Another problem with the ever pleasing A32...

[Anonymous]

[quote user="jbadman"]
[quote user="JoelSim"]I don't think it's your amp that's at fault. Sounds like speaker problems to me. It's just that the amp shows them in their true light. I don't have any treble issues ever on my Arcam stuff no matter which CD I have on. A balanced system obviously.[/quote]

Also, I recall seeing pictures of Huges' listening room somewhere on this forum... definately finding some speakers which are happy with that space would be the next step, but I reckon he'll struggle.

In a small awkward room, a decent mini with all it's 'unpure' signal processing to boost all the pleasant frequencies will probably give him the most pleasing sound at a realistic volume in the space he has.

My old Aiwa mini form 1991 (the NSX D55, to be precise, yes, that's right) which cost £400 then is still used in my garage to provide music in the garden - it still thumps along very pleasingly with loads of bass, punch and attack.

Because you can infinately adjust the tone and processing you can make it sound good in any space... ("good" is obvioulsy relative in this context...) Want more bass and punch? Hey, turn up the T-Bass. Want more sparkle? add some "BBE Enhancement" (get on). Trebble not clear enough? play about with the EQ

Sure all this rubbish will make it deviate from the original recording in a pureists eyes (ears?) and yes, stuff like depth, dynamics and soundstage will be compromised.....but will the music sound good to Hughes in his room? He's already hinted as much!
[/quote]

You certainly have a point, and I was very pleased with my old JVC mini (the MX-J850R) but I've just got another problem. I was planning on taking the Arcam back and asking for a full refund and then using my JVC A-X5 (which is a gem of an amp) until I go to uni and get a proper place to put the system and get something like the Cyrus 8vs2...however...I asked my Dad whether I could take it back and his answer was a firm NO, he said I should have thought of that before I bought it....I've no idea what to do now!!! I don't want to keep on spending more and more money to get something which still sounds bad, but I can't cope with my current set-up...it's truly awful!

Now I am really screwed!

 

[Anonymous]

But if the Arcam is faulty surely it needs to go back to the shop? At which point you can asses the mood and chance your arm at a refund, in-store vouchers, different amp?

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="jbadman"]
But if the Arcam is faulty surely it needs to go back to the shop? At which point you can asses the mood and chance your arm at a refund, in-store vouchers, different amp?

[/quote]

He claims there is nothing wrong with it, he says that's why the screen turns off to stop the high pitched sound. I mean could the fact it sounds rubbish be a problem with it?

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Hughes123"][quote user="jbadman"]

But if the Arcam is faulty surely it needs to go back to the shop? At which point you can asses the mood and chance your arm at a refund, in-store vouchers, different amp?
[/quote]

He claims there is nothing wrong with it, he says that's why the screen turns off to stop the high pitched sound. I mean could the fact it sounds rubbish be a problem with it?[/quote]

- It shouldn't do that. Supposing you wanted to leave the display on?

- Buzzing fault asside, have you tried setting the system up in a bigger room and positioning the speakers as per the manufacturers reccomendations (something which I doubt your current room is anywhere close to)?

Thats's not a weak amp... it should sound reasonable with "happy" speakers, regardless as to whether the sound is 100% to your liking.

- Are the speakers wire up correctly? (+ to +, - to - on each speaker)

- Have you got access to any other speakers.... maybe from an old mini? Might be interesting.. in both yout current room and another, ****** room.

 

[Anonymous]

I have tried it downstairs and there was an improvement in the bass (more depth), but it was still fairly gutless. The speakers are wired fine (biwired - I take it I can't use both speaker sets ie A and B to biwire, I just biwire into a one set as advised by the manual). I also put some old Aiwa speakers from a mini around 1997, but I it sounded way worse!

 

[Anonymous]

Drummerman you must be local. I bougth my Rockhopper from Primera, Charminster, quite recently.

 

[Craig M.]

so your dad is happy for you to pour money down the drain on something that is faulty? who's amp is it? if it has a fault, take it back. and stop listening to your dad - he doesn't know what he is talking about, it shouldn't hum when the display is lit. i would demand a refund if a £15 clock radio hummed, let alone an audiophile amp.

 

[crusaderlord]

I have an Arcam A32 and there is certainly no humm or in fact any noise whether i have the display on or off. There is no reason to sit with a faulty product given it comes with a warranty. Take it back to the shop and get it tested - this will at least tell you if the amplifier has a fault. If not then you need to look at the room dynamics, connections and speakers to find an improvement.

 

[Big Chris]

It could be mains related. We had a gig the other week. The day before we had a rehearsal. My Guitarist's Mesa worked fine. Turned up at the gig, feeding back, screaming, sounding bloody awful. (Dire gig all round). Next rehearsal all working fine again. None of the other bands guitarists had any issues. I'm guessing some kit is more sensitive to the state of the power supply. Can't think of anything else as the power was the only variable. Have you tried moving it to different parts of the house, or a friend's house, and testing it there?

 

[Anonymous]

I come up with a neat way to see what you all think of it. Tommorrow, when my parents are out, I'm going to post a video on Youtube of the high pitched sound (using a quality videocamera, not a silly mobile) and show you what I mean about it going after I turn the screen off. AND I FORGOT TO SAY, the high pitch sound is not at all dependant on the volume off the amp. And here's another question, have any of you turned a A32 or similar Arcam to over -15db using a CD?

 

[drummerman]

[quote user="darrenwm1"]
Drummerman you must be local. I bougth my Rockhopper from Primera, Charminster, quite recently.
[/quote]

I am. Which one did you get? I was looking at the pro and similar cannondale but did'nt have time to get a ride on either.

 

[crusaderlord]

I have never got near hitting -15db with the A32 - i am not even sure its a good idea to be honest. My system is arguably too loud around -30db.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Hughes123"]Tommorrow, when my parents are out, I'm going to post a video on Youtube of the high pitched sound (using a quality videocamera, not a silly mobile) and show you what I mean about it going after I turn the screen off. [/quote]

I asked the wench if I could shoot a vid for YouTube and got a slap in the face! Anyway, all this upgrading malarky has made me made me quite miserable sometimes especially when I think of how much time I've wasted looking for the perfect sound which I know deep down I'll never get because I'll always be wondering that something can be improved upon. Anyway, where's my bottle of Laphroaig, that cheers me up! Forget about posting things on YouTube man and take the damn thing back to the shop!

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="crusaderlord"]I have never got near hitting -15db with the A32 - i am not even sure its a good idea to be honest. My system is arguably too loud around -30db.[/quote]

Really, now you got me really worried... - I've just emailed the shop to see what they say on the matter - it'l be interesting to hear their response. Or...maybe my hearing is just bad...although I had it tested when I was younger...

 

[Anonymous]

I SOLVED IT! I PUT SOME BANANA PLUGS ON THE END OF THE WIRE TO THE AMP AND NOW IT'S AMAZING! WOW! OMG! IT'S LIKE A NEW WORLD! : ) : ) : )

...I just hope I wasn't short circuiting it before...I smell burning MOSFETs! (if it uses Mosfets that is, I havn't checked yet...)

Anyway! I'm loving my amp! What a beast! -20db is FAR loud enough now! And to think I hated Arcam...

 

[Anonymous]

Surely if you'd shorted something with careless connecting, the amp would have with automatically gone into standby or blown a fuse somewhere?

Are you sure it wasn 't just that the cables were dirty or broken at then end?

 

[Anonymous]

They were a complete mess at the end - that said, I did get my dad to wire it... : )

 

[drummerman]

[quote user="Hughes123"]I SOLVED IT! I PUT SOME BANANA PLUGS ON THE END OF THE WIRE TO THE AMP AND NOW IT'S AMAZING! WOW! OMG! IT'S LIKE A NEW WORLD! : ) : ) : )
...I just hope I wasn't short circuiting it before...I smell burning MOSFETs! (if it uses Mosfets that is, I havn't checked yet...)
Anyway! I'm loving my amp! What a beast! -20db is FAR loud enough now! And to think I hated Arcam...

[/quote]

Glad you like your arcam (again). Is this the end of the saga ... ?

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="Big Chris"]I'm guessing some kit is more sensitive to the state of the power supply.[/quote]

That's fightin' talk around these here parts, stranger...

 

[John Duncan]

[quote user="Andrew Everard"]
[quote user="Big Chris"]I'm guessing some kit is more sensitive to the state of the power supply.[/quote]

That's fightin' talk around these here parts, stranger...

[/quote]

(Saloon doors swing..........)

 

[JoelSim]

[quote user="Hughes123"]They were a complete mess at the end - that said, I did get my dad to wire it... : )[/quote]

I think you need to send your dad back to the shop. Thankfully it's all worked out.