Rug Doc
pfm Member
I’ve always had class A/B amps, and then moved onto a Yamaha B-2 which runs V-fets… don’t think these are class A, but again class A/B, so a weird one, those with better electronics knowledge can explain more if they wish, but I have never had a Class A amp, and when the Musical Fidelity A1000 popped up on the forums with one owner and in mint condition re one small fault on one channel I thought I must give it a go…
The A1000 was an amp I lusted after years ago, thought it was fabulous looking in gloss black, but had never heard one. This one is now 26 years old and really does look like it rolled off the production line last week - I’m chuffed.
And the sound?! Amazing….
I’m using Impulse horns (Taus, not quite H2’s but their successors, very similar) and these speakers are now singing and sound so fabulous I’m revisiting everything in my collection and hearing stuff I hadn’t heard before.. well, not hearing new sounds, but realising that bass notes are in fact three, rather than one, picking up on stuff I hadn’t noticed before..
The power of this thing, (and I’m guessing other Class A amps,) is really impressive… absolutely no worries about it not going to the volume I like to listen at, and when it gets there it’s completely effortless.. like a V8 on the motorway cruising at 70. in fact it loves to play loud, it has such awesome control, I can just visualise the mosfets laughing at the signal they’re being asked to amplify and just throw it back out, the speakers are doing exactly what they’re told.
A couple of other insights… The detail retrieval is incredible, guitar strings are plucked, piano keys are pressed with different pressures- all very easy to hear, detail in electronica is amazing, the placement of sounds on the soundstage is pin point and rock solid. The detail and resolution is outstanding.
The depth of soundstage has improved massively too.. you can easily hear where the engineer wanted instruments to locate, and with a vocal it’s hanging 4ft in front of the speakers, I had the XX playing in my lounge earlier, I had goosebumps.
I could go on.. The highs, cymbals and even more so in electronic music are soooo clear, I have never heard a tweeter move so fast… I must try this A1000 on the Ns1000x I have, I bet they’ll love it.
Oh and yes it does get very hot.. slightly concerning at first, but it’s designed to do what it does, and heat is all part of it - the harder you drive it, the cooler it gets, so it’s better to have it playing rather than sitting idle..
Sorry to rant, I’m so delighted and just wanted to say to those that haven’t tried Class A, please do, it’s a little bit of magic.
The A1000 was an amp I lusted after years ago, thought it was fabulous looking in gloss black, but had never heard one. This one is now 26 years old and really does look like it rolled off the production line last week - I’m chuffed.
And the sound?! Amazing….
I’m using Impulse horns (Taus, not quite H2’s but their successors, very similar) and these speakers are now singing and sound so fabulous I’m revisiting everything in my collection and hearing stuff I hadn’t heard before.. well, not hearing new sounds, but realising that bass notes are in fact three, rather than one, picking up on stuff I hadn’t noticed before..
The power of this thing, (and I’m guessing other Class A amps,) is really impressive… absolutely no worries about it not going to the volume I like to listen at, and when it gets there it’s completely effortless.. like a V8 on the motorway cruising at 70. in fact it loves to play loud, it has such awesome control, I can just visualise the mosfets laughing at the signal they’re being asked to amplify and just throw it back out, the speakers are doing exactly what they’re told.
A couple of other insights… The detail retrieval is incredible, guitar strings are plucked, piano keys are pressed with different pressures- all very easy to hear, detail in electronica is amazing, the placement of sounds on the soundstage is pin point and rock solid. The detail and resolution is outstanding.
The depth of soundstage has improved massively too.. you can easily hear where the engineer wanted instruments to locate, and with a vocal it’s hanging 4ft in front of the speakers, I had the XX playing in my lounge earlier, I had goosebumps.
I could go on.. The highs, cymbals and even more so in electronic music are soooo clear, I have never heard a tweeter move so fast… I must try this A1000 on the Ns1000x I have, I bet they’ll love it.
Oh and yes it does get very hot.. slightly concerning at first, but it’s designed to do what it does, and heat is all part of it - the harder you drive it, the cooler it gets, so it’s better to have it playing rather than sitting idle..
Sorry to rant, I’m so delighted and just wanted to say to those that haven’t tried Class A, please do, it’s a little bit of magic.
