Musical Fidelity M8xi

@rjduncan 

There ya go!!!  Auditioning and comparing the units in your own audio system, in your own room is definitely the way to go.  Yes, I had an H390 prior to switching to the H590, and in each case, I used XLR.  To my ears, all down through the years, XLR  has always sounded better than RCA.  By the way, I found the H390 to be just slightly warmer than the H590, but the H590, and the H600 that I've heard several times at my local dealers showroom, to my ears, seen to have just the right amount of a more natural degree of  warmth, the kind of which, I personally prefer.  I did get a chance to hear the MF M8xi not too long ago at an audio show, and it sounded great, too.  Have fun.  Happy listening.    

I have done a little research on this.  The Musical Fidelity runs hotter and has a higher current rating.  Hegel uses a higher damping factor to drive less sensitive speakers.  

Wow.  Several days into my home demo and I've been thoroughly impressed by this amp.  Tight, extended base, sparkle on the high end (which I love) and mellow/rounded mids.  I've loved my Hegel 390, but this amp just brings my B&W 803Ns to life in a way that the Hegel doesn't.  I really do think this is also a system synergy thing in that my Denafrips Pontus 15th DAC, the M8xi and the B&W 803s just bring out the best in one other.  But my vinyl chain also sounds great (Avid Volvere, SME M2-9, Hana ML, Hegel V10).  Gonna give it another day, but pretty sure I'll be making the switch.

For another significant and relatively cost-effective upgrade you should consider adding a Denafrips Iris or Singxer SU6 DDC before your Pontus connected with i2S.  You could buy one used and easily resell if it doesn’t work out, but it will.  I didn’t even consider selling my Iris.  Congrats on the amp BTW. 

Thanks SOIX.  So to be clear, my Eversolo T8 steamer transport is connected to the Denafrips Pontus 15th DAC via I2S.  Which is better by far than USB or other digital.  Given that, not sure there would be a benefit with a DDC in the chain, but IDK.