Budget Product of the Year
Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amplifier
($1779; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.10, October 2024 review) FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
Austin Audio Works Black Swan phono preamplifier
($1649; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.47 No.8, August 2024 review)
Eversolo DMP-A8 digital processor
($1980; reviewed by Rogier van Bakel in Vol.47 No.7, July 2024 review)
Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition record player
($1695; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.11, November 2023 review)
Technics SL-1200GR2 record player
($2199.99; reviewed by Ken Micallef in Vol.47 No.4, April 2024 review) The new version of Musical Fidelity's classic A1 integrated amplifier from the 1980s still runs hot due to its class-A output stage. JA noted that it works best with loudspeakers that have impedances that remain above 8 ohms; in those circumstances, it offers up to 30Wpc. HR started his auditioning with high-impedance speakers from Falcon and DeVore Fidelity, using the phono input, which can be set to MM or MC modes. With a variety of recordings, he noted that tone and texture were "super vivid," and he found himself grinning at the volume and extensive detail of the projected soundspace. Compared with his reference Pass Labs INT-25, which costs more than four times as much as the Musical Fidelity, he found that the A1's line input was not as detailed or clear in the top two octaves, nor was it as starched, polished, and controlled in the bottom three octaves. "But," he exclaimed, "oh my, save me from the Devil, the A1 has that supersaturated toaster-glowing 'electrostatic midrange.'" Notes on the vote
The price spread in the Budget category is the narrowest of any in this year's awards, and the voting was equally narrow. Nevertheless, the Musical Fidelity integrated amplifier squeaked ahead of the other contenders. And I must give shoutouts both to the superb-measuring EverSolo DMP-A8 and the 50th Anniversary version of the Rega Planar 3; I first heard the original Planar 3—yes, 50 years ago as I write these words.
Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amplifier($1779; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.10, October 2024 review) FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
Austin Audio Works Black Swan phono preamplifier
($1649; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.47 No.8, August 2024 review)
Eversolo DMP-A8 digital processor
($1980; reviewed by Rogier van Bakel in Vol.47 No.7, July 2024 review)
Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition record player
($1695; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.11, November 2023 review)
Technics SL-1200GR2 record player
($2199.99; reviewed by Ken Micallef in Vol.47 No.4, April 2024 review) The new version of Musical Fidelity's classic A1 integrated amplifier from the 1980s still runs hot due to its class-A output stage. JA noted that it works best with loudspeakers that have impedances that remain above 8 ohms; in those circumstances, it offers up to 30Wpc. HR started his auditioning with high-impedance speakers from Falcon and DeVore Fidelity, using the phono input, which can be set to MM or MC modes. With a variety of recordings, he noted that tone and texture were "super vivid," and he found himself grinning at the volume and extensive detail of the projected soundspace. Compared with his reference Pass Labs INT-25, which costs more than four times as much as the Musical Fidelity, he found that the A1's line input was not as detailed or clear in the top two octaves, nor was it as starched, polished, and controlled in the bottom three octaves. "But," he exclaimed, "oh my, save me from the Devil, the A1 has that supersaturated toaster-glowing 'electrostatic midrange.'" Notes on the vote
The price spread in the Budget category is the narrowest of any in this year's awards, and the voting was equally narrow. Nevertheless, the Musical Fidelity integrated amplifier squeaked ahead of the other contenders. And I must give shoutouts both to the superb-measuring EverSolo DMP-A8 and the 50th Anniversary version of the Rega Planar 3; I first heard the original Planar 3—yes, 50 years ago as I write these words.
