Musical Fidelity Introduces the X-Tube: Enhancing Digital Audio Systems with Tube Warmth
By HiFi Editorial20 October 2025
Key Highlights
Compact tube output buffer designed to deliver warm, rich tube audio tones.
Solid aluminum construction ensures durability and shields against electromagnetic interference.
Utilizes dual E88CC triodes for faster transients, superior dynamics, and optimal impedance matching.
Musical Fidelity has unveiled the X-Tube, a compact tube output buffer designed to infuse audio systems with the warm, rich tones characteristic of tube technology. Housed in the traditional cylindrical casing of the X-series, the X-Tube builds on the legacy of the acclaimed X10D tube buffer. This latest iteration not only preserves the beloved design elements but also integrates modern components to enhance performance.
Constructed from a single solid aluminum billet, the X-Tube offers robust protection against electromagnetic interference, ensuring pristine audio quality. The front panel features a thick aluminum plate, adding to the device's durability and aesthetic appeal. The X-Tube seamlessly connects between digital sources and amplifiers or between preamplifiers and power amplifiers, delivering the sought-after tube warmth without compromising system compatibility.
At the heart of the X-Tube's circuitry are dual E88CC triodes, configured in a single-stage amplification cascade. This design choice provides several advantages over traditional semiconductor devices, including faster transient response and superior handling of dynamic peaks. Additionally, the higher input impedance of the tubes ensures optimal impedance matching, enhancing overall signal integrity.
Musical Fidelity addresses the growing demand for affordable streaming devices and DACs, which often feature basic output stages that can limit audio performance. The X-Tube's high-impedance tube input preserves the output power of connected sources, while its low-impedance tube output buffer efficiently drives both high and low-impedance amplifiers. This flexibility makes the X-Tube an essential upgrade for those seeking to elevate their digital audio setups with the unique sonic qualities of tube amplification.
Set to launch in Europe with a recommended retail price of €499, the Musical Fidelity X-Tube promises to deliver the organic and emotionally engaging sound that audiophiles cherish. By enhancing CD and DAC sources with tube-like depth and fullness, the X-Tube stands as a testament to Musical Fidelity's commitment to blending traditional audio craftsmanship with contemporary technological advancements.
