Arcam Alpha 8 amplifier purchased - better than CA 540 Azur V2?

[unklemunkle]

Hi all,

I've bought a really nice Arcam Alpha 8 integrated amplifier to run my KEF IQ5SE speakers. After a few issues with my Cambridge Audio 540 Azur V2 amp, am hoping this will provide a much-needed improvement to the sound!

I'm only asking in intrepidation as I haven't received the Arcam yet and hope I've made the right decision - based on reviews and opinions on various sites/forums.

Thanks!

 

[CnoEvil]

I would expect that you will get quite a different presentation.

Don't be too hasty with a a judgement....Arcam amps can grow on you. They don't have an initial "pizaz", but are eminently musical and don't get fatiguing. I look forward to your thoughts.

 

[philpot1001]

my mate bought an Arcam Alpha 5, and i went down the Rotel route.... and i have to say i was a little jealous, i loved the Alpha 5 sound. I am sure you will enjoy the Alpha 8.

 

[unklemunkle]

I would expect that you will get quite a different presentation.

Don't be too hasty with a a judgement....Arcam amps can grow on you. They don't have an initial "pizaz", but are eminently musical and don't get fatiguing. I look forward to your thoughts.

Yes, will report back. The CA had issues with crackling when cold and the right channel cracking up on the balance knob. Also, the power lead was very sensitive in the back - ie one minor nudge and it would turn off, then on etc. Thought it sounded a bit thin and reedy too after reading all the positive thoughts on it hence selling it and buying the Arcam. Fingers crossed all will be a big improvement and progress has been made!

 

[unklemunkle]

Right, amp sounds great although there is a buzzing sound when no music is being played. Not major but a tad annoying. Could this be down to requiring better quality speaker leads or something more sinister? It does it when it's just the amp switched on or with CD player on too. Any ideas?

 

[unklemunkle]

Just noticed, the buzzing goes if the 'Direct' button is pressed if that gives any techy types more info

 

[CnoEvil]

I suggest you give Arcam Technical a ring....they are very helpful.

 

[unklemunkle]

I suggest you give Arcam Technical a ring....they are very helpful.

Yes, good call. It is advised to run it with the 'Direct' button pressed as this provides a cleaner and better signal and sound quality. It sounds fabulous through the KEF IQ5SE speakers. You only notice the hum/buzz when no music is being played or between tracks on a CD. Again, only when the 'Direct' is not pressed. Very minor but wondered if there was a fix. Are Arcam likely to offer advice or just say to send it in at great cost!?

Also, where do I find the right contact tel no for the technical dept.?

Thanks

 

[MajorFubar]

Sounds like you've got at least one failed capacitor on the tone control board, or maybe a loose connector to it, or failing solder joint.. The oldest A8's are about 17 years old now if my memory serves, so none of that's beyond probability.

 

[CnoEvil]

I suggest you give Arcam Technical a ring....they are very helpful.

Yes, good call. It is advised to run it with the 'Direct' button pressed as this provides a cleaner and better signal and sound quality. It sounds fabulous through the KEF IQ5SE speakers. You only notice the hum/buzz when no music is being played or between tracks on a CD. Again, only when the 'Direct' is not pressed. Very minor but wondered if there was a fix. Are Arcam likely to offer advice or just say to send it in at great cost!?

Also, where do I find the right contact tel no for the technical dept.?

Thanks

They will give advice, which may include sending it back (if they still have parts).

Their number is: 01223 203200. I think the guy to ask for is Matt.

 

[unklemunkle]

I suggest you give Arcam Technical a ring....they are very helpful.

Yes, good call. It is advised to run it with the 'Direct' button pressed as this provides a cleaner and better signal and sound quality. It sounds fabulous through the KEF IQ5SE speakers. You only notice the hum/buzz when no music is being played or between tracks on a CD. Again, only when the 'Direct' is not pressed. Very minor but wondered if there was a fix. Are Arcam likely to offer advice or just say to send it in at great cost!?

Also, where do I find the right contact tel no for the technical dept.?

Thanks

They will give advice, which may include sending it back (if they still have parts).

Their number is: 01223 203200. I think the guy to ask for is Matt.

Spoke to Arcam tech and a very nice, helpful chap. I don't think there is anything to worry about. He said that I should be listening to it with 'Direct' pressed anyway for the purest sound. The amp powers the speakers which is why there is a low hum audible when no music is being played. You can't hear it when quiet music is being played so don't think I'll worry about it. The amp is literally in 'as new' condition, looks and sounds fantastic. For £125 I don't think I can really grumble, especially when the tech chap told me that the Alpha 8 was approx £1,500 when new! Ouch!

I don't see the point in spending unnecessary amounts of money investigating a problem that, in essence, doesn't sound like it is a major problem. Arcam would charge £198 as a base/minimum charge to go through the amp and rectify any problems found (whether one or multiple issues). Perhaps I should stop being so fussy!

 

[philpot1001]

If you cant hear it when music is being played then its probably OK, and if its non existent when tones are bypassed, then even better. For me - it would just annoy me, but im fussy like that lol, and you are quite right, not really worth spending more on a diagnostic fix than the amp cost 2nd hand anyway!

 

[unklemunkle]

If you cant hear it when music is being played then its probably OK, and if its non existent when tones are bypassed, then even better. For me - it would just annoy me, but im fussy like that lol, and you are quite right, not really worth spending more on a diagnostic fix than the amp cost 2nd hand anyway!

Yes, I am very fussy too but I guess it's not brand new. However, the chap at Arcam even tried to make the buzzing noise down the phone to help and he didn't think it was an issue. I guess it's a case of managing expectations. It's a different bit of kit to the CA540 Azur V2 so it will do different things. The CA amp was annoying me even more because of a couple of strange things it was doing. It's funny though, you think that the sound isn't much different until you sit down and really listen properly, especially after the amp has warmed up. It's in a different league of warmth and depth. Just lovely and drives the KEF IQ5SE speakers really well. The whole set up hasn't even cost me £300 yet. Will look at getting an Arcam DVD/CD player now to complete the set! I think there's a certain amount of logic to carefully buying second-hand rather than forking out on new kit that doesn't even come close to Arcam/KEF etc.

 

[CnoEvil]

I'm glad you like the combination.

 

[unklemunkle]

Ok, an update on the buzz/hum. There is no buzz/hum when the CD player phono leads are disconnected from the amp. The buzz is there when the leads are connected at both ends but the CD player mains is completely disconnected! Again, only slightly audible when direct mode is switched OFF.

No buzz if just connected to the amp end (but not CD player ).

The DVD/CD player is an old, cheap Cambridge Audio machine and phono leads fairly old. Could this be where the problem lays or is it to do with connections to the amp? Odd that, if the noise does occur, it's only when direct is off. Grrrrrrr!

 

[friendly_ghost]

Have you tried plugging the CD-player into another line input?
Maybe the CD-input is at fault...

 

[friendly_ghost]

Have you tried plugging the CD-player into another line input?
Maybe the CD-input is at fault...

 

[unklemunkle]

Have you tried plugging the CD-player into another line input?Maybe the CD-input is at fault...

Yes, have tried Aux and CD. Could try others I guess. I'm going to try some shorting phono leads later for another test. Determined to get to the bottom of the issue!

 

[friendly_ghost]

Does the problem persist when plugged into the Aux input?

 

[unklemunkle]

Yes, problem is still there. It is still there if the CD player is unplugged from mains but phono leads connected at both ends. Disconnect the phono leads and one end and it doesn't do it . As I say, the noise is only audible with 'direct' off.

I'm going to try some shorting leads when I get home later and will also try a ground loop isolator. It just seems to be connected to the 'direct' function which is odd. The preferable choice is to listen with the 'direct' on and this is the correct way to listen to music anyway but the quiet buzz/humming is annoying and it's annoying to know that it does it!

 

[philpot1001]

im pretty sure its related to the tone controls rather than the source direct button. The CD input may be a red herring, it will probably do it with ANY input....as soon as ANY source is removed there is no input to distort......thats my take on it anyway. I think an eariler post about possible capacitor issues, or something like that on the tone control side of things will be at fault.....or maybe the tone control pot (think the alpha series had them?)

 

[philpot1001]

im pretty sure its related to the tone controls rather than the source direct button. The CD input may be a red herring, it will probably do it with ANY input....as soon as ANY source is removed there is no input to distort......thats my take on it anyway. I think an eariler post about possible capacitor issues, or something like that on the tone control side of things will be at fault.....or maybe the tone control pot (think the alpha series had them?)

I hasten to add my input here is purely from a lamens perspective......im no electronics spod

 

[unklemunkle]

Hi, I don't have a tone control on this amp. Just bass, treble and balance. It's very minor but it's there. I don't think it's a serious issue but will try to test and resolve one way or another...!

 

[philpot1001]

bass and treble are the tone controls

 

[unklemunkle]

OK - I thought you meant just a single tone control. I'm going to try a few other things out tonight to try and pin-point the fault further ...