Musical Fidelity brings back the iconic A1 integrated amplifier.
Almost forty years after the release of its legendary A1 integrated amplifier (1985), Musical Fidelity offers a new version with updated components and a sound faithful to the original one.
Showcased for the first time at the High-End Munich Show 2023, the Musical Fidelity A1 builds on the original circuits with modern improvements and superior components to fix heat problems of the old generation.
The most appreciated and loved product among musical fidelity brand lovers and not only, as maintained the appearance and the original vintage look, loved for its warm and almost tube sound.
Pure Class A operation, which offers 25 watts @ 8ohms and MM/MC phono stage that Musical Fidelity says they have put a lot of thought into (talking about higher gain with MC cartridges than the original A1), but there are further improvements made to this new version, including an updated transformer for more efficient “dual mono split rail” windings and an upgraded and high quality ALPS RK series potentiometer for volume control. All transistors, including output devices, have been carefully selected from modern equivalents, while polypropylene (PP) capacitors have been used in the signal path.
Musical Fidelity says that particular care and attention were made to not change any component specification from its original, but to update them to modern equivalents with a long lifespan. The circuit layout is also said to follow the original faithfully. Also phono stage and preamplifier layout have been improved for less noise and hum.
General Information :
Amplifier
• Discrete symmetrical topology for uniqueb sound and dynamics
• 25W Pure Class A power @ 8 Ohm
• Planar Audio transistors with 25A maximum output
• Dynamic class A, if class A standing current is exceeded, it will automatically allow more. It therefore “slides” (NOT “switches”) smoothly into class B style operation, tem-
porarily allowing the further current draw needed
• Output stage therefore drives difficult speakers with no problems
Power Supply
• Updated transformer from shared (1988 original) to more efficient “dual mono split rail” windings
• Fully independent left and right power supplies for better power handling and stereo imaging
• Each power amplifier now has double supply capacity resulting in reduced ripple and noise and improved performance
• Transformer noise and heat dissipation reduced due to better efficiency and updated components
• Filtered main supplies for better regulation and reduced switch on surge
Preamplifier
• Gain block before volume control totally by passable using “direct” switch (-10dB)
• High quality and updated ALPS RK series potentiometer as volume control
• Low noise TL071 JFET preamplifier circuitry, same as original (1988) design
• Fully smoothed and regulated supplies for lowest noise possible
Phono stage
• Discrete current-mode input stage for lowest noise amplification of MC as well as MM cartridges
• Low noise current to voltage converter for further amplification and RIAA equalisation
• Automatic input impedance matching (1K nominal) for MC selected along with with increased gain
Features
• Original (1988) A1 appearance and circuits with modern improvements
• Remote control added for volume control
• Modern updated low noise components
The A1 is available for an MSRP of 1.599€ (incl. VAT).
Available at Musical Fidelity dealers from June 2023.
