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Review 1 of 6
Price Paid:
$0.00
from Richersounds/ Glasgo Summary:
Hi
I bought my (used) A4 in 2001. I had my doubts initially, since I was originally aiming for an A3i (at double the price though), but soon I realised that this amp is exceptionally capable sonically, regardless of its price tag. I did replace the volume op-amp though, with a much better (and much more expensive) one, and the difference was more than audible. My system now comprises of: cambridge audio d300se cd player, cambridge audio A4 amp (tweaked and operating with the tone controls always bypassed), wharfedale sapphire sp-83 speakers biwired, jvc TD-V662 cassette player, and last but not least, my portable sharp md... :) I don't use a tuner on that system. Strengths:
treble is detailed and vivid, very nice vocals, mids are exceptional, bass is controlled, tight and natural, resolution is really really good.
overall, an amp that -speaking in sonic performance terms- could well worth something in the area of 200 - 250 pounds.
build quality is fair for the money. tone controls can be bypassed, monitor loop(tape) is available, buttons and switches are nice to look at, facia is simple and plain(for me it's a big plus).
It's a much much better amp than sonys or yamahas below 250 pounds, equal to or better than a 40-50watt nad (nad amps demonstrate a different character sonically), but not as powerful. Weaknesses:
not much automation here I fear... no remote, no relay input selection (it is done with a simple rotating switch), balance is uneven at very low levels but catches up soon and is no biggie prob, no phono preamp (comes extra but attaches easily inside), no gold plated terminals, build quality could be better (sure, for more money though).
The amp is ok operating with 2 way floorstanders or standmounts, but lacks the power (voltage is ok, current is not enough) to drive large 3 way speakers. It will pull through, but don't expect miracles: then, the sound will get harsh at high levels, especially at dynamic passages as with classical music. A large improvement to the lack of current would be to add capacitors to the power supply. Haven't done that yet so I wouldn't know how large an improvement this would make...
The A4 may seem kind of aggressive from times to times. Though really good, don't forget it's just a plain, low-budget, solid-state amp. An amp 2-3 times its price should be better by any standards. Similar Products Used:
cambridge audio A1mk3se
various sony 2 ch. integrated amps, yamaha amps (2 channel integrated amps and 5 channel home theater units)
have listened to cyrus, marantz and nad amps more than a million
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