Roth Audio Amp MC8 takes 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 built-in dock for the omnipresent Apple player. With the stunning MC8 amp providing the power, your music library 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 superb 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 – outstanding source compatibility, devastatingly good looks, and superb sound – found in the MC4, its hugely successful little brother, yet raises the performance bar to an even higher level. No longer is that lip-smacking sweet, high-end valve sound the preserve of those prepared to 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. Employing a brace of 845 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 75lbs. engine also includes a full function remote control, a choice of output impedance, and (as ever) Roth Audio’s pledge of grin-inducing sound quality.

Roth Audio founder James Roth says, “What we have here is a labour of love – we love music, and we laboured long and hard to produce an amplifier that not only embraces modern source technology, but also uses a timeless hi-fi design – valves – to deliver gorgeous sound. The key here is not just using vacuum tubes, but using them properly. And the MC8 is proper.”

The Music Cocoon MC8 will be available in the United States early January 2008 and will have an approximate suggested retail price of $4999.99USD.

Additional Information

Roth Audio Music Cocoon 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

Roth Audio Music Cocoon MC8 specifications:

• Power Output: 2 x 35W
• 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: 845 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

About Roth Audio:
Roth Audio has been born out of a wish to create better audio systems, getting to the heart of music reproduction and performance – the company believes these two aspects are inseparable, which is why Roth Audio designs and manufactures devices for listening to, and playing, music.