Musical Fidelity M6i Integrated Amplifier Review

After listening M3i for 2 weeks, I believe it has fully run in based on over 300 hrs of continuous driving the ProAc and I cant hear anymore big difference in the music. My ears are now acustomed to the M3i sound that I think I would not be able to hear any different runing the M6i.

Boy, was I wrong !!!!

The M6i came in a similar package as M3i except for the black velvet bag. Dont know why is that. Although this is an open box unit as the dealer gave me the demo set. Taking it out of the box needs a bit of effort as it is a heavy unit, built like a tanker. The top part is of grilled design for better ventilation I suppose. The fascia is similar to M3i but the height is bigger than M3i.

I set it up similar to how I set up M3i but I just placed it on the top shelf. Some ppl say that amplifier sounds better when placed at bottom shelf but I could not squeeze that extra energy at 2 am to do that.

Went in French Kiss OST with Kevin Kline on La Mer. Hhhhhhmmmm this is what surprised me. I can instantly hear the difference. The song sound more 'airy', vocal was livelier and the musical instruments seems to be more upfront. NOTE: this is a run in unit.

The CD was played via the M1 DAC.

For my normal listening level (10 o'clock on the knob), it seems louder than M3i. I reduced it to be at 9 o'clock.

All this however was before I went to bed at 3 am.

That would be my first impression of the amp but not truely an 'out of the box' review as the unit has been run in.

Will report more over the weekend.

is that a tape deck in the lower right corner ? if it is.... cool, very retro dude !

bro, can we have a close up pic of that deck? looks awesome from far away.

yes please! looks familiar I just can't put my finger on it...
(I think it's a Tascam)

Sure. Will snap some photo of the deck. Its a TEAC V6030S tape deck. Actually bought it from this forum. Its intermittently working now. It has been on very high usage as I am transferring all my tapes to MP3.

Great! Thanks elhefe! (I was close enough, TEAC=TASCAM)
I hope you have enough time to transfer them tapes to digital form.
Can it be fixed?

The seller is willing to help to fix it but I have yet to send it to him.

How's the M6i bass performance? Taut and solid?

i wouldnt say the bass is taut nor solid but is more controlled. the bass is subtle but sounds very convincing and balanced with the high freq.

Hi elhefe, good to see you are enjoying your D18's I used to run ProAc D38's. I suggest you try Cary amps or Audio Research amps. See what you think

elhefe wrote:i wouldnt say the bass is taut nor solid but is more controlled. the bass is subtle but sounds very convincing and balanced with the high freq.

I'd prefer this kind of bass...the one that moves your soul, not the butt...

OK here goes the review of my weekend bliss.

I have used the following to enjoy the M6i:

1. CD player via M1 DAC
2. MD player via M1 DAC
3. MP3 and M4A files streamed through AE and via M1 DAC
4, Internet radio from iPhone 4 streamed through AE and via M1 DAC

For CD player, I played the French Kiss OST, Andrea Bocelli and Janet Seidl for vocal test and Foo Fighters for heavier test on guitar riffs and drums. I 'cheated' a bit compared to my test on the M3i. I repositioned the speakers to be further distant from each other, toe in about 20 deg and pulled forward.



For vocals in the like of Andrea and Janet, it sounded truly transparent. Its like a clear phone call on a good day. The ukulele playing along Janet sounded very detailed and each plucking or strumming of the instrument can be clearly heard. The orchestra behind Andrea sounded very warm and uplifting. Again all these at only about 9 o'clock on the volume knob.

Then comes in Foo Fighters - My Hero track. hhhhhhmmmm the amp can really rock out my speakers. The drums on this track is one of the heaviest bass drums from Foo Fighters. It basically gave me a very controlled and refined bass drums. Not overwhelming but naturally balanced with the growling of Dave's vocal and his guitar.

I then switched to MD, playing Poison - Unskinny Bob and also The Gypsy Kings. Listening to an old album such as Poison usually does not kick the adrenalin in me but this time around, it made me turn on my drums and start drumming along. That kind of effect. When I put on Gypsy Kings, thats when the amp truly shine. The sound of several guitars on this albums was very detailed of each of the guitars. The amp can realy cope with the demanding strumming from this band.

The biggest surprise is when I was streaming music from my iMac and also internet radio from iPhone to the AE and feed through M1 DAC. Put on Diana Krall Live in Paris. really realy nice. The atmosphere of her songs can be felt in the room, thanks to this amp delivering enough power. Internet radio (mainly was playing US based jazz station). Very crisp. Even the lisps on the station DJ can be heard. Unfortunately, eventhough I have high res music on my imac, the AE an only deliver at 44.1 kHz.

Overall, YES M6i outclasses the M3i. But is it really worth the additional GBP 1700? To me, YES, well worth it. Will I purchase M6i? Need another week to think about it. I was planning to get the A3CR Power amp to bi amp my speakers again. So we shall see.

It seems like you are set for Musical Fidelity and nothing else. If that's the case the M6i is looking good. I didn't realise the M6i costs an additional £1300 over the M3i. That can buy a couple of Rega Brios, four to be exact.

ryder wrote:It seems like you are set for Musical Fidelity and nothing else. If that's the case the M6i is looking good. I didn't realise the M6i costs an additional £1300 over the M3i. That can buy a couple of Rega Brios, four to be exact.

What can I say. My undying love towards MF product is very strong

I recalculated, the M6i its actually GBP 1700 more than M3i. Contemplating still as its a huge different there.

elhefe wrote:Sure. Will snap some photo of the deck. Its a TEAC V6030S tape deck. Actually bought it from this forum. Its intermittently working now. It has been on very high usage as I am transferring all my tapes to MP3.

Here you go picture of the tape deck

elhefe wrote:
What can I say. My undying love towards MF product is very strong

I recalculated, the M6i its actually GBP 1700 more than M3i. Contemplating still as its a huge different there.

At a retail price of £2500 that is more than twice the £1000 price tag of the M3i, this certainly puts the M6i integrated in the realm of high-end. And weighing in close to 17kg, the M6i is surely built like a tank. I have to admit M6i looks better in black than silver. I can understand the difficulty in choosing between the M3i and M6i since the upcharge may not justify the sonic improvements, point of diminishing returns. Good luck in your decision.

My current list consists of Simaudio i3.3, Hegel H100 and M6i. Actually the price here is still expensive. I think i might get it in HK since it's much cheaper there

dynon wrote:My current list consists of Simaudio i3.3, Hegel H100 and M6i. Actually the price here is still expensive. I think i might get it in HK since it's much cheaper there

Is that your list to purchase or you already own them?

List of purchase.

elhefe wrote:

Wow.. Nice one.
The familiar white buttons that can also be found on the famous VRDS series CD players.

elhefe wrote:

elhefe wrote:Sure. Will snap some photo of the deck. Its a TEAC V6030S tape deck. Actually bought it from this forum. Its intermittently working now. It has been on very high usage as I am transferring all my tapes to MP3.

Here you go picture of the tape deck

hi elhefe
when you send the deck over, you can have a listen to my old ProAcs driven by Audio Research amps....

Aaaaaahhh the seller has spoken. Hi boxer, gong xi fa chai. Sorry still cannot find time to sebd the deck to u. Which ProAc are u using?

old Response 3....

Aaaaaaannnddd I took the plunge today. A brand new M6i amp is in my hifi room, running in. I returned both the M3i and M6i on loan this morning. I came back with not only an M6i amp but, while waiting for the dealer to bring in the M6 PRX power amp, he loaned me the A3CR power amp so that I can go back biamping my speakers. Also he loaned me 2 models of VDH XLR balanced IC.

Unfortunately, I am on one of my travels again. Just managed to unbox the new amp (oh the M6i does come with a black velvet bag as well), hook it up to the system and put on the CDP on repeat. Everything is in working order. Had a listen for 10 mins and I went off to the airport.

Till my next review.