Musical Fidelity A1 Integrated Amp Availability

Availability and pricing of Musical Fidelity's 2023 spin of its 80s classic A1 integrated amplifier has been officially announced.
Musical Fidelity has the original A1 to thank for helping the brand establish itself in the 1980s when it was generally considered a budget-friendly prospect.
We caught sight of the new A1 amplifier at High End Munich 2023 earlier this year as it drew the crowds despite there being plenty of other new offerings to see - newstalgia in action.
Under the hood of the new A1, you will find completely discrete, fully symmetrical pure Class A technology as in the original, as is the low-noise pre-amp circuit, aside from a few modern touches to bring it more up-to-date. For instance, you are now offered a 'Direct' control, which enables you to bypass the gain stage before audio reaches the volume control and applies roughly 10dB less gain at 32dB – perfect for more modern, high-gain sources and devices. There is also now a handy volume remote control, too!
The power stage features 25A Planar Audio transistors, and both channels now benefit from updated dedicated power supplies.
The A1 promises 25W of power in an 8-ohm load which may raise eyebrows from those used to more contemporary fare. However, the A1 can also go into Class B operation for moments where extra current draw is required.
The original A1 had quite the reputation for getting warm, so while the new model matches its predecessor aesthetically, it does sport a slightly bigger case (440 x 68.3 x 283.3mm (W x H x D)) to deal with the amount of heat that the pure Class A amplification generates.
Around the rear, the new A1 features five RCA stereo inputs, fixed-level and variable outputs, and an onboard phono stage that welcomes both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges.
The new Musical Fidelity A1 amplifier is available to order now for £1,499/ €1,599. We currently have a review sample of the new unit lined up, so stay tuned for our official ears-on impressions of the A1.
Visit Musical Fidelity for more information

Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Hi-Fi
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