Musical Fidelity A1 2023
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Musical Fidelity A1 – classic class A with a focus on the music
Musical Fidelity A1 is for those who do not measure an amplifier’s qualities in watts alone, but in the way it makes the music hang together. The A1 was originally launched in 1988 and quickly gained cult status for its warm, fluid, and engaging sound – delivered from a modest 2 x 25 watts. The modern Musical Fidelity A1 stays true to the original class A principle and the distinctive design, but combines it with an updated transformer, improved power supply, modern low-noise components, and remote-controlled volume. The result is an integrated class A amplifier that makes particular sense in small to medium-sized rooms, where musical presence and tonal character are valued more highly than maximum power.
Highlights
- 2 x 25 watts in pure class A at 8 ohms
- Discrete and symmetrical amplifier topology
- Updated dual-mono power supply
- Separate power supplies for the left and right channels
- Built-in MM/MC RIAA amplifier
- Direct function with reduced gain
- ALPS RK-series motorized volume control
- Remote control
- Classic A1 design with large heat sinks
25 watts do not tell the whole story
What we find makes the Musical Fidelity A1 interesting is the way the power is delivered. The amplifier operates in class A and delivers 25 watts per channel into 8 ohms, with a specified maximum output current of 25 A. Musical Fidelity describes the design as dynamic class A: If the current demand briefly exceeds the range in which the amplifier can remain in pure class A, the circuit can deliver the extra current according to a class B-like principle.
This means that the A1 should not be judged by its wattage alone. It is first and foremost designed to deliver coherent, natural, and dynamic music reproduction at the listening levels where most people actually listen.
The classic design has been given a modern power supply
Musical Fidelity has preserved much of the original circuit philosophy, but the power supply has been updated. The previous transformer architecture has been replaced by dual-mono split-rail windings, and the left and right power stages each have their own separate power supply.
At the same time, the current capacity to the power stages has been increased, while ripple, transformer noise, and heat generation have been reduced through the new design and newer components. The A1 is still a class A amplifier that gets warm, and the large heat sinks are therefore a necessary part of the design. At the same time, they help give the amplifier its distinctive A1 design.
More flexible than the original
The preamplifier section builds on the original low-noise design, but the modern A1 has gained a number of practical improvements. A Direct function makes it possible to bypass the gain stage before the volume control and reduces the overall amplification by approximately 10 dB.
This is especially useful with modern digital sources with high output levels or together with sensitive speakers, where you want a larger usable range on the volume knob. The original potentiometer has also been replaced by a motorized ALPS RK potentiometer, so the volume can be controlled from the included remote control.
Vinyl is still an important part of the A1
Musical Fidelity A1 has a built-in RIAA/phono amplifier for both MM and MC cartridges. The input stage is discreetly built with a focus on low noise, while a subsequent current-to-voltage stage provides further amplification and RIAA correction.
The MC input uses automatic impedance matching with 1 kohm as the nominal level and higher gain than the MM input. This makes the A1 interesting if vinyl is a central part of your setup, but you would like to avoid a separate RIAA amplifier. It also fits well with the philosophy behind the Musical Fidelity A1: A simple, musical integrated amplifier where the listening experience is valued more highly than impressive numbers on the specification sheet.
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FAQ
- BWBent W. H.Verificeret anmelderVurderet 5 ud af 5 stjerner1 måned sidenHimmelsk lydbillede
Ja den ser jo ikke ud ret meget … 2 knapper og 2 drejeknapper er alt hvad der på hele fronten .
Men det der er indeni … det er derimod ren og skær high-end … fuldstændig skidtfri lyd om du spiller ganske lavt eller lader den komme op og bestille noget.
Det er som at have orkestreret siddende lige foran dig .
Min A1’er er blevet parret med en 20+ år gammel Rega Planar 3 pladespiller og et sæt gamle Kef surround højttalere med en 10” aktiv sub og jeg må sige at der er virkelig kommet liv i de gamle sager
- NJNicholas J.Verificeret køberVurderet 5 ud af 5 stjerner1 år sidenFed forstærker
Fed forstærker
Hurtig levering
- JLJeppe l.Verificeret køberVurderet 5 ud af 5 stjerner1 år sidenBruger anmeldelse
Fremragende forstærker til meget rimelige penge. Den spiller yderst melodiøst og musikalsk engagerende, med en naturlig klang der ikke findes på mange forstærkere uanset pris.
