Musical Fidelity - V90-LPS MM/MC Phono Preamp

The sonic performance of this preamp is beyond reproach. The specs objectively are top notch and listening confirms it - this preamp will give you everything your record/ cartridge/ arm/ table is capable of. And all the while with grace, in that it's as quiet as can be. It more than held it own with another preamp I had on demo costing four (!) times the price of this - in fact, I'd say it bettered it (I won't name the manufacture out of respect for the fact that they're a small enterprise). Build quality is excellent, feeling solid and well thought out - even to the small touches such as the ground screw which is suitably ergonomic and not a fiddly affair like on some. Personally I like the addition of an on/off switch, which seems something of a luxury with phono preamps. No, I don't leave my equipment on all the time! If you're undecided and shopping the saturated phono market, I'd encourage you to consider specs. This preamp does it as well as can be, and for a trifling expense. Sure, you may need more flexibility, eg loading options etc - but if not, this is a one stop shop. FWIW my set-up is a Rega RP6 w/ Ortofon Bronze into this, into Yamaha A-S701, into Harbeth Speakers.

What I am about to reveal about this product was hard for me to digest, considering the favourable reviews. I purchased this Pre-Amp to digitise my collection of Vinyl, a rather mammoth task that you ever only want to do once. I was expecting a significant improvement over my 40 year old equipment. The Manufacturer claims very low noise levels (barely audible they say), so I decided to contact them before I wrote this review to ascertain whether I had a faulty unit or whether the noise levels were normal. There was no response, so here goes: As a retired Audio Technician, I've had the opportunity to evaluate a huge range of Hi-Fi equipment since 1980, so I know what I'm talking about here - there is No 'Mistake'. For proper evaluation, I tested with both a Moving Coil & Moving Magnet Cartridge. Both yielded similar Results. The output was connected to a Sony Digital Recorder. The recording level control was properly adjusted (meaning the loudest part of the record registered just just below 0dB, or clipping). If anyone is interested, the record being played was a 12" Single - Blue Monday by New Order. Now to the actual Issue - the noise level (without the record playing of course) was reading about -40db (It was also clearly audible). When the same setup is repeated with my 40 year old equipment, the noise level doesn't even show up on the meter. Now here comes the ultimate proof - I then replaced the Inputs with RCA Shorting Plugs (For anyone who doesn't know - Shorting Plugs to the Input of any Amplifier is vital when determining the noise level specification and is standard practise. It eliminates all external influences that may inject noise into pre-amp). Once this was done, the noise level was still hovering around -40db. This was all being generated by the Music Fidelity V90-LPS. The photo shows the noise level that my Sony Recorder was measuring from this pre-amp. I find it bewildering that this has not been an issue with other reviewers, perhaps it is perceived by many as 'Record Noise' and goes un-noticed, or perhaps I do have a faulty unit, but I I'm unsure because the Manufacturer didn't care enough to respond to my email.

He notado una mejora en el sonido con respecto al previo del amplificador.

Transparence, douceur des aigus et une scène ample et profonde grâce à un très beau médium et un grave épuré. C'est autre chose que le préampli intégré de ma platine ou l'entrée phono de mon amplificateur. Mise en route enfantine.

Musical Fidelity har tillverkat DA-omvandlaren Tri-Vista 21. Den är tungt som ett monster och anses fortfarande vara en av de bästa som har konstruerats. Jag köpte den begagnad för ett par år sedan och hade därför ett hum om vad jag gav mig in på när jag beställde Phono-förstärkaren. V90-LPS är visserligen minstingen i familjen och de två storasyskonen har fått toppbetyg i tester. Men enheten presterar i vart fall märkbart bättre än den som var inbyggd i min tidigare förstärkare: Rega Elicit Mk 5. Den lyfter fram detaljer i ljudet och ger en väldigt fin stereobild. Återgivningen är tydlig utan att för den skull bli hård eller nasal. Det hjälper antagligen att jag har parat ihop den med Nagaokas MP500-pickup, som i sig är skicklig på att lyfta detaljer, men phono-förstärkaren behandlar dem väl. Phono-förstärkaren har ingångar för både MM- och MC-pickuper. Notera att Nagaoka-pickupen räknas som en MM-pickup, även om den använder den exotiska Moving Iron-tekniken som ger en mer snabbrörlig nål. Jag märker att enheten får en mjukare och mer sympatisk återgivning, när förstärkaren har varit påslagen ett tag och blivit varm, så en variant är att låta den stå på för jämnan.