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New Musical Fidelity M8 pre - anyone heard this

I am in the market for a new pre. I have recently listened to the ML326s, the Parasound JC2, the Pass Xp20 and the MuFi M8. Of these its between the XP20 and the M8. When I listened to the M8 with its matching M8700 amps and Dynaudio confidence speakers I found the system amazingly transparent with what i thought was more detail and information on my standard test tracks than I had heard before. But listening to the Pass with Pass xa160.5s and Wilson Sophias and comparing with the EMM Labs Pre2 the Pass also had great transparency and detail. My problem is I have not been able to compare the Pass to the M8.

So...has anyone had a good chance to listen to the M8 and if so, what do you think?

Thanks to all
rfarris
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,626 posts
 
I have to admit that I didn't listen to this one. I hope to do it next week. Have fun with it!
rfarris OP
19 posts
 
just replaced my old synergistic research master coupler II on my DAC, my oyaide tunami gp on my pre, and stock power cables on the monos with wireworld platinum electras on the DAC and pre and the new series 7 electras on the monos. very significant improvement in clarity and dynamics. i did this incrementally. the platinum electas are awesome right out of the box. the electras made a difference, but more subtle.
dave_72
1,399 posts
 
My concern is that they're made in Taiwan. But that's the way everything's headed; Taiwan, China, and Malaysia.
yingtonggao
65 posts
 
I have a Musical Fidelity M8Pre driving a variety of power amps but not the matching M8700. The low output impedance of the M8Pre makes it easily compatible with most power amps and the sound quality is among the best solid state preamps I've heard. Quiet background, huge dynamic swing and lack of SS harshness are the major merits you notice immediately; lower bass seems to reach down to subsonic levels and there's a fullness to the notes especially in the bass/mid region. The music is presented as a whole and nothing sounds cardboardy or pale. Another thing to like is the very finely stepped volume control, which is very responsive at the same time.
rfarris OP
19 posts
 
I've had the M8 pre and monos for a bit over a year now. I continue to marvel at how good they are. I find them absolutely neutral, tremdously quiet or, because its tough to hear quiet, amazingly transparent and revealing. For the monoblocs specifically, they deliver absolute control over my Vivids seemingly without any coloration or tone. This has given me microdynamics i had previously not noticed in much of my music. Their huge power reserves allow me to go to silly SPLs without even a hint of harshness, edge, or hardness.

I am extremely pleased.
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