New X-series gear from Musical Fidelity

[ultrawomble]

I've just been on the MF website and come across the following image showing an "X-T100" (looks like an amp), perhaps a new X-RAY (or just new casework) and another box called "TRIPLE-X" (PSU or amp?) (http://www.musicalfidelity.com/index3.html. Any ideas what these might be?

[ultrawomble]

Ah, just found out some details here (in French, prices in Euros): http://www.thf.fr/uNvxProd/Nvxprod.htm.

Seems as though the X-T100 is an integrated amp, the X-RAY is now V8, and the TRIPLE-X is indeed a PSU. Seems as though a tuner will be available also.

[Crustyloafer]

X-T100 Tube Integrated Amplifier

- Tube Preamp
- High quality power amp
- External Triple PSU
- Concentually the same as a kW500
- 60 Watts Per Channel
- £899 inc VAT

X-RAYv8

- Superlative technical and sonic performance
- No internal PSU
- Use the same Triple-X PSU as the X-T100
- £799 inc VAT

The above is taken from the information sheet .

The Triple-X PSU comes supplied with the X-T100 amplifier and will also power the X-RAYv8 CD player and the forthcoming X-PLORAv8 tuner.

If you wish to purchase the X-RAYv8 CD player on its own the Triple-X PSU also has to be purchased separately at a cost of £299 inc VAT, making the standalone CD player cost £1098 inc VAT.

They will start shipping at the end of September.

Mod comment...advertising comments removed....

[ultrawomble]

Many thanks for the info Crustyloafer - the X-RAYv8 is attractive. Any idea if the triple PSU is regulated and smoothed etc. or just a "torroid in a tin" like the small X-series PSU?

[Crustyloafer]

I'd imagine that for £300 the Triple-X PSU is a bit more than just a "torroid in a tin".

[dynamic turtle]

Originally Posted by Crustyloafer

I'd imagine that for £300 the Triple-X PSU is a bit more than just a "torroid in a tin".

Well, I certainly wouldn't put it past MF

And am I missing something here:

- Concentually the same as a kW500
- 60 Watts Per Channel
- £899 inc VAT

So it's just like the KW500, but with a pathetic 60wpc for NINE HUNDRED POUNDS?

That's the worst class A/B transistor power-per-pound ratio I've seen in a long while.

And the new X-ray looks even cheaper than the last one. You don't even get a flush-mounted tray for £900! Horrid!

DT

[ging32]

I think it all looks a bit cheap to be honest. The old X series used to have a quality look and feel to it. The new one looks as though it's cheaply made. I could be wrong though but going on the picture I am not impressed.

[CJROSS]

Lets hope they have sorted the binding posts on that new amp, bloooody cheapskates when it comes to binding posts on their sub £1500 fare. IMHO.

[CJROSS]

Originally Posted by dynamic turtle

And the new X-ray looks even cheaper than the last one. You don't even get a flush-mounted tray for £900! Horrid!

DT some people may like the look of a big length of silver electrical tape across their silver CD front. Im with you though, that tray ruins the look totally. And I thought the KW250 all in one was grotty !!

[Helicon]

Originally Posted by dynamic turtle

So it's just like the KW500, but with a pathetic 60wpc for NINE HUNDRED POUNDS?

That's the worst class A/B transistor power-per-pound ratio I've seen in a long while.

How many watts you get for your money isn't really an issue, it's more a case of how the amplifier can drive a loudspeaker. The old X-150 had great power on tap, but no control whatsoever, so rendered it useless.

A Naim Nait, which is almost the same money has less watts....does that mean it's even worse?! Nope, it's probably the best sounding integrated this side of a Sugden A-21 (25 watts per channel ).

[Thekop]

You can never have enough watts. I used to love Musical Fidelity gear, but in my view they have really lost their way in recent times. I've been so disappointed with their X-Ray range. They are not the company they once was and I'm sure you could do a lot better for the money - in my Quad/B&W biased opinion

[Herbie]

I don't know whether they've lost their way or not, but after demoing a ton of gear at the £500 - £1k per box price point, the MF A3.5 pair were clear winners to my ears...

[dynamic turtle]

Originally Posted by Helicon

How many watts you get for your money isn't really an issue, it's more a case of how the amplifier can drive a loudspeaker. The old X-150 had great power on tap, but no control whatsoever, so rendered it useless.

A Naim Nait, which is almost the same money has less watts....does that mean it's even worse?! Nope, it's probably the best sounding integrated this side of a Sugden A-21 (25 watts per channel ).

You're absolutely right of course. My 20wpc valve SET's have much greater control & composure than my 70wpc transistor amp. 60wpc implies an iddy-biddy PSU & limited capacitance though, which for this kind of money is unnaceptable.

DT

[dynamic turtle]

Originally Posted by Herbie

I don't know whether they've lost their way or not, but after demoing a ton of gear at the £500 - £1k per box price point, the MF A3.5 pair were clear winners to my ears...

Well, the A3.5 series is just the A3 series in a bigger, shinier box, and the A3 series is just the X series in full-width boxes (for the US market, effectively), so you might simply be better off buying an X-A100 and X-ray for <£600 and save yourself a packet.

MF are the master of the "phantom upgrade" IMO. All the same electronics in bigger & bigger boxes

DT

[Paul Williams]

Originally Posted by Thekop

You can never have enough watts. I used to love Musical Fidelity gear, but in my view they have really lost their way in recent times. I've been so disappointed with their X-Ray range. They are not the company they once was and I'm sure you could do a lot better for the money - in my Quad/B&W biased opinion

I haven't really rated MF since the days of their big black boxes