Arcam A85 + Monitor Audio RX6?

[admin_exported]

I have an aging Arcam A85 that was partnered with B&W 602S3 speakers. My overly excited dog knocked a speaker stand over when the grilles were off and the tweeter of one speaker is severly damaged. Now, I can purchase a single 602 to replace the damaged one, but I figure that this is the right time to upgrade. I love the Arcam A85 and would like to keep it. I was thinking about Monitor Audio RX6 to replace the B&Ws. I listen to almost all kinds of music, but rock definately dominates. Can anyone comment whether the Arcam + MAs will be a good match?

 

[scene]

Sorry to hear about your B&Ws. Arcam and Monitor Audio are pretty natural partners for each other.

I bought my Arcam A85 with a pair of MA Silver 8i and it sounded superb - I listen to a fair amount of rock :rockout:

I've heard A85s with RS6s and RX6s and they sound pretty marvelllous. Only thing I'd say is that you need a fair amount of space to listen to the RX6 - away from a wall and a decent size listening room to do them justice...

EDIT: I would recommend taking your A85, source and some representative music down to your local dealer and having a good long demo before splashing out on the RX6 to be sure. The metal tweeters and c-cam mid/bass cones on the MA take a while to run in, so make sure you're listening to a nicely run in pair.

Also, if you do go down the MA route, make sure you run them in yourself before passing judgement - they can have a harsh edge (for want of a better term) to them fresh out of the box... Once run in they will sing.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Arcam has always gone well with Monitor Audio. The smoother sound of the Arcam has always calmed the MA's down a little, providing a better balanced sound. But, as Scene has mentioned, get a demo with your amp, as there's only one way to be sure. You'll also have the option of trying other speakers should they not be quite what you're after.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply!! 🙂

Your comment regarding the space has made me think twice, I am in Japan, so my listening space is not large.

 

[plastic penguin]

I have an aging Arcam A85 that was partnered with B&W 602S3 speakers. My overly excited dog knocked a speaker stand over when the grilles were off and the tweeter of one speaker is severly damaged. Now, I can purchase a single 602 to replace the damaged one, but I figure that this is the right time to upgrade. I love the Arcam A85 and would like to keep it. I was thinking about Monitor Audio RX6 to replace the B&Ws. I listen to almost all kinds of music, but rock definately dominates. Can anyone comment whether the Arcam + MAs will be a good match?

Firstly can say that I sympathise with your dilemma. Before buying my RS6s I was concerned because we had a young toddler and I was apprehensive about speakers falling on her. I found, after a lot of research - and pestering dealers - that standmounted speakers were generally more stable. One of the deciding factors at the time was that RS6s were the best of the bunch when it came to stability.

Personally, I think MAs are a fabulous match with Arcam. The only time I would be undecided is if your room acoustics are on the reflective side. However, after hearing, quite recently, the RX6s with a Cyrus system at a dealers, they sounded quite sweet.

I would also consider Focal and PMC. Both, again, are impressive with Arcam.

Before splashing money at a new pair, contact B&W (Worthing) and see whether they can give you a quote for a new tweeter unit. http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/contact_us/contact.html

 

[Big Chris]

Buy some RX6s in gloss white. Send them to me and I'll send you my mint 602 S3s in return....... Simples......

 

[Ben K.]

I have an aging Arcam A85 that was partnered with B&W 602S3 speakers. My overly excited dog knocked a speaker stand over when the grilles were off and the tweeter of one speaker is severly damaged. Now, I can purchase a single 602 to replace the damaged one, but I figure that this is the right time to upgrade. I love the Arcam A85 and would like to keep it. I was thinking about Monitor Audio RX6 to replace the B&Ws. I listen to almost all kinds of music, but rock definately dominates. Can anyone comment whether the Arcam + MAs will be a good match?

Firstly can say that I sympathise with your dilemma. Before buying my RS6s I was concerned because we had a young toddler and I was apprehensive about speakers falling on her. I found, after a lot of research - and pestering dealers - that standmounted speakers were generally more stable. One of the deciding factors at the time was that RS6s were the best of the bunch when it came to stability.

Personally, I think MAs are a fabulous match with Arcam. The only time I would be undecided is if your room acoustics are on the reflective side. However, after hearing, quite recently, the RX6s with a Cyrus system at a dealers, they sounded quite sweet.

I would also consider Focal and PMC. Both, again, are impressive with Arcam.

Before splashing money at a new pair, contact B&W (Worthing) and see whether they can give you a quote for a new tweeter unit. http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/contact_us/contact.html

Which cyrus system was this? Did it sound bright/forward in your opinion?

 

[plastic penguin]

I have an aging Arcam A85 that was partnered with B&W 602S3 speakers. My overly excited dog knocked a speaker stand over when the grilles were off and the tweeter of one speaker is severly damaged. Now, I can purchase a single 602 to replace the damaged one, but I figure that this is the right time to upgrade. I love the Arcam A85 and would like to keep it. I was thinking about Monitor Audio RX6 to replace the B&Ws. I listen to almost all kinds of music, but rock definately dominates. Can anyone comment whether the Arcam + MAs will be a good match?

Firstly can say that I sympathise with your dilemma. Before buying my RS6s I was concerned because we had a young toddler and I was apprehensive about speakers falling on her. I found, after a lot of research - and pestering dealers - that standmounted speakers were generally more stable. One of the deciding factors at the time was that RS6s were the best of the bunch when it came to stability.

Personally, I think MAs are a fabulous match with Arcam. The only time I would be undecided is if your room acoustics are on the reflective side. However, after hearing, quite recently, the RX6s with a Cyrus system at a dealers, they sounded quite sweet.

I would also consider Focal and PMC. Both, again, are impressive with Arcam.

Before splashing money at a new pair, contact B&W (Worthing) and see whether they can give you a quote for a new tweeter unit. http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/contact_us/contact.html

Which cyrus system was this? Did it sound bright/forward in your opinion?

It was 8XPD amp and CD8SE. He had already set it up for someone else for a dem. I must of been early, while he was fiddling with his fingers. I heard the RX6 and GX100 and was surprised that the overall presentation was lively rather than bright. Sounded good.

 

[Ben K.]

How did you find the GX100? I have yet to hear the GX range as my local MA dealer has closed down. I did hear some GS60 playing off sonos and some pl100 powered by cyrus mono's before they closed down. If only I had more money at the time!!!

 

[plastic penguin]

How did you find the GX100? I have yet to hear the GX range as my local MA dealer has closed down. I did hear some GS60 playing off sonos and some pl100 powered by cyrus mono's before they closed down. If only I had more money at the time!!!

It's hard to give a definitive answer because I'm not that familiar with Cyrus amps* (and it was his dem room, not at home), but compared to the RX6s domed tweeter it sounded quite sweet. There was a lot of info coming from the Cyrus but not to the point of harness.

*I only visited to talk about DACs. I spyed the GX range, and one thing led to another. I spoke to him about everything but DACs. Such is life...