Description
A maudifi Stage 1 upgrade service for Musical Fidelity’s A5 integrated amplifer. This powerhouse of an amplifier is from what many believe was Musical Fidelity’s peak era. They are rugged and rewarding, yet there is plenty of untapped potential within. Think wider and deeper soundstage with greater detail and refinement with this maudifi upgrade.
The Stage 1 is a full re-cap, with much higher quality capacitors than those used in the original unit, but with other component improvements too to elevate the performance and produce a more 3-dimensional soundstage.
- Function Test
- Listening Test
- Pre-Amplifier
- 2 x Reservoir capacitors upgraded
- Add bypassing to reservoir capacitors
- Decoupling capacitors upgraded
- Op-amp upgrades – performance audio monolithic (main & volume PCBs)
- Add gold-plated turned pin IC sockets for future upgrade potential.
- 8 x Coupling capacitors upgraded
- Electrolytic capacitors in control circuits also upgraded for longevity.
- Power Amplifiers
- 8 x Reservoir capacitor upgrades with 45% greater capacity
- 2 x Bipolar electrolytic capacitor upgrades
- 2 x Electrolytic capacitors replaced with PET film
- Options:
- Upgrade for internal Phono Stage also available. Ask about this.
- Replacement Volume PCB with Alps Blue Velvet potentiometer also available. Ask about this.
- Custom to suit your requirements inc. connectors (e.g. KLEI, Furutech, etc.) Ask about this.
- Listening Test
- Certificate & equipment label
- Amplifier not included. This is an upgrade service only. You must supply your own amplifier. This will be returned to you following the upgrade service.
A Stage 2 upgrade, with further sonic improvements, is also available for this model.
A DIY upgrade kit is also available for this model: Contact us here.
Stuart Mackenzie (verified owner) –
Well the A5 Integrated Amp with stage 1 mods has started to settle nicely. However, suffice to say it sounds superb.
As I mentioned, the A5 would be driving a pair of Usher Mini Diamond 2 speakers. These speakers are “full bandwidth” and not for a fainthearted amp. Over the years they have been used with a Townshend Allegri Pre-Amp, Ming Da tube Pre-Amp, Bel canto Ref 500 Monoblocks, Ming Da md150 Tube Monoblocks amongst numerous others. Certainly some very nice sounds have made, but the Modded A5 has a level of control that makes these speakers sing. Not only does the modded A5 provide superb grip of the woofers , but works beautifully with the Usher DMD tweeters.
Furthermore, The improvement in 3 dimensionality, depth of image, intelligibility of vocals and instruments is a pleasure to behold.
All I can say is you’ve come up with a winning combination of components that greatly advance the sound quality of the standard A5 amplifier and would recommend your stage one modification wholeheartedly and without reservation.
Kind regards
Stuart Mackenzie