FS: Musical Fidelity A5 Integrated
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markmarc
Posts: 2,309
Time to sell the "beast", the 250wpc Musical Fidelity A5 Integrated amp with remote, main box, and outer shipping box. This unit drives my Magnepan 1.6's without getting hot even when dropping into 2 Ohm territory. Inputs include: CD, SACD, Tuner, Tape Monitor, HT Direct, Tape, and a first rate Phono. It is in absolutely mint condition. Selling because I have found myself using the preamp section of my head/DAC, so I'm shooting for buying a Pass Labs amp.
When new, sold for $2500. Audiogon has one for $1350. Asking just $1,000 + shipping/Insurance for Polkies, with payment via Paypal. Shipping via FedEx ground from 97874. Outer Box measures 23x22x12 , weight 47 pounds.
When new, sold for $2500. Audiogon has one for $1350. Asking just $1,000 + shipping/Insurance for Polkies, with payment via Paypal. Shipping via FedEx ground from 97874. Outer Box measures 23x22x12 , weight 47 pounds.
Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3
Comments
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Wow! End game integrated for sure. Super price too! Won't last long
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Tasty! Love my A5cr power amp unreservedly. This is a nice opportunity for someone!Jay
SDA 2BTL * Musical Fidelity A5cr amp * Oppo BDP-93 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
Micro Seiki DQ-50 * Hagerman Cornet 2 Phono * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0 -
Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
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you go Scott
Darn nice piece of gear WOW!!! -
Put me in line!
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Wow, nice....I'd buy this but I'd have to sell some stuff first.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Jeeeeez. I’ve wanted one of these for a long time2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
Wow, nice....I'd buy this but I'd have to sell some stuff first.
Man you are all out of kidney's and Livers Brah back it off man
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NM...not compatible with my system.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Very nice integrated here folks, I used one for a good while with my 1.2tls and it never broke a sweat. Hard to find something better at this price point.
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Who said anything about MY kidneys or liver ? I was thinking....of just....um....borrowing someone else's.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
How'd I know ... good thing I'm a minute or two away
LMAO -
Thanks for all the interest everyone. The A5 is SOLDReview Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3 -
give russ a few drinks and he won't feel a thing.Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Puritan PSM156 -
give russ a few drinks and he won't feel a thing.
Shut up Marvin -
Nah, I like Russ. The sum total is worth way more than the parts.
HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Mark was being discreet, which I appreciate, but I have to cop to this move. I'm a kidney lighter, but scars are cool, and I think it's gonna be worth it.who's the lucky fellow?
Hopefully I'll be able to do this piece justice. I almost feel like I need to live up to it as an owner, and not the other way around.
Thanks very much to Mark for his generosity, and, I'm truly sorry fellas. If it doesn't work out for me, I'll be sure to keep this piece in the Polk family, and offer it back up here.
Years back, June 2015, there was an M6i available here for a crazy good price. I was very early on in my journey here, and I didn't move on it. Couldn't have appreciated it at the time, anyway, but I've always wondered what it would have been like. I only loosely kept an eye out over the years for other Musical Fidelity pieces.
A few weeks back, I noticed @erniejade was starting to look into the Musical Fidelity integrateds, which got me curious again, and we got to talking a bit about the different models, sharing reading on models, availability, pricing, etc. Seemed the A308 was the sweet spot, and I sort of left off it there, since I wasn't planning to look for one until later this year, but that's the one I'd look for, as well. The A5 was a close second for me after reading Tony's take on the differences as the line progressed. When I got home last night and saw Mark's listing, I couldn't believe it. Tremendously generous, and got me thinking back to the brief taste I had of the Forum Classifieds when this place was really hoppin', and everyone was offering up amazing deals to members, gear flying all over the place. I was trying to get in touch with EJ to draw his attention to the listing, but when I didn't hear back, I had to get in line so I could maybe see for myself what Musical Fidelity is about. Couldn't believe it when the first guy passed. I'm feeling a bit humbled at this opportunity, and hope I can do it justice.I disabled signatures. -
Congrats Scott! That thing is a beauty! Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
I am glad you got jt! Awesome!Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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Thanks fellas, and thanks Mark!
Mark! It's not here yet!
Dub. Yahtee. Effmate.
I disabled signatures. -
"Patience Grasshopper!" Those over 50 will understand the quote.Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3 -
"Patience Grasshopper!" Those over 50 will understand the quote.
I'm under 50 and I remember David Carradine on Kung Fu as Kwai Chang
Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10 -
Congrats Scott.
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Scott's a putz. I was eyeballin' this piece the second it was posted, even called in a bomb threat to Scotts house to delay his response. Dude still clicked on the forum.
Congrats man.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Scott's a putz.
I’m in the process of creating another 50 accounts because just one agree isn’t enough! Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
The eagle has landed. Quick setup in the test space.
Haven't had much time, so will still be evaluating, but I'm blown away. I've never heard anything like this before. It replaced a B&K Reference 5 S2 with B&K 200.2 S2 amp. That system is no slouch, but there's an undeniable improvement across the board, even without much warm up time. Just extremely pleasing all around, and full sounding.
First Impressions- Airy. For me, this is one of those audio terms I've heard used, but just didn't quite understand. One of those experiences where you go, "Ohh, so that's what that is..."
- Improved separation, even less congestion in busy passages. I'm getting a sense of layering with instruments and vocals. The term "players" keeps coming to mind.
- The channel separation is great. Lively and engaging. Adds to realism. Another term I never even thought to use before.
- Control. This one was glaringly obvious. I was just relaying to Mark, it's as if there's a little dude in there at a sound board or something, busily controlling "the players", turning things on and off, fades, etc.
- The bass. Holy... the bass. Almost overpowers the space, even just at 9 o'clock, but it's a small room, and has the 705s in it currently. It's also square which I think is a big part of the standing bass? Very authoritative with the bass. Higher output, more impactful. Tight and controlled. With the other obvious improvements in clarity, I suspect I'll probably hear a bit of definition in the bass, something I'm not sure I've thought much on before.
That's all I got for now.
I plan to move it out to the main space on Friday for a proper run and use.
A huuuge thanks to Mark for offering the unit up here at such a great deal, as well as an offer to Brian to come hang out whenever. I'll make you a key. Don't drink all the beer, and any change in the couch is mine. Chip crumbs are all yours.I disabled signatures. -
I'm glad you got a chance to experience the A5 for yourself Scott. Sounds like you are experiencing a lot of the same improvements that I was telling you about when I moved up from my B&K gear. I look forward to hearing more of your impressions as you get used to the new sound a little.
Danny -
Great review! I am so glad you pulled the trigger on this and its working out for you! That's awesomeKlipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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I bet you can do some sweet jumps with it.....
