MUSICAL FIDELITY TITAN

The Titan's design represents two independent mono amplifiers in one enclosure, powered by two independent power supply units in another enclosure. The main unit is completely balanced all the way through with the aim to achieve the lowest distortion possible and enhance dynamic range and power handling capabilities. Musical Fidelity claims that the Titan is one of the quietest (in terms of the 126dB signal-to-noise ratio specs) amps in the world. It also claims that the Titan’s distortion is rather independent of a frequency, meaning that it is kept remarkably low in the amplifier‘s whole operating frequency range (below 0.01%) and even far beyond it.

As far as the Titan is concerned, I met with two popular misconceptions: It is not a tube amplifier, but a regular solid-state device with bipolar transistors at its ouput stage. And it is not a Class-A amplifier, though it sounds like one.

The silver aluminum housing of the main unit suggests high-endish purism and simplicity. Apart from the engraved logo that occupies most of the Titan’s faceplate there are only six blue micro-LEDs indicating different power conditions (power supply indication for each channel, protection status for each channel and thermal condition indication) and an ON/OFF pushbutton.

The same simplicity is shared by the power supply unit box, now only with 2 blue LEDS (power on indicators) and ON/OFF pushbuttons to power each channel separately. In fact, both chassis are identical in their appearance and dimensions, 483mm wide, 185mm high (feet inclusive) and approximately 620mm deep. Inside the PSU box there are two oversized 3kV toroidal transformers, a pair of toroidal chokes and...that’s it. Cooling of the units is ensured via horizontal cooler’s fins that run along the length of both enclosures as well as through the six circular openings in their upper lids.

Looking at the rear of the amplifier there are two pairs of gold-plated speaker binding post to facilitate bi-wiring. Further there are inputs for 1 pair of XLR and 1 pair of RCA connectors plus a switch for each channel to choose between the balanced and single-ended operation. There is nothing like a gain control so if you prefer not to use a preampfier with the Titan you will need a source with variable analog output or at least an attenuator.
Now, it is where the things start to be slightly more complicated. As mentioned, the Titan is a fully balanced unit, the power supply included. So you will need two power cords for each box in a following set-up: 2 standard IEC power leads between a wall (a power socket) and the power supply unit, 2 Neutrik locking power leads between the power supply unit and the main unit and, finally, one ´power exchange control´ XLR lead between the two. It means five different power cables to make the Titan work. If you wish to use the amplifier in a power-slave mode with a preamp or other control center, then you will need sixth cable to make the things happen. That is a lot of power wires and despite I assume that both the Titan’s boxes will be placed either next to or on top of each other it still creates quite an array behind the amplifier with all the subsequent issues like RFI and other noise pick-up. Thankfully Musical Fidelity adds all the necessary power leads in the package so there are no budget implications, though.