Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL

The Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL is a phono preamplifier designed to amplify and correct the signal from a turntable cartridge, whether moving magnet (MM) or moving coil (MC). It sits between the turntable and the amplifier or mixing desk, and provides the RIAA equalisation needed for faithful reproduction of the phono signal.

The unit stands out for its dual input connectivity: two conventional RCA inputs as well as a balanced XLR input, allowing two turntables to be connected simultaneously without having to unplug one to use the other. It also offers a wide choice of input impedance settings for moving magnet cartridges, along with several capacitance settings for moving coil cartridges, both of these parameters being adjustable directly during playback rather than while stopped. This feature makes it easier to try out successive settings to find the most suitable one for each cartridge. The RIAA correction of the MX-VYNL is stated to be accurate up to beyond 80 kHz, an extended bandwidth intended to limit artefacts (hissing, overshoot) linked to insufficient correction of frequencies above 20 kHz.

This preamplifier is aimed at vinyl enthusiasts with one or more turntables fitted with demanding cartridges, who want to be able to precisely fine-tune the match between cartridge and preamplifier. The ability to connect two sources simultaneously will particularly appeal to those who switch between several turntables or several cartridges.