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Thread: Musical Fidelity A1008 - does the valve portion of the pre require servicing?

  1. #11
    Join Date: Oct 2018

    Location: Sussex

    Posts: 10
    I'm Gav.

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    Sounds like I'm slowly putting together your old system Martin!

    I noticed one thing with the XTC that I hope settles down a bit - as it heated up the metal ticked occasionally as it expanded and as it cooled once powered down. It was loud enough that I noticed it (and it did get quite warm - up to 48 degC and I was running it in AB mode mostly). I'll also have to remember to get used to putting it into standby each night due to the power draw & heat. With the Cyrus I usually just left it on all the time as it never got particularly warm...

  2. #12
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,772
    I'm Martin.

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    Yes it does tick a bit sometimes. Always keep it in standby or switch it off at the back, it will last longer. I mostly used mine as a power amp only with a passive pre-amp until I moved it to the A/V system where the built-in DAC comes in handy. Although at the moment it is back working as an integrated in my main system whilst my Krell is in for repairs.


    I've tried it in class A mode but the only difference I can determine is that it gets a lot warmer!


    Is it any improvement on the Cyrus? I found the big advantage of it over the Linn LK100 I was using before was that it never, ever sounded like it was running out of steam no matter what music or what volume. I hate it when you can hear the amp bottom out on peaks.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  3. #13
    Join Date: Oct 2018

    Location: Sussex

    Posts: 10
    I'm Gav.

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    I tried switching between A and AB last night several times - on some songs it's noticeable but oddly only really going from AB > A and not the other way around. At best it's a slightly crisper top end and a very slight sense of more 'space' around the instruments. I couldn't tell you from a standing start which mode it was in and the change is very subtle. Is class A worth the extra heat and power draw? No, not in my opinion - but it's certainly interesting to have tested though. I suspect I'll leave it in AB mode permanently and running AB-only tonight it never went much above 30-32 degC which is fine in my book. Evidently once you've run it in A for a bit it takes a while to dissipate that heat even once back in AB.

    How does it compare to the Cyrus..? That's quite an interesting one to answer, especially after having known the Cyrus' sound for so long. Changing components can sometimes be an exercise in "...it's different, but is it better...?" I think I need to break it down a little in order to answer and I'll come back to this at the end of the post.

    The first thing I noticed is XTZ has incredible control of the bottom end and this was the change that stood out the most. It's like taking a tent that's flapping in the breeze and tensioning all the guy ropes - it's much tauter and agile but what's also happened is that the control in lower end has had significant benefits in the mid-range too. The mids and upper frequencies are now layered on a more stable base (bass? ) and the XTZ's better control of the drivers has allowed that to come to the fore - not only is it clearer but it's also sharpened the soundstaging. I always felt there was more the A2s could do in the midrange and it seems the Cyrus was the limitation in this regard. I've also noticed that the separation has improved markedly and it's much easier to follow both lead vocal and backing harmony for example or a single acoustic guitar amongst many.

    The top end is also a huge improvement on the Cyrus although my higher-frequency hearing is starting to roll off now (I can't hear above 15kHz and I have permanent tinnitus - a consistent whistle at around 13kHz from years of drumming and not protecting my ears in my early 20s - stupid really but them's the breaks). I did always wish the Cyrus did more at the top end, perhaps it's just a slightly warmer/smoother sound than I ever realised. The last couple of days have been worse than usual for tinnitus, usually I can tune it out more.

    Here are a few of my favourite reference tracks I've listened to tonight:

    Allan Taylor- 'The Traveller', 'A House by the River'
    The Notting Hillbillies - 'Your Own Sweet Way'
    Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - 'Flight of the Cosmic Hippo'
    Chris Jones - 'Long After You're Gone'
    Daft Punk - 'Lose Yourself to Dance' (the Édition Studio Masters version from Qobuz)
    Eagles - 'Hotel California' (Live version from 'Hell Freezes Over')
    Dire Straits - 'Brothers In Arms' (MFSL version)
    Pendulum - 'Watercolour'
    Dirty Loops - 'Circus'
    Porcupine Tree - Blackest Eyes'
    Fun Lovin' Criminals - 'Passive/Aggressive'
    Home Free - 'In the Blood'
    Incognito - 'After the Fall'
    Jan Garbarek & The Hilliard Ensemble - 'Parce mihi domine'
    The Greater Good - 'If I Could'
    Rob Martino - 'One Cloud'
    Propellerheads - 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'

    So overall yes the XTZ is clearly a big improvement over the 8vs2, however to be fair to the Cyrus it does pack a punch that belies its size and overall it's been very impressive for the money. By a stroke of luck, the XTZ just seems to take the things I liked about the Cyrus and do them bigger and better whilst also addressing some of the (few, minor) shortcomings I felt the old amp had. With an easier pair of speakers to drive the Cyrus would probably shine all the more; the XTZ is a cracker but the Cyrus isn't as far behind as you'd think it might be.
    Last edited by Funk; 23-05-2019 at 23:42.

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