Musical Fidelity is turning back the clock—but not in a retro, gimmicky way. The company has just announced the B1xi Integrated Amplifier, a modern take on its original B1 from the '90s. It’s the first model in a refreshed B-Series and is set to arrive in August 2025 for $879 USD. The B1xi is all about straightforward, high-quality analog performance—no built-in streaming, no touchscreen, no app.

Instead, Musical Fidelity is doubling down on a design philosophy that prioritizes sound and durability. If you’re looking for an amp that just does the job well—and isn’t trying to do everything else too—this might catch your attention.

At the heart of the B1xi is a fully discrete Class A/B amplifier, putting out 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 100 watts into 4 ohms, and up to 140 watts into 2 ohms. That’s more than enough to handle most speakers comfortably, including some of the more demanding ones out there.

To help deliver that kind of consistent power, the B1xi includes a hefty toroidal transformer and separate power supplies for the preamp, power amp, and digital sections. This kind of layout isn’t just for show—it allows each section of the amp to operate without interference from the others, especially important when handling sudden dynamic peaks or low-impedance loads.

The preamplifier in the B1xi doesn’t cut corners either. It has its own dedicated linear power supply and uses an old-school motor-driven analog volume knob instead of a digital volume control. That means the signal stays analog from the input all the way through, avoiding the resolution loss that can happen when volume is adjusted digitally.

There’s also a built-in MM phono stage, giving vinyl lovers a plug-and-play option without needing a separate preamp. Musical Fidelity has tuned it for low noise and high gain, so if you're using a moving magnet cartridge, you’re covered. And if you're building a more complex system, there's a pre-out for connecting a subwoofer or adding another amplifier for bi-amping.

Even though the B1xi is focused on analog performance, it still supports digital inputs. Around the back, you’ll find coaxial and optical inputs, HDMI ARC, and Bluetooth 5.1. These inputs are handled by a dedicated DAC board using the well-regarded ESS9018 DAC chip—the same one found in Musical Fidelity’s higher-end digital gear.

One important design note: all digital components are physically and electrically separated from the analog circuitry. Each digital section even has its own power supply to help keep interference (especially RF noise) away from the signal path. It’s a smart layout, especially for those who care about maintaining clean analog performance while still using digital sources.

Also included is a 5V USB-C output—not for audio playback, but for powering an external streamer. This way, users can still bring their own streaming solution (like a Wiim, Raspberry Pi, or Bluesound Node) and keep it separate from the amplifier’s internals. It’s a practical compromise that lets users upgrade their digital sources down the line without touching the core amp.

That brings us to one of the B1xi’s biggest talking points: what it doesn’t have. There’s no built-in Wi-Fi. No display. No companion app. And that’s entirely by design.

Musical Fidelity argues that streaming tech evolves too fast to be built into something meant to last 10, 20, or even 30 years. Displays can fail, apps stop getting updates, and all-in-one systems tend to cut corners elsewhere to make room for those extras. By stripping those things out, the company says it can spend more on what really matters: power supplies, analog components, and build quality.

And if the past is any indication, they might be onto something. Plenty of Musical Fidelity amps from the ‘90s are still running strong today.

Physically, the B1xi looks and feels like a classic hi-fi component. It’s got an all-metal chassis, a solid aluminum front panel, and chunky metal knobs that feel like they were made to be turned for decades. There’s nothing flashy about it—but that’s kind of the point.

This is gear made to sit in your rack and do its job without calling attention to itself. You won’t need to worry about firmware updates or whether your phone still supports the app in five years. And if your streaming habits change, you’re free to swap in new hardware as needed—without replacing your amp.

The B1xi isn’t trying to be the center of your smart home. It doesn’t want to talk to Alexa or show you album art. Instead, it focuses on being a reliable, great-sounding amplifier that works with the gear you already own—and the gear you haven’t bought yet.

The B1xi will be available in August 2025, with North American distribution by Focal Naim America.