Musical Fidelity M1 CLiC Pre Amplifier Review. When we first reviewed Musical Fidelity's M1 CLiC its streaming capability was limited to playback of 96kHz/24-bit files, however a firmware update soon enhanced the functionality of its Stream Unlimited core 'engine' to accommodate 192kHz playback via wired LAN.
It subsequently ran off with a 2011/12 EISA Award due to its fine performance and fabulous value, as this so-called 'universal music controller' is actually a full-function preamplifier as well as a network audio player and D-to-A converter.
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| 320x240mm full colour QVGA screen shows cover art and file info. Navigation and control is via RCU or MF app. |
It has three analogue inputs with pure analogue paths through to its output, three S/PDIF inputs (two RCA; one Toslink) and both fixed and variable output sockets at the rear. The CLiC's Type B USB input is a 'legacy' type restricted to 16-bit media with a maximum 48kHz sampling rate, but its coaxial S/PDIF inputs accept data up to 192kHz/24-bit. Musical Fidelity does of course have its V-LINK192 USB-to-S/PDIF converter for pushing music directly from a computer's USB socket.
The D-to-A section of the CliC is based on MF's excellent-value M1 DAC, employing 24-bit Delta-Sigma dual differential DACs with 8x oversampling. Wi-Fi is built in should you want to connect the CLiC to a WLAN; there's an A Type USB socket on the front for memory sticks and another at the rear for digital connection/control of an iPod/iPhone. MF's iOS app is a tad basic, however many users may appreciate its simplicity. Android users will need to use a third-party app.
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| Type A USB input is for iPod. Type B USB plus four S/PDIF and three analogue inputs make the CLiC a complete controlcentre/preamp, with both fixed or variable outs. |
RICH TEXTURES
The CLiC sounded really excellent given its less than high-end price. The fulsome bass of Boz Scaggs' 'Thanks To You' was rendered with plenty of weight and power, if not with quite the authority and control displayed by the Naim ND5 XS, while its gentle high frequency quality made it appear smooth and refined. Its performance was especially praised with our challenging Daft Punk track, the CLiC's 'civilised' demeanour obviating any uncomfortable HF graininess – although one listener did accuse it of robbing the music of some of its vitality as a consequence.
Its subjective softening also 'darkened' the hi-res recording of Laurence Juber's 'Mosaic', the vibrancy of the plucked guitar strings and percussive accompaniment missing some of the sparkle delivered by some of the network players in the group.
Playing the 176.4kHz/24-bit Rachmaninov recording showed how the MF could satisfactorily deliver a richly-textured sonic picture of an orchestra in full flight. Soundstage depth was excellent, as was the CLiC's tracking of the recording's immense dynamic contrasts.
LAB REPORT
Arguably the fi rst media player to bring network functionality within easy reach of the progressive audiophile, Musical Fidelity's CLiC still puts up a fi ne performance, handling 192kHz WAVs as both 24-bit and 32-bit floating point fi les. The single-ended RCAs deliver 1.97V from a moderate 147ohm source impedance and benefi t from a full 108.8dB A-wtd S/N ratio. The superior DACs offer a massive >120dB rejection of digital images (65dB with 96kHz media), crystal clock selection is held to within ±25ppm while digital jitter is suppressed to levels comparable to that of the newer Lindemann and Naim players at <15psec for all 44.1kHz-192kHz sample rates [see Graph].
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| High resolution jitter spectrum with 24-bit/48kHz data delivered over a wired network connection. |
Musical Fidelity employs a fi xed roll-off filter, so the CLiC's response stretches out to +0.13dB/20kHz (48kHz media) but rolls gently away beyond 30kHz, reaching –2.5dB/40kHz (96kHz files) and –15dB/80kHz (192kHz fi les). Distortion is close in 'character' to the Pioneer N-50 at <0.003% over the top 40dB of its dynamic range through bass and midrange frequencies and 0.0016-0.013% at 20kHz. Still fresh after all these years!
SPECIFICATIONS
Maximum output level/Impedance : 1.97Vrms / 142ohm
A-wtd S/N ratio : 108.8dB
Distortion (1kHz, 0dBFs/–30dBFs) : 0.0025% / 0.0010%
Distortion (20kHz, 0dBFs/–30dBFs) : 0.014% / 0.0047%
Freq. response (20Hz-20kHz/45kHz) : –0.00dB to +0.13dB / –4.50dB
Digital jitter (48kHz/96kHz/192kHz) : 13psec / <10psec / 15psec
Resolution @ –100dB : ±0.4dB
Power consumption : 6W
Dimensions (WHD) : 220x100x300mm
Detail Specs
