The Lyngdorf MXA-8400 is a high-performance multichannel power amplifier with Purifi technology that can deliver 8 x 400 Watts. The amplifier type or number kind of gave that away. So, 8400 stands for 8 x 400 Watts. Into 4 Ohm impedance that is. Although it primarily compliments AV processors, like for example the Lyngdorf MP40 or MP60, the amplifier is more than potent enough to be used in a stereo setup or a setup with passive boundary woofers like the Lyngdorf BW-20.
Brand
Lyngdorf is a Danish audio company founded by Peter Lyngdorf back in 2005. It’s currently managed by CEO Thomas Birkelund . The company is well known for their innovative digital amplifiers and the “RoomPerfect” room correction system that adapts the sound to the room and so elevating the overall musical performance of the system.
Current price
The Lyngdorf MXA-8400 is currently available at your local Lyngdorf dealer for €9.000. For the moment the only available finish is matt black.
What’s in the box
Lyngdorf always surprises. There’s the unit itself of course, a mains cord, a user manual, brackets to rackmount the unit into a 19-inch rack, like when you use one or more of these amplifiers in a home cinema setup with a dedicated control room. Back to the surprise. In the box are 8 Neutrik Speakon NL4 connectors to finish “bare wire” loudspeaker cable for use with the Lyngdorf MXA-8400.
Features
The Lyngdorf MXA-8400 uses Purifi Eigentakt technology. Not in a sense that Lyngdorf put in 8 of their amplifier modules and designed a suiting power supply. No, they went above and beyond. More on that in a dedicated review later. Main benefits of Purifi Eigentakt is that it produces negligible THD or Total Harmonic Distortion, Inter Modulation Distortion, minimized Magnetic Hysteresis Distortion, low Electro Magnetic Interference, a frequency response independent from the speaker impedance and a very high damping factor. In short and understandable language: clean, pure, and organic sound. PowerPerfect is an advanced power supply, specially designed to extract the best performance from Purifi technology and to create a robust and reliable power amplifier. It’s highly power-efficient with low idle power consumption and several protection systems. The integrated Channel Balancing Technology distributes the power between all channels in the best way. The 8-power amplifier channels are bridgeable in pairs, delivering up to 4 X 800 Watts at 8 Ohm to drive the most demanding loudspeakers effortlessly. The maximum output voltage doubles from 60 to 120 Volts in bridge mode.
Front side
Let’s check out the front panel. Not much to see really. Less is more with the Danish. The rather sober and sleek design hints we’re dealing with a power amplifier. A well-defined recessed notch gives the unit a modern and powerful look. On the left bottom side shines the brand name, on the right bottom side the amplifier type number: MXA-8400. Right beside the brand name sits a LED that indicates the operation mode.
Back side
Moving on to the back panel. In the center are the 4 groups of each 2 power modules, providing XLR signal-in connections and SpeakOn speaker terminals. A pretty much straight forward setup, although the SpeakOn connections are known from the professional audio industry and not so much in the hi-fi and high-end scenery. But they offer the best connection possible and maybe because of the amplifiers 3,200 watts output capability a logic choice. In the upper right corner sits the mains connection and switch. In the lower left corner, we see a UTP connector for service purposes. Beneath that on the left, there’s a little switch to set the input sensitivity to 2 or 6 Volt to match your pre-amplifier or processor in the best way. Trigger out, trigger in and power slave connections make it possible to daisy chain your setup, so you only have to power up/down 1 unit. And that’s it!
For whom is this product
The Lyngdorf MXA-8400 is a long-anticipated product for Lyngdorf MP40 and MP60 owners. With 1 or 2 of these power amplifiers you can power a full-blown 16-channel immersive home cinema system. Is this amplifier just for Lyngdorf users? No, not at all. The amplifier can stand on its own.
First impression
It provides a major upgrade to your power amplification and has no problem with big or difficult speaker. It packs some real muscle or juice … whatever you like. Even for stereo or 2+2 system this amplifier could be your way to go. It offers a clean, natural, powerful, and organic sound. In our experience it will make your speakers perform at its best! Combined with speakers with Purifi technology, well that leads to 1 + 1 equals 3 … if you catch my drift!
Conclusion
At €9.000 retail price this might strike you as a rather expensive amplifier. Check it out. Listen to it. Hear what it does with your speakers and the overall performance of your system. It may well be the last amplifier you buy for quite some time…
Learn more about the Lyngdorf MXA-8400 8-channel power amplifier.
Visit the Lyngdorf website.
Frequently asked questions
What does the “8400” in the product name refer to?
8 channels of 400 Watts each, into 4 Ohm impedance.
Can the MXA-8400’s channels be combined for more power?
Yes — channels can be bridged in pairs, delivering up to 4 x 800 Watts at 8 Ohm, with the maximum output voltage doubling from 60 to 120 Volts in bridge mode.
Why does the MXA-8400 use SpeakOn connectors instead of standard binding posts?
SpeakOn connectors are known from the professional audio industry rather than hi-fi, but they offer the best connection possible — a logical choice given the amplifier’s 3,200 watts output capability. Eight Neutrik SpeakOn NL4 connectors are included in the box to terminate bare speaker wire.
Can the MXA-8400 be matched to different preamplifiers?
Yes — a switch on the back sets the input sensitivity to either 2 or 6 Volt, so you can match it to your pre-amplifier or processor. Trigger in/out and power-slave connections also let you daisy-chain the system so only one unit needs switching on.
