bjs Posted July 21, 2021 Posted July 21, 2021 Hi all, I thought I would kick this one off. I currently own an A5CR power amp which runs my speakers like a dream. However, at the last Melbourne Hifi show, I heard the M8 package - I think it was the preamp and monoblocks - power the Serhan+Swift speakers, and I have not been able to shake the memory. I think the monoblocks are out of my league, and I am happy with my preamp choice, but keep wondering about the M8-500S. Any thoughts? Cheers.
BugPowderDust Posted July 21, 2021 Posted July 21, 2021 I saw those monos are on special at the moment. $5190 each at Musical Fidelity retailers here. That seems pretty good buying for a new set of 2 x 700w into 8 ohm. I haven’t been able to find any real world testing to show their measured performance, but I expect they won’t be shabby. the 500s is lower power but probably enough to drive most loads. what are you thinking of driving with the amplifier?
bjs Posted July 22, 2021 Author Posted July 22, 2021 I have Audio Physic Classic 30s. Even at that price, the monos are beyond me. They were phenomenal at the show.
bjs Posted July 22, 2021 Author Posted July 22, 2021 I have a Primaluna Prologue Premium preamp. I think I will upgrade to the Evo 300 or 400 eventually. I love their sound, and they go so well with the musical fidelity that I want to stick with the formula. Just really interested in the M8-500S if it can deliver anything close to what I heard at the show. But it is hard to audition and almost impossible with those speakers.
Jon Snow Posted August 2, 2021 Posted August 2, 2021 @bjs interesting that you enjoy the prima luna preamp and MF power amp combo. I run a m6 500i to power my Maggies. I’m looking for a tube preamp to feed the MFs and have been wondering whether the prima luna would be a good fit. I missed out on a prologue preamp recently in the SNA classifieds. What do you like about the combo ? is it obvious that the signal is coming from tubes , not SS?
bjs Posted August 2, 2021 Author Posted August 2, 2021 @Jon SnowMate, I got into Prima luna through their basic integrated amplifier, the Prologue classic. I loved its sound. However, when I upgraded my speakers, it just did not have enough grunt. I actually asked around on this site for the same reasons. @Pops110 was really helpful with advice. He explained that my speakers needed a bit more oomph and recommend a tube preamp and solid state power amp. He recommended musical fidelity A5CR, and one came up in the classifieds for a decent price. I like the sound so much that I'm actually upgrading to the Evo 300 preamp and musical fidelity m8 500s. I suppose it depends on speakers. But I love the combination. It definitely has the tube magic in the sound. Great soundstage. Fantastic vocals and good bass and pace. 1
Jon Snow Posted August 2, 2021 Posted August 2, 2021 @bjs it’s good to know that there’s synergy between the PL and MF. I know about impedance matching , but there’s no easy way to know if the tube magic will actually be there after it goes through the SS amp. The m8 500 must be beasts , looking at their specs. What speakers will you be driving ? Is there a significant step up in SQ from the Premium Prologue to the Evo 300 ?
bjs Posted August 2, 2021 Author Posted August 2, 2021 All theoretical at this stage as I'm yet to get them. I heard the next monblocs at the hifi show but they're out my league. I've not heard the Evo 300, but did hear the old dialogue which was a step up. This is supposed to be even better. One review had a direct comparison between prologue premium and Evo 400. I believe Evo 300 is Evo 400 but without balanced connections. I'll report back in a couple of weeks when they're up and running. I've got audio physic classic 30 speakers. Really great soundstage, speakers disappear. Surprisingly good bass, too. Based on research, it should be a major step up on noise floor reduction and control of the speakers. I can't wait. 1
betty boop Posted August 2, 2021 Posted August 2, 2021 Have owned my m8 pre and m8 500s for some years now ... gorgeous combo... if i didnt own these ...wonderin what id own... perhaps elektra pre power both gorgeous combos.. I do beleive matching pre and power amps is super critical... as critical as matching power amps to speakers 1
Guest RobbC Posted August 2, 2021 Posted August 2, 2021 (edited) ... Edited August 2, 2021 by RobbC wrong forum
Jon Snow Posted August 3, 2021 Posted August 3, 2021 @bjsI’d love to hear your impressions on your news set up. If you changing both the preamp and amp at the same time , it might be hard to tell which part of the improved sound is due to each component. If you are holding onto the units being subbed then you can certainly do a lot of ABing. Fun! @betty boop Al have you ever fed a MF power amp with tubes ? One preamp manufacturer I’m interested in is Earle Weston. Will look him up so for a chat about his preamp. It seems most people get one of his integrated versions. The big question for me is musical synergy with my big MF SS. There’s really only way to know right ?? 1
betty boop Posted August 3, 2021 Posted August 3, 2021 2 hours ago, Jon Snow said: Al have you ever fed a MF power amp with tubes ? hi JS, i have had tubes part of the system with MF as far as can remember... though not in the pre my first musical fidelity system goes back to early 90s and i bought a MF tubalog dac back then which I used back then with MF pre and typhoon mono blocs... and it was a lovely system overall (doing about 150wpc) I then moved across to the MF A5 pre power about a decade or so later and then my disc player was the lovely A5CD with tube stage. I also at that point purchased an Audio research phono stage that is tube based... and upgraded that only few years ago again with a arc tube phono stage...along with going across to the M8 pre power some 6 ? years ago as well A few years ago i also purchased another dac in the french Kora dac... also tube based...so tubes involved in both digital or analog sources.... so to answer your question... no havent gone tube in pre amp... but instead gone tube in sources. am really happy with the combo overall I still own the lovely tubalog valve dac which still sounds as good as new ...but really only use this in the bedroom setup at times... 1
Jon Snow Posted August 4, 2021 Posted August 4, 2021 @betty boop you obviously like the MF sound. I do too. Refined power at affordable prices. I looked up some of the components that you’ve owned over the years. I didn’t realise MF had a long history in tube products including some world firsts https://www.musicalfidelity.com/about-us/timeline I’ve always considered them an underrated hifi manufacturer. I appreciate their pedigree all the more now. 2
Gandra Posted August 4, 2021 Posted August 4, 2021 A couple of years ago I bought a second hand MF Primo, which I believe was their cost no object preamp when it came out some 10 years or so ago. The fully balanced all tube unit is built like a tank and sounds a million dollars in my system, driving Dana Digital active speakers. For me it is definitely and end-game component. I would be very interested to know why the range was scrapped after only a few years. 2
Wimbo Posted August 4, 2021 Posted August 4, 2021 My favourite MF integrated's. Sold the stuff for 25 years 2
Pops110 Posted August 4, 2021 Posted August 4, 2021 I’ve had a few people not rubbish MF but speak not very highly of them, but they seem to be reasonably impressed when they have a listen to my system. Maybe they are being polite I still have a bit of a gain issue with the Line Magnetic pre and the A5cr but they sound very good together, I just don’t have a lot of play on the volume control. I personally aren’t looking to upgrade it any time soon. I could only imagine that the M8 500s would be a step up but it’s a pretty big investment. Wish I had the spare coin to be able to find out myself. 3
Jon Snow Posted August 4, 2021 Posted August 4, 2021 @Gandra You piqued my curiosity about the Primo so read up a bit. MF claim it to be their best ever preamp. it got a stellar review by Michael Fremmer in 2010. In that review he says “Michaelson warns against tube rolling with the Primo: the linear performance of its zero-global-feedback design depends on carefully matched sets of tubes.” I read a disgruntled Primo owner was charged by MF to repair his Primo that failed after 2000 hours. According to the owner MF replaced all 14 tubes when only 2 had blown and sent him a big bill. Maybe the Primo’s demise was related to the need to maintain carefully matched sets of so many tubes. Pure speculation on my part...... just a thought 2
betty boop Posted August 4, 2021 Posted August 4, 2021 (edited) 6 hours ago, Jon Snow said: @betty boop you obviously like the MF sound. I do too. Refined power at affordable prices. I looked up some of the components that you’ve owned over the years. I didn’t realise MF had a long history in tube products including some world firsts https://www.musicalfidelity.com/about-us/timeline I’ve always considered them an underrated hifi manufacturer. I appreciate their pedigree all the more now. hi JS, have always kept an open mind demoing a range of brands each time have upgraded my main system and seemed to have come back to MF both times apart from my main system, I have used my bedroom system for experimentation purposes... from cyrus stacks to meridian stacks... to nad master series stack to marantz stack to multiple MF stacks Bedroom system isnt MF anymore... and won't defile this thread with the other brands mentioned but below some of the MF stacks gone through the bedroom system the luscious A300... lovely A3 sack with disc player and dac, A3.2 pre & power.... though the sweetest of the bunch are the X series and tubalog that still remain in possession Edited August 4, 2021 by betty boop 3
betty boop Posted August 4, 2021 Posted August 4, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Jon Snow said: @Gandra You piqued my curiosity about the Primo so read up a bit. MF claim it to be their best ever preamp. it got a stellar review by Michael Fremmer in 2010. In that review he says “Michaelson warns against tube rolling with the Primo: the linear performance of its zero-global-feedback design depends on carefully matched sets of tubes.” I read a disgruntled Primo owner was charged by MF to repair his Primo that failed after 2000 hours. According to the owner MF replaced all 14 tubes when only 2 had blown and sent him a big bill. Maybe the Primo’s demise was related to the need to maintain carefully matched sets of so many tubes. Pure speculation on my part...... just a thought musical fidelity has made some other tube pre amps over the years ... the original F series F22 pre amp was tube based curiously the nu-vista pre amp was also sold in the non tube j-fet version as a X-P100 and also quite popular. and version i still have. its a nice little pre for what goes for 100s of dollars 2nd hand Edited August 4, 2021 by betty boop 3
Wimbo Posted August 4, 2021 Posted August 4, 2021 Yes, here's one of Michaelson's Famous attempts at Valves. 2
Ronny Schilt Posted August 5, 2021 Posted August 5, 2021 Hi guys I'm anyone is I interested Im regretfully will be selling my m8 700m monoblocks only because of lack of physical space and I just don't need that much power driving my Sonus Faber Olympic Nova 5 , 1340 watts into 4 ohms, peak current 175 amperes (peak to peak 350 amperes). They are about one year old in perfect condition bought from a musical fidelity dealer in NSW. They come with the receipt and the velvet protective covers and the manuals but I don't have the boxes anymore. Yes they are perfect for the Prima Luna pre-amp which replaced the m8 pre-amp and no regrets their it is a very good improvement. I'm knew to this forum so if I'm in the wrong place can someone point me in the right direction. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to leave my email or mobile number so I'll check this thread again later. I've attached a few pictures
Ronny Schilt Posted August 5, 2021 Posted August 5, 2021 On 02/08/2021 at 10:29 PM, bjs said: All theoretical at this stage as I'm yet to get them. I heard the next monblocs at the hifi show but they're out my league. I've not heard the Evo 300, but did hear the old dialogue which was a step up. This is supposed to be even better. One review had a direct comparison between prologue premium and Evo 400. I believe Evo 300 is Evo 400 but without balanced connections. I'll report back in a couple of weeks when they're up and running. I've got audio physic classic 30 speakers. Really great soundstage, speakers disappear. Surprisingly good bass, too. Based on research, it should be a major step up on noise floor reduction and control of the speakers. I can't wait. I've got the evo 400 preamp and it's really good, better than the m8pre I swapped it for. The balanced outputs are 2 volts,same as the single ended and the gain is about 9.8 db which is enough for most people. I would like to see if you can use the xlr and rca pre outs together for biamping. Because the gain is lower the noise floor is very good for a tube pre-amp and I intend to roll the gain tubes as an upgrade recommend by the Prima Luna group on facebook. 1
Ronny Schilt Posted August 5, 2021 Posted August 5, 2021 On 22/07/2021 at 9:21 AM, BugPowderDust said: I saw those monos are on special at the moment. $5190 each at Musical Fidelity retailers here. That seems pretty good buying for a new set of 2 x 700w into 8 ohm. I haven’t been able to find any real world testing to show their measured performance, but I expect they won’t be shabby. the 500s is lower power but probably enough to drive most loads. what are you thinking of driving with the amplifier? I have the m8 700m and it's more power than I need so I'm going to sell them and actually get something that takes up alot less real-estate and doesn't weigh 30 kg each maybe even a modern class D power amp. Haven't decided yet.
Ronny Schilt Posted August 5, 2021 Posted August 5, 2021 On 02/08/2021 at 7:51 PM, Jon Snow said: @bjs interesting that you enjoy the prima luna preamp and MF power amp combo. I run a m6 500i to power my Maggies. I’m looking for a tube preamp to feed the MFs and have been wondering whether the prima luna would be a good fit. I missed out on a prologue preamp recently in the SNA classifieds. What do you like about the combo ? is it obvious that the signal is coming from tubes , not SS? Big sound difference more meat on the bones and once I upgrade the gain tubes to gold lion or mullards the party will really get into gear. Guitars strings have more pluck and attack piano is nicer jazz instruments really pop out I would only say the bass which is nice and weighty and fat could be tighter but tube rolling will fix this and you only need to change the 2 middle ones. 2
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