My first thought: V8? What happened to Vs 4 through 7?
I did some searching on the Internet and discovered that, despite Musical Fidelity's constant product churn, I hadn't missed four…
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How do I get myself into these things? Knowing that I use a Musical Fidelity X-DACV3 D/A processor in my office system and had just auditioned the Bel Canto e.One DAC3 that he'd reviewed in November, John Atkinson asked me to give Musical Fidelity's X-DACV8 a try. I say "asked," but the man does authorize my paychecks, so I acceded, knowing I was painting a giant bull's-eye on my back.
Charlie Haden's bass was forceful and propulsive on Charlie Haden's Private Collection, No.1 (CD, Naim cd005). Haden prods Charlie Parker's "Passport" along with a walking motif that positively sprints —yet through the V8, his double bass sounded warm, taut, and agile.
This quality of nimble precision was also apparent on Steve Miller's "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma," from The Joker (CD, JVC XRCD ERCD0043-2), which skitters along on a syncopated riff that's simultaneously powerful, agile, and delicate. The V8 nailed it perfectly.
Having established a baseline by bypassing the tube…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state digital-to-analog processor with switchable tube buffer stage. Inputs: 3 electrical S/PDIF, 1 USB 1.1. Outputs: 1 electrical pass-through S/PDIF, 1 set analog RCAs. Upsampling: to 192kHz. DAC circuit: 24-bit Delta-Sigma dual-differential, 8x-oversampling. Total correlated jitter: 135ps. Linearity error: <0.1dB to –96dBFS. Maximum output level; 2.18V RMS at 1kHz, nominal. Analog output impedance: 47 ohms. Frequency response: 10Hz –20kHz, –0.2dB maximum. Channel separation: >105dB, 20Hz –20kHz. Signal/noise ratio: >117dB, A-…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Apple PowerMac G5 computer; Onkyo DX-7555 CD player; Oppo DV-970HD universal player; Bel Canto e.One DAC3, Musical Fidelity X-DACV3 D/A converters.
Integrated Amplifier: Ayre AX-7e.
Loudspeakers: NHT M-00/S-00, Usher Be-718.
Cables: Digital: Stereovox XV2, generic USB 1.1. Interconnect: Stereovox HDSE. Speaker: Stereovox Firebird.
Accessories: OSAR equipment stand, Shunyata Research Hydra 6 AC conditioner, RealTraps Mini & Mondo Traps.— Wes Phillips
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I examined the Musical Fidelity X-DACV8's measured behavior before I received our loaner sample of the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January issue's "As We See It" and www.ap.com). I used two different, older test sets: the National Instruments –based Miller QC Suite and my vintage Audio Precision System One Dual Domain. I performed a complete set of tests from the X-DACV8's solid-state outputs using an S/PDIF link, repeating some of them from the tubed outputs and/or using the USB input.
Looking first at the X-DACV8's…
Although she'll deny it, my wife thinks ill of me because I've failed to buy her a new Mini Cooper. I can point to a number of things in my defense—especially the Mini's lack of all-wheel drive, which we need for climbing our quarter-mile driveway in bad weather, and its insufficient cargo and passenger space—all of which would constrain a Dudley-owned Mini Cooper to recreational use only. And a new round of car payments would be difficult to justify for those reasons: not because I'm cheap, and not because I'm too old to appreciate a car that's fun to drive.
I admire the new…
I also tried using the Mastersound in the next room, with my Quad ESL speakers. But I did so only long enough to note that the zero-feedback 300 B S.E. was unsuitable for driving such a wiggy load: It just wasn't happening.
I tend to place integrated amplifiers much closer to my source components than to my speakers: either on a rigid oak table next to my turntable stand, or, in the case of very large or heavy amps, on the hardwood floor. Due to the Mastersound's extraordinary weight (73 lbs), the floor was the only realistic choice, and while I tried a couple of different isolation…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Tubed integrated amplifier with single-ended, class-A output stage and four line-level inputs. Tube complement (two each): 300B, ECC82, 5687 WB. Input impedance: 100k ohms. Frequency response: 8Hz–30kHz, ±0dB. Output impedance: 4 or 8 ohms (selectable). Maximum output power: 12Wpc (10.8dBW).
Dimensions: 20" (510mm) W by 9.5" (245mm) H by 14" (360mm) D. Weight: 72.6 lbs (33kg).
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: 132/07.
Price: $6095. Approximate number of dealers: 8.
Manufacturer: Mastersound SAS, Via Cima XII, No.14, 36051 Creazzo, Vicenza…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Linn Sondek LP12 (with Linn Basik power supply), Thorens TD 124 Mk.II turntables; Naim Aro, Rega RB300, RS Laboratory RS-A1 tonearms; Miyabi 47, EMT JSD 5, Denon DL-103, Koetsu Black cartridges.
Digital Source: Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Standard, K&K Audio, Koetsu step-up transformers; Shindo Masseto, DNM 3D preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: Quad II monoblocks, Shindo Cortese, DNM PA3S.
Loudspeakers: Quad ESL, Audio Note AN-E/SPe HE.
Cables: Interconnect: Audio Note AN-Vx, Shindo silver…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
To my alarm, the Mastersound B S.E. arrived with something rattling around inside the box. It was the tubes! In my opinion, the packaging supplied with this heavy, delicate, and expensive amplifier is nowhere near robust enough to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous UPS shipping. To add insult to injury, the tube cage can be removed only by unscrewing four internal Phillips-head bolts; screwdrivers long enough to reach these bolts are too thick to go through the slots in the cage, and screwdrivers that will go through the slots are too short. Fortunately,…