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General Asylum: REVIEW: Musical Fidelity A3 Integrated Amplifier (SS) by Joe Blow

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REVIEW: Musical Fidelity A3 Integrated Amplifier (SS)

63.78.179.4


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Model: A3
Category: Integrated Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price: $1195
Description: Dual Mono Integrated Amplifier
Manufacturer URL: Musical Fidelity
Model Picture: View

Review by Joe Blow ( A ) on August 29, 2002 at 15:11:09
IP Address: 63.78.179.4
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for the A3


I have owned three different "amplifiers" in my lifetime. My very first was a JC Penny (yes, JC Penny!) system that was a virtual trademark of the 70’s (low wattage receiver plus a BSR changer on the top in a faux wood grain cabinet). I received it for a Christmas gift when I was in the fifth grade. It lasted me through most of college, which was about the time CDs were starting to become mainstream. I replaced it near the end of my senior year with my first real stereo built around a Philips FA-80 integrated amplifier. The FA-80 was a hoot. It had 10 inputs (11 if you count the dedicated processor loop), switchable class A and A/B output stage, and a decent amount of "future proofing". Being from a time when Philips was trying to make inroads into hi-end in the states (and not the low end Wal-Mart brand it is today) this was a real amplifier with a huge power transformer, massive heat sinks and impressive power ratings. Not long after I bought this amplifier, the entire line was passed to the Marantz tag where I think it was renamed the PM-80. The nearest modern day equivalent is the PM-7000 (although similar in specification, feature wise the FA-80 leaves it in the dust) if you want to get a taste of what this amplifier was.

Well, fast-forward about 10 years when one Sunday morning not long ago, I wanted to listen to Prairie Home Companion. Power up the tuner and turn on the amp, sit down in my chair and start to eat breakfast. A few minutes elapsed before I realized there was no sound. Volume knob turned down? Didn’t I select the tuner? Kiddies playing with the tape loops maybe? I get up to investigate. The amp is as dead as a doorknocker. Power light is on, no other indicators. The relays didn’t click when inputs are selected. Not good. I open the hood, all the fuses are in tact but it behaves like a power supply problem, probably not worth the effort to repair given it’s age anyway. This had caught me by complete surprise. I expected to be buying new speakers or a CD player within a few years (both of which were also bought at the same time and are showing their age) but suddenly I needed a new amplifier.

I wrote down a list of must have features for a new amplifier. Sonically the features were (1) two channel only – this amp will do double duty in a modest home theater setup, but since it’s primary duty was music reproduction, I wanted quality spread over as few channels as possible. (2) the current system was a killer on vocals, that was something I wanted to retain, and (3) the old amplifier was very poor at low volumes in just about every way imaginable, but especially poor imaging and poor detail. Once the volume opened up past 9:00 though, it absolutely kicked butt (interestingly, reviews for the PM-7000 seem to indicate this trait has not been fixed which is why I did not rush out and buy it). The new amplifier should fix that problem but hopefully not kill performance at higher levels in the process.

I also sought six inputs (including a phono stage and two tape loops), the listening room is large and open so output power is important (50+ watts desired provided it had good dynamic power), and the wife wanted something simple to operate (although very flexible, the FA-80 was a bit daunting to operate with it’s many buttons, knobs, and operating modes). I also sought something simple electronically. I don’t want computer controls, flashy displays, or extra gimmicky circuitry to get in the way of things. What I wanted was an amplifier first and foremost.

The Musical Fidelity A3 seems to fit these criteria pretty well. It is short one tape loop but if I hook up my video stuff slightly differently it won’t be missed very badly. Rated for 85 watts into 8 ohms and 170 into four, it has ample power and appears to have the current reserve to provide excellent dynamics.

On the inside, the A3 is a dual mono design, meaning it is essentially two individual pre/power amps built into one chassis. It could be argued it’s not really two mono amplifiers though, as at the minimum the two channels still share the same volume pot and PCB (although it does appear the left and right channels are on opposite sides of the board). Nonetheless, the design philosophy is a good one. By preventing each channel from sharing components, cross talk is minimized and the sound stage should widen considerably. The dual mono design goes all the way back to the power supplies, where you’ll find two large toroidal transformers in the front of the unit, one for each channel, each with their own pair of filter capacitors (not sure of the brand or size). As with the volume control though, there is only one power plug.

Physical appearance was something I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to swallow in person. It is very industrial looking, with the trim literally bolted on with exposed Allen screws. Fortunately the photographs do not do this unit justice. In person the unit is very handsome and not offensive in the least, especially with the gold trim, which looks striking against the brushed aluminum faceplate. Speaking of faceplates, it’s very spartan and simple. The controls are uncomplicated with only the power button, volume control, a row of input selectors and the IR receiver for the remote. The remote controls volume up/down and source selection (no power). Curiously, one of the inputs is labeled SACD, suggesting MF may introduce such a player in the near future. This amplifier lacks basic tone and balance controls, but when I realized I never used them anyway it was not a concern. In this sense it exceeded my desires for keeping things basic and my wife’s desire for something easy to operate, a plus on both fronts.

Sonically the A3 just sings. One of the reviews I read called it "smooth". If I had to describe the sonics in one word, that would be it. Highs are beautifully extended without a hint of grain. I can now appreciate what people mean when they say something sounds liquid. I’ve literally heard cymbals run down the front of my speakers with amazing life like realism. Vocals are easily as good as they used to be (great goose bump potential here). Bass is authoritative and dynamic, easily handling the explosive bass drum hits in Telarc recordings played at loud levels. I detected a small mid base hump that stands out on male FM announcers voices but is not normally obtrusive. This is probably responsible for the "warm" or "tube like" label some people give this amp. Speaking of warm, a few degrees above room temperature is all this puppy gets. The A3 is real testament to what a well-designed, low biased class A/B amp can accomplish.

The A3 is also good at presenting information. Since I’ve had the A3 I’ve started to be able to discern digital recordings from analog, particularly digital vs analog mastered LPs. I can now appreciate what people mean when they say bad digital recordings lack involvement because I can hear that myself now. It’s not that I think digital recordings sound worse than they used to, it’s because analog recordings sound so much better now. Imaging is superb. I can literally sit 10 feet away and still hear stereo effects (I never could do that with my old amplifier – sounded mono at that distance). I’ve also heard for the first time how certain music (particularly live recordings) is layered front to back. My old Boston’s never sounded so good. Even FM sounds half way respectable though this amplifier. Best of all, it doesn't loose a thing when the volume is turned down.

So what’s not to like? Well, believe it or not, size was a bit of a shocker. It’s actually shorter than my tuner. In fact, it’s the squattest component I have. It apparently makes up for this by also being the deepest component I own. So deep, in fact, that it does not fit in my "rack". It protrudes out the font by about an inch and all the connections are scrunched in the back. I’m in the process of building a new rack with deeper shelves. This is a minor inconvenience but something to consider when purchasing (I didn’t).

The other thing I noticed when setting up the A3 is the binding posts. While of OK quality, they are arranged such that the bare wire slots are horizontal. Bare wire users (such as myself) will find this a pain. The terminals are just close enough together that strip length is critical. Just a fraction of an inch too long and you’ll short your output. You can wire them on the “insides” but it’s very difficult to do, and any rats nests that result are still a risk.

The phono stage on the A3 is indeed quite good, but for some reason, my Grado Prestige Red cartridge was a sonic disaster with it (see my review of the Audio Technica AT440ML for details). Furthermore, the phono stage is switchable between MM and MC but loading and gain are not published in the manual. MM loads are pretty standard, but who knows what you get in the MC position, and MCs are generally quite sensitive to this. It appears the switch only toggles the gain. Even my old FA-80 switched loads, and the difference between the switch positions was very obvious even with a MM cartridge. Not so on the A3.

Strangely, the volume control turned all the way down does not mute the sound. It is still clearly audible, albeit at a very low level. (if another A3 owner can chime in and tell me this is not normal, I’ll probably have it looked into).

There is no headphones output, and with only one tape loop (assuming it’s being used) it will be difficult/impossible to fit an outboard headphone amp.

There is a pre-out for bi-amping, but since it is not a loop, active bi-amping is not possible.

The power cord is a cheap 18 gage removeable variety normally reserved for pea seas. This is a real cop out for such a quality amplifier. I’m no believer in megabuck power cords but I do believe 18 gage is not enough for the A3. I suspect an upgrade to a 14 gage cable (even if still a computer grade cord) would have real benefits in this case.

Finally, (as I understand it) this a common problem among all amplifiers: The selected input is not completely isolated from other inputs. Switching from say the tuner input to the CD input (with the tuner on) the tuner is audible if the volume is turned up. This suggests to me that the grounds on deselected inputs are not switched out. The solution is of course to turn off sources you are not listening to.

The bottom line is I’m very happy with this amplifier. While it fails in some areas it does splendidly where it matters. This is easily as significant an upgrade as when I dumped my cheap plastic 80’s turntable for a modest Pro-ject 1.2. In that case I also learned there was a great deal I was missing out on.


Product Weakness: A bit deep. Binding post rotation. Possible phono stage/cartridge incompatabilities. Phono stage loading unspecified. Only one tape loop/no main-in (limits expandability). Volume control does not completely mute output. Included power cord.
Product Strengths: KISS to the max - this is an audio amplifier and nothing else but what it does it excels at: detail, imaging, smooth and dynamic with a light touch of warmth. Sound quality strengths do not diminish with volume. Apperance. Dual mono design. Good phono stage.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: A3
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Integrated
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Project 1.2 w/AT440ML, Philips CD50 CD Player, Philips FT-50 Tuner
Speakers: Boston Acoustics T 830-II
Cables/Interconnects: Pro-Link IC / Generic 16 Gage speaker
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Folk, Rock, Jazz, Classical
Room Comments/Treatments: Irregular shaped room, basically L shaped w/cathedral ceiling
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 Months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Panamax 1000+
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Musical Fidelity A3 Integrated Amplifier (SS) - Joe Blow 15:11:09 08/29/02 ( 2)