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This NEW Musical Fidelity A1 Clone Hits Different :)

HiFi Zone

8,810 views

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Remote beer tap control :D
https://paypal.me/hfzytreviews
Behind the scenes photos:
Instagram: hifi_zone_yt
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And here we are with a full review for this new Musical Fidelity A1 clone - and this guy is better built and the design is closer to MF as it features TL074 preamp :)
But how does it sound?
Lets find out!

Updated link - you can buy this amp directly from Suqiya web store here:
https://www.suqiyaaudio.com/product/a...

There is a chance that it will be available on Ali at some point as Suqiya has a store there as well.

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Audio setup used in my listening sessions (you can find reviews of most of these in my channel):

FLAC/DSD files - Foobar2k - Fully passive 11th gen Intel PCwih LPS - AQ Jitterbug -
Chord USB - X30 - Dragons RCA - MFA1 - AST Silver speaker cable - Oatlons (M3 and M10) ML 15i, ML 35Xti, ML XT B100, ML Ascent I speakers.

Power: two Pavalle power strips with additional DIY EMI filters, power cords: fk AQ Dragons Source (DAC) fk AQ Dragon HC (amplifiers) and RCore LPS with Sonic Scientific Hades 12V for Su-6 and OCXO power supply.

Vibration isolation: AUVA pads from Stack Audio (sets for DAC, amp, speakers) and granite plinths (speakers)

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New set of Aliexpres codes valid untill October 31st only.
I've chosen some popular devices that I recommend (like Cary clones or C2860+ preamp) and you can reach them via collection page:
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Ew8...

Ali portal says these codes should be valid almost everywhere in the world, with few exceptions, and for almost everything (minus mobile phones but thats the way it is)
$15-2: 【IFPPJWWL】 $35-5: 【IFPKVWAG】 $65-9: 【IFP9OI52】 $99-14: 【IFPHCJVG】
$169-23: 【IFP7421X】 279-40: 【IFPNXV5Z】 $379-55: 【IFPTBFPT】 $559-80: 【IFPPYCF4】

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20 Comments

@Carpe.aetatem 2 months ago (edited)

How about making a Tier-list of all the amps you've reviewed? I'm sure it would be a lot of work, but I think it would really help people compare the amps and a lot of people would appreciate it. Videos like that tend to get a lot of attention. Best regards, and thanks for your work here on YouTube :)

@piotrpabisz4798 2 months ago

Maybe Sugden A21 clone will be next? Thumbs up👍🏻

@SUQIYAAUDIO 2 months ago

Wow, what a fantastic review! Thanks for putting our Suqiya MFA1 PRO through its paces—glad the 3D soundstage and massive 200W transformer met your high standards!

Regarding the TL074 preamp section: we wanted to stay 100% faithful to the original warm tone. However, for DIY lovers who want more transparency, we hear you! We can absolutely customize it with a DIP IC socket for anyone who wants to roll modern op-amps easily.

Looking forward to your follow-up mod video, mate! Cheers! 🥂

@jojoanggono3229 2 months ago

08:45 I'm quite sure it was polystyrene capacitor. Quite rare nowadays, it was much revered for the transparent voice, or lack of sonic signature.

@phantomplastics6582 2 months ago

Having listened to 30 IC and discrete op amps, as you know, they are absolutely not the same in sound. Huge differences.

@mateolo002 2 months ago

Hi! Cary SLP90 or Jadis jp200 for dartzeel nhb-108?

@Podkast-q6h 2 months ago

In my humble opinion if its viable for you it would be a major step up to after the review, plug it and play some hifi samples, eventually along have a second amp and do an A/B test just to give an idea how it behaves and how it differs. You don’t need a top mic but it would be awesome for us listeners to get and idea. It would be a huge step up. With a little research im sure you can set a fantastic sound capture. Keep up the good work. 👍🏻🤞

@hornsby5533 2 months ago

Keine Potentiometer für die Ruhestrom-Einstellung?

@charlybeagrie1119 1 month ago

Was the earlier A1 clone better?

@matytinman 2 months ago (edited)

* TL074 (DIP-14) -> TLE2074ACN (DIP-14)
* Nover 10,000 µF 85°C -> 105°C low-ESR types (Panasonic FC, Nichicon UHE...)
Op-amp WITHOUT socket -> It is best to disconnect the preamp and use an external preamp or a DAC with variable output, I think.

@ancientalien815 2 months ago

Try the TLE2074. It has the higher 40/us slew rate and comes in a dip 14 package.

@eugenefudge1883 2 months ago

The question is it better than the first A 1 you reviewed .
And the new one is more expensive

@eazydraw4681 2 months ago

A smashing review thank you for your detailed commentary

@ohyesitsme 2 months ago

Thank you for your great review. I have just tried ti use one of the discount codes that you give above but Ali doesn't recognize it. Are they area specific as I am in the UK.