Digital Drive: REVIEW: Musical Fidelity A5 CD Player/Recorder by demosasp@otenet.gr

Model:	A5
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	$2500
Description:	Single box CD only player
Manufacturer URL:	Musical Fidelity
Model Picture:	View

Review by demosasp@otenet.gr ( A ) on June 01, 2006 at 04:43:58
IP Address: 87.203.232.82

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for the A5

I brought this CD player because after a long listening to various players, the A5 prooved to be the king. Classical music sounds so true, soundstage is huge with life-like size. Well recorded rock and jazz is a fantastic experiance with A5. I combined this player with various amplifiers and various interconnects. The results was stunning because A5 is refined as velvet, huge & sweet with the best imaging of the price category under 3000$/Euros - without been boring at all. I combined it with Pathos Classic One -> fantastic, with Primaluna's -> fantastic, with Blue Circle's NSCS -> magical,mythical,a true God. I found the best interconnect giving every drop of the magic juice this CD has to be Cardas Golden Reference.

I suggest to buy this player without a second thought - even without hearing it at all. Simply the most musical, refined, live, precise and dynamic player on the market. Plus that the clarity, harmonics and realism given from the tube output will take the piano, electric and acoustic guitars and violins in front of you. Also the player will mate very well with slightly thin & lean sounding amps like f.e. Pathos, YBA etc. giving astonishing detail and precision without adding 'thiness'. This CD is like cream & slightly warm chocolate (I love this characterism!) with a slighlty romantic sound yet analytical and airy as no one else. Also, added as a bonus, voices are coming from heaven. It has the best voice reproduction and mid-range clarity and realism compared even with the best of the world. Where is the 'digital' anymore ?

Product Weakness: With the LCD display screen turned 'off' it plays better. The other companies better produce a clone of this A5 to be tuned.
Product Strengths: The most musical, precise instrument of reproduction. Its a king. Huge soundstage, life-like harmonic presentation, non-fatigue, just the right amount of body of sounds. Natural and neutral, balanced spectrum. Tube output without sucrifice of dynamics. Dynamical as the real instruments in your home.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Many
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Many
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Many
Speakers:	Many
Cables/Interconnects:	Cardas
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Rock, Jazz
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	With the LCD display screen turned 'off' it plays better. The other companies better produce a clone of this A5 to be tuned.
Product Strengths:	The most musical, precise instrument of reproduction. Its a king. Huge soundstage, life-like harmonic presentation, non-fatigue, just the right amount of body of sounds. Natural and neutral, balanced spectrum. Tube output without sucrifice of dynamics. Dynamical as the real instruments in your home.