• should continue the tradition of our mono-block amplifiers and be aesthetically pleasing
• using as short as possible signal path through the device.

We achieved both these goals using some lateral - out-of-the-box - thinking, by placing the control knobs and switches inside the box.Other design goals were:

• Should allow attenuation of the input - rather than output - signals to allow SPL (volume) matching of sources, which is a necessary condition for performing A-B comparisons.
• ultra minimalist shunt design where the signal only passes through 1 next generation audio resistor from the input to the output (2)
• use of highest quality attenuation devices and connectors
• hand silk-wrapped vanishingly thin pure silver wire over the entire signal path in the device, maintaining primarily an air dielectric

The minimalist circuitry is housed inside a lacquered box decorated with an iridescent Abalone mother of pearl design of Paeonia (1). The lid can be lifted allowing access to the preamplifier switches and volume controls. The combination of high quality components, the short signal path, limiting the metal-metal boundaries to just silver, and use of a complete air-dielectric in the signal path allowed us to create a device which allows switching and volume control over 2 inputs while leaving the least possible imprint on the musical signal.Features include :

• Input 1/ Mute / Input 2 toggle switch control
• Audio Note chrome-plated brass volume controls
• Vishay Sfernice P11s used in shunt - fake law configuration
• 2 x solid silver RCA input connections
• 1 x solid silver RCA output connections
• Ultra-thin silk-insulated silver wiring throughout the device

ML1401

Preamplifier

1895 EUR

1.  Paeonia or peony is the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae found in Asia and Japan - often referenced in the works of Masaoka Shiki (see Links)
2.  Note that negative sounding potentiometers are not in the direct signal path.
3. ML1401A is now available which contains 2 inputs and 2 outputs. The Auxiliary 2nd. output can be used to drive sub-woofers or a second listening zone.  (Priced at 1995 EUR)

• 2 x elegant mother of pearl decorated enclosures
• Orange LED power indication
• High-speed PCB substrate
• Next-generation audio resistors used in the signal path
• MuMetal shielding
• The power section wired with solid core silver wire.
• Proprietary high-purity silver gold foils used over an air dielectric in the signal path.

ML1301

Monoblocks (pair)

2400 EUR + Mono PS 1400 EUR = 3800 (stereo pair)

Low mass non-metallic terminals are used for bare wire speaker connection. Used in conjunction with our foil speaker cables with the Origami™ connection option, this in fact facilitates a gas-tight, direct connection to your speaker drivers. Note: choose your amplifiers with the correct power supplies.

When used in conjunction with the LM3875 at specific voltages, the sound of the amplifier literally blossoms, offering great intimacy in its delivery, airiness in its separation of instruments, palpable sonic images set against a deep black sound-stage.

ML1301-1 Mono SMPS

This uses a single SMPS module that is housed in a sleek aluminum case. All internal wiring is implemented using Teflon™ insulated military specification silver-coated copper wiring.

A 3 stage mains isolation circuit is employed after the mains switch which prevents any unwanted switching noise from being conducted back into the electricity supply. Connection to the mono-block amplifiers is via two Litz-wired umbilical power cords - one per channel - using military specification cable and state-of-the-art gas-tight power connections.

This power supply module is suitable for those systems using full range driver or high-efficiency ( >= 90 dB) speaker systems.

ML1301-2 Dual SMPS

This uses dual SMPS modules that have been wired in series and are housed in the same sleek aluminum case. All internal wiring is implemented using teflon insulated military specification silver-coated copper wiring. A 3 stage mains isolation circuit is employed after the mains switch which prevents any unwanted switching noise from being conducted back into the electricity supply. Connection to the mono-block amplifiers is via two Litzwired umbilical power cords - one per channel - using military specification cable and state-of-the-art gas-tight power connections.

This power supply module is recommended for those systems using less efficient (<90 dB) multi-driver speaker systems.

ML1301

At Musical Laboratory* we believe that musical equipment should not only connect you with your music but should also look aesthetically pleasing. We wanted to create pieces that harmonize with - or enhance - the listening space.

Our Less is More philosophy extends to our choice of enclosures, as we try to make components as unobtrusive as possible. Therefore rather than relying on standard full size metal boxes, we try not limit ourselves in the choice of materials or in the shape of enclosures we use. In fact we try to fit the enclosure to the circuit design rather than vice-versa.

This is another factor which differentiates our components from those of the mass producers.

Another feature is the power section of our amplifiers in which Teflon insulated heavy gauge solid core silver wire is used throughout. This is something you will hardly ever find in commercial audio components.

Finally, as regards the all important signal path, an air dielectric is maintained over vanishingly thin silver and silver/ gold conductor foils. Incredible thinness, as we explain elsewhere, is crucial in this area of the design if sharp focus and clarity of sound are objectives.

ML1301

Each of the accessories listed here are products which we use at Musical Laboratory* - and which we have been found to make a discernible improvement in musical presentation - or are used in our own products.

The cables listed here can be used to turn your PC or Mac into a high-end source. Simply plug our ML* ‘Autumn Wind’ or ML* ‘Silver Plume’ RCA Interconnect Cables into the gold audiophile grade RCA-Mini Jack adaptor offered on our Accessories page, and listen to the open - relaxed sound of streaming audio.

We tested this configuration at Musical Laboratory* using a Mac G4 PowerBook laptop.

We were impressed by the large coherent sound stage and improved timing compared to some external USB DAC implementations.

You might never want to listen to another CD player again.

ML1011 | ML1021 | MLA201

Features include:

True 75 Ohm Coax cable

• Silver-plated copper conductors
• Silver-plated copper braid shield
• Teflon® dielectric and jacket

BNC Connectors

• Silver-plated contact pin
• Silver-plated body
• Teflon® dielectric
• Crimp connection
• RoHS compliant

These can be used with one - or two- of our BNC-RCA adapters to guarantee a true 75 Ohm digital connection for those with RCA digital-out connections.

ML1201	1 meter	399 €
ML1201	1,25 meters	449 €

Note: Normally we do not recommend connection length less than 1 meter, as this does not improve the signal quality and can add strain to the conductor and connections. Longer cables can be made to your specification normally +50 EUR per 0.25 meter. Please email if you have special length requirements.

As with our ML* ‘Autumn Wind’ and ML* ‘Silver Plume’ (1) speaker cables, our interconnect cables may not look - or sound - like anything you have ever come across before. As in all our designs, we start out with a blank canvas - leaving aside any pre-conceived ideas - we then set about to optimize all the important parameters.

The products listed here are the end point of this process, which normally results in a de-constructed or minimalist design, since anything which does not contribute positively to the musical performance of the cable is stripped away.

What is left then is a sublime interaction in the signal path between a precious metal, air and organic unbleached cotton. This is an almost zero capacitance design which takes the musical performance out of your speaker boxes and places it firmly in your listening room.

This is why we warn you that these interconnect cables may cause your speakers to perform a disappearing act!

(1) A reference to the work of Masaoka Shiki creator of the moderm Hiaku style in which only a few words are used to prefectly capture a moment of consciousness or to describe the natural world.

ML1011 | ML1012 | ML1021 | ML1022

Every aspect of our cables have been carefully optimized and voiced at Musical Laboratory*, in order to provide you with a level of musical performance that pushes the musical envelope in terms of what is available today.

Silver offers unrivaled conductivity compared to copper or any other conductive material at normal operating temperatures of between 22 and 35C. (Note that these temperatures effectively exclude the use of current super-conductive materials).

All Musical Laboratory* cables use high-purity, solid core silver or silver/ gold alloy conductors.

Owing to the negative sonic effects of time-smear introduced by loss-wave propagation within the conductor itself, flat foil is theoretically the perfect conductor geometry. It can offer superior performance compared with round wire conductors, and so we at Musical Laboratory* use proprietary foil conductor designs wherever possible.

Air has the lowest Dielectric Constant of any material. This means that it will store less of the electrical signal flowing through it - allowing more of the musical signal to pass through.

Finally, cotton has the among the lowest Dielectric Constants of any solid material. Unbleached cotton also naturally controls resonance in the conductor signal which can be a cause of shadowing, especially in the low frequency range. As a result you can expect to hear a more detailed musical performance from an air-cotton insulated cable than from mass-produced PVC or Teflon insulated cable designs’

As with our interconnect cables, our ML* ‘Autumn Wind’ and ML* ‘Silver Plume’ Speaker Cables may not look – or sound - like anything you have ever experienced before.

As in all our designs, we start out with a clean canvas – leaving aside any pre-conceived ideas - we then set about to optimize all the important parameters. The components listed here are the end point of this process. This normally results in a de-constructed or minimalist design, since anything which does not contribute positively to the musical performance of the cable is stripped away.

What is left then is a sublime interaction in the signal path between a precious metal, air and organic unbleached cotton. This is an almost zero capacitance, extremely low impedance design which offers breathtaking presence, harmonics and detail, explosive transients and clear extended frequencies at both extremes.

In other words, the sound of music.

ML1101 | ML1111 | ML1121