Question Arcam A25 + streamer vs Arcam SA35

[Guthrak]

You didn't mention getting a CD player, unless I missed that somehow.

I didn't, but I started looking at it over the weekend since I have some cd's of my late father I would like to be able to play maybe. It's not a priority atm, just looking at long term additions.

EDIT: it's also not really my preffered medium for music. I like vinyl for the big covers, the potential dynamic range and the 'manual laber' it requires to play the music. It adds to an active listening session for me, like a ritual. For all the rest there's digital or streaming so I don't know if I'd actually want one.

 

[Al ears]

I didn't, but I started looking at it over the weekend since I have some cd's of my late father I would like to be able to play maybe. It's not a priority atm, just looking at long term additions.

EDIT: it's also not really my preffered medium for music. I like vinyl for the big covers, the potential dynamic range and the 'manual laber' it requires to play the music. It adds to an active listening session for me, like a ritual. For all the rest there's digital or streaming so I don't know if I'd actually want one.

I see.
The Musical Fidelity M3 scd is available slightly cheaper at £799 but you don't necessarily need a matching CD player to play a few CDs.

 

[matthewpianist]

Don't choose an amp based on having a matching CD player. That cuts quite a few amps out these days anyway, and if you are only going to use a CD player occasionally there are perfectly good ones such as the Denon DCD-600NE, NAD C538 and Marantz CD6007 available for significantly less than the MF ones.

 

[RoA]

Don't choose an amp based on having a matching CD player. That cuts quite a few amps out these days anyway, and if you are only going to use a CD player occasionally there are perfectly good ones such as the Denon DCD-600NE, NAD C538 and Marantz CD6007 available for significantly less than the MF ones.

Agree but some people like having matching stuff. My Audiolab amp looks better with its matching transport than if I use another of my amps. To me anyway.

Just sayin

 

[matthewpianist]

Agree but some people like having matching stuff. My Audiolab amp looks better with its matching transport than if I use another of my amps. To me anyway.

Just sayin

The Audiolab is reasonably priced though, and extremely capable, to the point where it would be very hard to improve upon it.

 

[Guthrak]

Don't choose an amp based on having a matching CD player. That cuts quite a few amps out these days anyway, and if you are only going to use a CD player occasionally there are perfectly good ones such as the Denon DCD-600NE, NAD C538 and Marantz CD6007 available for significantly less than the MF ones.

I wouldn't, but If I could match and still have quality I'd like that. I won't buy the Arcam streamer just to match the A25 for example, since there are much better AND cheaper options.

 

[matthewpianist]

I wouldn't, but If I could match and still have quality I'd like that. I won't buy the Arcam streamer just to match the A25 for example, since there are much better AND cheaper options.

You should look at Audiolab. They make superb amps and CD transports.

 

[Guthrak]

You should look at Audiolab. They make superb amps and CD transports.

Aren't they a more neutral amp? I'd prefer some bass emphasis without losing much of the top end. I know they're highly regarded but the sound profile didn't sound like my cup of tea.
They do look good and I hear a lot of great things about them. If I'd aim for the 6000 range I could get a streamer as well, if it's any good

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

in my experience, the amplifier should be capable of providing as much current on demand as is possible.
the speaker then will function as designed on demand.
the amplifier will not colour the sound as much as the speaker selected.
so, buy a speaker that suits the environment and the best amplifier to match the speaker.

 

[Guthrak]

in my experience, the amplifier should be capable of providing as much current on demand as is possible.
the speaker then will function as designed on demand.
the amplifier will not colour the sound as much as the speaker selected.
so, buy a speaker that suits the environment and the best amplifier to match the speaker.

Well I have a pair of Arendal 1723 THX Monitors. Not considered a musical speaker I think? I like them for music as well as movies atm, underpowred by my 'cheap' denon amp.
Would you have any suggestions at what to pair them with? Or should I hold off on buying an amp until I get different speakers? I've always loved the JBL L100 Classics, but am afraid they don't have enough detail. A friend has original ones and they sound lovely, but I need to go listen to them again to see how well they seperate.
I've been eying the the Mission 770 as they have a bit of the same aesthetics but I don't know how they sound. A proper tower would look nice too.
But should I focus on speakers first before the amp? I thought I'd get the amp first, use it with my Arendals until I find a speaker pair I like. but maybe I'd have to change amp too at that point?
How would I dictate what aplifier matches with a speaker? Look around online? Go demo everything? I've heard people talking about groups of manufacturers, also amps designed on a certain speaker brand.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

I am afraid, if fussiness and absolute certainty are paramount, [and lets be frank, this is a hifi forum haha], that home demo is the only solution..

certain speaker brands have renowned following [NEAT, ATC, Spendor, PMC etc] and have their own way of doing things [ATL, Infinite Baffle, etc].

I have found from experience that I like a taut, precise presentation with the widest of soundstages.
I am no fan of over-blown bass nor can I handle forward ringing treble [I am looking at you Kudos] !

My absolute favourite system I have ever heard happens to now live in my home study/office/den. but that may not be preferred by you !

 

[Guthrak]

I am afraid, if fussiness and absolute certainty are paramount, that home demo is the only solution..

certain speaker brands have renowned following [NEAT, ATC, Spendor, PMC etc] and have their own way of doing things [ATL, Infinite Baffle, etc].

I have found from experience that I like a taut, precise presentation with the widest of soundstages.
I am no fan of over-blown bass nor can I handle forward ringing treble [I am looking at you Kudos] !

My absolute favourite system I have ever heard happens to now live in my home study/office/den. but that may not be preferred by you !

I don't like boomy bloated bass either, but I want to feel the kick drum in a song. If it sounds like a wet noodle hitting a shower curtain it's either a mix I don't like or the system is not for me.
I can't really stand high tones, or sibilance so I don't think I'd do well in a bright system, although I do like detail, so that's why I'm aiming at the warm side of neutral atm.

I don't know if I'm all that fussy, I have little to compare to, I just don't want to spend a lot of money on something I won't enjoy. So I'm searching for what I should listen to, instead of listening to everything around and getting overwhelmed.

It's one of the most difficult hobby's I've done or do, not the listening part ofcourse, but trying to find what gear you need.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

I don't like boomy bloated bass either, but I want to feel the kick drum in a song. If it sounds like a wet noodle hitting a shower curtain it's either a mix I don't like or the system is not for me.
I can't really stand high tones, or sibilance so I don't think I'd do well in a bright system, although I do like detail, so that's why I'm aiming at the warm side of neutral atm.

I don't know if I'm all that fussy, I have little to compare to, I just don't want to spend a lot of money on something I won't enjoy. So I'm searching for what I should listen to, instead of listening to everything around and getting overwhelmed.

It's one of the most difficult hobby's I've done or do, not the listening part ofcourse, but trying to find what gear you need.

so what you want is a great speaker mated to a great amp in the room where the speaker is suited.

whats your layout / room size ?

 

[Guthrak]

so what you want is a great speaker mated to a great amp in the room where the speaker is suited.

whats your layout / room size ?

They're in the living room atm, but we're looking for a house where I'll have a listening space, so I can't really tell right now (to make things easier). Maybe I should just wait until I have the room.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

They're in the living room atm, but we're looking for a house where I'll have a listening space, so I can't really tell right now (to make things easier). Maybe I should just wait until I have the room.

indeed; have a look at AlChris if in the UK. a speaker for all occasions and oh-so-easy to drive....but wait till you know your room configuration and space/volume.
speakers close to walls present big issues. compromised by arrangement.
research is key.

and.....when you eventually settle on the hifi system of your dreams, curiosity will continue to poke at your soul and the itch will last for a long time until you realise the marginal gains and the fact that not all recordings are recorded equally......which is exacerbated by the better equipment.......

however, streaming [good/bad/regardless] will open your eyes to much more musical discovery. priceless.

 

[Guthrak]

indeed; have a look at AlChris if in the UK. a speaker for all occasions and oh-so-easy to drive....but wait till you know your room configuration and space/volume.
speakers close to walls present big issues. compromised by arrangement.
research is key.

and.....when you eventually settle on the hifi system of your dreams, curiosity will continue to poke at your soul and the itch will last for a long time until you realise the marginal gains and the fact that not all recordings are recorded equally......which is exacerbated by the better equipment.......

however, streaming [good/bad/regardless] will open your eyes to much more musical discovery. priceless.

I'm in Belgium, but I can take a look to see if they're available here. I think my speakers are way too big for a small room. And I hope the room will be big enough to fit my drum kit as well, but if I have a tiny room I can get some small bookshelves and dual subs and that would be fun too. I love the Buckhardt bookshelves so that would be one I'd like to listen to.

I've had a few moments like that, that's why I now want a proper amp because enough power makes all the difference for DR and low end. But I've started out with headphones, and a little amp stack for that, and then some monitors for my desk, a little bit of room correction and placement testing and everything got a little better every time. I have a HT with a nice oled and 6.1 (no center) surround which is why I bought the Arendals, they have a very nice wide soundstage which is great for movies and even without the sub they do a nice job on low end (My sub amp plate needs replacing and I'm in an appartment atm)

It also made it that some of my favourite albums from earlier I now can't listen to because of the bad mastering, and others that I would've never listened to I now absolutely love because of how great the composition and effects are.

I recently bought a little dap that was really dissapointing because everything sounds like compressed mp3s so I just don't use it sadly.

On spotify I have about 80 playlists with 20 - 1200 songs in each of them of music I like and love to sort, it just keeps coming indeed. But finding an album I like to listen back to front is still the best thing for me, those are the ones I buy on vinyl and can't wait to finally use my rega again for some proper listening, with or without a book as I lost that since I moved to the appartment.

 

[matthewpianist]

Waiting until you know the room would be very sensible. Also, if your drum kit is an acoustic one, you will need to dampen it to get the best out of your stereo. Certainly, locking the snare is essential, and pretty obvious, but throwing a thick blanket over the whole kit when you're listening would be a good idea to reduce any resonance it will add to the sound of the hi-fi.

 

[Guthrak]

Waiting until you know the room would be very sensible. Also, if your drum kit is an acoustic one, you will need to dampen it to get the best out of your stereo. Certainly, locking the snare is essential, and pretty obvious, but throwing a thick blanket over the whole kit when you're listening would be a good idea to reduce any resonance it will add to the sound of the hi-fi.

I was thinking about that and how everything would be resonating while I was playing music. It made me think to put the stereo in the living room, where it's easier shared with visitors and probably will get more use, but harder to create a perfect listening position and enviroment.
The blankets is a good idea, or if it's possible a small wall partition with some rockwool in there. Hopefully it would let me create a nice rectangle as a listening room to have predictable reflections. All is to be seen from the house ofcourse, and a reason to just hold off on buying anything.
I like that I know a little better what options I have now, I've learned a lot from this thread and other research I've done since it was quite a while ago that I was looking at hifi gear.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

my acoustic guitars soundbox resonate in my home office ;notice mostly between tracks..they're hung on the office wall....the electrics don't have the same issues.....

 

[Guthrak]

my acoustic guitars soundbox resonate in my home office ;notice mostly between tracks..they're hung on the office wall....the electrics don't have the same issues.....

Hm, I have an Epiphone Casino thats semi acoustic, I'll have to see how bad that is. I wanted to put everything music related in one room, turns out different aspects of music don't always work together nicely heh.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Hm, I have an Epiphone Casino thats semi acoustic, I'll have to see how bad that is. I wanted to put everything music related in one room, turns out different aspects of music don't always work together nicely heh.

its fine; you will not hear any effect during playback

 

[plastic penguin]

I wouldn't, but If I could match and still have quality I'd like that. I won't buy the Arcam streamer just to match the A25 for example, since there are much better AND cheaper options.

Don't wait for reviews. Nothing beats a personal demo. I've come unstuck once or twice buying based on reviews.... your own ears are the best judge.

 

[matthewpianist]

my acoustic guitars soundbox resonate in my home office ;notice mostly between tracks..they're hung on the office wall....the electrics don't have the same issues.....

There's no resonating chamber in the electric, that's why (as I'm sure you know).

I have an acoustic upright piano in the same room as my hi-fi, and it means I have to choose my speakers very carefully to avoid resonance that leads to boom. If I had a digital there the problem wouldn't exist, but as good as the best ones are, they still aren't a match for a good acoustic (I have a Schimmel, made in Braunschweig).

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

There's no resonating chamber in the electric, that's why (as I'm sure you know).

I was being sarcastic 🙂

 

[JoelSim]

Can I make a suggestion?

Get a Cambridge EXN100 streamer. Then you can just get a normal amp with minimal extra features. Use the DAC/output stage in the EXN100 for anything you need to, for instance if you're looking at CDs once in a while then get a cheap, second hand Cambridge CXC transport and connect it to the DAC in the streamer.

I've got the EXN100 and it's a tremendous sounding piece of kit. Expensive yes, but it'll wipe the floor with a Wiim. (I had an AXN100 for a year which was good, but nowhere near as nice as the EXN).

Mine goes through an old Leema Tucana 2 amp and a choice of 2 pairs of speakers - Sonus Faber Sonetto 2 G2 or Lumina 1. The sound is phenomenal and properly 3D.

I've got an Arcam CD5 too, but it's not a patch on the EXN, I should really connect it to the EXN's DAC.

The other beauty about this is the Cambridge StreamMagic interface which is excellent, and even the internet radio sounds wonderful.

Money permitting you could get the matching EXA100 amp, or the Arcam A25 (heavily discounted now) or even look at something second hand and powerful like my Leema.

Anyway, just a thought, a different way of looking at it.