How good is the Musical Fidelity A5?

I own both. The a5 cdp and the amps.

A5 is Extremely good. I spent an hour or so A/B testing the A5 against the Cary 303 and the Arcam 33 and the A5 was by far the most musical.

System was MF's KW Integrated into JM Lab Micro Utopia BE.
I simply dislike Arcam's forward presentation. THAT sound is sterile to me. The Cary was nice and more musical, but again, much more forward in presentation, sitting me right on top of the performers, which isn't to my taste.

The A5 was at least as detailed as the other CD players, but not shrill or harsh at all, and with a much more laid back presentation-- the singer was against and behind the back wall, which I prefer. It wasn't until after I finished listening that I learned the A5 had tubes in it, but it made complete sense.

For comparison, I went into a "higher-end" room at the same shop and listened to the same music through MF's KW SACD player into Unison tube monoblocks into some incredibly esoteric full range floorstanders. The sound was breathtaking and was the first believable rendering of an orchestra in a hall I've ever heard, but the A5 maintained some of that magic when I went back to the prior room, and didn't have the benefit of full range speakers.

I'm getting an A5 as soon as I can afford it.

I had the A5 CDP with the kW500 and B&W 802D speakers and I did not have the same great experience as the poster above.

When I first received it I also had a Classe CDP-100; in my short time comparing the two I thought the A5 was very slightly better so I kept it. After some time I found I was not pleased, CD playback was cold and sterile. This led me to purchase the Meridian G08, which I acknowledge is much more expensive, but this player bettered the A5 in my system in every way, a few examples being, deeper and tighter bottom end, better high frequency extension, more open and 3D... YMMV

I'm suprised to hear that you found a Tubed CD Player, "Cold and Sterile." I also thought it was much better than the Classe CDP. The Meridian, I cannot say that I have listened to this player.... but have heard good things. I am REALLY curious about the MF KW SACD player. Anyone heard it?

I guess we each have to trust our own ears and go with what makes us happy. I'm keeping all my A5 items.

Tubes are no guarantee of a warm and fuzzy sound.