Musical Fidelity M8xi Integrated Amplifier

The M8xi is Musical Fidelity's flagship Super Integrated amplifier, a design that traces back to the A1000 of 1990 and the line of large integrateds that followed it. It is genuinely dual mono: a separate preamp with two monobloc power amps in one chassis, each power amp with its own heat sink and its own transformer. The preamp runs from its own power supply and sits close to the input sockets to keep the signal path short, so both channels see ultra-low impedance the moment the signal arrives.

The numbers are the point of it. The M8xi delivers 550 watts per channel into 8 ohms, rising to 870 watts into 4 ohms and peaking at 1.6 kW into 2 ohms, with each channel carrying twelve large bipolar output transistors and up to 200 amps peak-to-peak on tap. In this generation the entire driver stage runs pure Class A, which Musical Fidelity credits for the wider soundstage and sharper dynamics. A five-input DAC is built in around the Texas Instruments PCM5242 with its own power supply, and balanced XLR inputs and outputs sit alongside the RCA connections. This is a one-box amplifier built to drive any loudspeaker without strain.

Key Features

• Flagship Super Integrated amplifier in genuine dual-mono form
• 550 watts per channel into 8 ohms
• 870 watts per channel into 4 ohms
• Peak 1.6 kW into 2 ohms for demanding loads
• Twelve bipolar output transistors per channel
• Up to 200 amps peak-to-peak current available
• Pure Class A driver stage throughout
• Separate transformer and heat sink for each channel
• Built-in five-input DAC on the TI PCM5242 chip
• Balanced XLR plus RCA analog inputs and outputs
• Precision volume control using laser-trimmed resistors
• Milspec aluminium front panel and heavy custom heat sinks

Warranty

Why Consider the Musical Fidelity M8xi

There is a class of loudspeaker that most integrated amplifiers cannot properly control, the large, low-impedance, power-hungry designs that dip well below their nominal rating. The M8xi exists for exactly those speakers. With 550 watts a side and the current reserves of a serious power amplifier, it drives difficult loads with the ease of separates while keeping everything in one chassis. The pure Class A driver stage gives it the tonal character of a small Class A amplifier but with effectively limitless headroom, and the built-in DAC with balanced connectivity means it can anchor a high-end system without a separate preamp or converter. For a listener at the top of the market who wants the simplicity of an integrated without giving up the grip of big monoblocs, this is the amplifier to consider.

Ideal For

• Large or low-impedance loudspeakers that need serious current
• High-end systems wanting separates-level power in one chassis
• Listeners who value a pure Class A driver stage
• Systems using balanced XLR sources and connections
• Owners consolidating a preamp, power amp and DAC into one box
• Demanding rooms where amplifier headroom is the limiting factor

What's in the Box

• Musical Fidelity M8xi integrated amplifier
• Remote control
• Power cable
• User manual and documentation

[VERIFY: box contents not itemised on the source page. A remote is shown in the product images. Confirm the full accessory set before publish.]

Technical Specifications