Cheap, durable, crisp, and high quality sound. (Cambridge Audio A1)

Member Name: Trask

Product:	Cambridge Audio A1
Date:	04/08/08 (298 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great sound quality, reasonably stylish, good value.

Disadvantages: Does'nt go up to 11.

The A1 series of amplifiers by Cambridge Audio make a fantastic benchmark for budget amps.

I own an A1mk3 and have done for several years now. I dont remember how much it cost me but the fact that i was able to afford it at all back then means it must have been pretty cheap.

It has spent the vast majority of its life hooked up to my various PCs and blasting out music and the sound of countless virtual battles through various tower speaker sets.

The sound quality is great and it can crank out a fair few dB when you need it to (provided it doesnt overheat at high volumes due to the vent on top being blocked by a stack of paper and a secondary monitor, but thats my fault).

It has all the connectability I need and given the fact I dont opertate a PA system or DJ Booth probably all the power i will ever need too.

Just for the record this amp has been overheated through my own stupidity, dropped several times (the corners are mostly either rounded off of razor sharp from being droped onto tarmac), doused in water and beer and has suffered generally instensive use and it sounds every bit as good as it did when I first purchased it.

Oh, and the volume knob is satisfyingly 'heavy' which is a deciding factor for me when purchacing such equipment.

Summary: Highly reccomended as a budget amplifier, does everything you need and will last forever (i hope).

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