The Musical Fidelity A1 is PURE 🔥

[@andrewbarton1538]

Real life matters, and as much as some people may have struggles with the distributor margin and the store margin, being able to go somewhere and listen is frankly priceless, as well as the knowledge from the folks in the industry

[@HaamRadio54]

CANADIA???? BRO WHAT?! LOLOL

[@karelseemonster]

Made popular by Australian PM visiting Canadia a few years ago.

[@HaamRadio54]

@@karelseemonster hahahahaha amazing 👏

[@Damarious25]

It's not Canada anymore, in the current political atmosphere... Maybe it'll be Canada again if there are changes made at the helm ;)

[@Ghibertiful]

Twice!

[@frankluba8747]

Is Canadia some weird union of Canada and America?

[@Kami84]

Canadia: “The secret state between Narnia and Canada. To get there, you must stand in an old cupboard and say sorry three times and then eat Maple Syrup and Turkish Delight and you will get teleported there.”

[@sarkanyp]

Yeah, I knew the A1 deserves one more video, high viewes were not happening by mistake, ppl are want to know more! I wanted to know more as - before my purchase - I was afraid of the possible loose bass or issues with heat but man... heat is also a feature on that lovely heatsink and the bass-punch is lovely on this unit! Love it! Nice content as alway Mr. @DarkoAudio!

[@smuconn]

"Real life matters," indeed, it does. Your enthusiasm for this amp is infectious.

[@albiepalbie5040]

I’ve had this amplifier for a year It’s brilliant

[@dollhausenx]

I bought this because I have tinnitus and was trying to find something that I could stand to listen to without that high end etch that has become pervasive. Everything in the reviews made the A1 sound like the ticket for me. I auditioned and was convinced at the store and took it home and it stayed. I sampled a bunch of speakers. I had no problems with power even with lower efficiency speakers though I'm not playing loud. I love the sound. I've said it before, it reminds me of the days when people came over to listen to records and not our systems. The A1 is not an audiophile's dream amp, that's for sure. It's for people that are more interested in the rhythmic drive of music. I have to say that the entire discussion about price is irrelevant. Those inflation calculations have a lot of error in them. So you spend a third of the video pointing out those errors. I get it as a value proposition economic lesson, but not sure what's the point in a review. Were there complaints about the price? Because I think it's a frickin' deal compared to a lot of the stuff out there. Or perhaps it says something about the cheap and meaningless nature of humans in general that we clutch our pearls and thrust our fists over whether someone is taking us to the cleaners. Ugh. By the way, I like the Todd Hido bass trap in the left corner.

[@AllboroLCD]

Learning the back story on this piece alone, tells you everything you need to know really. There was much thought and passion put into its design. BTW, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots one of my Flaming Lips faves! The surround mix is particularly worth a listen if you can get it ; )

[@keithposter5543]

It's a great album - stood out to me too

[@coffinlin9244]

Greetings from Taiwan 😂 especially just fixed an old A1 last year! I always enjoy your insight about electronic music. Way to go!

[@marktupper2375]

There are 3 models of A1, MK1 20w per channel, Mk2 25w per channel, MK3 basically a B1 amp in an A1 casing...I had a MK2 - 300 UK pounds and it sounded wonderful !

[@OzSteve]

Real life matters, but only in Canadia

[@LULAM50]

Between Chinia and Germania

[@jadutch7361]

Where is Canadia??? In Norway Switzerland??

[@alexandertimoschuk8470]

John Darko makes great audio commentary. I respect and trust his reviews. I bought the DW6s based on his use of ZU products. Entering the HiFi realm, I was quickly sucked down the rabbit hole so I convinced myself that I needed an amplifier to complement the new speakers. The A1 was at the top of my list. My uncertainty pushed me to the audiophonics Purifi monoblocks that were crammed with watts.

[@pennesalmone]

Of course I watch it tó the end…. (Almost) always :) captivating content, optimal length (would also listen for longer…) Dear John, you are partly to blame for me listening much more again to music and having HiFi back as a hobby in my life - and thus being a happier human being 😊

[@garys628]

Totally agree to that. ✌👍

[@marktupper2375]

I bought the original A1 in 1985 - 300 quid it sounded fantastic !

[@timjordheim6118]

We were living in Hereford, UK, in the late 80s/early 90s and I bought the original A1 - along with the Musical Fidelity MC-2 speakers - in Fall 1988. Loved that system and had it for many years after we returned to the states, including the transformer needed to use it on 110VAC.

[@gaza4543]

Top tip (well I think it is) for anybody running sensitive speakers with amps such as these with a lot of output gain. I found using a dac with an adjustable voltage output quite important, like that of the chord qutest. Mine is set to run at 1volt and I run all the digital into that, cd, streamer and so on. It allows my sugden a21 to run with much more control on the volume pot , it’s very strong, much like the a1. Brings it more inline with vinyl playback but it still a much stronger signal. Thought that might help folks a little.

[@JimmiJingle-o5m]

I’ve been to Canadia, specifically Thunder Bay, where I smoked pot with some friendly Canadiacs outside the Inntowner Tavern. Good times.

[@Dee.J.Mogfry]

The A1 is a great amp...my mate fixed and upgraded his one after blowing it up decades ago...and now they re-issued it...very good amp indeed....anything they bring back must be good and they know it....just like the original AE1 speaker....

[@mrkitewine7700]

I’m loving the Canadia stuff, almost as much as previous videos having American versions of kit being made from a different material (Aluminum) to what the rest of the world gets (Aluminium),

[@yerfdogjohnny]

Tip of the day. If you have a Roon Nucleus and it can be connected via Ethernet close to your DAC of choice, forget using a streamer and just connect your Nucleus to your DAC with a decent USB cable and you’re good to go using the Nucleus as both the Roon Core and streamer. In some cases less is more and hey one less component to buy and have in your cabinet. Enjoy! Ps: Nice review of the A1

[@feelgeorge]

Another excellent review. Can't wait for your KEF Q Concerto Meta Bookshelf Speakers review

[@chrisvand2678]

Real life matters, or nothing else matters.. Thanks for all you do, John! Cheers from Denmark.

[@KreggartheGreen]

Real Life Matters for Music First Audiophiles. Great video John.

[@Hairyderriere]

Would like one for nostalgic reasons, for sure.

[@dougcampbell2814]

Real Life Matters and...I agree with your assessment of fewer watts being disconcerting especially when we have been told by 'experts' for many years that bigger watts are better. I purchased a ten watt/channel Schitt Gjallarhorn to test with my Saga+ and Saga 2 preamps and it drives my 85db/6 ohm Peachtree Audio D5 speakers very well in a 14 x 20 fairly dead room. It is amazing, big sound and toned bass with a full sound. I'm tempted to buy a pair of the Zu DWX to hear with the Gjallarhorn. I'd love to hear the A1, I'll bet it is killer. Thanks for an informative and entertaining review. I enjoy your Patreon as well. 🎵

[@michaelrossmaessler200]

Watched it to the end. Interesting thoughts John.

[@Eyerex]

Thing i love is that it has a tape out for some of us who still like making tapes

[@rayagren]

Great analysis John. I watched all of the video

[@s.daniel9224]

I go through a lot of gear. One piece I’ll never replace is my A1. Holy shit! I do run different speakers, but for me, q acoustics 5020’s with the A1 is audio perfection.

[@markhershberger9477]

Real Life Matters indeed…informative and thought provoking points you make about all of the components which contribute to and/or dictate a price.

[@camhyde9701]

Canadia? Where's that at? I'll be in the bar.

[@JohnTheBrewer]

Real life matters. I especially like the pause at the end after you say "...spend too much time on the internet". ;-)

[@thebestoffools]

Cheers from Canadia. 😉

[@Madmart54]

Interesting comment about connecting the WiiM directly to the power amp sounding worse when you think it would be the opposite. People love to throw half baked theories into the mix, so I was wondering if it’s down to impedance matching. I know my valve preamp uses a low impedance cathode follower/buffer to offer a very low impedance to the power amp. I suspect something like a WiiM pro plus has a lot higher output impedance which a preamp input matches well but not so much the power amp. Also a higher impedance source into a power amplifier would mean the interconnect would possibly have more of an effect. I’ll hide in the corner now 🙂.

[@Krell666]

Interesting, I find the same thing with my PrimaLuna tube amp, 44 watts sounds bigger and more robust than my 250w NAD solid state amp. The specs just don't seem to correlate with what we hear at all.

[@bassandtrebleclef]

What speakers do you have with the PL? How much experimentation did you do with different speakers?

[@raymoore8435]

I too have a Prima Luna Evo 100 and it drives my KLH model 5’s fantastically.

[@ghanacinema]

Awesome!

[@crunchyweta]

Would the A1 drive a pair of Lintons? Thanks in afvance

[@mjlgamorcito]

It drives the klh_model_5 very well. With direct mode off I can't get past 30-35% volume before reaching 85 DB, with direct mode on, I rarely use more than 40%-45% before reaching 85 DB. I have never been able get close or 12 o'clock in either modes. It will be too loud. I assume Lintons will be similar and it will drive them with good ease since they are more efficient than the klh_model_5. My guess.

[@STUDIO1-FOTOFILMEVENT-cn5yw]

I have the same question

[@xaviborrell9078]

of course

[@gaza4543]

Try it, they present a somewhat tough load on paper with a 3ohm (there or there about’s) dip. But they do have a sensitivity of 90db. The a1 isn’t a single ended design I believe, and isn’t completely class A, sliding into B when needed. Hence I think the strong performance with the kefs in John’s reviews. A sugden a21 single ended design it is not where the load raises the less power you actually have. You really need to audition with an amp like this

[@jacquesracine9571]

Hello from Canadia.

[@the-mr-paul]

Real life matters. I heard the A1 at a show with the wharfedale lintons and and the musical fidelity ls3/5a. Fantastic stuff! Sat there for nearly an hour just enjoying the music.

[@johncorrigan7643]

Enjoyed the video, as I do with all the other videos.

[@stuartneil8682]

Hey, I rarely leave the house … wfh, carer, except to sing in a choir and visit the relatives, occasional work trips and the occasional concert (classical &pop/rock). I’m also on the internet, with a keyboard!

[@beefsflat7426]

Had the monoblock ma 50 versions years ago. Great class a sound plus good for frying an egg. Still have the big big brother of these the a370. A very high power very hot version of the ma50. RIP Tim de Paravaccini.

[@Elkemper]

The way John names Canada - is WIIILD!

[@ThePresleyelvis]

Hi John, most of the time a brand will set the RRP according to the expectations where it will sell. They wouldnt necessarily do a bottom up calculation. Maybe just in the very beginning when they evaluate the feasibility of building this product. Hence the new price might not be entirely explainable by referring to the original model's price.

[@FedericoScarazzini]

Real life matters! That said, here at Argentina, prices almost triple the Usa ones. So more valuable then, reviewers work. Thanks!

[@WireHedd]

Absolutely agree that real life matters. A spec sheet tells you nothing about the sound quality of a product and you will always get more from an in person listening than from any video review or demonstration on the internet.Great video, thanks John.

[@tigertiger1699]

🙏🙏🙏🙏 Always great vids.. A real pity it’s so hard to get a demo at dealers now days..

[@WhatEver-dx3eu]

Nice vid on the revival of a classic and putting things in perspective. On a different subject, were you trying to fry an egg in a glass bowl on the heatsink of the A1, at least, that's what it looks like @ 7:18 in the vid. It was a rumour that you could on the old one...

[@WhatEver-dx3eu]

Oops! Never mind! I should watch your vids in the right sequence!

[@danwheetman6914]

Good follow up. Thanks

[@marcus1970]

Real life matters and real bricks and mortar dealers matter.

[@johnpischedda6951]

Not for the Future -Fi , but one for the Retro - Fi , i can see this unit appealing to the nostalgic.

[@focalfan6324]

I’m Canadian and I approve the Canadia usage.

[@RickRolling-tc7vb]

If we did get off the internet and leave the house to use our ears to listen to some audio gear, would we still watch these videos? Of course we would, the two things are not exclusive, they're complimentary! Thanks again for your expertise and your informed opinion John, you make our lives richer.

[@judesterkyberneticka3598]

Thanks.

[@davidchingching167]

Remember going into a shop when the original had just come out and talking to a young man about them. He was just packing up the second one after it had expired. They look great but they'd want to have one hell of a good long warranty.

[@slapstra1970]

Canadia, love it!

[@bitterandjaded_]

I want one even though I’m well covered in the amp department for my Zu. Schiit Aegir or Gjallarhorn cover SS options, and I have tube amps as well. I might be a little sentimental where Musical Fidelity is concerned; my first “real” amp was an A300 integrated.

[@richardsaila8073]

Aluminum Canadia.

[@mandlanqadini3019]

Hi John Great video/review update. As a South African, this stunning Amp is way out of league but I do really enjoy the reviews as they're both entertaining and informative! Nice work as usual!

[@GeneBecs]

Real life matters to us Kiwis too 😂. Listened one of these when demoing a Pro-Ject turntable with a cadenza blue on it the other day, it packed a decent punch (and kept the room toasty). Hope to visit friends in Canadia at some point lol.

[@beachroadfilms]

"Canadia". No John, it's CANADA.

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

REAL LIFE MATTERS. Yes it does. For MF in my life, I’ve been looking at the Musical Fidelity streamer but the feedback I’ve seen about its operating system isn’t good. So I haven’t tried it. Glad to see this amp sounds good and is well made. Keep on rocking in the free world!

[@cerbarus3000]

The end. Testing for reverb

[@Montyzuma123]

REAL LIFE MATTERS - Not sure where Canadia is? Excellent insight and advice...again,

[@pimvanvliet2812]

Another thing that would add to the price is that in the 80's everyone had a stereo in their homes. Nowadays, not so much. i.e. there will be much less units sold than in the 80's

[@danielcramer9600]

Canadia!! Not once but twice. A Canadian is a inhabitant of Canada not Canadia. Otherwise excellent review.

[@danab7472]

I picked up the FiiO R7 after your review and love it. What say you about the R9? Upgrade time? Because then I could move the R7 to my bedside table and that’s life goals right there.

[@robertnelson3179]

Just an odd comment here enjoyed the material but you have me questioning my pronunciation of Canada now. I have known several from east side and western Canada and your way of saying it has me thinking about it.

[@royramos432]

Real life matters, yes sir, thanks John

[@ashwb1]

OK 7.20 mark - egg in a bowl on the amp?? testing the heat!

[@johnprice4819]

Real life matters, thanks again for another great review! Cheers

[@christopherviers8302]

Canadia...? Would that be a distant cousin of Canada...? Great review...!!!

[@IRON_PANDA]

I’ve been trying to tell my friends and co-workers, who have taken a slight interest in HiFi, to go to an actual store and demo stuff. The staff are usually very happy that you are there and they have been delighted, at least with me, to figure out with you, what kind of sound and gear you are after. To me it’s a no brainer, but to them it seems like an inconvenience at best and they just end up scrolling the ole internet trying to figure out what would be best for them on specs alone. Which is an utter shit way to “figure out” anything.

[@melvynbrown9948]

I've an 1987 A1 in a box under my bed. The original was hot enough to "keep your takeaway warm"...so its now a bit flaky to use, channel dropouts and the like. I don't know I'd trust the new one beyond 5 years use if its still an oven by another name, and besides my M3Si sounds so much better. And just to say MF200B balanced phones are superb sounding additions, sadly underrated.

[@ghitadr]

Canadia? Eh!!!

[@davediaz5127]

Listened till the end, but i had to laugh at Canadia, I'm in Washington just south in the states, ha ha ha. Love you man

[@lfrc2006]

That wood furniture when the hifi is in Lisbon, may I ask what brand it is?

[@Maurizzio_]

IKEA

[@conkerman01]

Not buying the original in the 80s is one of my very few HiFi regrets. I bought a technics amp as I was scared of the reliability of the MF. The technics was awful and broke constantly. Lesson learned. Those Zu speakers are magnificent.

[@piratecraig1]

"real life matters" nice looking unit

[@DrSinisster]

I can’t stand the Pre Amp with the Gain Circuit engaged. It is so lacking unless I really need some bump for Metal or Music where clarity, smoothness, and pleasant sound is less needed. I use it in Direct always. The gain is Brutal for me. I do Have 94db 6.5” Single Driver speakers from Omega Loudspeakers which is likely why I prefer it that way.

[@simonhebert7069]

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 KHANADIA 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@PaulFauteux-i7t]

Where the heck is Canadia?

[@zonofono]

In North Americia of course.

[@photobriangray]

Flova Scotia, Canadia’s #1 fix for hockey wife audiophiles. #supertroopers2 Famous for Mount Unit as listed on the back of the A1. Real Life.

[@ptbfrch]

Real life matters! I have a conundrum, trying to figure out if I should go for this A1, or a Sudden A21SE and spend more than twice the amount. I think this video helped me save some money, I like the idea of the A1 very much, and I play 90% vinyl.

[@sensational_cellar8606]

Maybe try an older A21a from the 90s. Much cheaper

[@garrycleak3055]

I’ve owned three incarnations of the A21 a in the past. Great little amps. Run 🔥 hot! And Take at least 1/2 of play from cold to really ‘ come on song’ as they say.. They’ve got SO expensive in Australia now, maybe cheaper if you’re in UK ..

[@hifi-photo-Brian]

testing 1,2, for reverb!

[@paulmarsh3375]

John John John …. What’s doing with your audio reverb.. did you mistakenly trade in the room acoustic treatment? Terrific part review on the A1 👍 Real Life Matters

[@geez-hd6dn]

The very early A1 sounded better than today’s A1. Europe didn’t like the huge heat dissipation of the early one. The top plate of the amp was it’s heat sink and you could fry an egg on it.

[@wolfgangpohlmann5952]

I got mine for 1299 Euros, so can’t complain about the price.

[@cartilagehead]

only Darko gets the blacked-out Wharfedales

[@TheLightAhead]

Real life matters. Of Course! John, your arguments to explain the significant price increase are not really convincing - apart from new features such as remote control, larger housing and better component quality. If you use the inflation calculator to determine the current purchasing power of an amount from 1985, the aspects that have an effect on today's price compared to 1985 are already factored in. And it's actually the other way around: consumer electronics (except better HiFi) are significantly cheaper today compared to 1985 - BECAUSE they are manufactured in Asia (including transport costs). In this sense, the price increase of 40% in addition(!) to the inflation rate since 1985 is a very big sip from the bottle. But ultimately that only reflects the fact that HiFi has become far(!) disproportionately more expensive in the past 15 years.

[@christopherbuck7679]

I mentioned it on my comment in the first review. I cannot understand why the new owners bothered with ‘reissuing’ a classic but with massive changes still calling it by the original name, and making it a bonkers price, it seems odd. Why not just just call it the A2 or not use the musical fidelity name at all, just like the British mini and now the bmw mini, having both cars over the years there is no comparison. You seem very happy about the amp and Zu speaker combo so sort of think that’s great praise.

[@baldF]

Yep, real life matters - of course though, some of us can’t identify real life when we find it.

[@brunohebert1351]

Real Life Matters for sure

[@beefsflat7426]

@Jon interesting analogy with dac direct to power amps vs via a pre-amp. I have the rme adi2 dac direct to active atc speakers and was consudering a pre-amp, but if the preamp section of the dac is actually well designed powerful preamp, then would another preamp just be adding more electronics and noise and/or just be adding its own sound signature to the system, and possibly make it either less 'good' a sound...or at best change the sound to a more preferable 'distortion' to some fols ears? As i'd need to drop quite a lot of money on a pre eg £5k on an atc pre and the rme is a very clean/high quality preamp as it is i'm wanting to ensure that the investment is worth it.

[@Larstig81]

I have a question. What is the brand of the hifi furniture with the chrome tubes and cream colour doors? I am looking for something better than I have (ikea) and planning to move somewhere else.

[@VISUALIZERSffm]

USM Haller

[@FunFiEmpire]

Cooking an egg on the amp? 7:18!??!

[@adamcanterbury]

Yep the end...even the blooper reel lol

[@trudimcleod5042]

I am not sure that shipping costs are much higher in 2024 compared to 1985, especially from SE Asia to Europe or North America. The end of the Cold War allowed for the implementation of GPS and shipping using much bigger containers which had made shipping a much smaller factor in the costs of final products. At the price that it is being sold, I would much rather have less features but higher power than 25 WPC. The Schiit Aegir power amplifier for example, costs about 40% less than the A1 while delivering the same power. The A1 is also not rated at 4 ohms.

[@bradlantto6481]

Real life matters when one can hear the reverb of the hallway

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🙋‍♂️ REAL LIFE MATTERS,🤗😁💚💚💚

[@johnhimes4468]

No one commented on the egg in the bowl on top of the amp?