Myryad MI 240 amplifier

[vinnie83]

A bit of advice needed from the audiophiles here.

I currently have a Myryad MI 120 integrated amp running my Kef Q7's, which sounds great.

However, today I am having some rather large KEF Q900's being delivered which is tempting me to upgrade the amp.

I have sourced a Myryad MI 240, which seems to be quite a beast compared to my current 120. It's a brand new, unused item for £650.

My question is - is it worth it? Or would I be better off spending on something more modern. The MI 120/240 are about 7-8 year old models - has amplifier technology moved on a lot in the last few years?

The MI 240 was selling for ~£1,500 at the time, so getting it brand new for £650 does seem to be a good deal.

Any expert advice would be great!

[Toffer]

I am not familiar with either amplifier. The proposed new one seems like a bargain and if you don't like it, I guess you can sell it and get all your money back? In my experience, amplifiers from a manufacturer at a set period of time (you said 7 years ago), will often have a similar style of musical presentation, only if it is because the same team of engineers worked on them as a family of amplifiers. The only cautionary note I would add, is that sometimes a manufacturer almost accidentally builds some "magic" into a product and this is not always scale-able...so the more powerful big brother may appear better as far as the technical specification is concerned...but it may just not sound as nice, or suit your listening environment. I do not know if you have noticed a common phenomenon with most amplifier/speaker combinations? That is that the combination has to start to work before optimal perceived sound performance is reached. With a large powerful amplifier and efficient speakers, you may find the point at which everything sonically "comes together", is simply too loud for most domestic listening? Finally, is there any possibility of trying the amplifier before you buy it? Good luck!

[HellDiver]

Ah, another MI120 owner! How many times has yours blown up? Mine's on it's 4th life, and only gone on fire once so far, which isn't bad in 14 years.

Yes, 14 years. Found the receipt for mine, which was a ex-demo model from Richer sounds, for it's first repair under warranty in 1998. It's not a 6-7 year old model as you say, and whoever sold you as a modern amp in 2005 conned you. I think I must have got mine around July 1997.

It really does sound awesome when it's working, though.

I'd think the MI120 would drive the bigger speakers no problem at all.

Edited by HellDiver on Friday 1st July 14:36

Edited by HellDiver on Friday 1st July 14:37

[Toffer]

Here is a favourable review from 1996.
http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/June%201996/1...

[vinnie83]

How time flies!

Maybe I was being a little optomistic at the timeframe.. thinking back, maybe ~10 years is more like it, and I did buy as an ex demo model so I was aware it wasn't brand new... didn't realise it was that old though!

It seems I got one of the good ones though - touch wood - it's never had any issues so far.

I love the look and the sound of it though, it is certainly a good amplifier, and I doubt I would sell it even if I got the bigger brother.

Having listened to the Q900's yesterday on the MI 120 though, it seems that it is ample power for the speakers - it seems that the speakers 'bottomed' out well before any audiable distortion became present.

[only me]

i have had a MI120 on its own and with a MA120 Bi amping which was better but i now have a Myryad pre amp and a MA240 power amp which is a huge improvement over the 120 series, would recommend the extra power even at low volumes.