This is Musical Fidelity's top of the range headphone amp. It includes a pre-amp and a USB DAC. The two headphone outputs do not have individual volume controls. So there are a lot of features, but it would be rare to actually need them all.
Antony Michaelson, the owner of MF and a classically trained musician himself, describes the amp as powerful enough to drive any headphone, including the AKG K1000 ear speakers. But that power belies its detail and ability to control the dynamics of music. At first, he says, the amp will sound as if it lacks dynamic. That is because of the desire to replicate the true fidelity of an original recording.
In effect, what that means is the the V8P will do bass with tons of detail, but it will not do BASS, unless the original recording has it. Bass is to provide rhythm and not to overwhelm the midrange. Fans of dance music or metal may miss the oomph of BASS, but could come to appreciate the sound of true bass when they can pick out individual strikes of a kick drum, or plucks of the bass guitar.
The emphasis on detail does not mean that poorly recorded music is rendered unlistenable. The hybrid design of solid state and two ECC88 valves means that it should retain its musicality.
The USB DAC uses the same DAC chip as in the V-DAC but it is not that well regarded. I think that it sounds absolutely fine, keeping the detail and midrange emphasis that is the MF house sound. It loads a proprietary driver on connecting it to a PC and needs a USB type A to type B cable.
Audio and build quality are superb. The design and price less so as you are can pay a lot for functions you will not need.
Antony Michaelson, the owner of MF and a classically trained musician himself, describes the amp as powerful enough to drive any headphone, including the AKG K1000 ear speakers. But that power belies its detail and ability to control the dynamics of music. At first, he says, the amp will sound as if it lacks dynamic. That is because of the desire to replicate the true fidelity of an original recording.
In effect, what that means is the the V8P will do bass with tons of detail, but it will not do BASS, unless the original recording has it. Bass is to provide rhythm and not to overwhelm the midrange. Fans of dance music or metal may miss the oomph of BASS, but could come to appreciate the sound of true bass when they can pick out individual strikes of a kick drum, or plucks of the bass guitar.
The emphasis on detail does not mean that poorly recorded music is rendered unlistenable. The hybrid design of solid state and two ECC88 valves means that it should retain its musicality.
The USB DAC uses the same DAC chip as in the V-DAC but it is not that well regarded. I think that it sounds absolutely fine, keeping the detail and midrange emphasis that is the MF house sound. It loads a proprietary driver on connecting it to a PC and needs a USB type A to type B cable.
Audio and build quality are superb. The design and price less so as you are can pay a lot for functions you will not need.