Retro for old men wanting to go back in time!?
It’s not the hardware folks, it is the factor time that goes the other direction.
It’s not the hardware folks, it is the factor time that goes the other direction.
That would be the flavor and not the troubles of history isn’t it!? Many don’t see newly built devices as history even when built fully identical to the classic version.
Anyway there is not much young blood in audio. The few times one meets young audiophiles are encouraging though. Retro audio really is bought mostly by the grey brigade that have the dinero to spend. “Bro that Naim costs as much as 4 Iphone 14’s!”
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British amplifier manufacturers have always been a legend in their own mind, the exaggerated sound quality only surpassed by a stunning lack of reliability and haute couture pricing
1600 Euros = $1717 before shipping/handling, etc…
https://darko.audio/2023/05/musical-fidelity-resurrects-the-a1-integrated-again/
Recommended reading for those considering a modification of this design:
https://www.markhennessy.co.uk/mf_a1/introduction.htm
I’m sure member jean-paul can always give us more advice/experience!
Best,
Anand.
https://darko.audio/2023/05/musical-fidelity-resurrects-the-a1-integrated-again/
Recommended reading for those considering a modification of this design:
https://www.markhennessy.co.uk/mf_a1/introduction.htm
I’m sure member jean-paul can always give us more advice/experience!
Best,
Anand.
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No that sums it up pretty well maybe with some details executed differently. Anyone that worked on these with the urge to improve the high failure rate and weird quirks like the noise got to deal with the same discoveries. I did see too many of these just like Proton, Luxman, Marantz SC80 and of course the Musical Fidelity X-Pre/X-10D devices. All loved by laymen/consumers (so all prone to failure) and all dogs to repair.
BTW the circuit is very good. If rebuilt in another casing with normal heat sinking, speaker protection and without the preamp this is an excellent design. I recall a Dutch member doing so. It is a combination of factors why they failed but heat buildup was the most weighing factor. Its looks and physical properties caused this too. It was a stove identifying as a beauty.
BTW the circuit is very good. If rebuilt in another casing with normal heat sinking, speaker protection and without the preamp this is an excellent design. I recall a Dutch member doing so. It is a combination of factors why they failed but heat buildup was the most weighing factor. Its looks and physical properties caused this too. It was a stove identifying as a beauty.
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I played with it in the sim and posted my files and thoughts.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/musical-fidelity-a1-bias-current.399764/post-7363075
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/musical-fidelity-a1-bias-current.399764/post-7363075
Other than the heat, I think so.
I was attempting to halve the bias AND make the outputs non-switching. But now the drivers switch and operate with much lower currents. But it could be worth a try, especially in the summer 🙂
I was attempting to halve the bias AND make the outputs non-switching. But now the drivers switch and operate with much lower currents. But it could be worth a try, especially in the summer 🙂
Hi Greetings from Indonesia,
this is my MF-A1.
the final transistor I use MJ2955/2N3055 and TR input BC556/546 & driver ON ML340G/350G
@R30/31 if 0.22R =1.5A run class-A 18W. @R30/31 if 0.47R run class-AB 20W.
PSU capacitance Multiplier
(Heatsink minimal 1kg per Channel Class-A)🥵🥵🥵🥵
Happy diy
this is my MF-A1.
the final transistor I use MJ2955/2N3055 and TR input BC556/546 & driver ON ML340G/350G
@R30/31 if 0.22R =1.5A run class-A 18W. @R30/31 if 0.47R run class-AB 20W.
PSU capacitance Multiplier
(Heatsink minimal 1kg per Channel Class-A)🥵🥵🥵🥵
Happy diy
Attachments
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We'll see what the future holds for the new A1 - the technical data are still not great, but I still own a current (Tawanese - Austrian - English) copy.
The most annoying (first) thing is the blue power led; and the larger lid (in terms of surface area) takes some getting used to compared to its predecessor.
I'm excited in every respect, but also prepared for any disappointment.
I will be happy to report on the details as soon as I have enough time to get to grips with the 2023 incarnation.
HBt.
The most annoying (first) thing is the blue power led; and the larger lid (in terms of surface area) takes some getting used to compared to its predecessor.
I'm excited in every respect, but also prepared for any disappointment.
I will be happy to report on the details as soon as I have enough time to get to grips with the 2023 incarnation.
HBt.
Hi, replacing that bleu LED is an easy job. Always calculate for 2.5 mA and 1.6..1.8V using green /amber/red LEDs. Red is an odd choice as it normally indicates an error/fault situation. For white you can use twice the value for the series resistor it has now for the blue LED when it is way too bright. Pink and purple versions emit blue light after a while.
Recent electronics almost always have very bright blue LEDs but not many seem to like them 🙂
Recent electronics almost always have very bright blue LEDs but not many seem to like them 🙂
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The madness of having to install super-bright blue LEDs everywhere borders on bodily harm.
I'm going to replace all three, starting with the PowerOn LED, because it's extremely annoying and also lights up the neighbor's living room ..!
Regarding the sound of the new infusion: perhaps a bit too much k2,k3,..., kn -> the spectrum should (I haven't checked this) decay nicely, and it does sound nice, but isn't that a bit too much of a good thing?
But the A1 is and remains a magician, Maria Callas sounds quite fresh (unusual for an almost 70 year old monoaural recording).
With your ear right next to the membrane of the loudspeaker, you won't hear any noise, but you will hear a clear mains hum. This is only disturbing if you are aware of it; at a distance of 13 cm you can't hear it.
I'm going to replace all three, starting with the PowerOn LED, because it's extremely annoying and also lights up the neighbor's living room ..!
Regarding the sound of the new infusion: perhaps a bit too much k2,k3,..., kn -> the spectrum should (I haven't checked this) decay nicely, and it does sound nice, but isn't that a bit too much of a good thing?
But the A1 is and remains a magician, Maria Callas sounds quite fresh (unusual for an almost 70 year old monoaural recording).
With your ear right next to the membrane of the loudspeaker, you won't hear any noise, but you will hear a clear mains hum. This is only disturbing if you are aware of it; at a distance of 13 cm you can't hear it.