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At £1,250, the obvious alternative is a newer, more capable preamp—and this X PRE is far beyond the normal used market. Comparable asking prices put the median at £287, with the 75th percentile at £478, so £1,250 is decidedly ambitious unless this is an exceptional, boxed example with a rare original accessory package.
The original X PRE remains an appealing compact Class A valve design, using two ECC88 tubes and offering four line-level inputs. It is valued for its sweet, dimensional midband, tidy imaging and engaging musical flow, while the small separate power supply makes it easy to accommodate. That said, the listing needs unusually strong provenance to justify this price: confirm exact version, original power supply, valve condition and fault-free channel balance. At this money, enthusiasm alone is not enough.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Musical Fidelity, a British hi-fi icon, traces its roots to 1982 when clarinettist and audio enthusiast Antony Michaelson founded the company in London. Disillusioned with the sound quality of existing gear after his stint at predecessor Michaelson & Austin, he handcrafted his debut product—a minimalist preamplifier dubbed "The Preamp"—on his kitchen table. Paired with the quirky Dr. Thomas power amplifier, these designs disrupted the market with their bold aesthetics and sonic punch, establishing Michaelson’s experimental ethos from the outset.
The brand has long centered on amplifiers as its cornerstone, spanning integrated, power, phono, headphone, and preamp models renowned for Class-AB topology and innovative touches like Nuvistor tubes. It expanded into streaming players, DACs, CD players, Bluetooth receivers, all-in-one systems, and even headphones and turntables, always prioritizing musicality over convention. Unconventional industrial designs, from curved heatsinks to sculptural panels, became signatures, influencing competitors.
Positioned firmly in the high-end arena, Musical Fidelity commands respect among discerning audiophiles for its value-driven performance and soulful sound. Iconic models like the A1 and F-series endure as collector favorites, blending accessibility with premium engineering. Acquired by Austria’s Audio Tuning in 2018, it continues evolving under new stewardship while honoring its heritage as a boutique force in British hi-fi.
See all Musical Fidelity listings on RADAR.
eBay UK
GB
eBay UK
GB
eBay UK
eBay UK
GB
eBay UK
audio-markt.de
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