Musical Fidelity A3CR Amplifiers

Musical Fidelity A3CR Amplifiers 

DESCRIPTION

150-watt-per-channel dual mono power amplifier with choke regulated power supply technology

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 35  
[Apr 12, 2011]
markjrho
Audio Enthusiast

I have to admit that when I first connected the A3cr to my Integra, I was not overly impressed; the sound seemed very recording dependant. Admittedly, I was doing all fo my listening throug a pre-pro until I was able to get a dedicated two channel preamp. I recently connected the MF to a Mcintosh C15, and all I can say is WOW! What a difference a quality preamp makes. I am now hearing what others have described. This amp has gobs of power and just keeps going. Yet its detailed with just a touch of warmth. I wouldn't call it overly warm, but just enough to keep that smoothness coming.

Its powering my Nola Viper IIA's and I can say that they have never sounded better in my system. Anyone who is into quality sound should not look past this on the used market. For its average selling price today, ($600) it is a steal and will destroy a lot of today's amps up costing quite a bit more than its original MSRP. Highly recommended!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 28, 2004]
Geoffcin
AudioPhile

Strength:

Dynamics, clarity, depth. Effortlessly handles high current loads.

Weakness:

Cheapo power cord. The binding post are first rate though.

After a friend lent me this amps to use with my Magnepan 3.6's, I was planning the day when I could add it to my audio setup. When he bought a massive Classe 401 for his 3.6's I got a chance to buy it and did. The amp is fast, clean, and dynamic. With rock it excels, but also has excellent low level performance that exceeded all my expectation. The amp is like getting an amp and line conditioner packing into one, as the choke regulation makes for one of the lowest, blackest sound floor I've ever heard in an amp of any price. I've got a brute of an amp that this is replacing, a PS Audio 200c that is rated @ 400wpc into 4 ohms, and the A3cr sounds better in every attribute right up to clipping.

Similar Products Used:

Ps Audio, Classe, Krell, Adcom.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 07, 2003]
JoseM
AudioPhile

Strength:

Bass, lo-level detail, a wholeness in instruments voices, an effortless quality sound from every recording, human voices, solid musician positions, it's possible to "see" even the piano angle with respect to you, the music floats around you, there are no boxes, no sound source only an ongoing musical bliss. aahhh! heaven ... Very hard to turn music off!

Weakness:

Wall power lines had to be replaced with #10 wires, 'cause everytime the amp was turned on, ceiling ligths flickered. The amp is really sensitive to interconnects, it took several different cables to "tune" with my pre-amp.

After moving to a larger room my NAD 20-watter was not enough anymore. With the MF A3cr all my music has been suddenly upgraded. Every cd and dvd now has a sound realness never experienced before in this room. Never had my speakers disappear like this. It's just scaring and amazing at the same time. With the MF A3cr you don't listen to music you participate in a musical event.

Similar Products Used:

McIntosh 2105 power amp (105 wpc) NAD 312 integrated amp (25 wpc) NAD 3020 integrated amp (20 wpc) ACTUAL SYSTEM: POWER-AMP: MUSICAL FIDELITY ARcr PRE-AMP: NAD 3020 CD PLAYER: P

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 05, 2002]
timnewhart
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

a small price increase to leap from mid-fi to hi-fi!

Weakness:

none

The A3 CR is a wonderful amp that makes a huge difference in my admittedly mid-fi system. Though I was once a subscriber to and follower of The Audio Critic by uber-objectivist Peter Aczel, I've come to learn that all amps, in fact, do NOT sound alike. And the A3 CR provides justification for such a leap towards subjectivity. However, I should add: most amps DO need careful and considerate matching, and the A3 CR is no exception. After 100 hours of burn-in, I, initially, had this amp connected to a Transcendent Audio Grounded Grid preamp and a pair of JM Lab Electra 917's. Though I had greatly enjoyed this system when paired to an NAD 270 amp, the A3 CR didn’t quite shine as I had hoped. A little discouraged, I connected the A3 CR to a second system, a Dennis J Had signature AE-3 preamp and a pair of Maggie 1.6’s. For some reason the A3 CR just opened up the Maggie’s like I had never heard. A final note: I purchased this amp from Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio in Upland, Ca. All those griping in various hi-end magazines about audiophiles using bricks & mortar for the info then going elsewhere to buy on-line, should meet Kevin Deal. Perhaps those bricks and mortal stores don’t convey the passion along with the knowledge, as Mr. Deal does. If they did, the customer might commit to the store as much as to the product.

Similar Products Used:

NAD 270, AE-25 SuperAmp, Linn Powertek

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 10, 2002]
AllenP
AudioPhile

Strength:

Sound and quickness - agility and balance Price Quality of construction Value for the money

Weakness:

No real weakness - but take a LONG time to run in and should not be judged until they have been run 100 or more hours.

I plugged the A3CR amp and matching preamp into a system that had previously hosted a Bryston 4B-ST with Copland CTA301 preamp, and prior to that a Copland CSA 505 valve amplifier. I find my componentry similar to other reviewers here - Audioquest Gibraltar bi-wire speaker cable, Cardas Neutral Ref and Nordost Red Dawn interconnects. Other items are a Copland CD289 CD Player, a Nakamichi CR-5A cassette deck; Linn LP12 Turntable; and Magnum Dynalab MD-108 Tuner. Ths Musical Fidelity combo is far and away the best I have heard with this syetem. Speakers are Totem Tabus on Lovan Sovereign 6 stands.... and the MF pair makes them sound better than they ever did before - crystalline highs, clear mids and imaging and the Bass is :"just right" - I found the Bryston gave too much emphasis to the bottom on these loudspeakers, and the valve amp did not give enough. These pieces are beautifully made, well designed and sound great at a price that I can afford. I have listened to stuff that costs five and six times what this pair does and was not overwhelmed with a difference in percieved quality. Very nice gear

Similar Products Used:

NAD S-300 integrated Bryston 4B-ST, Copland CTA 301 preamp Copland 505 valve amplifier, CTA 301 preamp

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[May 10, 2002]
Craig
AudioPhile

Strength:

Musicality, speed, smoothness.

Weakness:

Could do with more bottom end weight now and themo

Music. This gear is all about music. Reviewing this in association with the A3CR pre-amp I find it hard to say much that hasn''t been said before. There''s nothing that stands out, no particular aspect of the hi-fi checklist that draws you attention immediately. (I must say though that the soundstage is incredibly deep and wide and man it''s quick and nimble on its feet.) I just find myself putting more and different discs in the player, some that I had written off as unlistenable on my previous Naim gear. There''s a flow to the music that is simply organic. (Or is that orgasmic - it''s one of those "or" words.) When you read the comments others have made, don''t confuse "liquid tops" and "non fatiguing" with dull and boring - this combination can still rock its little butt off if needed. Screaming guitars will scream, it''s just that they''re not going to send you hiding behind the sofa. I haven''t found that any particular genre is favoured, although I can understand that people who listen primarily to rock may like a bit more weight to the bottom end. The A3CR is by no means bass light, but there are others that kick harder such as the Naims and Brystons et al. I listen to a lot of female vocals of the Jazz/Folk/Alt Country flavour and these are portrayed with uncanny realism. Do yourself a favour and have a listen to the power amp or pre/power combo. My guess is that you''ll be seduced by the music and forget the hi-fi. (That''s what this game is all about after all isn''t it?) My system is: Meridian 508.24 CD player Musical Fidelity A3CR Pre Amp Musical Fidelity A3CR Power Amp Epos M15 Speakers Audioquest Phython Interconnects Audioquest Gibraltar Speaker Cable y

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 23, 2002]
rskuras
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

very "musical" system - great performance from bass to treble. it''s low cost makes it an unbeatable system.

Weakness:

none!

i replaced my mf a300 integrated amp with the a3cr pre / power amp combo, and i could not be happier! the soundstage, stereo imaging and "musicality" of this system is amazing. i feared that i might be giving up a little bass performance because of the lower power rating, but this is clearly not the case. bass is tighter and better controlled. mid-range is totally liquid and the highs are magical. i LOVED the a300, and plan to use it in a second system. but the a3cr combination is the real deal! i did a lot of auditioning, and found nothing that compares - not even at twice the cost. my system: musical fidelity a3cr pre-amp and power amp arcam fmj 23 cd player sony ja20es mini-disc player / recorder b & w N805 speakers w/ b & w stands kimber bi-focal "x" bi-wire cable kimber select interconnects for cd and md to pre amp kimber d-60 "illuminations" for cd to md recording kimber pbj - pre amp to power amp

Similar Products Used:

musical fidelity a300 integrated amp

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 01, 2002]
Gerald
Audio Enthusiast

I will gladly be one of the first to respond to the "review" of this amplifier by Perry Helion an "audiophile" from Los Angeles. Sorry Perry, but this is one great product. When an amplifier is neutral in sound, harmonically correct, capable of producing fine detail, clarity, and with true and solid bass control, it can only be described as doing its job extremely well. The Musical Fidelity A3cr Power Amplifier is a gem of solid state design when used within its design rating of 120 watts into 8 ohms. If you need more power then get something else. At a used price of around $1000.00, which is what I paid, this is a true high end bargain. So, don''t go down to the pawn shop in the valley and pay $300.00 ???? for a $1600.00 retail price product. Buy new or search the internet for a used unit and be assured that you have obtained a very fine, well made amplifier.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 05, 2000]
RJP
Audiophile

Strength:

the price

Weakness:

it does not rock

I had high hopes for this amp and I have like MF
products in the past but this was not what i expected
Kimber sivler streaks from XA-1 pre to amp and I would
rather listen to the XA-1 alone I had to send it back
after a month but I burned it in over the july 4 weekend
it never changed so i sent it back

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jan 29, 2001]
jakob gooijer
Audiophile

Strength:

sounds just as good as amps op to 7 or 8000 bucks
so its strengths is that it is cheap

Weakness:

lacks the output option in europe
bad cover.

use this amp with a tube preamp.(for me that`s a tube technology from the uk)
it makes no hifi sound but real music
why do you guys in the states have that output option,and i don`t
these days you can buy amps that sounds a lot better than amps 10 years ago for 25% of the money
musical fidelity proves that

Similar Products Used:

krell ksa 100

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 35  

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