Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier – tube combined with transistor

Tube for the fine sound, transistor for the power – this is how Magnat Audio-Produkte GmbH briefly describes the new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier, which, as can be easily recognised, is designed as a stereo hybrid integrated amplifier.

Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier, this new stereo integrated amplifier is one of a series of solutions designed by the German company Magnat Audio-Produkte GmbH according to an extremely successful recipe, namely the combination of tube and transistor.

In this case, Magnat Audio-Produkte GmbH even speaks of a stereo high-end hybrid integrated amplifier, which is also said to be characterised by flexible connection options.

Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier – Tube for the Sound, Transistor for the Power

As just described, the new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier is another amplifier from the German company that combines tube and transistor.

In the Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier, this combination is once again supposed to provide the best sound and impressive performance, whereby the preamplifier relies on a double triode of the ECC 81 type. Here, according to the company, elaborate selections are made and the tube is burnt in to guarantee long-term stable operation.

The power amplifier is built discretely in Class A/B using transistor technology and delivers 70 watts per channel to loudspeaker systems with an impedance of 4 ohms. The manufacturer states that the total music output is up to 250 watts.

This is guaranteed by a low-stray-field toroidal transformer as the basis of the power supply in combination with generously dimensioned filter electrolytic capacitors. The power supply is also designed in such a way that the individual circuits are stabilised separately.

Diverse connection options – from phono preamplifier to HDMI

The new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier has numerous connections of various kinds, the most important of which are four analogue high-level inputs.

As a special feature, the new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier has a phono preamplifier, even if it is only designed for turntables equipped with MM cartridge systems. The phono preamplifier offers a switchable subsonic filter, which should not go unmentioned.

For mobile devices, the stereo integrated amplifier provides an additional analogue input in the form of a 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack directly on the front.

The Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier also has a record out with fixed level as well as a separate output for the integration of a subwoofer.

A headphone connection designed as a 6.3 mm stereo jack is also included.

The new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier’s range of digital sources is impressive, as it extends beyond the usual coaxial and optical S/PDIF interfaces. The special feature here is an HDMI input, which is used for connection to a TV set and accordingly has an ARC, i.e. an audio return channel. Since the HDMI interface also supports HDMI CEC, the volume of the stereo integrated amplifier can be controlled directly with the TV’s remote control.

The integrated D/A converter of the new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier allows signal processing of data in Linear PCM format with up to 24 bits and 192 kHz.

Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX

The new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 from the specialist Qualcomm so that portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, as well as notebooks, can be used directly as sources. In addition to the SBC and AAC codecs, it also supports aptX and thus allows signal processing in “CD quality”.

Streaming via WiFi is not provided, but via said Bluetooth interface and a smartphone or tablet, the entire online streaming offer is available anyway. All that is needed is the right app on the mobile device.

Elegant appearance

The developers equipped the new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier with a solid, very elegant-looking housing, relying here on a particularly solid front made of brushed aluminium.

The cabinet, measuring 433 x 116 x 30 mm, is finished in black and rests on sturdy feet with damping rubber inserts.

The controls are also made of aluminium, with a central rotary encoder for controlling the volume, a balance control and a bass and treble control. Input selection is also done via a rotary encoder, with status LEDs indicating which input is active at any given time. A loudness button and a mono button for analogue sources as well as a direct button for bypassing the equalisation are also available.

A special highlight of the Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier is a small porthole made of glass, behind which the tube of the preamplifier is presented. The status LEDs can be dimmed.

For the connection of the loudspeaker systems, to mention this as well, solid screw terminals are available, which offer equally secure connections for bare cables or, for example, cables assembled with bananas.

Prices and availability

The new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier should be available within the next few days, with a recommended retail price of € 899. Incidentally, part of the scope of delivery is a solid system remote control, which is also made of aluminium.

Getting to the point

Tube in the preamplifier and transistor in the power amplifier, this combination has a long tradition at Magnat Audio-Produkte GmbH and is once again found in the new Magnat MA 700 Stereophonic Tube Amplifier, which is very attractively priced. The variety of connections offered by this stereo integrated amplifier in hybrid technology is particularly striking, because in addition to numerous analogue connections including a phono preamplifier, digital inputs including HDMI are also available. Bluetooth is also included, so that music streaming via various online services is also accessible via smartphones and tablets.