable, and remarkably consistent, too. Most amplifiers (integrated or pre/power) have dramatically worsening crosstalk as the frequency increases. The M6si's crosstalk is outstanding. Even at 20 kHz, it is better than 82dB.
Impressive Onboard Phono Stage
The M6si's onboard phono stage is also special, starting with its MC moving coil and MM moving magnet compatibility. It boasts a very accurate RIAA, within ± 0.5dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Also it maintains its accuracy right out to 50 kHz. The MM noise ratio is an outstanding 93dB down, while even more amazingly the MC stage is about 87dB down. The phono stage distortion is a very low 0.01%. All in all the M6si's, phono stage is exceptional.
24-bit/96 kHz Asynchronous USB Input
The 24-bit/96 kHz asynchronous USB input uses exactly the same circuitry and technology as Musical Fidelity's highly regarded V-Link and other top quality computer interfaces. Jitter is virtually eliminated. Noise is incredibly low and distortion is virtually nonexistent. The M6si's USB input is capable of eking out the finest details from the computer source.
The M6si also has a home theater bypass for easy integration into your theater system, preamp output jacks, and 12-volt trigger inputs and outputs.
At the end of it all, the M6si offers true high-end sound quality, an extensive range of useful inputs, a compact package, reliability, and a highly affordable price for the level of build and performance that it delivers.
The Masterful M6 Series
Musical Fidelity designed the M6 series to be the high-quality heart of your home entertainment, combining power, performance and future-proof features into beautifully built components that will delight for years to come. The series includes a CD player, DAC, integrated amplifier, preamplifier, and power amplifier. Each of these is packed with innovation, enabling it to deliver the best from both traditional discs and modern digital streams. Whatever style and source of music you love, the M6 series is ready to serve it up flawlessly. The exceptional sonic talents are matched by premium fit and finish. This is high-end hi-fi you'll be proud to own – all at an attainable price.
