Handy connectivity

If your music is stored on some other format with analogue or digital outputs you're not missing out, for the Mi includes two each of analogue and digital inputs, the latter optical, only. There's even a recording output, plus a digital output and a couple of 3.5mm jack sockets on the front, one an extra line input, the other a headphone output.

And then whatever source you select is passed to the power amp, rated at 100 watts into 4 ohms (so think 50 watts into 8 ohms). Even before we'd read the brochure or removed the covers we'd guessed that might be some kind of switching amp in the space available, and it turns out it's a Pulse Width Modulated class D Digital amplifier, built into a particularly diminutive enclosure at the rear.

Everything is kept digital as far as the power stage, proof of which can be found in the measured figures for jitter, which is lower at the loudspeaker output than at the line output.

The FM tuner function is digital too and is handled on the same module as DAB reception. Operation is pleasant via either the remote or the touch-sensitive buttons on the front panel.

Distinctive performance

All our enthusiasm for the appearance and interface could go for nought if the sound doesn't cut it and there's no denying that standards are pretty high in this area.

The Arcam Solo Mini is probably our favourite to date, but there are plenty of other competent – and more-than-competent – one-box systems around in various shapes and forms, within sight of the Mi's price. It's a relief, therefore, to be able to say that not only is this a good unit sonically, but it's a distinctive one, too.

Let's start with CD replay, which at the very least has the virtue of being unambiguous with no scope for digital compression variables, broadcasting foibles and so on. After a cursory play with as many of the Mi's features as possible, we dug out a few old favourite silver discs and got stuck in.

It soon became apparent that we were hearing a very pleasing version of them, but there was at the same time no denying that it is still, to be pedantic, a version. Specifically, it is a little soft-grained and, well, 'cuddly'.

Enjoyable experience

Playing on a regular basis with some of the finest hi-fi separates, we are accustomed to the quest for ever greater levels of detail and precision in sound reproduction, in general an admirable goal. But it's almost as if Myryad's designers have consciously taken a small step back from that and decided to go for the bigger picture, with details left rather more to the imagination. If it was a photograph, you would guess the photographer had chosen the old 'Vaseline on the lens' approach.

Is that valid? At £1,250 for a comprehensive system, we feel it is: and we're not embarrassed to admit that we greatly enjoyed it. It encourages a stress-free, low concentration listening experience which is still musically involving, a bit in the way your first transistor radio/portable cassette/budget turntable was – all of those were severely shaky in absolute sound quality terms, but they got a message across.

The Mi is nothing like shaky, it's just not as incisive as much modern hi-fi, and it does rather prove the point that insight is not everything. Oversight is good, too!

Impressive sound quality

You might be wondering what performance is like in terms of rhythm and excitement and while it's not quite up to the standard of fine separates it's actually rather good.

The soft focus doesn't extend much into the bass, so when someone whacks a drum and plucks a bass you get plenty of impact and those 50 watts are plenty enough to move air convincingly even with quite inefficient speakers. What's more, there is certainly no bright, hard edge to the treble so listening fatigue is low and that surely helps in keeping one's attention where it should be.