Arcam A49 - White Paper giving technical insight.

[manicm]

Unfortunately I haven’t had chance to hear an AMS35i but I know it’s a monster! Now discontinued sadly.

I’ve heard the Nu Vista however which is perhaps the modern equivalent and that’s another league. As good as these Arcams are...

Must be a midget monster because its 35Wpc in 8 ohms. Next time you see one short circuit the speaker terminals and see what monster DNA it has.

Here's how the AMS35i measures: http://www.bm.rs/Musical%20Fidelity/Musical%20Fidelity%20AMS-35i%20-%20Australian%20HiFi.pdf

Midget monster dipped in wasabi sauce (Class A). *biggrin*

35W won't get you far these days.

A true Class A 35 watter like the AMS35i will get you further than you imagine.

 

[iceman16]

Unfortunately I haven’t had chance to hear an AMS35i but I know it’s a monster! Now discontinued sadly.

I’ve heard the Nu Vista however which is perhaps the modern equivalent and that’s another league. As good as these Arcams are...

Must be a midget monster because its 35Wpc in 8 ohms. Next time you see one short circuit the speaker terminals and see what monster DNA it has.

Here's how the AMS35i measures: http://www.bm.rs/Musical%20Fidelity/Musical%20Fidelity%20AMS-35i%20-%20Australian%20HiFi.pdf

Midget monster dipped in wasabi sauce (Class A). *biggrin*

35W won't get you far these days.

A true Class A 35 watter like the AMS35i will get you further than you imagine.

+1

I auditioned the Plinius Hautonga (200wpc) at home and prefer the AMS 35i

 

[Vladimir]

The benefit from Class A is reduced crossover distortion, no charge storing issues, etc. If anything you are sacrificing power to achieve these improvements for a more refined sound.

It's 35W per channel and not a milliwatt more. What comes after is clipping and distortion.

 

[manicm]

The benefit from Class A is reduced crossover distortion, no charge storing issues, etc. If anything you are sacrificing power to achieve these improvements for a more refined sound.

It's 35W per channel and not a milliwatt more. What comes after is clipping and distortion.

Yes, but those watts are delivered in a more continuous and consistent fashion than B/AB amps, and thus can handle lower sensitivity speakers equally well within reason.

 

[iceman16]

The benefit from Class A is reduced crossover distortion, no charge storing issues, etc. If anything you are sacrificing power to achieve these improvements for a more refined sound.

It's 35W per channel and not a milliwatt more. What comes after is clipping and distortion.

Yes, but those watts are delivered in a more continuous and consistent fashion than B/AB amps, and thus can handle lower sensitivity speakers equally well within reason.

It is a nicely built amp, but its not that impressive really. If we call that a monster, what should we call Krells?

Also I'm not so sure it's pure class A. It maybe high biased but not really Nelson Pass teritory. Musical Fidelity became famous for its Class A amps that were not Class A but high biased Class AB. Yep, misrepresenting specs in hi-fi. Nothing new there.

Any idea how high is the bias current?

Yes it's pure Class A. Have you heard it?

 

[Vladimir]

The benefit from Class A is reduced crossover distortion, no charge storing issues, etc. If anything you are sacrificing power to achieve these improvements for a more refined sound.

It's 35W per channel and not a milliwatt more. What comes after is clipping and distortion.

Yes, but those watts are delivered in a more continuous and consistent fashion than B/AB amps, and thus can handle lower sensitivity speakers equally well within reason.

It is a nicely built amp, but its not that impressive really. If we call that a monster, what should we call Krells?

Also I'm not so sure it's pure class A. It maybe high biased but not really Nelson Pass teritory. Musical Fidelity became famous for its Class A amps that were not Class A but high biased Class AB. Yep, misrepresenting specs in hi-fi. Nothing new there.

Any idea how high is the bias current? The 400W power consumption indicates its the real deal but the bias is the safest bet. Should be above 2A.

 

[Vladimir]

Yes it's pure Class A. Have you heard it?

Unfortunately no. I'm mostly interested in big monoblocks that are pure Class A. I already had integrateds that tried to be Class A, including the legendary MF A1 but they don't rock my boat. Wasted money and heat, lack of power, prone to selfdestruct.

The MF A1 was advertised as Class A but it was only biased with 800mA. The pure Class A treshold is 2A+.

 

[Vladimir]

But hey guys! Thats why we have Class G from Arcam now. All the benefits and none the drawbacks of Class A!

Make sure you read the White Paper. Pretty cool stuff IMO. *good*

 

[CnoEvil]

It's 35W per channel and not a milliwatt more. What comes after is clipping and distortion.

This is both true and misleading....but I'm sure you are well aware of that.

It has substantial headroom, virtually doubles its power as impedance halves (down to 2 Ohms); so if you have speakers with a sensitivity of around 90/91 dBs and an impedance that drops to around 3 Ohms, it sounds like a much more powerful amp.

 

[Vladimir]

It's 35W per channel and not a milliwatt more. What comes after is clipping and distortion.

This is both true and misleading....but I'm sure you are well aware of that.

It has substantial headroom, virtually doubles its power as impedance halves (down to 2 Ohms); so if you have speakers with a sensitivity of around 90/91 dBs and an impedance that drops to around 3 Ohms, it sounds like a much more powerful amp.

Let me clarify then.

If it measures 50Wpc in 8 ohms at 1% THD, any milliwatt beyond that in 8 ohms is clipping and distortion.

If it measures 100Wpc in 4 ohms at 1% THD, any milliwatt beyond that in 4 ohms is clipping and distortion.

If it measures 200Wpc in 2 ohms at 1% THD, any milliwatt beyond that in 2 ohms is clipping and distortion.

If your speakers are 8 ohms nominal, that is the impedance region where you want the least to run out of power.

If your speakers are very high efficiency (upwards of 95dB), not going lower than 2 ohms in transient peaks, this amp will be very happy and capable delivery everything the owner demands.

However, the fact that it requires higher than average sensitivity speakers to reach convincible dynamic scales, by deffinition means it is not a monster amp, but a needy crybaby amp.

Monster amp = ignorant of any speaker load up to 0.1 ohms, and power reserves higher than owner's treshold of brain aneurysm.

Monster: Krell KMA100 mkII

Monster: Krell KSA-250

Wasabi Midget: MF AMS35i

 

[Native_bon]

It's 35W per channel and not a milliwatt more. What comes after is clipping and distortion.

This is both true and misleading....but I'm sure you are well aware of that.

It has substantial headroom, virtually doubles its power as impedance halves (down to 2 Ohms); so if you have speakers with a sensitivity of around 90/91 dBs and an impedance that drops to around 3 Ohms, it sounds like a much more powerful amp.

Let me clarify then.

If it measures 50Wpc in 8 ohms at 1% THD, any milliwatt beyond that in 8 ohms is clipping and distortion.

If it measures 100Wpc in 4 ohms at 1% THD, any milliwatt beyond that in 4 ohms is clipping and distortion.

If it measures 200Wpc in 2 ohms at 1% THD, any milliwatt beyond that in 2 ohms is clipping and distortion.

If your speakers are 8 ohms nominal, that is the impedance region where you want the least to run out of power.

If your speakers are very high efficiency (upwards of 95dB), not going lower than 2 ohms in transient peaks, this amp will be very happy and capable delivery everything the owner demands.

However, the fact that it requires higher than average sensitivity speakers to reach convincible dynamic scales, by deffinition means it is not a monster amp, but a needy crybaby amp.

Monster amp = ignorant of any speaker load up to 0.1 ohms, and power reserves higher than owner's treshold of brain aneurysm.

Monster: Krell KMA100 mkII

Monster: Krell KSA-250

Wasabi Midget: MF AMS35i

Oh dear *shok*

 

[drummerman]

If your speakers are 8 ohms nominal, that is the impedance region where you want the least to run out of power.

Forgive me if I quote the wrong person, it is getting slightly confusing here ...

'Most' speakers nowadays have 4ohm bass/mid drivers. That is arguably where you want your amplifier to deliver.

If you want to do some welding with your amplifier then get one that near as doubles its power into differing loads but imho it is as if not more important for an amplifier to deliver volts as and when needed.

It's also one of the reasons why many (but not all ... Audio Research/Mcintosh) valve amplfiers measure not so brilliantly when it comes to driving very difficult speaker loads (there aren't that many around these days) but can sound very 'musical' ... can't think of a better word.

regards

regards

 

[Vladimir]

I'm also sure AMS35i sounds very powerfull. Its input sensitivity is 116mV. *biggrin*

 

[iceman16]

The AMS 35i is simply the best amp I've heard within my budget or can afford when connected with my other stuff. I really enjoy listening to it for around 3 yrs now. Paper specs. are just second for me and I think that is all about.

 

[Vladimir]

Joules (J), lots of them.

MIG welder

 

[iceman16]

The AMS 35i is simply the best amp I've heard within my budget or can afford when connected with my other stuff. I really enjoy listening to it for around 3 yrs now. Paper specs. are just second for me and I think that is all about.

The manufacturer of your speakers recommends 40-300Wpc in 8 ohms amplification for the Focal Electra 1028Be. It's quite obvious you ignore specs and trust your ears. Thats all good and I'm sure you enjoy your gear as much as any guy. But we are discussing merely technical stuff here. This is a thread about Arcam's new Class G (a thread about specs and amplifier design). *unknw*

thanks Vlad..

Just one more question before we go back to Class G. I also have a Rega brio-r(50w) but when connected to my speakers I found the AMS 35i(35w) sound more powerful with more "grip" to the speakers. I mean more in a better way.

 

[Vladimir]

The AMS 35i is simply the best amp I've heard within my budget or can afford when connected with my other stuff. I really enjoy listening to it for around 3 yrs now. Paper specs. are just second for me and I think that is all about.

The manufacturer of your speakers recommends 40-300Wpc in 8 ohms amplification for the Focal Electra 1028Be. It's quite obvious you ignore specs and trust your ears. Thats all good and I'm sure you enjoy your gear as much as any guy. But we are discussing merely technical stuff here. This is a thread about Arcam's new Class G (a thread about specs and amplifier design). *unknw*

 

[CnoEvil]

If your speakers are very high efficiency (upwards of 95dB), not going lower than 2 ohms in transient peaks, this amp will be very happy and capable delivery everything the owner demands.

However, the fact that it requires higher than average sensitivity speakers to reach convincible dynamic scales, by deffinition means it is not a monster amp, but a needy crybaby amp.

If you say so.

 

[Vladimir]

thanks Vlad..

Just one more question before we go back to Class G. I also have a Rega brio-r(50w) but when connected to my speakers I found the AMS 35i(35w) sound more powerful with more "grip" to the speakers. I mean more in a better way.

The input sensitiviy of the AMS35i is 116mV and the output of your EMC 1 UP is 2.4V. An Arcam FMJ A49 will sound lower power and dull compared to your setup despite being almost 6 times more powerfull (200Wpc in 8 ohms). You have a louder setup than most Naim gear in current offer.

The Brio-R is 250mV, the Arcam A49 is 1V.

 

[CnoEvil]

The AMS 35i is simply the best amp I've heard within my budget or can afford when connected with my other stuff. I really enjoy listening to it for around 3 yrs now. Paper specs. are just second for me and I think that is all about.

I did have a listen to the AMS 35i & I think one of the best amps I have listened to. Just could not afford it.

Ah, but the first rule of a hifi forum, is to be guided by someone who hasn't heard it. *unknw*

 

[Native_bon]

The AMS 35i is simply the best amp I've heard within my budget or can afford when connected with my other stuff. I really enjoy listening to it for around 3 yrs now. Paper specs. are just second for me and I think that is all about.

I did have a listen to the AMS 35i & I think one of the best amps I have listened to. Just could not afford it.

EDIT:

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken..?

 

[Native_bon]

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken..?

Meaning?

Edit: were has the images gone..?

 

[Vladimir]

Meaning?

Oh nevermind, it's hopeless. Like discussing physics in midst church mass. Or arguing who's playtoys are more realistic. The answer will always be the toys of the boy with biggest imagination.

 

[Native_bon]

Meaning?

Oh nevermind, it's hopeless. Like discussing physics in midst church mass. Or arguing who's playtoys are more realistic. The answer will always be the toys of the boy with biggest imagination.

Thats cheap. Was expecting more from you Vladmir.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Looks like Vlads losing is mind.

Why the need to get so hung up on input/output sensitivity rather than how an amp actually sounds makes no sense.

I feel kinda guilty because it makes for comic reading not sure if I'm suppose to laugh...... :-/

Meaning?

Oh nevermind, it's hopeless. Like discussing physics in midst church mass. Or arguing who's playtoys are more realistic. The answer will always be the toys of the boy with biggest imagination.

Thats cheap. Was expecting more from you Vladmir.