The Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL phono preamplifier is a fully symmetrical phono stage dedicated to high-end phono cartridges and turntables.
MUSICAL FIDELITY MX-VYNL: FRONT PANEL
It gives you confidence right away. The manufacture is careful and gives a very luxurious aspect to the device.
On the front panel there is a hurdle switch, an equalization selector (IEC or RIAA) and a gain selector (0/+6dB). On the right there is a large rotary switch for selecting either the capacitive load of a MM cartridge or the resistive load of a MC cartridge.
The values choice allows to associate this Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL to 99% of the cartridges on the market. Musical Fidelity designed it to work with about every MM and MC cartridges on the market.
MUSICAL FIDELITY MX-VYNL: BACK PANEL
At the back of the phono preamplifier, there is a set of unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) outputs, as well as a traditional RCA input.
This is doubled via a switch by a curious balanced input in mini XLR format. This plug is quite rare and, to my knowledge, there is no phono cable in this format... And note that soldering a phono cable on a mini XLR is not a piece of cake!
In our tests, we stay on the RCA input of this phono preamp that does its job perfectly.
Note that the quality of the connections and, among other things, the RCAs have been particularly well developed.
MUSICAL FIDELITY MX-VYNL: CIRCUIT
The MX-VYNL is equipped with a pretty complex and very accurate (± 0.1 dB) RIAA circuit that handles correction up to 80 kHz!
The distortion level (< 0.007%) and the noise level (< -101 dB) are among the lowest we have ever encountered.
MUSICAL FIDELITY MX-VYNL: TEST AND LISTENING
The instruments have matter and sound full and robust. The sound scene is wide, while remaining precise and realistic.
With acoustic music, this MX-VYNL offers a detailed, refined and articulated restitution. We are surprised by the differences in dynamics and the cleanness with which it transcribes a symphony.
It seems to "smooth out" the acidity and hardness of some recordings. Without limiting dynamics and “swing”. It finds a beautiful balance between softness and transparency and dynamics.
Moreover, in the wide low spectrum, remains controlled and articulated.
The Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL phono preamplifier offers a beautiful musicality, dynamics and outstanding articulation related to a pretty fluidity!
AWARDS:
What Hi-Fi - Best Phono Stage - 2019
FranckOutputs: XLR and RCA asymmetrical
Inputs: Mini XLR and RCA
RIAA precision: ± 0.1 dB
Channel separation: <- 86 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: < -101 dB
Distortion: <0.007%
Curves: RIAA and IEC
MM loads: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1200, 47000 ohms
MM loads: 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 pF
O dB gain: MM 5mV, MC 0.8mV
6 dB gain: MM 2.5mV, MC 0.4mV
Power supply: 12V / 500mA DC
Weight: 1.9 kg
Dimensions: 220 mm x 53 mm x 215 mm
