Musical Fidelity A1 Class A Integrated Amplifier Retro Review
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- Опубліковано 13 бер 2022
- This episode sees Michael Evans and David Price have a heated debate over Musical Fidelity's classic A1 integrated amplifier.
A full Class A design by tube legend Tim de Paravicini, in a striking nineteen eighties modernist case by Kenneth Grange - made possible by the vision of Antony Michaelson. What's not to like?
The guys agree that the sound is seriously special, although they're not convinced by its reliability record. That said, what Brit amp of that period was bulletproof?
Each episode of Mike and Dave's Hi-Fi Riff features their unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and/or wonderful hi-fi designs.
Mike has a huge wealth of knowledge from his hi-fi retail years, and David’s written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few tips along the way.
So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing - and do leave your comments below.
Don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!
The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.
To read David's paean of praise to this 'toppermost of the poppermost' eighties audio icon, click here;
zstereo.co.uk/2013/03/17/musi...
PS - David’s A1 was expertly refurbished by:
www.amprepairservices.com/mus...
![If you can't hear this then you're not an audiophile [See description for link to followup video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/48PxwspDvrE/mqdefault.jpg)
Got one now , Warm , transparent, and gutsy .
Capacitors changed , runs cooler now, but at least it will have constant reliability now.
Always Always loved this amp . Thanks guys 🙏
Thanks for this memory! I had an A1 way back in the day, driving some MC 4s and remember the built in George Foreman grill with a smile.
I replaced this with an A320 which we used till recently...
I loved this design, and indeed loved the Musical Fidelity designs of that time. There was a liquidity warmth and ease with the A1 that made it very special to my ears and im pretty sure Id still really enjoy it today. At the time I was not a Naim guy at all, but I am a new Naim convert.... but I'd argue Naim has changed in the last decade.
Thanks for this discussion, it was a joy to have some of those memories come flooding back.
I have never heard a Naim amplifier.
How would you describe their overall sound?
Thanks,
David
please to see and hear Mr Price in the flesh here after years of enjoying his work at Hifi World.
You are.a man of quality and distinction!
Had an A1 when they first came out - loved it. Great warm sound with Mission speakers - and really helped sweeten those early Philips CD players. Sadly it was stolen when my house was broken into in 1989. Still mourning the loss after 30 years!! A few years ago I bought an A1 Final Edition from a local dealer, which I believe was based on the B200
I nicked it , its still working fine :-)
@@patthewoodboy I’m sending the boys round!!!
I had 2 back in the day I even remember leaving my tea or coffer cup on the top to keep it warm , I used it to drive my Wharfedale 515 speakers :)
Excellent - yet another use for this fine piece of hi-fi equipment! Space heater, waffle toaster and now drinks warmer - there is no end to this amplifier's talents.
Legal disclaimer: Hi-Fi Riff does not endorse *any* of the above! It is rather good at playing music though, assuming you're not a Heavy Metalist...
That was a class act of an amp, my friend went that way I went with Quad, but we both had Mission speakers and Mission Turntables at the front
I love this little amp, i have one and mine is name British Fidelity A1 before they change for Musical. For me it's a iconic amp.
Afaik they were never named British Fidelity... first products they made, long before the A1 were already named Musical Fidelity. I'm not sure what exactly you have there.. Maybe some version for an export market like the US or Canada? Look at the rear of the amp it should say Musical Fidelity there..
Really enjoyed your relaxed review style guys. Having owned a small Technics SA100L receiver in the early 80's, running into Wharfdale Linton XP2, and then Monitor Audio R352 speakers, I was looking for an upgrade and went for a NAD amp from City HiFi Canterbury. After a couple of days using it at home I contacted the dealer saying I wasn't happy as the NAD gave me nothing more over the old Technics amp other than a higher output. They said to bring it back and try something else. They said I might like to try the new MF A1 which I did and it was a huge step up in sound quality. Loved it - but as you say it ran very hot... The selector switch would often slip rather than select a different source, so I had to turn the amp off and let it cool down, ( so the thermoplastic part of the switch could re-solidify!), Worked well with the sensitive speakers until one day a major transistor failure blew the bass cone of my R352 on one channel. Obtained s replacement driver and a friend repaired the MF A1 and also installed a micro cooling fan at one end of the box tube section that runs through the centre of the amp. The MF A1 is boxed up in my loft now, for the past 20 years. Since then my HiFi journey has encountered many eBay amps and speakers through Quad, Arcam, and Linn but I have gone back to Musical Fidelity, M6i and M6CD and am happy running them through a pair of PMC PB1i Speakers. Looking forward to more reviews guys - thanks again!
Thank you so much ! Subscribed love the story behind the retro review
Had an A1, for som years with LP 12 and ProAc minitower. Sweet system
Great sounding Amp but spent more time in the repair shop than my house
I owned one, replaced the volume pot twice because of overheat (the last potentiometer was an alpine $$), and eventually it kind of overheated for good - too dangerous to use without surveillance. Sigh ... it was nice while it worked.
Very enjoyable conversation, gents. Looking forward to some more!
Thank you. Mike's posting your cheque tomorrow.
@@Hi-FiRiff :) thanks very much!
I had one the buttons actually got stuck due to the heat
Hiya chaps. Thanks for an interesting chat.🤗😺
A resurrected Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amplifier was presented at the High End Munich show a few days ago! 🔥🥂👍
Not resurrected, reincarnated.
The controls are positioned slightly off to each other ,unlike the original where the Tape monitor switch is positioned perfectly between the Volume and Selector. Also I'm not a fan of the blue power indicator.
I've still got my A1, fully recapped with a new alps blue velvet volume pot and selector switch.. Running a pair of Musical fidelity reference 4 speakers.. Match made in audio heaven. Great video lads.
Did you get it done at Amplifier Repair Services? Mine got exactly that treatment, there. Sounds gorgeous, but oh for more power!
@@MrVinylista Hi David, I did the work myself, with due care. I also added a Burr Brown quad op amp on a Brown dog. I left the phono stage as is.. The reference 4's. Do you know anything about these speakers, simmilar to the reference 2's but with TPX bass/mid drivers.. I will put up a video soon. Thankyou. John 👍
Hi David, could you please review the MF A1 (2008) and compare it with the old A1?
I love the styling of this amp - much better looking that the MF B1. Why on earth did they not put it in a larger case to better control the temperature though? Pure madness! BTW I like the Rush album sleeves on the wall 🙂 👌🏻
I still have my Inca tech the Claymore still in my system to this day 👍
Great video Gentlemen.
Thank you.
I learned a lot.
I am putting this unit on my wish list.
Based on what you discussed, it seems like it makes sense to purchase the latest 2023 Musical Fidelity Reissue of this amplifier from my local audio dealer.
If I buy a store demo model, I'll save money too.
Thanks.
Keep up the great work together.
I really enjoyed watching your informative video.
let us know how you get on!
Enjoyed that and brings back the memories. I had one for about a year or so with Reference 2 speakers. No issues with it in that space of time. Like you said in the video, sounded lovely with some music but it really didn't rock, so I was glad to move onto an Exposure integrated.
Add a good quality sub woofer and it rocks!
I had one driving vandersteen 2CE, one of the best system combo I had, the sound was fast and alive with class A warmth
Great description. It's warm, sweet and animated sounding, very musical. Efficient speakers let this character really shine out.
@@Hi-FiRiff I recently read the review(HFW Nov 2008) on A1 (2008) edition by David and he concluded that the later version is far musically superior than the original A1
I remember you, David, when you were writing for HiFi World, was it? You put me on to Yamaha NS1000M speakers which I bought, second hand of course and ran with great pleasure for 10 years. Sadly I had to sell them when moving abroad. I don't think I will ever find anything as good again.
It looks like you have hit on an engaging format. I look forward to more videos.
Thanks Anthony, nice to hear from you. Glad that you approve of the format, Mike and I have been meaning to do this for many years! Early days yet, but we're finding our way...
I still have my NS-1000Ms and use them as my reference on a daily basis. In many respects they're still a fabulous speaker.
Combination integrated amp and hot plate...... Brilliant! You can listen to music while heating up your soup.
Thanks for this great review. I had one of these back in the day, bought new in about '88 I think, when I was earning again after graduating uni. I was auditioning it against the Exposure X which was rated better by the magazines at the time and was also more expensive (and of course therefore perceived better!!!!), but despite all evidence to the contrary I just thought it sounded it better. I sold it about 10 years ago when i upgraded to a Quad set up. I paired it to a pair of early '70s Kef Concertos which I inherited from my Dad's loft and which worked very well. I am in the process of rediscovering the joys of HiFi and wish i still had it. Would love to hear one again, but there are a few things i want to get first that I couldn't afford back then (Nait!!!)
Not heard one of these but intriguing enough to buy one off eBay 🤞it works ok.
I've had Naim active systems in the past and also still use an Ion Obelisk 3X-XPAC1 in my office with LS50's.
Looking forward to plugging it in and seeing what all the fuss is about 😁
I have on one of these and I love it
Got a A1-x [later model with the holes in the side] and A 100 They both have such a sweet sound. I put blocks of wood under the feet of the amps to get a bit more airflow to try to deal with the heat and don't run them in summer [I live in Australia] The speakers I use are Spendor A2'S and the amps drive them easily
I'm curently using a re-furbed A1 which remains a wondeful little amp. I also have an A100, awaiting its own re-furb, and I think that's in another league entirely. The A100 is the REAL giant killer...
The A100 was my dream upgrade at the time, but out of my budget. Maybe its time to search one of them down
Wow, I've got one of these and the prices sound like they've gone up.i need mine recapped,I remember seeing one on eBay recapped and modded for about £100, nearly bought it as it seemed more convenient than finding someone to work on mine.
Super little amp which I paired with Epos 14's and a RP3 - sublime. Only bettered by the Pre 3A and MA50's which I had for many years.
Look guys, I bought this from new in 1985, the original Mk. I version with split heating lids. And I played with this for many years, with short inbetweens from BOW and other MF's and others. Well, in fact many I suppose. They all went out the door again. I even went on vacation for 8 days in France, while I forgot to turn off my A1. Came home and saw it was on, and pretty hot in my living room. But sounded great straight away. But Basically I used mine since 1985 until 5 years ago - 2018. Never broke down, never scratched from the pot or other buttons because of the special way these are implemented. I took it out just this afternoon, and I heated it up a few times for short periods, and then connected it. Voila! Music in my ears. I've just listened to a big Naim 3 box setup, and sorry, while that does things, I prefer the music (and hiss) from my A1 on to my modded B&W 802s3 with Tara Labs The one/Air 1 cables. I don't listed to acid, heavy and the like. Never. But many other types of music.
Since 2018, I have played on a modded Copland CSA-14, which I will now mod heavily with a friends help.
I have changed the heattransfer paste two times and made sure it was also on the edge between the top top halves.
I NEVER had ANY reliability with my A1 from new till' now. And it still sounds good.
Kind regards.
ps: I DON'T like Naim, more so the new triple box series and that nasty little digitally sounding Naim Uniti Nova (funny volume though). Yuck! Same goes for Mark Levinson, McIntosh and some of Accuphase's models. I won't even talk about ordinary brands, as they are out of the question. Remember the Denon POA 6600 monoblocks? Crap sound and crap reliability.
You were fortunate. I bought mine in 1986 and it started to have problems after about 5 years - volume imbalance and issues with the input selector switch. Loved the sound, though. It was a two or three steps above the (admittedly cheaper) Arcam Alpha and Rotel RA820BX, in terms of sound quality and looks. Bought it with a SEE Revolver/Revolver Arm/Goldring 1020 and Monitor Audio R252's. I still have it but it's on top of a cupboard, gathering dust. Think I'll send it to ARS for a service, as even at £200, it's still a bargain, compared to the new one!
i bought my so long ago it said British Fidelity on the front.
Ace amp. Bought mine on ebay having heard one in a local vinyl music shop. Shop owner wouldn't part with his. Mine needs a service but can't bear to take it out of use! Other amp is home built RH84 single ended pentode making about 4 watts. Power isn't everything...
Nice review guys.
I'm currently trialing the new A1 at home . I have to say I'm impressed. It drives my Proac D2Rs in my large room nicely thank you very much. though, of course, not to party levels. I heard it also with a pair of MF LS3/5a and I was impressed too, in a relatively small room. Make sure you try the DIRECT option if and when it gets in your hands. I'll be trying bi-amping it with my MF M6sPRX both of them driven by my M8sPRE driving my Proacs and RELs. All in all it sounds like a decent modern not too valvey valve amp while at the same time (surprisingly?) retaining the MF house sound I'm used to. Last thing, it does sound much better than the original, to the extend that I can recall.
I got a b1. Got it off ebay. Works well. No trouble. Not sure if its been upgraded. Sounds good. Good soundstage but lacking in detail. Got a pair of original mc2 speakers. Not the later ones that you showed or mk 2s. Which were crap. When i bought them there wasn't much that could beat them. They sound as good today as my floor standing q acoustics . With less bass. I met that guy from musical fidelity. He was driving an m series BMW which i honestly didn't know what it was. My mate worked for him organising overseas sales i think. He also worked for Roksan, pink triangle and tube technology. Had some cool stuff.
I had an A100. Great thing.
The A100 was an A1 on steroids, with two slightly noisy Papst fans that weren't quite up to the job of keeping the amp cool either - at least when they got old! Another great, quirky eighties jewel, though!
It was linked to a manticore mantra , good tt but the suspension went wonky so I gave it away , arm was an rega rb 300 with denon dl 110 , great sound but a total nightmare to use …
I had an A1. It produced a nice warm and beguiling sound, but it died on me, I suspect through overheating.
👍
Noyce! 👌
A long time after announcing their intentions for a new A1, MF are currently displaying the reincarnation of the A1 at Munich High End 2023. They are marketing their new A1 and their new LS3/5a copycat speakers as a match made in heaven, something I have my doubts about but maybe this new amp does not absolutely need very efficient speakers.
Anodized aluminum isn't very safe for cooking. I suggest a ceramic coating and using a low heat oil below 10 watts and a coconut/avocado blend over 20 watts.
Good point. Maybe I should get my top heatsink coated with DuPont Teflon?
@@Hi-FiRiff Sorry, Teflon was banned years ago... try granulated diamonds!
A very interesting review chaps! Might a Sugden A21 be a better used buy though?
It depends! The A21 was a cleaner, more neutral sounding device. Lovely, but not quite so charismatic. We'll do a Sugden review sometime. I had an IA4 for years, and loved it.
Can we please have a video featuring your listening rooms/ reference systems? Thanks!
Yes, good point. Among the many things we want to do, is a feature on our own systems. And we're both running more than one...
@@MrVinylista lots of detail please. No five minute videos!
Hi has anyone of you heard any Richard Allan speakers? And if you did what model and what did you think of them? Cheers Peter
I have 2 A1
So it's you who's responsible for global warming!
I won't tell Greta if you don't...
Is that Moving Pictures and Farewell To Kings in the back ground ?
It most certainly is 😁🍻
@@michaelevans7015 Its funny as back in the day that was what I was mostly playing when using that amp
Moving Pictures is surely the best Rush album. Your starter for ten...
@@ClickSpringReview I bet it sounded great... MP can be quite a bright album on some systems, it always sounded very dynamic with my Naim Nait, but also a little ear splitting... the A1 would have taken off the harsh edges, no doubt, and left the musicality.
I'll get David to set it up with the Cambridge speakers and a Linn Lp12 and see what it sounds like. 👍🍻
Can I ask what amplifiers you guys use at home for everyday listening please?
Hi Adrian, I'm a big exposure fan and have a full active system comprising 3x "4's", a "5" 3x "9's" and a "14".
David has some very esoteric sony amps from the turn of the last century! 😂
Mike
@@mikeyevs Sony TA-E86B preamp, Sony TA-N86B power amp, both from 1978.
I think in a weird kind of way? It’s a sexy looking piece of hifi equipment, like an Astra GTE mk 1 kind of comparison ? the shades of blue are just lush on the detailing and manufacturers descriptions. I’ve heard Sugden and it’s mint! MF are rereleasing this unit at half the price of a 21A an absolute masterstroke competitively if you ask me if it can compete sonically. They’ll😢 sell like hot cakes pardon the pun.
I had the mono's MA50's and remember getting rid of them for a pair of 2nd Audio's, which were a step up well sort of. I also remember having one of Nelson Pass's class A solid state amps which took forever and a day to come up to temp ALEPH.. I've just got rid of my Tannoy WMR's and wish I'd heard the FIdelity amps on these speakers..I'm sure they would have sounded amazing!!!
My Musical Fidelity A1 Class A Integrated Amplifier has a Chrome Front, unlike the others I’ve seen with a Black Front are these Chrome Front Amplifiers rare?
Yes, you have a limited edition!
The sought after unit would the A1 Final Edition with the external power supply
Would a Musical Fidelity A1 be a good match for my Elac BS312 speakers?
@mrvinylista
I always wondered how the later higher powered ersions compared to it.
The A100 was the closest in sound, being basically an A1 with a bigger power supply and two Papst cooling fans struggling to keep things useable.
The really big MF amps had a slightly drier, more Sugden-like sound - and lots more power. All were lovely in their ways. The A1 for me though is the iconic, purist design from this era.
The SA 470 is a major contribution to global warming.
Nice amp, indeed. Like Cinderella compared to the Kelvin Labs Class A ugly stepsister's looks.
Nice but I bet my trio ka-8100 will easily wipe the floor with it.