MUSICAL FIDELITY A1 - Class A Integrated Amplifier

Musical Fidelity A1: the return of a Hi-Fi legend

First released in 1985, the Musical Fidelity A1 quickly established itself as an absolute reference in integrated amplification: capable of driving some of the most demanding speakers of its era, despite a modest power rating on paper. Everything is done in pure Class A, with a fully discrete symmetrical circuit topology and excellent quality components. The A1 showed the Hi-Fi world that an amplifier is about more than its rated power. Thanks to its huge success, it has gone through multiple reissues over the decades. For the first time since its initial release, this version faithfully retains the specifications, appearance and circuits of the 1985 original, while benefiting from an updated transformer, modernized power supplies and low-noise components.

The listening experience

The A1 has one secret, as simple as it is effective: it makes music. The sound is sweet and fluid, creating a natural atmosphere around instruments, particularly in small to mid-sized rooms paired with a good two-way speaker. It's not a powerhouse, but music lovers will cherish its qualities: warmth, fullness, a complete absence of harshness or grain, while staying clean right up to full power. Despite its modest power rating, it drives notoriously difficult speakers with ease thanks to its dynamic Class A operation, which "slides" smoothly into Class B mode when current demand exceeds the bias threshold, never switching abruptly.

Key features

• Fully discrete symmetrical topology, pure Class A
• 25W per channel into 8Ω, maximum output current 25A
• Dynamic Class A: slides smoothly into Class B operation under high current demand
• "Dual mono split rail" transformer, fully independent left/right power supplies
• Discrete MM/MC phono stage, automatic impedance matching for MC
• Motorized ALPS RK volume potentiometer, remote control included
• "Direct" switch to bypass the gain block before the volume control (-10dB)
• Polypropylene capacitors in the signal path, low-noise metal film resistors
• Heatsink built into the top cover, faithful to the original 1985 aesthetic

Highlights

• Faithful reissue of a Hi-Fi classic, widely praised by the international press
• Named Stereonet Product of the Year 2024
• Unanimously praised value: rivals amplifiers 3 to 5 times its price
• High-quality built-in MM/MC phono stage, ideal for vinyl lovers
• Iconic design unchanged since 1985, with exposed heatsink

• Type: integrated amplifier, pure Class A
• Power: 25W per channel into 8Ω
• Voltage: 42.5V peak to peak
• Current: 25A peak to peak
• Damping factor: 150
• Gain (volume max): 32dB (Direct mode), 42dB (Normal mode)
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 82dB
• Channel separation: 85dB
• Frequency response: +0/-1dB, 10Hz to 40kHz
• Line level sensitivity: 300mV rms nominal, 8V rms max
• Line inputs impedance: 25kΩ
• Tape Out impedance: 220Ω / Pre Out impedance: 100Ω
• MM phono: 5mV sensitivity, 100pF/50kΩ, 40dB gain, 75dB S/N
• MC phono: 450μV sensitivity, 1kΩ, 60dB gain, 70dB S/N
• Inputs: 1 phono RCA MM/MC, 5 line RCA
• Outputs: 1 fixed RCA Tape Out, 1 variable RCA Pre Out, 1 speaker output (4mm banana posts)
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 440 x 68.3 x 283.3mm
• Mains voltage: 230V/115V (internally set) or 100V optional
• Max consumption: 130W, 0W in standby (power switch OFF)
• Weight: 10.5kg