CREEK AUDIO 4040A > Winner, winner. - Audiophilia

Mike Creek, the founder of Creek Audio, designed his 4040 Integrated Amplifier in 1982. It launched the company and was one of the plethoras of low-power, low-riding British integrateds (Arcam, Audiolab, etc) that captured so many audiophiles’ imaginations back in the day. 40 years later, Creek has introduced his 40th Anniversary version of the 4040, the diminutive 55 Watt “half size” 4040 A.

Unlike the ‘80s 4040, many of today’s integrated amplifiers are more like all-in-ones. Want to compete? In addition to standard integrated functionality, you best have a solid DAC onboard with streaming capabilities. A phono stage would be nice, too. Here you get a lot for your $1200 USD. 55 Watts, 2 RCA inputs, one XLR input, Power Amp Direct via a menu option, 3 digital inputs including 1 co-axial, 1 optical, 1 USB 2.0, Bluetooth aptX and a DAC using an ES9018k2m Sabre chip. A plug-and-play MM phono board is optional.

SOUND
So whether it was Ella crooning, yes she croons sometimes, with solo piano on the above album, Julian Bream sounding very fine on his beautiful classical guitar in the exceptional Sir Lennox Berkeley Guitar Concerto (have a stream, it’s wonderful), Bill Evans playing his heart out on Everybody Digs Bill Evans (the streaming resolution is good enough that you’ll hear the distortion from the original tapes), or my bass tester on streaming and CD, “Dead Already” from Thomas Newman’s soundtrack to American Beauty, the streamer section was incisive and accurate—a total bargain. If you purchase this unit, you’ll be streaming a lot.
The primary use pre/power section was punchy, direct and forthright with very wide dynamic variations in sound. As such, the superb Red Book CD Telarc Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 2 (A London Symphony) with André Previn conducting the Royal Philharmonic is a great test for both micro and macro dynamics for any integrated. Primarily the spectacularly beautiful “Lento”. It begins with very quiet dynamics. See image A below; ppp with muted slow-moving mid and low strings. This places great demands on the resolving power of your front end. Many times, I’ve heard this as a murmur and a mushy one at that. The 4040 A passed this acid test well—the muted sound of the strings (soft, sure, but the essence of the string sound must remain) was focused and also captured the gentle nature of the rising passages. It’s so important as it sets the scene for the elegiac style of Vaughan Williams representing the great city he loves (specifically, a November afternoon in Bloomsbury Square—adjacent to The British Museum, if you know London).

SUMMARY
So what you’ll be getting is British design acumen with a smooth Class D amplifier section, an excellent streamer and DAC in a diminutive package for $1200 USD ($1495 CAD). It looks and feels very well made and will sit nicely in your audio rack. It doesn’t get hot to the touch and knowing how long these British integrateds last, you’ll be handing it down to your nephew or niece 30 years from now.
The 4040 A can be considered a super bargain in the audiophile world. Great functionality, very good sound, and well made. Winner, winner.
- Audiophilia, November 2023

Creek Audio 4040A
Audiophilia