In Barn for Review: Musical Fidelity M8xi Super Integrated Amplifier

When only Kilowatts will do: Power Output (20Hz – 20kHz): 550 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms (870W into 4 Ohms); Peak 1.6kW into 2 Ohms.

Musical Fidelity calls the M8xi a Super Integrated Amplifier, following in the footsteps of the A1000, NuVista M3, Tri Vista 300, kW500, M6/500i, NuVista 800 and NuVista 60. My best guess is if you gathered all of ’em up they’d weigh about as much as a battleship.

The M8xi is a ‘true dual mono’ design with a separate preamp and driver stage that runs in pure Class A mated to a pair of monobloc power amps inside its big, heavy chassis. Interestingly, the specs for the M8xi do not include its weight but my best guess after hoofing it out of the beefy double boxes and up onto the Barn’s farmhouse table is it weights—a lot (the manual states the weight at 101lbs.). Woof!

The M8xi offers plenty of connectivity options with XLR and RCA inputs and outputs as well 5 digital inputs to feed its internal DAC based on the Texas Instruments PCM5242 TI DAC chip and 2 digital outputs. Two sets of speaker binding posts stand at the ready to feed those big Watts to your speakers of choice.

Once I recover from the dead lift up, I’ll get the Musical Fidelity M8xi Integrated Amplifier onto a rack and see what those Watts can do. Stay tuned!

Musical Fidelity M8xi Integrated Amplifier
Price: $7,999
Company Website: Musical Fidelity
US Distributor Website: Harmonia Distribution

M8xi – Specifications

Amplifier

Power Output (20Hz – 20kHz): 550 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms (870W into 4 Ohms); Peak 1.6kW into 2 Ohms
Maximum output voltage: 67 Volts RMS, 20Hz to 20 kHz; onset of clipping (190 Volts peak-to-peak)
THD+N: <0.004% typical, 20Hz to 20 kHz (XLR)
Signal/noise ratio: > 86dB ‚A‘-weighted (XLR)
Input impedance: 25KΩ (RCA), 50KΩ (XLR)
Frequency response: +0, –1dB, 10Hz to 100 kHz
Maximum peak output current: 105 Amps
Damping factor: 150
Output devices: 3+3 pairs (bridged arrangement) per channel

Inputs (analogue)