Music Fidelity is definitely following a “back to the future” path with its 2023 product releases. Following the release of its Nu-Vista Series and the revival of its celebrated A1 Integrated Amplifier, Musical Fidelity has built on past tradition established by its original M1 “record player” with the release of its new M8xTT turntable.
What inspired this project now aside from vinyl’s robust comeback?
Pro-Ject purchased Musical Fidelity in 2018, and Heinz Lichtenegger, Pro-Ject’s CEO, has not exactly been shy about re-establishing the brand’s high-end pedigree and that includes in the analog space. Pro-Ject is one of the few high-end turntable manufacturers with the ability to not only manufacture over 100,000 turntables each year for itself, but also engineer and manufacturer tens of thousands of turntables for other brands.
The Austrian brand, which is distributed by Sumiko/McIntosh Group in North America, had the opportunity to purchase Danish cartridge manufacturer, Ortofon, a number of years ago but that transaction never went through. The acquisition of Musical Fidelity was the next best option because it gave Pro-Ject a solid line-up of components, loudspeakers, turntables, and accessories at both ends of the market.
The new Musical Fidelity M8xTT, however, is being distributed by Focal Naim America, which also distributes AVIDHiFI and Thorens Turntables in the U.S. and Canada.
VPI might still be the leading American turntable brand with a substantial lineup of world class products, but it is also facing a lot more competition than ever before from some of its leading rivals.
Core Features
Tonearm: The M8xTT features a newly designed 10-inch tonearm with an ultra-low resonance transparent acrylic bearing ring and conical aluminum tube. The tonearm is VTA (vertical tracking angle) and azimuth adjustable and comes with two counterweights. This allows it to be used with cartridges that weigh from 6 to 20 grams. The counterweights are TPE damped to prevent resonances.
Tip: Cartridge not included.
Connections: After the signal passes through the cartridge and tonearm assembly, users can output the signal via standard phono RCA or balanced XLR sockets. This provides flexibility when choosing a phono preamp.
Motor and Platter: The motor of the M8xTT sits on a special foam in the lower-level acrylic plinth. This serves to decouple it from the platter and the tonearm. A silicon belt connects the motor and the two-floor TPE damped platter. It is made of aluminum with additional inserts to improve the flywheel effect.
The Feet: The M8xTT incorporates four heavyweight TPE damped aluminum feet with magnetic support which connect the two acrylic plinths with Teflon spacers in between.
Tip: Users can adjust the height of the feet by turning the rifled middle part of the feet to level the turntable.
Specifications
- Belt Drive: Mass-loaded belt drive design with electronic speed change 33/45
- Platter: Heavyweight aluminum sandwich platter
- Record Puck: Heavy multi-alloy record puck included
- Magnetic Feet: Height-adjustable magnetic feet
- Speeds: 33, 45 (electronic speed change)
- Platter: Sandwich aluminum platter with aluminum inserts (10 kg), both floors with TPE damping
- Platter bearing: Inverted bearing with ceramic ball tip
- Effective Tonearm (mass/length): 17g/254 mm
- Overhang: 16 mm
- Wow & Flutter: 33 rpm: +-0.05%, 45 rpm +-0.04%
- Speed Drift: 33 rpm: +-0.11%, 45 rpm: +-0.10%
- Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR): -78 dB
- Dimensions: 533 x 245 x 413 mm (21 x 9.65 x 16.25 inches)
- Weight: 31.5 kg (69.5 lbs)
Included Accessories
- Heavyweight full aluminum puck
- Leather turntable mat
- Semi-balanced phono interconnect cable with gold-plated connectors
Availability and Pricing
The M8xTT is expected to be available through Authorized Dealers at the following pricing options.
- M8xTT Turntable (TA10 tonearm included): $9,999
- M8xTT Turntable (Without Tonearm): $7,999
Tip: The M8xTT is handmade in Europe.
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