Magnat MC 1 SACD receiver amp

This is an unusual piece: an SACD player with built-in AM/FM radio, phono preamp, headphone output and a 60 watt amp, into 8ohms, at 1% distortion, with a tube in the pre-amp.

It sounds good and works well – the drive reads all my CDs and SACDs, including ones that my other players have struggled with. It also has a line out (which means volume is fixed).

It has three analog inputs, one of which is for moving magnet record players. The specs say the MM signal to noise ratio is 85db, with RIAA equalisation. It has a further input on the front panel to connect iPods, (old) iPhones etc.

The headphone output runs my Sennheiser 598s no problem. With volume just above halfway I’m at the peak I would listen to. No hiss.

The remote is a gem. Solid metal, it controls everything – including on/off, balance, bass and treble controls (which are defeatable). Bass and treble can be adjusted +-10db. It has a sleep control function, which can be set in 10 minute increments.

All functions can be performed via the unit itself or the remote.

Speaker binding posts are good quality and accept banana plugs (and “forked fittings”, which I suppose are spades, but I have none to test this).

I’ve pre-tuned radio stations, which can be directly accessed via the remote. It comes with AM and FM aerials.

The tube is an ECC 88 double triode.

Magnat is a German company, which has been around for 50 years. They make good stuff.

The volume control runs on relays, which give a very satisfying Germanic click. Unit weighs 9kg.

I have used it as an all-in-one, but it has been replaced in that role by a NAD M10. I held on to this as a spare (a spare everything really), but it’s time to move it on to fund a new acquisition. Unit is in very good condition. It even tells the time!

I haven’t tested the MM input, having no such record player, but otherwise, throughly tested. The coaxial output worked, but optical did not. Otherwise, everything is fine.