In pursuit of the perfect sound, as in almost any other hobby, all the time you have to raise the quality (and price, of course) the bar. New devices are more expensive than previous ones, more, more complicated ... So it can go on for a long time, after this process you can forget the original idea - getting pleasure from music. Today I will talk about the device, which reminded me that a real high from music can be received without thousands of expenses. It's about the Maverick Audio A1 amplifier.
Maverick Audio is a Chinese company, but this is a case called “honest China”, when for little money you get a good device that is reliable and performs its tasks by 120%. The company has three products that it offers in several variations: the amplifier A1, the DAC D2, and the “combine” (DAC + headphone amplifier) D1. All of them are very good, and I will definitely “get there” before them, but for the time being, it’s about A1.
Maverick Audio A1 is a hybrid integrated amplifier built on lamps and an LM4766T chip from Texas Instruments operating in the AB class. In the basic version of the A1 is a very modest $ 199, a version is offered for 239, in which the standard lamps are replaced with a selected pair of Raytheon 6AK5. I recommend immediately to take the "upgraded" version, since the difference in price is more than covered by the sound quality. Buy an amplifier, by the way, you can right in .
Lamps work in a preamplifier, which in combination acts as an amplifier for headphones, chips come into play when using A1 with acoustic systems.
In products Maverick Audio noticeable desire to give the user as much as possible for his money. This is expressed in thoughtful design, and in a neat assembly, and in the abundance of inputs and outputs. But first things first.
Specifications
- Inputs: 1 x RCA; 1 x 6.3 mm TRS
- Headphone output: 1000 mW @ 32Ω, 500 mW @ 300Ω, 300 mW @ 600Ω
- Speaker Output: 20 W per channel
- Speaker impedance: 4Ω - 8Ω
- Input Impedance: 100KΩ
- Frequency range: 20 Hz - 25 kHz
- Signal to noise ratio: > 90 dB
- Harmonic distortion: <0.1% (on the preamp)
- Dimensions: 26 cm x 5.5 cm x 16.7 cm
- Weight: 2.6 kg
Design and management
The amplifier comes in a simple unmarked cardboard box, inside, except for the A1 itself, you will find a small instruction, an adapter from 6.3 to 3.5 mm, an audio cord with two 3.5 mm connectors at the ends and a power cord suitable for your country. On the one hand - no frills, on the other hand - everything you need to connect and start using.
The amplifier itself is small in size, its area is less than A4 paper, but it weighs quite solidly. The body is made of black anodized aluminum and is very well fitted: nothing staggers, does not creak, does not hang out. In general, on the "exterior" - this kid is able to compete with many solutions of the middle and sometimes the upper segment.
All controls and connectors are located on the front and rear panels. Ahead are the volume control with a very pleasant “stepped” stroke, a switch allowing you to choose between two inputs, headphone output connectors and 6.3 mm inputs, a power switch and a LED indicator. The developer knowingly placed one of the inputs on the front panel: if the amplifier is somewhere in the rack or pushed into the corner of the table, you can easily connect your smartphone / player / tablet and listen to music from it through the front jack.
On the rear panel is a set of inputs and outputs. A pair of RCA input connectors, a pair of the same connectors that serve as the output from a lamp preamp (if you decide to use A1 in this role), speakers for connecting the speaker system, a power supply switch, a fuse socket and a cable connector.
Of course, I could not resist and disassembled the amplifier. Inside, everything is collected very carefully, although the scheme is quite simple, which is not surprising for the price of the amplifier, but the result is excellent. The left half of the case is reserved for power supply, in the right there are a small board and a radiator of cooling LM4766T. Holes are made in the lower and upper parts of the case to improve cooling, you should not block them. Lamps are placed horizontally in order to fit in a small package.
The remaining products of the company are made in the same-sized cases, so if you decide to purchase an A1 DAC D2, they will perfectly fit one another.
Sound
To listen to the amplifier, I used the following equipment:
- MacBook Pro Retina Late 2013 as a source;
- Yulong DA8 via USB as a DAC, connected to A1 with Audio-Gd cables;
- Fidelia as a player;
- Headphones Philips Fidelio X1, AKG K702, ZMF Fostex, Fischer Audio FA-003 Bog Oak Limited Edition, Fischer Audio FA-011 Limited Edition Japan, Sennheiser HD800;
- Records in lossless format.
The tube amplifier is just the case when the device needs warming up. After turning on the amplifier, it takes about 5 seconds before it starts to play, but the maximum sound quality is reached in about 5-7 minutes after switching on. A1 also has a slight background noise, but you can hear it only in complete silence when the music is not playing. This is the price of using lamps. In our digital age, such purely analog behavior is perceived with a touch of pleasant nostalgia.
If we discard all those jokes with which the narrow-minded people who have read Lurkmor love to flaunt, then the sound of A1 is tube, in the sense that this word is embedded in audio equipment. He is soft, musical and very engaging. With such an amplifier, you lose a little in attack speed, but you will noticeably win in the wholeness of the presentation and immersion in the musical material. Also, A1 is not very picky about the material, with it you can listen to old recordings without remastering, modern recordings affected by the “war of loudness”, favorite rips from vinyl, all this is particularly well possible A1.
The amplifier does a pretty good job with most of the headphones, but with some of them it shows just the same diabolical synergy. In combination with the FA-011, for example, it sounds so nice to my ear that it easily plugs many more expensive solutions with a belt.
The upper frequencies are slightly inferior in detail and quantity to solid-state amplifiers. On the one hand, this slightly reduces the "airiness" of the sound, on the other - such a sound does not tire even with prolonged listening. There is not the slightest hint of sibilance and sharpness.
The mids are also slightly (quite a bit) painted. Connoisseurs of super-detailed and analytical sound may not like this, but for my taste, this benefits the general panorama. With A1, I started listening more to live recordings, it somehow transmits better the sound of a well-recorded concert. The way he plays Deep Purple "Made in Japan" is impressive in a good way.
Low frequencies are the real fad of this amplifier. Deep, well-controlled bass, able to show "where the crayfish winter" many models more expensive. In this case, the woofer remain in place and do not try to drown out the other frequencies. I can be mistaken, but, in my opinion, for this it is necessary to thank the good quality power circuit of the amplifier. Manufacturers have managed to find a balance when the amplifier is able to add bass to those headphones that lack it a bit, and not to overdo it with more bass headphones.
To A1 it is very desirable to choose the right headphones. With very dark and bass models, he is unlikely to make friends, it is better to choose something more neutral. In addition to the above-mentioned FA-011, Grado sounds good with Tube Magic A1, top Audio-Technica and Sennheiser models, old AKG models, well-developed isodynamics. A very good amplifier and headphones-inserts, even with very sensitive models of the noise is almost inaudible.
Tube Magic A1 builds a good virtual scene. Good width, there is depth, the tools are well separated.
Despite the fact that my main interest is headphones, it would be unwise not to test the amplifier with speakers. Since the large outdoor speakers are clearly not for the A1, I tried it with a modest pair of Wharfedale Vardus S2 bookshelves. The nature of the sound is generally similar to headphones: perfectly controlled bass, slightly distant midrange and softened HF. Musical and engaging pitch available. Of course, the A1 obviously cannot do this with expensive specialized amplifiers (it is not designed for this), but as part of the desktop set, in addition to a pair of simple bookshelf speakers, A1 will feel great.
findings
Maverick Audio A1 is a great choice for lovers of good music who appreciate an engaging pitch. Nice appearance and competent design make it even more attractive, it will perfectly fit into almost any interior. The abundance of inputs and outputs and the ability to rock small passive speakers make it a universal solution for a music lover with a limited budget.
From myself, I note that with the advent of my A1, I almost do not listen to other amplifiers, including those that are several times more expensive. Sometimes the musical presentation is more valuable than all other characteristics.
The article is based on materials .
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