Clarity, detail, imaging, range

Haven't found any yet

I have the A3i connected to a pair of PSB Century 500is using Tara Labs Prism Omni cables. The source is the weakest link by far, so keep that in mind when reading the review- it's a five-year old Sony Discman, connected with a stock interconnect.

Even with such poor quality source, the clarity, detail, tonal range and imaging is impressive. I almost got goosebumps when listening to Sarah McLachlan's "Surfacing". After listening to more varied program material, it's clear that the amp is letting the CD player's true colors shine through; decent range (and the bass extends very deeply), but the midrange is a little cool and bare. Despite comments regarding this as a flaw in the amp, I am willing to bet a decent sum that this is due to the source- a warmer CD-player such as a Marantz or NAD (I'm on a shoestring budget) would really work well, especially with the PSBs, which can sound rich and smooth when given half a chance.

With the source being the caveat here, this amp is impressive. I found it for $ 369 at Sound City (www.soundcity.com). Their sales rep was very nice and helpful, the item shipped when I needed it to, it was VERY well protected/packaged and arrived in perfect condition.

There is definitely enough power to drive my 6 Ohm speakers, and I am (a typical response) hearing details I never heard before. My wife (a former classical and jazz musician) commented that the instruments sound very accurately represented. I agree- this amp excels at playing jazz, classical and folk due to its detail and clarity, but handles rock well also. I highly recommend it- for what you are paying it is a real bargain. Can't wait to get a better source hooked up to it.

I have given the A3i four stars overall because there are so many good amps out there, and plenty that can outperform it- but five stars for value, as I believe it is one of the very best at its price point.

Similar Products Used:

NAD amps, Onkyo (unknown model, connected to my speakers in showroom), Rotel RA971

Cambridge Audio is a difficult brand to audition if you live outside the U.K. or Europe but is worth the time and effort. Much to my surprise, the A3i is real audiophile equipment with exceptional mids, clear highs and a decent, although rounded bass. If your speakers are not sensitive then the bass response may sound a bit underpowered when driven to any volume. The unit is well-designed, solidly built (for an Asian built unit) and includes features unusual for the price including an extra set of posts for bi-wiring. My only gripe is why does this unit and all Cambridge products (and other British brands) cost more in the U.S. The unit retails for 200 pounds in London ($330 US) but can be had for 140 pounds ($240 US), but it retails for $530 everywhere in the States. At less than $500, nothing can come close. At above $500, it is worth a comparison of Musical Fidelity X-A1, etc.

Very clean/clear revealing sound, tight bass

Can be a little too "Revealing" in the wrong system

A while back I submitted a review and rated this integrated 2 or 3 stars. I had tried 2 of them and both times felt the sound to be somewhat thread bare in the mids. After that I kept reading very favorable reviews here, and figured I would audition this amp. one more time. I'm glad I did. Somehow this A3i had a fuller presentation, while still being clean. I experimented and set the A3i on Audioquest sorb. feet and that was the clincher for me. The sound mellowed out just enough to lose the nasties it can sometime achieve when the going gets a bit much, while retaining its clarity for the most part. This one is a keeper. Who says an old dog can't ..........

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Tried 2 different A3i s in the past.

Yes you can get these things for under $400 now, and they were a bargain at their list price of $520. A truly amazing amplifier for anywhere near the money. If I had to pick one phrase to describe this amp it would be "VERY Revealing". You will hear everything; the quality of the recording, the quality of your speakers, the quality of your source and interconnects. Sometimes you don't want all those things to be revealed (especially poorly made/mixed pop or pop-classical recordings), but most of the time you'd rather hear all the stuff you were missing with your old amp. The timing, detail, and channel separation are so outstanding that even on recordings I know very well, I've heard instruments and attacks I'd never heard before. Out of the box, such detail is thrilling, but a little harsh. After 40 or so hours of use, the thrill is still there but the harshness is gone.
Be sure to use good cables and interconnects with this amp. You don't want the great timing and detail screwed up. And with more to screw up, cheap wire may sound worse with the A3i than with cheap amps. If you don't want to spend a little more on wire or don't believe in the benefits of good wire then this amp probably isn't for you.
Two points about the imputs. The phono imput is quite hot, meaning not much volume cranking is required and a high output MC will work fine. The CD imput, on the other hand, is colder than line. For recent, high output CDs this is great. You get better control over the precise volume you want. But for early CDs, especially classical, this means you have to crank the volume WAY up. So far I've noticed no distortion even at full blast with a quiet CD. And an easy remedy for those occasions is to attatch the CD interconnects to a line level input. This doesn't bother me but may bother some.
Last, while I've always known that a good LP sounds better than a CD, I've never really heard it until I got this amp. Don't get me wrong, CDs still sound tons better on the A3i than on my trusty old receiver. But now I hear on the well mastered LPs (and even with my so-so table) that edge of greater realism or "presence" that's missing from even the best CD. When we get 96K 24 bit (or better) CD standards, CDs will actually gain the upper hand, but for now the LP still rules and this amp lets you hear why.

My stuff (asterisks by thing's I've reviewed here):
*Cambridge A3i Integrated Amp
Thorens TD 280 Turntable
Grado Prestige Green cartridge
*Michell Tenderfoot cone point feet (under turntable)
*Harmon Kardon HK 710 CD Player
Marantz SP2006 Speakers (not bad but weakest link)
Target HS-50 (I think) speaker stands
*Audioquest Ruby interconnects (CD to AMP)
*Audioquest Indigo speaker cables

I have my A3i a year and from day to day i rediscover(!) the music.Perfect sound for the discs i hear: Jazz , Classic , pop , Rock.
I was deaf till last year ! BUT: choose good speakers , biwire them and close your eyes , the stage is in front of you !

Sonics

Slight brassy

Wonderful intergrated..Very transparent,sonic bliss..

Similar Products Used:

Mclntosh Kenwood Pioneer many others

Generally I have to agree with most of the previous comments.Good detail,broad soundstage and remarkable clarity for the money.
However I found it requires careful partnering as it can easily offend in the wrong system. Even down to the interconnects. I tried a set of Prowire Silver to bring out more bass definition but all I got was a Mess!
Using natural sounding connects like Qudos Qnect 2 the result was wonderful!
So overall no complaints for the money (and I do sympathise with buyers in the States but hey we can't get DH Labs products at all over here!)

Like to share with all the Cambridge Audio owners that are thinking of upgrading. I have Cambridge Audio CD4SE and A3i, these are very well reviewed here with a Gale 4i speakers. I have gone auditioned for a newer speakers such and settled for the Mission 773e. Gorgeous speakers but need time to run in.. during the run-in I noticed everything seemed to be harsh and bright. Took away all the music I enjoyed. Then it started to settle in. During this time I was introduced to "Musical Fidelity X-10D" which the salesman said will definitely take away all the hardhness and brightness. To cut the story short, the X-10D really change the sound of my whole system to better. After couple of weeks and tried an A/B , with and without the X-10D, and the difference is significant. Without the X-10D everything sound so thin, with them , you have soundstage, smoothness and body in the music (the tube sound). The salesman guaranteed the improvement of money back guarantee ( which is not practice in my country).

For those that want a better sound but limited budget, go ahead and get the X-10D , you can hear the difference, of course on my humble system that has been highly rated here.
Get them fast coz MF are no longer manufacturing them.

I purchased an open box demo Cambridge A3i integrated Amp for Audio Advisor.com for $329, they are $399 regularly. I had been using a Harman Kardon AVR 40 Receiver to drive my Klipsch KLF Legend 20's. Many on this site said that I would not hear any improvement with the switch, but I went ahead anyway. I had been listening to my system with the HK for a full year, and was pretty familiar with how it sounded. I hooked up the Cambridge and I immediatly noticed a cleaner, clearer sound, with better imaging than before, and slightly better bass Reproduction. It is a very simple peice. has 5 inputs. CD, Tuner, Video, Tape and phono. Bass and Treble, Volume and a feature I like that bypasses the tone controls giving shortest path for the signal. There are no bells and whistles with this piece. No remote, not 20 imputs, not for HT. I think this is a sensible and viable upgrade from recievers for those interested in stereo sound rather than HT. It beats the HK AVR 40, which was very highly rated on this site, by myself included. For the price, it functions very well, I am very happy with my purchase, and unlike the reviewer below, Mine is not returning to Audio Advisor.com.

I love this amp. I bought it new from Audio Advisor (heck, I bought my whole system from them, which I wasn't planning to do, but it was just so darn convenient, and I'm happy anyway, so...). Right out the box, the sound coming from the speakers was so much more natural and smooth sounding than my previous set up (a noisy Yamaha reciever), that I actually listened to, like, half of my LP/CD collection the first couple of nights night just to experience the difference. It handled everything I threw at it (rock, jazz, classical) quite admirably. And this thing is so quiet, I forget that it's on somtimes (..never experienced that before). As for Jerry's not so great 0review below, you did listen to something other than Sarah Brightman's CD, right?