'Breaking in' an Arcam FMJ A28 over the past few weeks. Problem is I can't seem to get the sound to open up at all. Any advice out there as to how I can get this amp to perform at its best, especially regarding speaker choice? Have sonus faber auditor Ms, also tried it with Quad 11L but no joy. Source is the ARCAM Cd37 which I'm very happy with.
Arcam A28
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Tricky to answer but i will try and help.
I am not personally familiar with the A28 but i do own the A32. You ask for openeness so with my system the upgrades that have helped the most in this regard.
Speaker stands
Speaker cable
Mains Cable
I would be interested to know what your set up is for these. For instance when i added Partington Superdreadnaughts and a Clearer Audio Copperline mains cable in particular this really helped my amp to reach its potential for openeness and improvement,
I am not personally familiar with the A28 but i do own the A32. You ask for openeness so with my system the upgrades that have helped the most in this regard.
Speaker stands
Speaker cable
Mains Cable
I would be interested to know what your set up is for these. For instance when i added Partington Superdreadnaughts and a Clearer Audio Copperline mains cable in particular this really helped my amp to reach its potential for openeness and improvement,
plastic penguin
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Kevin1:
'Breaking in' an Arcam FMJ A28 over the past few weeks. Problem is I can't seem to get the sound to open up at all. Any advice out there as to how I can get this amp to perform at its best, especially regarding speaker choice? Have sonus faber auditor Ms, also tried it with Quad 11L but no joy. Source is the ARCAM Cd37 which I'm very happy with.
Sorry for sounding dim, but when you say "...can't seem to get the sound to open up at all," do you mean its not producing the airy, detailed sound you expected?
As igglebert says, have you heard it sound open at any stage?
'Breaking in' an Arcam FMJ A28 over the past few weeks. Problem is I can't seem to get the sound to open up at all. Any advice out there as to how I can get this amp to perform at its best, especially regarding speaker choice? Have sonus faber auditor Ms, also tried it with Quad 11L but no joy. Source is the ARCAM Cd37 which I'm very happy with.
Sorry for sounding dim, but when you say "...can't seem to get the sound to open up at all," do you mean its not producing the airy, detailed sound you expected?
As igglebert says, have you heard it sound open at any stage?
basically the sound is undynamic and uninvolving. At first I put it down to the fact that is was just out of the box and needed run-in, but weeks later it is still sounds strangely lifeless. I like the Arcam Solo and presumed I would get 'the same but better' from the separate amp. I have Nordost red Dawn interconnects and cables, so they are hardly contributing to this. I wonder if anyone else has this amp and has had some good experience with partnering it to speakers. it cost a fair amount and I don't want to give up on it just yet - I'm getting close though.
You will certainly get some who will comment that some Arcam amps have a lifeless edge. However i have never really agreed, my Arcam A32 and former A70 were excellent all round - although the A32 was markedly better.
Given you like the Solo you must have a general like for Arcam presentation so we are probably looking at whether the A28 just isnt a very good amp for you (type of music you like maybe ?) or that maybe the power of the A28 isnt enough to drive your speakers as well as they could.
A Clearer Audio copperline or alpha cable is certainly worth considering on the 30 day money back trial as it really opened up my own amplifier from very good to excellent.
I dont think too many will argue with the pedigree of the CD37 player but the A28 isnt as well regarded as say the A38 which won another mags Amp of the Year award in its price bracket.
Given you like the Solo you must have a general like for Arcam presentation so we are probably looking at whether the A28 just isnt a very good amp for you (type of music you like maybe ?) or that maybe the power of the A28 isnt enough to drive your speakers as well as they could.
A Clearer Audio copperline or alpha cable is certainly worth considering on the 30 day money back trial as it really opened up my own amplifier from very good to excellent.
I dont think too many will argue with the pedigree of the CD37 player but the A28 isnt as well regarded as say the A38 which won another mags Amp of the Year award in its price bracket.
th's interesting that you use your arcams with Neat speakers. Did you arrive at them after a long journey, do you think they particularly suit the arcam sound? I see monitor audios also seem to be quite popular with arcams. I guess the aim is to liven up the sound a little.
Here is my demo post on chosing speakers which may help.
http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/123911.aspx
With Hi-Fi it is all about system matching to get a good balance for your own preference.
I found the Arcam has a slightly smoother style with a bit more bass depth which is excellent with the music i like, and to me is preferable than say Cryus or Cambridge Audio which i find a bit lean and bright.
Given the style Arcam sound i found that fast and punchy speakers are a good match to give the sound a bit more excitement when needed and therefore found that Epos, Neat and maybe PMC which i like are decent matches. Also i do like standmounts (at the moment anyway) as these are more dynamic to listen to. I just found the Neats to be a great match
Amongst other things I do like listening to female vocals and an important match for me was that they never become sharp or painful to listen to.
http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/123911.aspx
With Hi-Fi it is all about system matching to get a good balance for your own preference.
I found the Arcam has a slightly smoother style with a bit more bass depth which is excellent with the music i like, and to me is preferable than say Cryus or Cambridge Audio which i find a bit lean and bright.
Given the style Arcam sound i found that fast and punchy speakers are a good match to give the sound a bit more excitement when needed and therefore found that Epos, Neat and maybe PMC which i like are decent matches. Also i do like standmounts (at the moment anyway) as these are more dynamic to listen to. I just found the Neats to be a great match
Amongst other things I do like listening to female vocals and an important match for me was that they never become sharp or painful to listen to.
Another quick thought - do you allow your amplifier to warm up before analysing.
I do note the A32 sounds far better and more open after 30 mins being on and therefore warmed up. I always switch off at night when not in use.
I do note the A32 sounds far better and more open after 30 mins being on and therefore warmed up. I always switch off at night when not in use.
Hi guys, I re-open this thread after so log due to my short test with an A19 and an A28.
I used a pair of Focal Aria 906, Arcam irDAC, and Tchernov interconnections.
I was reading above that the A28 is having a lifeless sound. This was my impression too.
My dealer gave me an A28 to test and to see if I want to change with it my current A19 that is rendomly freezing in stdby mode. And my decision is no, in no way my A19 will be exchanged with the A28. Never.
The A19 has a deep sound, clear separations of instruments, vocals, all. And it has a special warm sound that I liked in the first moment I listened to it.
So guys, my own test on my own taste is that A19 is much ahead of the A28 (currently discontinued).
Cheers, Tani
I used a pair of Focal Aria 906, Arcam irDAC, and Tchernov interconnections.
I was reading above that the A28 is having a lifeless sound. This was my impression too.
My dealer gave me an A28 to test and to see if I want to change with it my current A19 that is rendomly freezing in stdby mode. And my decision is no, in no way my A19 will be exchanged with the A28. Never.
The A19 has a deep sound, clear separations of instruments, vocals, all. And it has a special warm sound that I liked in the first moment I listened to it.
So guys, my own test on my own taste is that A19 is much ahead of the A28 (currently discontinued).
Cheers, Tani
plastic penguin
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Tanihifi1 said:
As I've not heard the A28 can't comment but many people on here over the years have stated similar to you. I can only guess that Arcam produced the A28 as 'fill in' between the A18/A19 and the A38, and in doing so, dropped a lady Gaga.
Similar sort of thing happened when they discontinued the A65+, A75+ and A80, they produced the fated (IMHO) the A70.
I haven't heard the A28 but have owned an Arcam Alpha 9 for 15+ years. I'v always had the amp driving Acoustic Energy speakers but had the opportunity last year to listen to it driving some Monitor Audio speakers and although the MA's had a £300 cheaper list price than the AE's, the synergy between the Arcam and the MA's was exceptional. Much more open, detailed and faster dynamics. I have also heard that Focal and PMC work well with Arcam amps.
Changing both the speaker cable and interconnects made a difference and opened the sound up, giving a little more ambient detail and improving the sound stage. I went from some Chord Cobra VEE3 to Audio Wire's Clarity range of cables both use thick, high grade silver plated OFC copper. They cost a fair bit and the upgrade was small but worth it in my opinion.
Changing both the speaker cable and interconnects made a difference and opened the sound up, giving a little more ambient detail and improving the sound stage. I went from some Chord Cobra VEE3 to Audio Wire's Clarity range of cables both use thick, high grade silver plated OFC copper. They cost a fair bit and the upgrade was small but worth it in my opinion.
gowiththeflow
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Tanihifi1 said:
The A19 has replaced both the A18 and A28 in the much reduced range and is a marked improvement on both.
The A28 was dropped from the line up almost two years ago IIRC and the A18 went a several months later.
Now the A38 has gone too, but by all accounts, that was in a different class to both the A28 and A18.
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