Musical fidelity x ray system.


This is the first cd player and amplifier combination up for review. Seen as though they are so closely matched in terms of looks and performance I thought I would review them together. I feel this is the way most of these components will be sold as they really do look great as a system.


Musical Fidelity have been around for a number of years and have produced some very interesting products. Their Nuvista range is practically legendary and their x range has always been very different in the way it looked and performed. The pair here are the x cd player and the x150 amplifier.

The amp is the more powerful of the two x series integrated and as is with the cd player, finished to a very hi standard. If you like you hifi to look like expensive jewelry this is the brand to go for, your friends would certainly notice these little gems on the sideboard!

In describing the sound I would say they are very distinctive. Nothing else sounds like musical Fidelity. I think I could spot it two rooms away! It has an ethereal quality. Realism is there in terms of pitch and tibre of instruments yet it certainly does not sound like reality.

It can sound slightly glassy and the treble almost shimmers. Music does not sound like a solid entity in your room, it most definitely sounds recorded. It isn't unpleasant and it sounds incredibly light, music almost prances out of the speakers! It takes the original recording and puts its own definite stamp on it.


One thing it is excellent at is detail retrieval. Along with Cyrus this is the most detailed piece of equipment you can get for the money. It could easily compete with components twice as expensive. It unlike the Cyrus is also very smooth. You can hear the edges to music but they are very refined. The treble is smooth yet extended and the bass is very taut.

This is probably due to this little amps power output which really can control some pretty inefficient speakers. In fact when you describe all of this combinations facets it really is the only equipment that gets close to hi end at this kind of money. Everything about it is polished and refined.


The down sides are timing. It is not in the same league as Cyrus, Naim, Exposure or any number of manufactures who make fast and on the beat equipment. It sounds very staccato. Rhythms do not flow from one line to the next. It also sounds quite thin.

There is very little body to the sound of instruments. Body is usually a product of a lot mid bass and this pairing has a definite lack of it so tonally it can sound a bit cold and sterile. Other than that it does everything you can expect.

This is a very good pairing. Taken separately there is little to choose between the two but that is not really the point. Most people will want to keep them together as they look great, can be used off the same remote control and their sound dovetails perfectly. Partner them with some good quality speakers, which this little power house will have no problem of driving and you have an excellent separates system that also with its smart looks handily doubles as a life style system.

Ebay Alert!

Musical fidelity are a bit like Cyrus. They are constantly chopping and changes and this means 2nd hand values are generally a bit lower than average. Expect to pay no more than £900 for the pair. Also make sure that they work, reliability is sometimes an issue with this brand.