Cambridge Audio A1 replacement

andythelandy · 9 Nov 2013 at 14:45

So my A1 gave up the ghost and isn't worth repairing considering how much you can pick one up for now so i'm after a replacement that is an improvement.

I really like the look of the newer cambridge audio Topaz am5 or am10 amps and im tempted to buy new this time but are the Topaz amps actually better than the old A1?

I'm running Roth Oli1 speakers and I was considering to get a sub to run with them before the amp broke so I would undoubtably get a sub in the future.

Thanks for any advice.

Marsman · 9 Nov 2013 at 17:51

The AM range is of better build quality than the A1/5. Whether there is any upgrade in terms of sound quality, I'm not sure. Like the A5, the AM5 offers tone controls and more power output compared to the A1/AM1. The AM5 also has a front MP3 input. The AM10 offers more power output again, a headphone socket, an extra source input (5) as well as the front MP3 in and a remote control.

The AM1 would be a good direct replacement for the A1, but if you are considering the AM5/10, then personally I'd go for the Marantz PM5004, especially if you are looking at the AM10. The PM5004 is currently £157 at SuperFi. It's a very good amp for the money.

AtaRo · 9 Nov 2013 at 18:43

What version of the A1 do you got?

If it is the original V1, then it is worth fixing it.However if it is V2 and up it's better to get a replacement.

andythelandy · 9 Nov 2013 at 21:01

Marsman said:
The AM range is of better build quality than the A1/5. Whether there is any upgrade in terms of sound quality, I'm not sure. Like the A5, the AM5 offers tone controls and more power output compared to the A1/AM1. The AM5 also has a front MP3 input. The AM10 offers more power output again, a headphone socket, an extra source input (5) as well as the front MP3 in and a remote control.

The AM1 would be a good direct replacement for the A1, but if you are considering the AM5/10, then personally I'd go for the Marantz PM5004, especially if you are looking at the AM10. The PM5004 is currently £157 at SuperFi. It's a very good amp for the money.

I had noticed this amp but i knew nothing about it, Is it a better amp than the AM10 then, I assume it would sound better than my A1? Also will it pair with my Roth Oli's well?

AtaRo said:
What version of the A1 do you got?

If it is the original V1, then it is worth fixing it.However if it is V2 and up it's better to get a replacement.

It's a V2 served me for a good few years but you can pick them up used for £30 and it'll easily cost that to get this one repaired.

Marsman · 9 Nov 2013 at 21:55

andythelandy said:
I had noticed this amp but i knew nothing about it, Is it a better amp than the AM10 then, I assume it would sound better than my A1? Also will it pair with my Roth Oli's well?

I don't see why it wouldn't be a good pairing, but as with all audio, tastes can vary quite a bit. Although I'd go for the PM5004, maybe the AM10 would be the better choice for you, as you know what to expect from the sound signature.

One thing I didn't realise before was that the AM10 uses a toroidal transformer, which the AM1 does not and I don't think the AM5 does either. Toroidal transformers are a better type of transformer to use in amplifiers than the type used in the cheaper models. If you want to stick with the sound signature that CA have then I'd either go for the AM10, or AM1 if you'd prefer to spend less. I wouldn't go for the AM5, as the AM10 is better for not a great deal more.

Edit: The next question is, if you can get another A1 for £30, is the mk1 version? It seems the A1 mk1 used a toroidal transformer, from what I can tell, which was dropped from the mk2 and mk3 for cost cutting reasons.

andythelandy · 9 Nov 2013 at 23:57

Marsman said:
I don't see why it wouldn't be a good pairing, but as with all audio, tastes can vary quite a bit. Although I'd go for the PM5004, maybe the AM10 would be the better choice for you, as you know what to expect from the sound signature.

One thing I didn't realise before was that the AM10 uses a toroidal transformer, which the AM1 does not and I don't think the AM5 does either. Toroidal transformers are a better type of transformer to use in amplifiers than the type used in the cheaper models. If you want to stick with the sound signature that CA have then I'd either go for the AM10, or AM1 if you'd prefer to spend less. I wouldn't go for the AM5, as the AM10 is better for not a great deal more.

Edit: The next question is, if you can get another A1 for £30, is the mk1 version? It seems the A1 mk1 used a toroidal transformer, from what I can tell, which was dropped from the mk2 and mk3 for cost cutting reasons.

It seems mk1 A1's are very hard to come by whereas there are hundreds of mk2/3's to be found on aution sites, I guess this says a lot about the mk1. Out of interest does the pm5004 use the Toroidal transformers?

Marsman · 10 Nov 2013 at 02:55

It does.

I found a picture comparison that someone put up on Hifi Wigwam, originally posted by Ataro. It's the mk1 compared to the mk3. You can see the cut backs they have made. Not sure how the mk2 compares to the mk3.

A A1 mk1 for £30 would be a 'no brainer' really. As there aren't many about, it becomes a choice of a second hand A1 mk2/3 for £30, new AM1 for £80, or AM10/something else for around £160. If you have a Richer Sounds in the area you live, might be worth going along with your speakers and having a listen to some amps around the £150-£170 mark, see how you find them in comparison to the A1/AM1.

Kei · 10 Nov 2013 at 11:09

No great advantage to a toroid other than slight reduction to stray magnetic fields in unshielded form and they allow for a higher VA rating for a given size. (i.e. it takes up less space than a frame type transformer of the same rating) All transformers for amplifiers should have shielding, which should negate the stray magnetic field advantage, though i would say that a manufacturer willing to spend the little extra on a toroid is certainly less likely to have skimped on the design. (at least one exception to that is luxman who made extremely high end amps that all used very big frame transformers back in the 70's & 80's. They were initially a Japanese transformer manufacturer no less) A PM5004 should use a toroid, I know that the 6004 did.

AtaRo · 11 Nov 2013 at 10:55

If you have not bought one yet a good budget replacement would be a Cambridge Audio A5/A500.

I would stay away from the AM5, as it looks like it is another cheap replacement for the A1 series, the AM10 is 35 watts so it is a little more powerful than your old A1 V2 but it is still lower than the A5 series which packs a 60 watts per channel full discrete amplifier and can be had for about £50 from the auction site.

A1 series 25 watts per channel

A5 60 watts per channel

A500 - same as the A5 but with the optional remote + phono module, if you still listen to vinyl this is worth a look.

AM5 25 watts per channel - I have not yet had the change to open one of this but it looks like it's using the same IC or maybe a diff version of the IC used in the A1 V2 and up.

andythelandy · 11 Nov 2013 at 21:03

AtaRo said:
If you have not bought one yet a good budget replacement would be a Cambridge Audio A5/A500.

I would stay away from the AM5, as it looks like it is another cheap replacement for the A1 series, the AM10 is 35 watts so it is a little more powerful than your old A1 V2 but it is still lower than the A5 series which packs a 60 watts per channel full discrete amplifier and can be had for about £50 from the auction site.

A1 series 25 watts per channel

A5 60 watts per channel

A500 - same as the A5 but with the optional remote + phono module, if you still listen to vinyl this is worth a look.

AM5 25 watts per channel - I have not yet had the change to open one of this but it looks like it's using the same IC or maybe a diff version of the IC used in the A1 V2 and up.

I haven't bought anything yet no, I'm torn between getting something new, and saving some money and getting an A5 do you think the extra power would help my little Roth Oli1's? They have always been weak bass wise with the A1

AtaRo · 12 Nov 2013 at 11:33

andythelandy said:
I haven't bought anything yet no, I'm torn between getting something new, and saving some money and getting an A5 do you think the extra power would help my little Roth Oli1's? They have always been weak bass wise with the A1

The one thing you will notice is the increased driving power of the A5 compared to the A1 as to the bass honestly I don't know as I don't have any experience with your speaker, you can try positioning it close to the wall.

airwave99 · 12 Nov 2013 at 19:57

I remember trying a friend's AM5 and found the sound to be less rich than my old A1 mk1. So would have thought an AM10, or second hand A1/A5 would be a better replacement.