Buying an MF A3 cd?

[Mr. C]

I can honestly say that I've been sick of music for a few months, but recently started enjoying it again. Since I own a MF A3.2 power amp and a MF A3 preamp, I thought the A3 CDplayer would be nice and blend in at least visually, but I can not audition it at home since it is used equipment. It is 7 years old, and I don't know how it rates compared to the players of today retailing at about £300, or how it would sound in my set up at home. Using Dynaudio 1.3SE, which I really enjoy, especially for the low-bas which I find remarkably good especially for a bookshelf speaker.
Can someone please give me some advise? Tried reading reviews, but from those I get bad at low bass, a bit too much treble and "in your face" which to me sounds as if I won't like it and will find it too tiresome to listen to. Others has stated the opposite. Using a Denon DCD755 (or something like that) as a CDplayer, also about 7years old.....

[krishen]

i have heard the entire a3 range (pre power, and cd p) and thought it sounded wonderful on the end of some monitor audio s9i speakers, sounded very clean with tight and punchy bass.

[phil t]

Originally Posted by Mr. C

I thought the A3 CDplayer would be nice and blend in at least visually..............reading reviews, but from those I get which to me sounds as if I won't like it and will find it tobad at low bass, a bit too much treble and "in your face"o tiresome to listen to. Others has stated the opposite.....

I’ve not heard the Musical Fidelity A3 cdp, but I’ve heard (and own) an A3.2 cdp. Whilst I understand that it’s each to their own, horses for courses, etc, I don’t think you could describe the MF sound as “a bit too much treble and "in your face"”. I find Musical Fidelity to be, err well, musical. I would think for some tastes it’s too polite. I personally preferred the MF to Naim and Cyrus.

[Mr. C]

Thanks for your input, think I will be happy with it then. Would want it to be polite I think, that would suggest that it wont be too harsh or wear me out as happens now and then with my current CD. I notice that after listening for a while I turn the volume down, that never happens when playing vinyl.

[dublin78]

If you buy sensibly off ebay, you can usually get your money back, or more if your listing is better written than the purchased listing. For the sake of some postage (assuming you buy off ebay) I would say "go for it". You can't end up too much out of pocket.
I have loads of MF gear X series and A5 series, and I love it.

[Julio V]

Originally Posted by Mr. C

I can honestly say that I've been sick of music for a few months, but recently started enjoying it again. Since I own a MF A3.2 power amp and a MF A3 preamp, I thought the A3 CDplayer would be nice and blend in at least visually, but I can not audition it at home since it is used equipment. It is 7 years old, and I don't know how it rates compared to the players of today retailing at about £300, or how it would sound in my set up at home. Using Dynaudio 1.3SE, which I really enjoy, especially for the low-bas which I find remarkably good especially for a bookshelf speaker.
Can someone please give me some advise? Tried reading reviews, but from those I get bad at low bass, a bit too much treble and "in your face" which to me sounds as if I won't like it and will find it too tiresome to listen to. Others has stated the opposite. Using a Denon DCD755 (or something like that) as a CDplayer, also about 7years old.....

Hi

I used to own MF A3.2. My previous system : MF A3.2, Roksan Kandy MK3, Quad 11L. A3.2 is far better than Roksan Kandy CD. Not having heard MF A3, I could not say anything. But I think there is a bit different.

All I can say: it is quite musical, satisfied balance,and more important is it's very coherent. With some bad records, treble is sometimes a bit harsh

Comparing to new 300pounds CD player, it A3.2 will beat them all

[phil t]

Originally Posted by Julio V

Comparing to new 300pounds CD player, it A3.2 will beat them all

I am (of course) biased (because I've got one), but I would think a second hand A3.2 would still give most new £1000 players a run for their money. It would stomp all over new £300 machines.

[Mr. C]

Well, will soon find out Hope there isn't much between the A3 and the A3.2, would guess not even though I haven't got a clue what MF changed in them. Some say MF delivers new models as often as people change their underwear, probably a makret-thing rather then upgraded sound quality?
Will really look nice at home, but I'm not sure if I want it to be too good, if it outperforms my TT I will have a very difficult situation explaining things to my friends who don't agree vinyl is better then CD which I stubbornly been defending since I bought my NAS-turntable. Don't think my missus will approve if I "need" to upgrade cartridge and RIAA-preamp due to getting a too good CDp if you get my point. Guess its a bit odd hoping for not too much performance out of new equipment

The MF A3.2 cdp really looks stunning though, and I think I read somewhere it uses a very good transport as well, and I think it was something special with the transports in the A3x-line, can't remember what though. Think it was something that they developed it themselves and then bought from other companies for their newer produt-lines? Well, doesn't really make any difference....

[Mr. C]

Well, actually went home to the seller today and had a quick listen, didn't sound too good.... But since I wanted it for its cosmetics I told my self it was the speakers fault. The player wasn't faulty at least.... but I was nevertheless worried all the way back home.

Well, when connecting it to my equipment there was one thing that struck me at once. I have to do something about my room acoustics, the bass was overwhelming and loads of resonances I never noticed before. The mids and highs is also way better, really killing my old CDp, and those of you who believe there's no difference in CDplayers, think again! You must have a really good one or bottlenecks down the signalpath. The only thing I can say that might be a problem is that there seems to be a bit too much low and too much highs, sort of a loudness-function. But this is from at most 30 minutes listening and no judgement should be made, and that is most probably my room playing tricks. This was really fun, such an attack in the mids I'm more then happy!