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Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimized Streamer and Network Bridge

Admittedly, the full product name of the latest product from Musical Fidelity is a bit unwieldy, but it sums up exactly what the outstanding features of this solution are. Musical Fidelity calls the latest solution the Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimised Streamer and Network Bridge, and thus a streaming device designed for the highest quality.

Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimised Streamer and Network Bridge is the product name of the latest solution from Musical Fidelity, with which the English hi-fi manufacturer wants to fully live up to its corporate philosophy. The company has always been committed to developing solutions that meet the highest standards of fidelity. Of course, this should also apply to modern streaming solutions, because from Musical Fidelity’s point of view, the only thing that counts here is a technically correct design that not only delivers impeccable measurement values, but also sounds musical. And it is precisely these two characteristics, excellent measurement data on the one hand and a musically appealing performance on the other, that are not easy to achieve, especially with modern streaming systems, according to Musical Fidelity.

“For a solution to be true to the Musical Fidelity tradition, it has to have our warm but transparent and incredibly detailed signature sound, and not just be technical wizardry to give clean technical measurements. We need to hear it, we need to feel it, and we need to move with it inside and out.”

Musical Fidelity

Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM for streaming at its best

Musical Fidelity’s latest offspring is designed to do just that, based on state-of-the-art streaming features. We are talking about the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer, which, according to the manufacturer, is a so-called zero-jitter audio-optimised streamer and network bridge.

Streaming Bridge – Streaming only, no D/A converter

Musical Fidelity describes the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer as a universal network device that has been optimised solely for the core task of streaming, i.e. in contrast to other solutions, it does without an integrated D/A converter. In analogy to CD players, for example, one could speak here of a transport that prepares the data from the network and transfers it to an external D/A converter or an amplifier with an integrated D/A converter for further processing.

Foto © Musical Fidelity | Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimized Streamer and Network Bridge
Foto © Musical Fidelity | Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimized Streamer and Network Bridge

Completely new design

To ensure that the signal processing of the network data succeeds at the highest level and is free of any interference, a completely new, proprietary design has been developed, right down to the separately constructed power supply, which relies on voltage stabilisers for the various components. Furthermore, a particularly stable master clock optimised for audio applications is to be used as the basis for so-called re-clocking. All incoming signals are thus optimally freed from any sound-damaging influences. This applies not only to signals received via the network, but also to PCs and Macs connected via USB and mobile devices transmitting audio data via Bluetooth, because the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer also offers this.

Foto © Musical Fidelity | Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimized Streamer and Network Bridge
Foto © Musical Fidelity | Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimized Streamer and Network Bridge

WiFi or network cable

The new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer is an extremely flexible device, whereby the focus is, of course, on music streaming via the network. The integration into the network can be done via an Ethernet interface or the integrated WiFi module according to IEEE 802.11n.

Bluetooth on board

The Bluetooth interface complies with Bluetooth 4.1, so it should be seen more as a nice additional function than as a really primary feature.

Foto © Musical Fidelity | Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimized Streamer and Network Bridge
Foto © Musical Fidelity | Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimized Streamer and Network Bridge

USB Detox for minimal jitter

Connecting to a PC or Mac via a micro USB port is much more exciting, because here, too, the previously mentioned features for signal processing free of external interference are effective. With the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer, Musical Fidelity also refers to USB Detox for minimal jitter.

A true plug & play solution

An essential component of the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer is, of course, its operating system, which is housed in 16 GB of memory and makes all the aforementioned hardware possibilities accessible in a variety of ways. Musical Fidelity refers to an open hardware and open source software architecture, which should ensure trouble-free operation with future updates for many years. It is also designed in such a way that the user can start using the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer right out of the box, without having to think much about the optimal settings. These have already been predefined by the developers and you can get started straight away. The new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer is thus a true plug & play solution. However, all experts will find advanced options to tailor the relevant specifications to their own needs and gain complete and transparent control over how their system works.

Easy control via app or web interface

For this purpose, the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer has, among other things, a suitable app for Apple iOS and Google Android, with which it can be controlled and configured. It is even possible to control and set it via any web browser, even touchscreens can be implemented, for which, among other things, an HDMI interface designed solely for video is available.

UPnP, Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz or HIGHRESAUDIO

It is also the software that allows a wide support of various services. For example, the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer can, in the simplest case, of course access data in the network via UPnP; it is even designated as dlna-certified. In addition, there is Shareport, so that Apple AirPlay is supported. Furthermore, Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz and HIGHRESAUDIO can be accessed directly and thousands of Internet radio stations worldwide are available via TuneIn.

Also Roon Ready

What is probably also particularly exciting is that the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect streamer is designated as Roon Ready, meaning that it can also be used directly via the outstanding media management and multi-room audio streaming solution.

Foto © Musical Fidelity | Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimized Streamer and Network Bridge
Foto © Musical Fidelity | Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM High-end Zero Jitter Audio Optimized Streamer and Network Bridge

CD ripping included

And while we’re on the subject of functions that such a flexible platform allows, we should also mention the possibility of CD ripping, because the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer also allows this. For the external USB drive that is then required, a USB-A interface is available at the rear.

Speaking of USB, as described, the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer does not have an integrated D/A converter; this task must be performed by an external DAC or a DAC integrated in an amplifier. The connection between the Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-Perfect Streamer and the DAC is made via USB.

Of course, one thing should not be forgotten to mention, namely which audio data the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-Perfect Streamer actually processes in the most diverse variants. The spectrum ranges from Linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 352.8 kHz to DSD with up to DSD256.

The new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer is a very compact solution in Musical Fidelity’s typical design. This makes it a perfect match for any HiFi system from the English HiFi forge, whereby, of course, a solid aluminium housing is used in the proven tradition. The front is adorned with two toggle switches, a few status LEDs and a USB port, which is all you need in this case.

Prices and availability

The new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer from the English hi-fi manufacturer Musical Fidelity should be available in specialist shops soon, with a choice of black or silver. The manufacturer’s recommended retail price is € 899,-.

Getting to the point

Musical Fidelity describes the new Musical Fidelity MX-STREAM Audiophile Bit-perfect Streamer as a universal network device that has been optimised solely for the core task of streaming, i.e. in contrast to other solutions, it does without an integrated D/A converter. In analogy to CD players, for example, one could speak here of a transport that prepares the data from the network and passes it on for further processing to an external D/A converter or an amplifier with an integrated D/A converter. To ensure that the signal processing of the network data succeeds at the highest level and is free of any interference, a completely new, proprietary design has been developed.

PRODUCTMUSICAL FIDELITY MX-STREAM
Price€ 899,-
BrandMUSICAL FIDELITY
ManufacturerMusical Fidelity
Distribution AustriaAudio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH
Distribution GermanyReichmann Audio Systeme
Distribution SwitzerlandMarlex GmbH – Audiophile Produkte
More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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