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Musical Paradise MP301 MK3

C

Cambarr

New Member
I'm looking at the musical paradise MP-301 Mk3 i was first interested in the MiniWatt M3. But decided to spend a little more on my system... I like the price and reviews but before I place my order is there anything else I should consider??

Here is some info and specs..

The MP-301 series is the most popular Musical Paradise tube amp which was first released in 2008. In 2011, the MK2 was introduced to the market with many improvements. The enhancement process has never been stopped. Today, we want to introduce you the new MP-301 MK3, the third generation of the MP-301 series. After collecting large amount of users' feedback and recommendation during the past years, we bring the MP-301 series to a new high performance level.

Features:

One amplifier supports 6L6 (6P3P), KT66, 5881, EL34, KT77, KT88 and 6550.
Auto biasing design that eliminates manual adjustment.
Class A single ended; Zero negative feedback.
Built with high grade genuine components.
(US Military Vishay Dale resistors. RIFA 450, Rubycon, Philips BC and Nichicon capacitors.)
24K gold plated input and output terminals.
Transformers are made with oxygen free copper wire and Japanese Z11/M6 silicon core.
2 oz. thick copper PCB.
Proven by many audiophiles. Excellent sound quality guaranteed.
 
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Looking at the audio engine p4's sorry for the noob question but are these comparable and if not what specs are comparable?!
 
What speakers are you planning to drive this with?

Oops, you mentioned the Audio Engine P4.

Well, it's hard to say if they would be a good match. It's a low sensitivity bookshelf speaker, which generally indicates a need for more power. The MP301 can probably drive them okay without clipping, but whether or not it would be a suitable amplifier is hard to say.

Personally, I'd be looking at something that can utilize the low 6.5 WPC output of the MP301 better. If you are stuck on the Audioengine P4's, I'd be looking at a different amp. That's just my feeling. I've owned the MP301 before and it's a great sounding amplifier, but the low power doesn't make it suitable for every application.
 
Cambarr said:
Looking at the audio engine p4's sorry for the noob question but are these comparable and if not what specs are comparable?!
Click to expand...

They look like they would be perfect for the computer desk-top. If that's the intended application, then the MP-301 might be just fine. If you're using the speakers "in room", then I'd be looking for an amp with more power, and a "subwoofer out" option as well.

jeff
 
canuckaudiog said:
What speakers are you planning to drive this with?

Oops, you mentioned the Audio Engine P4.

Well, it's hard to say if they would be a good match. It's a low sensitivity bookshelf speaker, which generally indicates a need for more power. The MP301 can probably drive them okay without clipping, but whether or not it would be a suitable amplifier is hard to say.

Personally, I'd be looking at something that can utilize the low 6.5 WPC output of the MP301 better. If you are stuck on the Audioengine P4's, I'd be looking at a different amp. That's just my feeling. I've owned the MP301 before and it's a great sounding amplifier, but the low power doesn't make it suitable for every application.
Click to expand...

What speakers did you use?
 
Cambarr said:
What speakers did you use?
Click to expand...

I ran some low sensitivity floor-standing speakers with the MP301 for a while. 82dB sensitivity. It was a decent sounding combination, but after a while I found the power was just not enough. Not to mention those speakers were capable of very low bass output - which requires a lot of power. The bookshelves wouldn't be in the same position there, so they would utilize the low power decently but it also depends on what sort of impedance those speakers run at. Tubes are fantastic for wattage, not for current. That's where SS generally comes in. However like vinylkid mentioned above, if this is for a desktop set-up, I think you'd be pleased as punch. If this is for a room, I think a more powerful amplifier would be a better choice.

Truthfully, speakers blow more often because of low power than high power.
 
82db speakers paired with the 6.5 watt MP would be a total mismatch.

To get the most from the MP you'll needs at least 90db speakers. The higher the better.

With my 3.5 watt SET 93db speakers are as low as I can go and still have decent headroom while 98db speakers are ideal.
 
Poultrygeist said:
82db speakers paired with the 6.5 watt MP would be a total mismatch.

To get the most from the MP you'll needs at least 90db speakers. The higher the better.

With my 3.5 watt SET 93db speakers are as low as I can go and still have decent headroom while 98db speakers are ideal.
Click to expand...

Yes it really was. It didn't sound bad by any means, but it was a massive bottleneck. The bass was cutting off early, and not to mention wasn't sounding as full as it could be, and there was a lot of detail being lost (this was only realized when I switched to something more suitable).

What's the room size that these speakers and amp are going in?
 
I s till have the original version of this amp and have actually been considering upgrading to the mkIII or something else. It's a solid amp that sound great. I haven't used it with many speakers, but with my single full range drivers it is a match made in heaven for my computer. I run a USB DAC to the MP 301 and then to my Tekton Designs 4.1 speakers. This is a fantastic low budget setup IMO.
 
I bought one a little over a month ago and I don't really care for it, it could just be the tubes but, I don't feel like buying even more, I've already bought different outputs and two different sets of pre-amp tubes :P I think I'm going to end up selling it once I finish building my Motorola clone just annoyed that I'll probably take a loss :(
 
the Motorola I have is a single ended pentode, that uses a single 12ax7 preamp tube and two el 84's, it's has sparkling mids and a nice thumping bottom end. I think it's about 4 1/2 watts.

I find the MP-301 is nice but, it doesn't have the same balance the high end seems a bit bright to me and the bottom end is tight and well controlled but the brighter high end seems to over power it for me, ideally I would turn down the treble if I had the ability.

I used the stock tubes which I picked the 6L6 GC for the outputs, and though I found the bass nice they were missing the mids that I was use to with the el 84's, I noticed it most with piano music and classical, so I switched to el 34's, the mids came back but then the bass was reduced :P, and for the preamp tubes I used the stock Chinese Shuguang 6J8P, I tried NOS RCA 6SJ7, NOS GE JAN 6SJ7Y, in different combinations with the 6L6 GC's and the EL 34's

I believe that the amp uses the Ultra-linear taps on the output transformers for feedback so that might play into the sound being different from what I like.

Good luck and happy hunting, and even though I don't find the MP301 MKIII to my taste in no way do I think it's a bad amp, just not my flavor :D
 
Thinker said:
the Motorola I have is a single ended pentode, that uses a single 12ax7 preamp tube and two el 84's, it's has sparkling mids and a nice thumping bottom end. I think it's about 4 1/2 watts.

I find the MP-301 is nice but, it doesn't have the same balance the high end seems a bit bright to me and the bottom end is tight and well controlled but the brighter high end seems to over power it for me, ideally I would turn down the treble if I had the ability.

I used the stock tubes which I picked the 6L6 GC for the outputs, and though I found the bass nice they were missing the mids that I was use to with the el 84's, I noticed it most with piano music and classical, so I switched to el 34's, the mids came back but then the bass was reduced :P, and for the preamp tubes I used the stock Chinese Shuguang 6J8P, I tried NOS RCA 6SJ7, NOS GE JAN 6SJ7Y, in different combinations with the 6L6 GC's and the EL 34's

I believe that the amp uses the Ultra-linear taps on the output transformers for feedback so that might play into the sound being different from what I like.

Good luck and happy hunting, and even though I don't find the MP301 MKIII to my taste in no way do I think it's a bad amp, just not my flavor :D
Click to expand...

Let me know before you sell. I might be interested.
 
Just got my MP301 MK3 today.
I've also bought a pair of 350b tubes from BOI AudioWorks and a RIAA from Mr. Nixie (tube hybride)

I've only listend to it for about 1,5 hours but boy this is a killer setup!
I'm using my old Jamo Concert2 speakers (88dB 1W)

Now even the scratches on my old vinyl sounds better :-)

I think the MP301 MK3 is a marvellous amplifier for the Money!

Jens
 
Jens K,

hope you enjoy it, i've loved mine.

Thinker,

you might try the 350Bs, i like them in mine. my fave tubes so far are 6BG6 (need an adapter). there is a tube rolling thread on this amp somewhere...
 
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