The Roth MC4 Pod integrated amp is now in. For only $499 you can get the silky smoothness of tubes and three inputs for iPod, CD/ phono and computer.ÂÂ
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The Music Cocoon has been designed for use with the lovely Apple iPod (hence the fairly obvious dock on the top of the amplifier), any portable audio device (that’s why there is a 3.5mm socket on the back of the amplifier), any device which outputs audio to a 3.5mm jack (e.g. a laptop), or a CD player (that’ll be why there is a pair of RCA sockets on the back as well).
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This means that regardless of the source unit, the MC4 can handle it, which immediately makes it more useful than a simple docking device for the iPod.
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If one considers the iPod or MP3 player, for sure, what you put in is what comes out, so if you are using compressed audio files, we can’t weave some magic to restore what has been lost. However……we can guarantee that the amplifier will add a real warmth and dimension to the music which other amplifiers are not designed to do. That’s the thing about vacuum tubes; there is a science behind their use, but the results cannot be quantified.
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When using uncompressed files, this amplifier has the ability to allow you to hear things in the music which you have not heard before. It will bring back the excitement of listening for the first time to that new album from your favourite artist, the same anticipation, but, with a curiously smooth and refined playback which you will not have experienced before. Yes. It is that good.
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For CD playback it simply is astonishing and the audio quality and depth generated from such a small amplifier is beyond froody*.
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In use, the MC4 is simple to operate and you can of course control the functionality of the iPod from the remote control. We made this nice and chunky so that you’re less likely to lose it.
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* see Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Douglas Adams.
