A British Hi-Fi Great Just Reimagined Its Affordable Amplifier from the ’90s

Musical Fidelity is an acclaimed British hi-fi manufacturer with a history spanning over four decades. It’s best known for its high-quality hi-fi separates, which it sells at relatively affordable prices.

And the company’s newest amplifier, the B1xi, adheres to that same exact ethos.

Musical Fidelity B1xi

Musical Fidelity

A 90s revival

The Musical Fidelity B1xi is a modern version of the company’s original B1 stereo integrated amplifier, first introduced in the early 1990s. According to the brand, it is similar to its predecessor “in that it is a very dynamic and open-sounding pure transistor design.”

The B1xi is an integrated amplifier in the traditional sense. It combines a stereo amplifier and preamplifier with a built-in MM phono stage. This makes it primed for traditional hi-fi systems that include a turntable. But it also has analog and digital inputs, making it versatile enough to meet the needs of a modern hi-fi setup.

Unlike a lot of today’s integrated amplifiers, the B1xi lacks Wi-Fi streaming. This was done on purpose, as Musical Fidelity believes that separate streamers are the better solution, and “that money has been invested in features and components which maximize the sound.”

That said, it does have built-in Bluetooth, so it doesn’t abandon streaming altogether.

Musical Fidelity

Stereo power

The Musical Fidelity B1xi is a stereo amplifier that promises to be able to drive a wide variety of loudspeakers. It has a fully discrete Class A/B design and is capable of delivering 60 watts per channel (into 8 ohms), 100 watts (into 4 ohms) or 140 watts (into 2 ohms). 

As mentioned, the B1xi is an integrated amplifier designed to satisfy both analog and digital sources and features a “comprehensive input selection” MM phono stage, coaxial and optical digital inputs, and three RCA line inputs. Additionally, there’s an HDMI ARC input for incorporating your TV.

Importantly, the B1xi’s analog and digital components are physically separated — both their power supplies and circuitry boards — to prevent interference and keep the audio signal path as pure and high-resolution as possible.

Musical Fidelity

Price and availability

The Musical Fidelity B1xi features an all-metal chassis and is available in a single black-and-silver finish.

The cost is $879, and it will be available in August 2025.

Musical Fidelity

Musical Fidelity B1xi

• $879 at Musical Fidelity

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