A Reality Check Article
MYRYAD MI 120 Integrated Amplifier:
A Propitious, Grand Debut
A Reality Check Article
MYRYAD MI 120 Integrated Amplifier:
A Propitious, Grand Debut
Though MYRYAD is a new brand in audio, its designer - Chris Evans - is not. He has been responsible for such amp classics as the A&R A60, the original Arcam Alpha and the NAD 3020i. With such a history of success, one cannot help but have high expectations. I'm happy to report that the MI 120 does not disappoint visually and sonically.
Packaging with a Touch of Class
The MYRYAD M120 is the sole integrated amp available from this new company. It was designed with flexibility built in. The MI 120 has six line inputs including two tape loops, with moving magnet and moving coil phono stages optional. Upon my request, the unit under review came with a moving magnet phono stage. Since the phono stage is optional, it is switched via the auxiliary button on the face plate. Source selection is accomplished through six buttons located on the right half of the unit's silver fascia or via the supplied remote control. The remote can also be used to adjust the motorized volume control. A headphone socket is likewise supplied.
This integrated amp exudes simple elegance. The machined aluminum fascia, array of illuminated input select touch switches, illuminated Standby switch, infrared remote receiver and the large turned aluminum volume control knob in the middle of the face plate complement each another and collectively elevate the component into a work of industrial art. The four feet are creatively pointed in the same style as the volume control. I think this amp's appeal will cross both genders.
The MI 120 measures 436x303x95 (W/H/Dmm), and weighs close to 20 pounds. I was impressed by its weight and deduced that this must be because of the massive toroidal transformer. The speaker terminals are likewise substantial. The input and output terminals are all made of high quality gold-plated RCA sockets. The input selectors are miniature relays with gold-plated contacts. These are some examples of disciplined forethought in the design and creation of the MI 120.
The amp is rated at 60 wpc minimum into 8 ohms. When not in use, the amp can be placed in Standby mode which is stated to leave the filter caps energized while disabling the input circuits for low power consumption.
Listening Experience
The unit under review was loaned to the Audio Shopper by MYRYAD's US distributor--Audio Influx. I have had the unit for about two months, most of it during the holidays. I have listened to the the MI 120 using various equipment combinations. Most of the time however, I used it with the JVC XL-Z1050 cd player, Pink Triangle turntable with MMT arm and Promethean cartridge, Promethean Bandpass interconnect, Inouye power conditioner, Kimber 8TC speaker cables, Sound Dynamics 300Ti, Rogers LS3/5a, Spendor SP-1, and Linn Index speakers. I compared the unit with my reference, the Audible Illusions Modulus 3 and the Classe' Audio DR-9 amp.
Take your time
Having auditioned components for many years, I have come to accept idiosyncracies more so than I would have when I first travelled the path of audio. Rarely does an audio component show its true dexterity right upon being powered on. Take the MI 120 for example. Switch it on and you will be dismayed. The bass is bloated, the highs are aggressive and the soundstage seems narrow and diffused. Let it play for about an hour or so and things will get better...much better. It's an amp that needs to be coaxed. The manufacturer's decision to offer standby mode is thus well founded. You'll need it to enjoy the amp without having to wait for an hour.
Prior to first listening to the MI 120, I had been going through the tube amps that I had not used within a year. It's a practice I follow to keep them in shape and in working condition. For starters, I listened via the optional moving magnet phono section. I do not believe that it does the MYRYAD line justice. The highs were edgy and grainy. The midband did not seem to integrate well with the lows and the highs. My suggestion, skip it. The integrated amp sans the moving magnet option is in a higher tier. FYI, the MI 120 eschews the typical preamplification process. From the input jacks, the signal goes directly to the source selector relays to the volume control and then to the high-gain amplifier. In essence, it's a passive preamp.
The MI 120 is a dynamic and confident performer. It takes a firm grip of the speakers and plays complex orchestral music with aplomb.
It also has a quicker pace. It portrays an energetic rendition of the source. The players seemed to have more pep and vitality. On one occasion I had wondered whether the turntable was, for some unbeknownst reason, spinning slower when I was listening to one of the tube amps. When I switched back to the MI 120, I confirmed the difference.
The MYRYAD's highs are clean, extended, and sweet. It is also true that the highs are well integrated with the midband. In fact, I would even say that the MI 120 excels in retrieving musical presence and ambience. In Beethoven Piano Sonata Appasionata (VAI VAIA 1060) one can clearly hear the reverberation and harmonics of the piano. It's like one is sitting close to Ivan Moravec. There is a caveat to this level of clarity. I have found components that possess this quality demand less tolerance of other upstream and downstream electronics. Careful matching is advised.
The MI 120 is capable of carving a wide and deep soundstage from appropriate source materials. In Peter White's Reflections (Sindrome CGR 1808), it extends from a foot and a half from the edge of the speakers on the side, around half a foot to the back, and about three feet up front in a triangular dimension. It is outstanding in this regard, and is musically startling. Still, the Audible Illusions Modulus 3 preamp and Classe' DR-9 amp setup edges the MI 120 but we're talking of a totally different category here in terms of financial commitment. The presentation of the MI 120 is also more upfront.
Transient agility as referenced earlier is excellent. It's got 85% of the range, I quesstimate, of my reference. There is no evidence of strain, just plain powerful and confident delivery.
The MI 120 provides ample bass, though sometimes it is a bit loose and noticeable for my taste. Nevertheless, I have always enjoyed my listening sessions which included many hours of playing classical, opera, rock, and blues music.
Summing up
The MYRYAD MI 120 makes a propitious, grand debut. It is an integrated amp that I have grown to respect and like. While it cannot shed its transistor heritage, it is eminently enjoyable to listen to. It sounds much more powerful that its 60 wpc rating would have you believe. It's simple to operate, convenient (especially with its remote control), and soothing to look at. At $899 retail, you can still pay your mortgage. The MI 120 deserves three and a half clefs, and is highly recommended.
by Rome Castellanes
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