Roth Audio Amp Lifts iPod to New Levels
Roth Audio's acknowledgement of the iPod as this century's landmark music source means even its flagship Music Cocoon MC8 vacuum tube amplifier provides a dock for the omnipresent portable. With the visually enticing and sonically stunning MC8 providing the power, life has never sounded better.
Roth Audio inhabits a rational, yet wonderful world: the British hi-fi company is sufficiently forward-thinking to embrace the Apple iPod and its incredible value to the two-channel world, yet also remains endearingly obsessed with excellent sound-quality. The result of this far too rare mix of reality and quality is fully evident in the company’s intoxicating flagship amplifier.
The Music Cocoon MC8 adopts the same the key principles found in the MC4, its hugely successful little brother – outstanding source compatibility, devastatingly good looks, and superb sound – but raises the performance bar to an even higher level. No longer is that lip-smackingly sweet, high-end valve sound the preserve of those prepared part with heart palpitation-inducing sums of money. The Roth Audio MC8 does it all for less.
An amazingly competitive two thousand pounds buys a single-end Class A all-tube amplifier, using a brace of 211 vacuum tubes – widely acknowledged as the 'President' of two-channel tubes – plus a further four premium valve units. The result is a muscular, yet responsive amplifier capable of releasing 35 watts per channel. In addition to the centrally located iPod dock, connectivity counts four line inputs, meaning plenty of space to hook up additional sources, such as a CD player. The 34Kg MC8 also includes a full function remote control, a choice of output impedance, and (as ever) Roth Audio’s promise of grin-inducing sound quality.
MC8 main features:
- Class A all-tube amplifier
- Finest quality vacuum tubes
- Supports i-Pod, CD and MP3
- Remote control
- iPod charging
- Overheating protection
- Speaker protection when turning on
- Speaker short circuit protection
- Fuse protection in the adapter
MC8 specifications:
- Power Output: 35W x 2
- Frequency response: 20-20KHz (±1.5dB)
- Distortion: ≤1%
- Signal to noise ratio: ≥86dB
- Input impedance: 100K ohm
- Input sensitivity: 450mV
- Output impedance: 4 ohm / 8 ohm
- Tube Types: 211 x 2, 6SN7 x 2, 12AX7 x 2
- Input Selectors: iPod, CD, MP3
- Dimensions (mm): 500 (L) x 260 (W) x 330 (H)
- Weight: 34Kg
