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Review: Musical Fidelity A3.2cr Preamplifier

Category: Preamps

1. Musical tastes: progressive and contemporary jazz, modern melodic rock and pop, pre-1980 rock n'roll

2. Reference recordings: Richard Bona (Reverence), Nora Jones (various), Radiohead (O.K. Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac) Ben Folds (Rockin' the Suburbs), Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon), Chick Corea and the Electric Band (Alive), Phish (Story of the Ghost)

3. Important aspects of sound to me: smoothness, non-fatiguing high frequency presentation, soundstage and depth, neutrality, musical (as opposed to analytical)

4. Worst thing about systems I've heard: fatiguing high frequencies, boomy bass

5. Musical Fidelity A3.2cr Preamplifier:
a. In my system for three months
b. Replaced a Creek 5350SE Integrated Amplifier (passive)
c. Added amazing detail, realism, and bass response
d. Strength: beautful warm sound, how I like my music
e. Weakness: I had to pay for it, that's all
f. If money were no object, I would still own this preamplifier, but would place it in a strictly solid-state system. I would use Musical Fidelity's new Tri-Vista components in a second system (I'm a huge Musical Fidelity fan).



Associated gear
Musical Fidelity A3.2cr Power Amplifier
Musical Fidelity A3-24 DAC
Denon DVD-2800 (digitial out)
PS Audio Interconnects
Tara Labs Speaker Cables
PS Audio Ultimate Outlets & Power Ports
Vibrapods & Salamander rack

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schuesmp
tok20000's avatar
tok20000
608 posts
 
Schuesm, if money were no object, you'd own a better ss preamp than the MF A3.2cr pre. Put it next to an Ayre K-1x, Lamm preamp (forget their solid state models), or even an older Krell KRC HR (ofc all of these preamps retail/ed for some serious bucks), and I am sure you'd forget about this MF preamp really fast, heh heh... However, at the price point of the MF A3.2cr, it is probably pretty good (just estimating from other MF products I have heard, MF amps and preamp).

KF
sufentanil's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
sufentanil
782 posts
 
I'd like to chime in here in support of Musical Fidelity preamps.

I replaced my VAC CLA-1 Mk II (tube) preamp with the Musical Fidelity A3cr (the predecessor to the A3.2cr) about a month ago. The VAC is a very strong preamp, but the Musical Fidelity gives me much more of what I want in my music: crisp, clean sound. Violins sound so much more lifelike. I can hear the rush of air from the saxophones. The brass instruments have much more impact and brilliance. My favorite music comes more alive with this preamp, and that's high praise considering the preamp it replaced is no slouch.

For the price, the A3cr is a phenomenal value. The build quality is excellent. Is it the absolute best available? Of course not. But for the price, the A3cr is an outstanding value. And that is one of the best recommendations I can offer for a product.

Michael
mjmccormac-0e89
1 posts
 
I'd have to agree w/ KF. If price were no object, then you'd probably be listening to Mark Levinson or Plinius SS amps. Or, for an even more realistic and more enjoyable listening experience (IMHO), listen to some tube amps. I thought MF stuff was the greatest too for awhile until I heard some good tube gear (i.e. Cary). That said, MF is very good quality gear for the price.
esroberto
6 posts
 
These guys must like McIntosh, too. I did numerous shoot-outs with equipment of various brands until I landed on my Musical Fidelity A308cr amp and preamp, blowing away gear that cost WAY more with aplomb -- UNTIL, that is, I borrowed a new Tri-Vista from my hifi dealer... *sob* This thing is nothing short of amazing. That detailed, in-the-room-with-you MF presence, but with zero stridence in the top end, thanks to the Trivistor tubes. Aboslutely the closest I've gotten to fooling my ears into thinking they're witnessing the recorded event, not the playback of the recording. And orchestral levels are no problem with my Thiel 2.3's from Tri-Vista's 600Wpc/4 ohms.
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