Musical Fidelity M6SI, Integrated Amplifier with MM/MC Phono-Stage silver

Musical Fidelity M6SI, Integrated Amplifier with MM/MC Phono-Stage

M6si – Overview

The new M6si integrated amplifier is much more than just an expanded previous model. It has several additional inputs and a completely new interior, which has greatly improved both technology and sound quality. Due to its performance, it works effortlessly and is unaffected by low impedances; Its stability reserves are so great that virtually any loudspeaker can be used. All of this is the foundation of what the M6si's main goal is: delivering fantastic sounding music.

Because of its complex preamplifier / power amplifier configuration, it produces large, stable sound images with an effortless, clear, very fine resolution. His basses have huge penetrating power and a punch with high-speed attitude. All in all, the M6si offers true high-end sound quality with a wide range of useful inputs - a compact package, reliable and at a fair price.

The specialist magazine stereoplay summed it up: “High-quality, ultra-solid integrated amplifier – powerful and very easy to connect with a phono section and USB input. Colorful, bassy, ​​stringent, but still lively sound - also via phono and USB." And the trade magazine Fidelity: "A six in the HiFi lottery!"

M6si – Technical background

We actually felt that its predecessor, the legendary M6i, was spot on as a package of size, performance and price. What was necessary, however, was an expansion with additional input options and – if at all possible – an all-round improvement in technical and therefore sonic performance.

The consistent use of SMD technology in the circuit board layout significantly reduces the size of a circuit board and allows the developer significantly greater flexibility in circuit design. We subsequently designed the M6si as a preamplifier with two completely separate and independent monoblock power amplifiers. So here we are dealing with a real preamplifier with a separately regulated power supply plus discrete monoblock power amplifiers that only share one housing. This drastic change compared to its predecessor is the reason for the significant improvement in sound.

Because of its configuration of a preamplifier with two monoblock power amplifiers, both channels work almost completely independently of each other - which is what you would actually expect from a preamplifier with separate power amplifiers, but not from a normal integrated amplifier. The M6si is simply way above average in everything.

The distortions are very low at less than 0.005%. Even more telling: the high frequency distortion (HF distortion) is incredibly low, around 0.006% at 10 kHz and an astonishing 0.007% at 20 kHz. As frequency increases, the vast majority of amplifiers suffer from a huge increase in distortion. At MUSICAL FIDELITY, we believe that distortion levels in the high frequency range should not be higher than those in the low frequency range (LF distortion). This is of great importance for the sound quality. The M6si's channel separation is remarkable and particularly consistent. For most amplifiers, both integrated designs and separate preamplifiers, crosstalk worsens dramatically as frequency increases. The crosstalk of the M6si, on the other hand, is excellent and still better than 82dB even at 20 kHz.

The integrated phono stage is also outstanding. It has very precise RIAA equalization, which deviates just ± 0.5 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. It retains its precision up to 50 kHz. The signal-to-noise ratio is an excellent 84 dB. The asynchronous 24 bit / 96 kHz USB input connects to a PC, notebook or MAC and enables very high-quality playback of modern media with the shortest and optimally coordinated signal paths. Simply connect the USB cable to the computer and you can enjoy HD audio, videos, music and streaming. Jitter and noise are incredibly low and distortion is virtually non-existent. The M6si's USB input is able to extract the finest details from the computer source.

The elegant case is ultra-solid and manufactured with the highest precision. The massive heat sinks enable the power amplifier to always work under optimal temperature conditions thanks to their special, horizontal design.

Specification

• Output power: 220 W / channel or 42 V RMS at 8 ohms (120 V max.)
• Current delivery capability: 85 amps
• Damping factor: 180
• Total distortion: < 0.007% across the entire listening range
• Signal-to-noise ratio: > 107 dB (A)
• Inputs:
• 1x XLR balanced high level
• 3x RCA/Cinch analog high level
• 1x RCA/Cinch analog switchable directly to the power amplifier
• 1x RCA/Cinch Phono MM/MC switchable
• Grounding: 4mm banana/cable lug/bare
• 1x USB type “B”
• Phono input: RIAA equalized, +/- 1dB 20hz – 20kHz,
• Sensitivity: 3mV (MM); 0.4mV (MC)
• Signal-to-noise ratio: > 84 dB (A)
• Frequency linearity: RIAA/IEC ±0.5 dB 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• USB input: up to 24bit, 96kHz AAC, FLAC, WAV, MP3
• Outputs:
• 1 pair of speaker terminals banana/cable lug/blank
• 1x RCA/Cinch fixed level (LINE OUT)
• 1x RCA/Cinch variable level (PRE OUT)
• TRIGGER IN / OUT: 3.5mm mono jack (IN: 4.5 to 15 V DC / OUT: 12 V DC)
• Power supply: 115/230 volts, 50 or 60hz
• Power consumption: less than 0.5 watts in standby mode, 680 watts maximum
• Dimensions W x H x D (mm): 440 x 125 x 400
• Weight: 16.6 kg (21.3 kg gross)
• Finishes: Black, Silver