Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amplifier; a classic with a modern touch

Musical Fidelity has officially announced that the long-awaited successor to its classic 80s A1 integrated amplifier is now available.

The original A1 helped establish Musical Fidelity as a well-known brand. It was a budget amplifier in the 80s; the new A1 goes on sale for 1599 euros, so the situation has changed. The first new A1 amplifier was shown at High End Munich 2023 in May.

The electronic structure and connections of the new A1 remain faithful to the original, using a completely separate and symmetrical, pure Class A technology. The low-noise preamp circuit is the same as the original, with only a few modern features to bring it up to date. This also includes the ”Direct” setting, which allows the user to bypass the preamp stage before the signal reaches the volume control and applies about 10 dB less gain – making the device perfect for modern high-performance programs and devices. The power supply has also been updated for each channel.

Visually, the new A1 is identical in design to its predecessor, but it now comes in a slightly larger enclosure to cope with the heat generated by the A-class confirmation.

The original device was known for its ability to heat up quite a bit; the new casing helps to distribute the heat better and thus complies with current regulations. A convenient remote control, only for adjusting the volume, is also a new addition.

As for power output, the A1 produces 25W at an 8 ohm load – quite a bit compared to most modern amplifiers. However, the A1 can also switch to Class B at times when additional current is needed.

The new Musical Fidelity A1 amplifier is now available at a price of 1599 euros, in black finish.

musicalfidelity.com