I think around 1000 to 1500 is a great range to buy HIFI equipment. It is a sweet spot to have a mature device in HIFI that brings you closer to that true audiophile HIFI experience. Many best value gears are in this price range.
As the hifi gear gets more mature, it also gets more new flavors and different sonic characteristics. It becomes increasingly hard to decide which one is the best fit for you, as diversity truly grows here.
As hifi gear becomes more capable, I highly doubt you can find an amp or speakers in plus 1000 that can be considered bad. The only thing it can be considered is not for you, as we all have different tastes and opinions.
Features, Build and Sonic Characteristics
In this glorious range of devices, to me there is one that just stood up the most. And that is Musical Fidelity m3si. What I love about this device is that it is not flashy, in your face, trying to extract as much information that it can at this price level to impress you. What it does is elevate its game in every aspect to meet your needs, even-handedly with a great sense of balance.
With 85 W per channel, it certainly has enough grunt to drive many speakers, even those that are more power-sensitive. It never showed issues when I drive speakers like Q Acoustics 5040 floor standings, or Sonus Faber’s or Elac's bookshelf speakers. Even some Bowers and Wilkins, it just drives them with ease and helps your speaker get more restrained if they pick in treble or help its bottom end sound more pronounced or emphasized. It will try to baseline a lot of inconsistencies in dynamic range of music.
And to me, the greatest strength of this amp is just how it strikes a perfect balance of power, sound, and price.
For engineers working in Musical Fidelity, the main goal of this integrated amp was to build a device that will please you as an audiophile first, as variety of features is not something that this device can be a champion, especially in this price range. It cannot work as your AV Receiver alternative; it does not have Bluetooth or any streaming option. It is your integrated amplifier that delivers the best sound possible.
Sound Quality
The sound of Musical Fidelity can be best described as neutral, but it does not do it justice. As it is not a reserved sound, it is a very muscular sound. It is heavy, improving, and elevating your lower end making sound fuller with more energy, even a tad bit warm.
And that energy is infectious, as it makes every music you listen feel more present and firm in the moment. Creating an atmosphere of luxurious grooves and notes that carry you away to concert halls, to that deep moving sound. The official specification of Musical Fidelity says that the frequency response can go from 10Hz low, allowing the frequency of bass to have a bigger reach and depth, with a variation of 0.1dB, but that all can vary from your devices, cables, electronics, etc.
It is not a punchy and lively sound, as the instruments will not be very forward. They will not overpower the mix, to be pronounced in the way that they dominate the frequency response. They are very evenly spaced out, to bring harmonious tonal balance.
But yet it is not characteristic of neutral-balanced sound to be detailed, and there is that ace from the hat that Musical Fidelity pulls through. The sound definitely poses richness in minds that give expression to instruments, giving them texture and shape. So you have this agile sound that also gives nice details to them and also provides a decent soundstage. The amp really helps to open the soundstage of your speakers as it details them, and creating placement and timing for them on this sonic stage. It is not maybe the amp that delivers the widest or richest soundstage, some amps in this level do that better. But with all the other perks you get, you will easily overlook that and be satisfied with the soundstage which is great but maybe not grand.
The benefit of having a balanced amp is that it can go easily with a large variety of speakers. I always do recommend a bit airy and warm speakers. But everything from Bowers and Wilkins, Focal and Sonus Faber… this speaker drives and accommodates for their sonic characteristics. And certainly that is also a big plus of Music Fidelity how it is always invited to the party and is a great guest.
Treble is resolving a lot of details for one neutral and balanced amp like this. The point I realized that I can enjoy rhythmically rich mids, and yet not feel fatigued and not having an overly forward sound. I realize this is the one.
Yes, I know amps that resolve far better those details, I know some punchy treble-rich amps that give you an abundance of details and textures. But the overall package presented here is one of the higher audiophile prestige, pleasing your senses with an equal share of sonic excellence and giving you a full package to enjoy. I still could pick instrument details on the soundstage, I was in love with the texture in percussion, and yet rich timber of vocals that some speakers provided with this amp.
Bass is not something we should spend too many words. It is incredible how much it helps your speakers with that agile and precise reproduction. If there is an ability from your speakers to create big bass, this amp will surely help reach all its potential. The bass is agile and commanding while most importantly not bloated. As it gives fullness to your lower bass. It will trump and hit those lower octaves and it will not push out or drown the mids.
It is really important with every one of these darker or more muscular amps is to retain a certain level of clarity, as many amps can be heavy on the lower end, but it completely drowns the other frequencies, creating a muddy sound which might be big and feel rhythmic but is not a HIFI audiophile device. Here we have decent clarity with a strong emphasis on maturity and strength.
Real Life Listening's
Usually, I like to compare a few records I liked to express how does gear resolve details and any sound characteristics that fit a specific genre. But I can say that I have not experienced any drawbacks for listening to certain genres of music. My predominantly listening music is rock in all its genres from metal to prog to avant-garde. But I also listen to a lot of ambient records and some singer-songwriters and even some electronic albums. And as versatile as I am with my love for music, the same can be said for this amp is that it does not discriminate and gives everyone equal attention and spotlight.
Some Problems
The negatives of this device are certainly how it communicates with the listener. As the expectations of listeners for this device to reach a certain level of detail reproduction of a grand soundstage might be disappointed. If you are also into punchy, agile, and forward sound, Musical Fidelity might not satisfy you. If you want this aggressive presentation of details and upbeat punch something like Rega might be more for you. It is important to understand that this amp possesses muscular big sound, but that can know from time to time to be a bit reserved and slowly open its heart to you.
Amps i would consider in this price range
Amps I would consider in this price range that can offer similar experiences are Cambridge Audio CXA81, Denon PMA1700, Arcam SA20. I will try shortly to compare these devices and how similar and different they are.
Cambridge Audio CXA81
The most fears and closest competitor is Cambridge Audio CXA81. They are equally priced amps and come with the same goals in mind. Both have warm, bold, and powerful sounds. With edge going in my case to Music Fidelity. Both of these amps are awesome, and they are the perfect alternatives to each other. But the sound of Music Fidelity was up to my taste more, as it was more neutral sound, but also capable of carrying the presence and body of each song, and exposing details. To me, CXA81 was a bit warmer sound, and there was a tad less clarity. But without A/B testing each of these amps next to each other, it is almost impossible to determine that. But what goes definitely in the direction of Cambridge Audio are features, as it has Bluetooth and many more digital and analog connections. It is certainly a more versatile device. But I could listen for days and days to Music Fidelity with a wide variety of music and never get bored and overwhelmed. It just fits my needs better.
Denon PMA-1700ne
Denon is a great alternative also. It has the characteristic dark, weighty warm Denon Sound, almost like AV sound. But from 1700, 2500 they become super interesting devices as they provide a lot of power with enough details and resolution to be a mighty pleaser. They come with more features, and one might find a phono input. They are also a powerhouse as they can drive almost anything. To me, Music Fidelity is a more rounded audiophile device, with more details, soundstage, and agility. But Denon can be a fun listen, as it knows to bop with authority and presence like no other. And it is worth checking it out.
Arcam SA 20
Arcam SA20 is also an interesting choice. It is a very powerful machine that uses class G single path power. It is a very balanced amp with great timing, agility, and precision. Its bass is big, while big, sometimes not present enough and definitely, Music Fidelity masters more details. Arcam's strength lies in its harmonious musical sound that is a joy to listen to and it comes with more features and ports. Also, the new Radia series gets glowing reviews in the review sphere, so if you are eventually interested in Arcam, please look at A15 and A25. I know I will eventually.
Conclusion
The conclusion is that it is a wonderful amp that trades the balance of maturity and sonic qualities of more expensive gear while sacrificing features and inputs. Musical Fidelity is a guest that is often invited to the party as it mixes well with a wide variety of speakers. Its neutral tonality helps them flourish and get closer to the baseline of the frequency response.
With great bass and a good amount of details in a wide soundstage, this amp is an epitome of value, as it delivers a lot of audiophile qualities in this price range. So if you want an amp that has ample power to drive your speakers and brings excellent sonics and value, you must turn your head in the direction of Music Fidelity as it might just be your next amp. But not just an amp, maybe even your end game amp, that will serve you for many years.
Thank you for watching this review; I hope you like it. As independent as it gets, every gear I buy myself, as where I live, there is no easy opportunity for me to get any demo unit to review. So to help me grow this passion of mine, please like, subscribe, and even if you can donate via Patreon. Thank for everything bye!
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