Musical Fidelity M8s PRE Fully Balanced Preamplifier

A Preamplifier Built to Add Nothing to Your Music

The Musical Fidelity M8sPRE is a fully balanced Class A preamp, built as the top model for a serious two-channel system. Its design goal is simple: pass the signal through unchanged.

A true balanced path runs the whole way from input to output, not just at the jacks. This keeps noise low, even over long cable runs. Class A means every stage stays "on" at a fixed level, which favors sound over efficiency.

Musical Fidelity built in a low-noise phono stage with switchable gain for MM and MC cartridges. Vinyl fans don't need a separate phono preamp. Reviewers found it stays quiet even with high-output cartridges, which is rare at this level.

The M8sPRE comes in Black and Silver, both with a beveled front panel and a finely textured finish, so it can match the rest of an M8-series system or stand on its own.

Serious Engineering Behind the Neutral Sound

Each channel gets its own 350VA toroidal transformer, fully shielded, with its own separate regulation. That's a bigger, cleaner supply than many full power amps use, let alone preamps.

Volume runs through a quad, laser-trimmed attenuator, working in fine 0.5dB steps. Both the volume control and input switching are solid-state. There's no mechanical noise or scratchiness as you adjust them.

Distortion measures under 0.005% on the single-ended outputs. On the XLR outputs, it drops to under 0.004%. Noise stays low too, over 118dB below the signal. Its frequency range spans 5Hz to 100kHz.

Low output impedance and high current give it the muscle to drive almost any power amp. The remote handles volume and input switching using the RC5 code standard. A large front knob gives a smooth, soft-detent feel by hand.

There's no balance control, no tone control, and no built-in headphone amp. Fewer features means more care spent on the parts that matter most. It measures 440mm wide, 162mm tall, and 400mm deep, and weighs 17 kilograms — solid and heavy, like a flagship preamp should feel.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Ashley Cox reviewed the M8sPRE for Audio Appraisal in December 2019. He tested it with a Musical Fidelity M6 PRX power amp and a pair of Hypex NC400 monoblocks. He called it "a difficult component to review sonically because its sound is, for all intents and purposes, neutral."

He summed up its character simply: "Nothing is added, nothing is taken away. What goes in is what comes out, besides being attenuated by the volume control."

On build quality, he called it "beautifully made," with "substantial connectors at the back" and "a unit of some considerable weight and bulk." He also praised the phono stage, calling it "impressively quiet" even with high-output cartridges.

His conclusion was direct: "The M8sPRE is everything I wanted in a preamplifier," praising its "audibly and measurably linear" performance and its "near-perfect volume control."

Who Is This Preamplifier Best For?

• Listeners who want a preamp that stays out of the way. Reviewers praised its neutral, uncolored sound above almost everything else.
• Vinyl collectors who want a built-in phono stage. Its switchable MM/MC phono input removes the need for a separate outboard phono preamp.
• Anyone building a fully balanced system. Its XLR inputs and outputs pair naturally with balanced amplifiers and sources.
• Shoppers who want proven, independently reviewed performance. An established reviewer confirmed its measured specs translate into real-world neutrality and quiet, confident build quality.
• Not the right fit for anyone who wants a headphone jack built in. The M8sPRE has no headphone amp on board.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect sources using the two XLR balanced inputs or five RCA line inputs. One of each includes a home theater bypass, so a receiver can drive your main speakers at a fixed level. A dedicated RCA phono input accepts MM or MC cartridges directly, with gain you switch to match your cartridge.

Run the RCA or XLR pre outputs to your power amp, whichever it supports. A fixed RCA output feeds a recording device or tape loop, unaffected by the volume control.

Trigger in and out jacks let it turn on and off with the rest of your system, with no extra step on your part.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions for the Musical Fidelity M8sPRE:

• Power amplifiers to complete a fully balanced two-channel system
• Turntables that take advantage of its built-in phono stage
• Interconnect cables to wire its balanced and single-ended connections
• Audio racks built to support a full-sized flagship component

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it have a built-in phono stage?

Yes. A low-noise phono input with switchable MM/MC gain is built in, so most turntables can connect directly without a separate phono preamp.

Does it have a headphone output?

No. The M8sPRE focuses on line-level and phono inputs feeding a power amplifier, without an onboard headphone amp.

Can I use it with a home theater receiver?

Yes. One XLR input and one RCA input include a home theater bypass, letting a receiver drive your main speakers at a fixed level alongside your two-channel setup.

What finishes are available?

Black and Silver are both available, matching the rest of Musical Fidelity's M8 series.

What's the warranty?

Musical Fidelity covers the M8sPRE for two years against manufacturing defects.

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Learn More

Want to learn more about building a two-channel system, matching a preamplifier to your power amp, or getting the most from balanced connections? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.