The M6 Vinyl caused a stir among vinyl lovers worldwide when it was launched. Finally, there was a phono preamplifier that allowed users to conveniently adjust all parameters while simultaneously connecting up to three cartridges. The brand-new M6x Vinyl follows this same concept and takes the next logical steps in many critical areas.

Extreme flexibility was already the trademark of the M6 Vinyl – the M6x Vinyl is even more flexible. For the first time in a MUSICAL FIDELITY M6 series phono preamplifier, there is now a balanced phono input.
Here is some background information: The signal from a cartridge is inherently balanced. The cable pins connected to the cartridge all carry a signal. In the standard color coding, white stands for "positive signal left channel," blue for "inverted signal left channel," red for "positive signal right channel," and green for "inverted signal right channel." Incidentally, this is actually the only truly balanced signal in the entire industry.

Many balanced sources only offer a balanced signal that is actually asymmetrical in origin.
In the vast majority of phono installations, the signals from the blue and green pins (the respective inverted signals) are tied to ground.
The signal from a cartridge moves in the low single-digit millivolt range or even lower, depending on the operating principle. Seen in this light, it obviously makes the most sense to utilize every signal component available from the start – rather than leaving half of it unused by connecting it to ground.

This is where the M6x Vinyl comes into play. It features fully discrete amplifier stages for all four signal components. The main challenge here is to ensure that these amplifier stages are constructed and adjusted absolutely identically so as not to produce phase shifts in the subsequently amplified signal. MUSICAL FIDELITY has decades of experience here, as we have always relied on fully balanced signal processing and amplification in all our amplifiers.

The result:
not even the smallest signal remains hidden from the M6x Vinyl.
A discrete circuit consists of electronic components. These are "passive" components such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors, as well as "active" components, which in our case are transistors. The opposite of this would be an integrated circuit that uses operational amplifiers in the signal chain.

Many manufacturers like to use operational amplifiers because they can be used to implement a wide variety of circuits in a very cost-effective manner. However, countless hours of listening tests and years of experience have shown us that even the best operational amplifiers do not sound as neutral, natural, dynamic, or lively.
Yet these are exactly the sonic goals that MUSICAL FIDELITY passionately pursues. Integrated circuits usually manage with a few dozen components, whereas a discrete circuit design can easily require several hundred. While this does not necessarily make development more efficient, it does lead to the best sonic results.

In addition to the balanced input already mentioned, there are two other inputs that operate asymmetrically to accommodate cartridges that are not prepared for balanced preamplification.
All three inputs can be connected to MM or MC cartridges independently of one another. This allows turntables with multiple tonearms or multiple turntables to be operated without the hassle of tedious and wear-prone unplugging.
For this reason, the M6x Vinyl is also the first choice for industry professionals, as multiple turntables can be compared under exactly the same conditions. Who hasn't dreamed of running a mono cartridge for their many mono records? Many analog fans swear by the latest MC developments and yet secretly love their old Decca system.
Individual adjustments can be made at all inputs, which the M6x Vinyl then saves. There are 6 terminal capacitances available for MM cartridges (50, 100, 200, 300, 350 & 400pF). For MC cartridges, 6 terminal resistors can be selected (25, 50, 100, 400, 800, 1200 ohms).
The input stage is virtually impossible to overload, and there are no limitations at the output – both via RCA and balanced connection (XLR).

The IEC button can be used to engage a subsonic filter that attenuates the lowest frequencies—a true blessing for many suspended sub-chassis turntables. To match the output level to other components in the system, an additional 6 dB of gain is available. This allows the ambitious vinyl lover to optimally operate any conceivable cartridge and enjoy their beloved record collection without compromise.
Next to the inputs is the ground switch. With the DIRECT, LIFT, and SOFT settings, you can respond very precisely to potential hum and eliminate it effectively.
The impressive power supply with a generous toroidal transformer and four subsequent separate power supply units guarantees superior amplification without limitations.

MUSICAL FIDELITY devices have always impressed with their consistency and clear goal of reproducing music as directly and unadulterated as possible.
With the new circuit design, background noise and distortion are kept extremely low – allowing even the finest details to be heard unimpeded. Both the musical content and the artist's intention can take center stage.
Not only are differences between cartridges clearly brought out regardless of price class, but the detailed and lively reproduction allows the listener to get very close to the music. Whether jazz or classical, the Musical Fidelity M6x Vinyl plays beautifully balanced, powerful, and dynamic.
As you would expect from MUSICAL FIDELITY, the M6x Vinyl is the first choice in terms of musicality, power, and expression. Regardless of whether it is Artur Rubinstein or Nils Frahm, Dinah Washington or Rihanna – you will have famous guests at home more often in the future.
Typically MUSICAL FIDELITY: Powerful, Dynamic, Musical

MM
Frequency response:
RIAA or RIAA/IEC (switchable) ±0.2 dB

Input sensitivity:
5mV in for 500 mV out (at 1kHz)

Input impedance:
47 kΩ

Input capacitance:
50 to 400 pF switchable

THD at 1 kHz:
<0.005%

Overload margin:
26dB

Signal-to-noise ratio:
>80 dB(A)

MC
Frequency response:
RIAA or RIAA/IEC (switchable) ±0.25dB

Input sensitivity:
500 μV in for 500 mV out (at 1kHz)

Input impedance:
25Ω to 1.2kΩ switchable

Input capacitance:
470 pF

THD at 1 kHz:
<0.02%

Overload margin:
26dB

Signal-to-noise ratio:
>60dB(A)

Inputs
MM / MC switchable:
1 pair XLR balanced
2 pairs RCA / phono

Grounding:
3x 4 mm banana/spade/bare wire

Outputs:
500 mV nominal 10V maximum / 1 pair RCA unbalanced
1 V nominal 20 V maximum / 1 pair XLR balanced

Power supply:
115/230 Volt AC 50 / 60hz (preset)

Power consumption:
< 0.5 Watt standby, 20 Watt max.

Dimensions W x H x D (mm):
440 x 100 x 385 (incl. connectors)

Weight:
5.5 kg

Herstellerangaben:

Musical Fidelity a Division of Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH
Margaretenstrasse 98
A-1050 , Vienna
Austria
info@musicalfidelity.com

Verantwortliche Person:

REICHMANN AudioSystems
4 Graneggstrasse
8078 , Niedereschach
Germany
info@reichmann-audiosysteme.de