Have we reached the saturation point with vintage gear revivals in 2023? Audiophiles lost their collective minds when Naim announced the BORN 50 at High-End Munich to celebrate their 50th Anniversary; the British manufacturer only made 1,973 units available and they were snatched up before the ink could dry on the media coverage.
Vintage Audio is back with a vengeance and we are perfectly fine with it as long as the products being revived actually had a huge following when they were initially introduced and it makes sense to bring them back. Does every loudspeaker made in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s deserve a refresh?
The Musical Fidelity A1 integrated Amplifier gets us very excited; it was first shown at High-End Munich 2023, and is a revival of the A1 amplifier first introduced in 1985. It also offers a very high quality MM/MC phono stage which should excite those who would prefer to use a low output MC with the amplifier.
With a recognizable industrial design, this new version of the A1 blends the vintage charm with contemporary technical excellence.
Staying true to the original A1’s legacy, this new generation model blends the original classic design with improvements to meet today’s needs.
Core Features
At its core, the A1 continues with the pure Class A 2-channel amplifier design of the original model that delivered 25 watts of power per channel for 8-ohm speaker loads and handles up to 25 Amps of maximum current output.
While the power output seems low by today’s standards, the A1 can still drive demanding speakers, as it can shift into Class B operation when needed. This provides a temporary extra current draw. If you have any questions in this regard, refer to Musical Fidelity Support.
Building on the foundation of the original 1980s model, the A1’s transformer design has been upgraded with more efficient dual-mono split-rail windings and premium components. This is designed to improve operational stability and heat management. The independent power supplies extend the power handling level for the left and right channels which also results in more accurate stereo imaging.
The preamp section continues the low noise operation as the original A1 but includes some modern touches.
- The front-panel DIRECT control allows users to bypass the Gain stage, reducing gain by approximately 10dB. This better suits modern high-gain source devices, providing a wider volume dial range for increased flexibility.
- The A1 also incorporates a new ALPS RK series motorized potentiometer for the volume dial, enhancing accuracy and reliability.
Specifications
Amplifier
- Power: 25 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms
- Voltage: 42.5 Volts peak to peak
- Current: 25 Amps peak to peak
- Damping Factor: 150
- Gain (volume max): 32dB (Direct Mode), 42dB (Normal Mode)
- Output devices: 2 per channel
- Signal/Noise ratio (SNR): 82dB
- Channel separation: 85dB
- Frequency response: + 0, –1dB, 10Hz to 40 kHz
- Line level sensitivity: 300mV rms nominal, 8V rms max
- Line level inputs impedance: 25k Ohms
- Tape Out impedance: 220 Ohms
- Pre-Out impedance: 100 Ohms
Phono Preamp
- Phono RIAA Response: +/- 1dB
- MM sensitivity: 5mV nominal
- MM capacitance/impedance/gain: 100pF / 50k Ohms / 40dB
- MM signal/noise ratio: 75dB
- MC sensitivity: 450μV nominal
- MC impedance/gain: 1k Ohm / 60dB
- MC signal/noise ratio: 70dB
Tip: MM stands for Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge while MC stands for Moving Coil Phono Cartridge.
Input / Outputs
- Phono (MM/MC): 1 x RCA
- Line Inputs: 5 x RCA
- Tape Out: 1 x line level RCA fixed
- Preamp Out: 1 x line level RCA variable
- Speaker Terminals: 1 x 4mm banana/binding posts
General Specifications
- Voltage: 230V/115V Internally set or 100V optional
- Max Power Consumption: 130W, 0W (standby with Power Switch OFF)
- Dimensions (WHD): 440 x 68.3 x 283.3 mm (17.3 x 2.69 x 11.15 inches)
- Weight: 10.5kg (23 lbs)
Pricing and Availability
The Musical Fidelity A1 sells for £1499 / €1599 / $1699 through distribution partner Henley Audio.
