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This is a buyer’s market for the XA-2 at the moment: £310 sits at the low end of the usual used chatter, with recent asking/sold references clustering around roughly £300–£350 and the odd cleaner example higher, so this looks like a fair-to-good buy rather than an overreach. If it’s complete and working properly, I’d view £310 as sensible money for one of these.
The XA-2 is well-liked for its 75W per channel punch, smooth but lively presentation, and the kind of grip and drive that suits real-world speakers better than its modest size suggests. The big upside is that these are still respected, solidly built integrateds with decent resale, so a tidy, fully functioning example can be a nice keepers’ amp. Just make sure the external PSU is present and the unit powers up cleanly, since missing or untested supply issues are the main thing that can turn a good price into a headache.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Musical Fidelity, a British hi-fi icon, traces its roots to 1982 when clarinettist and audio enthusiast Antony Michaelson founded the company in London. Disillusioned with the sound quality of existing gear after his stint at predecessor Michaelson & Austin, he handcrafted his debut product—a minimalist preamplifier dubbed "The Preamp"—on his kitchen table. Paired with the quirky Dr. Thomas power amplifier, these designs disrupted the market with their bold aesthetics and sonic punch, establishing Michaelson’s experimental ethos from the outset.
The brand has long centered on amplifiers as its cornerstone, spanning integrated, power, phono, headphone, and preamp models renowned for Class-AB topology and innovative touches like Nuvistor tubes. It expanded into streaming players, DACs, CD players, Bluetooth receivers, all-in-one systems, and even headphones and turntables, always prioritizing musicality over convention. Unconventional industrial designs, from curved heatsinks to sculptural panels, became signatures, influencing competitors.
Positioned firmly in the high-end arena, Musical Fidelity commands respect among discerning audiophiles for its value-driven performance and soulful sound. Iconic models like the A1 and F-series endure as collector favorites, blending accessibility with premium engineering. Acquired by Austria’s Audio Tuning in 2018, it continues evolving under new stewardship while honoring its heritage as a boutique force in British hi-fi.
See all Musical Fidelity listings on RADAR.
