lumiere

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Sound by Singer, NY

Summary:
This is for the MF 3.2, which I bought 4 months ago. Lacking the technical vocabulary of the audiophiles, I'll just say this: This amp is amazing! It takes anything you throw at it and does it with grace. I listen to many kinds of music _ jazz, rock, blues, classical, and some hip-hop. The soundstage is huge (wide and tall), the top end is detailed, but sweet, the bottom end is powerfull and tight, and the mids ... are just perfect. And I haven't even finished configuring my setup yet. The MF has revived (for now) the Klipsch KG 2.5 that I got seven years ago. They sound so much better that I feel I can take my time to find the right speakers. Anyway, I digress. Just give this baby a try. You'll love it.

Strengths:
Soundstage, musicality, everything.

Weaknesses:
None, to me.

Similar Products Used:
Arcam, Rotel, NAD.

Price Paid:  $200.00 from AudioWeb Online Site

Summary:
I purchased this used from an individual who had it listed on www.audioweb.com for only $200.00. Audio Advisor (www.audioadvisor.com) is selling them new for $299.00. I wanted an way to record some vinyl to CD, most of it not available commercially on CD, other than using the PC which is impractical to relocate for this. The recorder is easy to use with selectable digital and analog sources. You can record from one CD deck to this with either the digital or analog source. I will also record copies of your HDCD disks. Other features include adjustable record level; manual recording; auto recording; artist, title, & track naming; and CD-R/RW recording. I use only CD-R audio disks as recommended (TDK @ Circuit City). When I made a recording of a Rolling Stones, Hot Rocks, 1964-1971, vinyl to the analog source, I was very surprised to find it had more detail, soundstage & depth than the re-mastered SACD Rolling Stone (CD layer) hybrid disk! This was evident when the recorded CD was played back in my home audio system or in my vehicles. When I recorded from my CD deck using the digital or analog source, the playback was only slightly less resolved as my commercial CDs but still far better than a burned copy on my PC. I did have trouble. About 4 months after I received the unit, it would no longer power up. It is now at the repair shop. I'm not concerned because this was a used unit, and is something to be expect. With that said, I'm excited about getting it back. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone who wanted an convent inexpensive way to create quality recordings from your vinyl collection. You will not be disappointed. My home audio system: - Musical Fidelity, A3, Integrated - NAD C541 CD deck - Pro-Ject RM-4 turntable - Grado Reference Platinum cartridge - Triangle Titus speakers - Analysis Plus speaker & interconnects

Strengths:
Vinyl to analog source recording, HDCD recording, price

Weaknesses:
none at this price

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from Audio Advisor

Summary:
I moved up to this amp from my Parasound set-up based on some positive reviews in Stereophile. And MAN was it worth every penny! Kills everything I've had in my system to date. Extremely musical, detailed and easy to listen to. Go listen for yourself!

Strengths:
Doesn't emphasize any particular frequency spectrum. Awesomely smooth without sacrificing detail.

Weaknesses:
May not be enough power for some types of speakers, but not in my experience.

Similar Products Used:
Adcom Parasound NAD Sony ES (and heard lots of better brands at shows)

Price Paid:  $850.00 from London Audio

Summary:
After initially being excited about the sound of this amp, I also came to find it bright and aggressive. Quick cure... GET A GOOD INTERCONNECT! I switched from using Vandenhul D102 MKV to KimberKable Silver Streak. This made all the difference in the world! The sound is incredibly detailed with powerful bass and quite a large soundstage. Now there is only a slight hint of brightness only on poor recordings. Get a good recording, like Mobile Fidelity’s CD issue of Dark Side of the Moon, and you will be rewarded with sound quality like nothing else in the price range. Absolutely blows away my previous Cyrus 2/PSX combo. The sound from my system right now is the best I’ve ever had. I just can’t believe the level of detail. Amazing. My system: Rotel RCD 1070 CD Player Mission 753 speakers Musical Fidelity A3 integrated amp Audioquest Crystal speaker cable KimberKable Silver Streak interconnect

Strengths:
Detail. Power, speed, timing. Big and deep soundstage. Very good build quality.

Weaknesses:
Can be bright and forward, to the point of being unlistenable, if you don't use proper, read expensive, cable.

Similar Products Used:
Various from Linn, Naim, Bryston, Cyrus

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is quite some amp. I used to have some custom made Discrete Technology amps years ago--in a phono-only system driving Apogee Calipers--and this little integrated--mated with an A3 CD player, a pair of B&W Nautilus 805's and a Velodyne SPL-800 sub--brings back the magic of those components for me. I can't really compare this amp to those amps, of course, since (1) that was a long time ago, (2) the associated components are so different, and (3) those amps cost 6 times with this amp cost me. But the goosebump factor is definitely there. I undoubtedly could get a bigger soundstage with a dedicated power amp with more current, so probably what I'll do eventually is use the preamp out on the A3 and bi-amp: the power amp driving the lows and the A3 driving the highs. Right now I'm bi-wiring the 805's with Distech wire on the highs and double Kimber 4TC on the lows. An AQ Viper connects the A3 CD player to the amp, and an old AQ Blue runs the sub. The sound is absolutely stunning, reminiscent of tubes but with more detail and control. I should mention that the dual-mono configuration is very impressive in an amp of this price, and undoubtedly contributes to its spectacular sound. My dealer was closing these out because MF just came out with a new model, but I have no regrets whatsoever and have no desire to “trade up.”

Strengths:
Smooth, detailed, sweet. Dual-mono configuration very impressive.

Weaknesses:
None whatsoever for an amp of this price.