Musical Fidelity A3CR Comparison

madmax

This is a comparison of the Musical Fidelity A3CR Pre-Amplifier and the Audible Illusions Modulus 3a preamplifier.

My standard system is shown in my sig. I will give a source by source comparison between the Audible Illusions Modulus 3a and the A3CR preamplifier.


CD System:

The AI vs MF is pretty much a wash. There may be slight differences with an A-B comparison but neither is better than the other and both are very close in sonics. I could live equally well with either one.


Vinyl System with external phono preamp:

The AI is far superior when using the external phono preamp. The MF, while it sounds good has no life to it. I find myself staring at the wall with blank thoughts. It just has no magic whatsoever with this source. It sounds as if the phono source is very poor.


Vinyl System using MF internal phono preamp:

The internal phono preamp sounds much better with the MF than the external one does. I still find myself staring at the wall with blank thoughts but at least it does not sound like I have a very poor phono source. It is a step down from the CD system.


XM Radio:

The AI with the XM radio sounds thin, weak, almost sickly. There is no body to the music and it sounds as if the source is very poor. The bass and treble are bloated and noisy with little or no impact. The MF is full of life with this source. It is strong and very well detailed. The XM sounds very close to the CD system with a slight coloration on the midrange and slightly less detail.



Conclusion:

The MF and AI preamps react quite differently with different sources. This is obviously a match vs mismatch of output and input stages. The best example of this is the XM radio performance. With the AI it sucks but with the MF it really shines. Another example is the internal preamp vs external preamp. The external preamp should blow away the MF internal preamp but it doesn’t. I feel the actual quality of the MF is proven with the CD system and the XM radio. After listening to XM through the MF it isn’t going anywhere soon!

madmax

Spawndn72

Dang it! From the way your post started I thought that unit was going back to the flea market, I wanted a shot it.

steveinaz

So Max, does the A3CR sound different form any other SS pre you've heard?

Many say the A3CR "colors" the music, and tubes don't? The A3CR breaths life into the source, call it coloring if you want, color me in love. The A3CR is one of those rare pieces that if you like it, you like it so much you don't really care what anyone else thinks...

madmax

steveinaz wrote:

So Max, does the A3CR sound different form any other SS pre you've heard?

Many say the A3CR "colors" the music, and tubes don't? The A3CR breaths life into the source, call it coloring if you want, color me in love. The A3CR is one of those rare pieces that if you like it, you like it so much you don't really care what anyone else thinks...

The only SS preamps I can comment on is a Soundcraftsmen (MSRP $750) and Carver XX-17 (XX because I can't remember the letters, MSRP around $800??) and neither one is in the same class (or even close) as the MF or AI.

Coloration? I guess I could say the "slight" differences I heard on CD may be coloration. It can be heard but is neither good nor bad in my opinion.

As for breathing life into the source, I would say that is the case with the XM. If your source gels with the preamp that is what you get. If it doesn't, you end up with the sound my phono stage presents with the MF -or- the XM with the AI. DEAD, LIFELESS, ANNOYING, STERILE, NON-EMOTIONAL, POOR CONTROL OF THE SIGNAL, ETC...

Great preamp for sure, just different than the AI. Better for some sources and worse for others.



NOW, steveinaz, lets talk about this XM thing. You have this preamp and if you don't have the polk XRt-12 you must get it. I say this mostly because of the way the XRt-12 reacts with this preamp. You just don't find this sort of a match too often. It is so good I'm going to dedicate the MF strictly for XM use. It's that good of a combo.

madmax


Edit: I see you do have the XRt-12 in your sig. Good man! Any comments as to how the XRt-12 sounds in your system as compared to other sources?

steveinaz

XM compares well with CD in impact, drive, dynamics etc. I still don't care much for the high-end roll-off and a tad muddy midrange of XM, of course some stations sound wonderful. As you know, XM is all over the place with sound quality, depending on which station you're listening to. 20, 22, 71, sound great. 46 unfortunately not so great (classic rock).

I've tried the XRt thru my Benchmark DAC and on it's own. It's sort of a double-edged sword scenario. The Benchmark does take XM to a better level, but also enhances "weaknesses" as well. I've decided I like the XRt running standalone as the inferior DAC's help to hide the deficiencies.

madmax

I have an old DAC laying around. Maybe I'll try that for the fun of it.

I was just thinking this MF deal is sort of ironic. I buy this thing for my phono and find out that is the worst source for it. So, I find XM works out great with it (do you know whats coming next??) but the "tuner" input has problems. No biggie, just thought it was funny.
madmax

madmax

I tried my old DAC, an Audioalchemy V1.0. It sounds exactly the same as the built in XM DAC except the output is slightly louder. Changing back and forth while adjusting volume yields absolutely zero sound change with the RF connection. I also hooked up the toslink connection. The toslink changes the cymbals a bit. Causes a little less decay time. Not as good. I'm surprised the two DACs sound the same. I figured one would probably sound different than the other. I may make up a DC battery supply for the AA DAC and see if that changes anything.
madmax

jdhdiggs

Chuck, did you try the same inputs for all the sources (except the internal phono). Just wondering if that setup might have some processing dependent on source.

madmax

I didn't use the same inputs all the time but the first thing I did was to compare each one. At first I was thinking maybe the "SACD" input might have had something going on with it but found all the inputs to react the same to the same source.