Myryad MXA2150 review

Solid build and solid sound: this amp can deliver huge dynamic swings effortlessly, bludgeoning speakers into submission with ease Tested at £1300.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The partnering preamp can be bettered, but this is a superb, and highly flexible, power amplifier

Pros

  • +

    Plenty of control, power and grip

  • +

    magnificent dynamics

Cons

  • -

    Nothing of any significance

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

The MXA2150 looks fairly chunky for a stereo power amp, even one delivering 2x150w. It stands 19cm tall, meaning it dwarfs the partnering MXP2000 preamp, and has a lot of space on the rear panel. Unusually, too, it's the only power amp in Myryad's MX range, whereas most manufacturers offer a couple, or even a whole line-up.

But then this is no ordinary power amp: it's a modular design, to which optional amplifier ‘cards' can be added. The add-ons come in two versions – either the 150w ones fitted here or 2x80w units – and these can be mixed and matched as required.

And with seven ‘slots' available, that means this stereo amp can turn into anything up to a fourteen-channel unit, able to drive two complete 7.1-channel systems or indeed biamp every speaker in a single 7.1-channel set-up.

Every channel has a standard phono input and a directly-linked phono output, so even more amps can be daisychained, and the unit also has both 12V trigger switching and Myryad's own My-Link remote control.

Massive build, massive sound
The build is solid and massive throughout and there's also extensive protection circuitry built-in to avoid damage to either amp or your speakers.

The MXA2150's sound is also solid and massive: the 150W amp module can deliver up to 230W into 4ohms, so speaker matching shouldn't be a problem, and the amp can deliver huge dynamic swings effortlessly, bludgeoning speakers into submission with ease.

And it's not just the dynamic ability that impresses: there's detail and drive, too, with speed and articulation in the lower ranges, Rarely do we come across an amp with so much grip in this region. This is an exceptional amplifier.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


Read more about how we test