arcam alpha 8r and 8p

[admin_exported]

Hi all. I know these are quite old now, but so is my choice of speakers.

I have decided to stick with old missions for the time being and upgrade my amps.

I've read good reviews of bi-amping this pair. Has anyone had any personal experience of these amps?

Thanks

Richie K

 

[Anonymous]

Bi-amping a pre and a power? Do you not mean the Alpha 8 integrated amplifier and the 8p power amplifier?

 

[plastic penguin]

Hughes123:Bi-amping a pre and a power? Do you not mean the Alpha 8 integrated amplifier and the 8p power amplifier?

It's a little confusing. Either way you'll get a good sound, the Alpha's have a forthright, rich sonic ability. I still have the Alpha 7R and it pushes my A65+ in every aspect.

(Sorry to hyjack this thread). Quick message to Hughes123. I love the picture of Wharfedale E70's. I'm pretty sure I know where you obtained the image. . .

 

[Anonymous]

The Arcam Alpha 8R and 8P were part of my first hifi which also included an Alpha 7SE CD player and an Arcam Alpha 8. The speakers were Tannoy Revolution R3 floorstanders which I still have in my second system. I was really happy with the 8R and 8P so I'd certainly recommend them. The only negative thing I can say is that the source selection is manual and cannot be done by remote control. What Mission speakers do you have?

 

[Anonymous]

Hughes123:Bi-amping a pre and a power? Do you not mean the Alpha 8 integrated amplifier and the 8p power amplifier?

I may be wrong, but I think the 8r was simply the 8 Integrated with a remote. (I have an 8 and 8P but not the remote)

 

[Anonymous]

plastic penguin:Quick message to Hughes123. I love the picture of Wharfedale E70's. I'm pretty sure I know where you obtained the image. . .

Yes I did get it from there! (Mr.Price wrote the article!)

I'm still looking to buy a pair of E70s, but I can't find any decent ones on Ebay...they all have problems like "the voice-coil popped, but I put it back in" or "I was playing them really loud and all of a sudden the dust cover exploded, but there's no degradation in sound-quality..." Which did you have again, was it the E50s? My grandad had a pair of them and when he passed away, it was all I wanted from him (and he always said to me when I was a wee lad that I could have them) but my uncle took them and gave them to his sixteen year old son and he broke them...I was so upset because I knew they were my grandad's pride and joy...so I want to get that nostalgic feeling again!

Anyway, sorry for the hyjack!

 

[Anonymous]

[In response to the original question from Richiekuk:]

By biamping do you mean using biwireable speakers and running the tweeters from the Integrated and the woofers from the power amp?I also have that set-up and run it that way. Haven't done a comparison recently, but my memory was that it made an improvement. In theory it means you are making full use of the power output of the Integrated (8/8r) rather than just using it as a pre-amp with all the power to the speakers coming from the 8p.

If what you are thinking of doing is adding a second 8p to have a dual mono set-up: I believe Arcam recommended that as an upgrade. Presumably you would need to find another 8P. I have previously looked for one on ebay: that was a few years ago but they seemed to be selling for near enough the new price and I decided that was not a good buy...

 

[Anonymous]

Yellow Kid:
Hughes123:Bi-amping a pre and a power? Do you not mean the Alpha 8 integrated amplifier and the 8p power amplifier?

I may be wrong, but I think the 8r was simply the 8 Integrated with a remote. (I have an 8 and 8P but not the remote)

I should do my homework shouldn't I! Big appologese! Yes, that combo should be a blast (I have an Arcam 9 that I use often which is very similar), but I don't know which way round would be the best as in treble and bass...you'll have to listen!

 

[Anonymous]

On my 8 and 8p system I just added a pair of Monitor Audio Silver RS6s (replacing Royd Minstrels - not biwireable) and it's a huge improvement, which surprised me because the CD player on that system (PIoneer PD-S703) is old enough to be out earning its keep.

Probably more of the difference was from the change of speakers than the move to biwiring.

(in case that seems to contradict my earlier post, I had them biamping other speakers before I moved to a bigger house and got more kit...)

 

[Anonymous]

The missions are a set of 733i's from 1999. I've never had a problem with them till now, and one of the drivers has gone.

I'll replace the driver and yeh gonna run the treble from the Alpha 8r, and mid/bass form the 8p.

I will upgrade the speakers in the near future i'm sure, but just wanted to get a decent amp set up I can keep for a good few years, then worry about the speakers over a longer time, and buy some when I find some I REALLY LIKE.

Thanks for your inputs so far. I think I will def go for this combo.

Richie K

 

[plastic penguin]

Hughes123:plastic penguin:Quick message to Hughes123. I love the picture of Wharfedale E70's. I'm pretty sure I know where you obtained the image. . .

Yes I did get it from there! (Mr.Price wrote the article!)

I'm still looking to buy a pair of E70s, but I can't find any decent ones on Ebay...they all have problems like "the voice-coil popped, but I put it back in" or "I was playing them really loud and all of a sudden the dust cover exploded, but there's no degradation in sound-quality..." Which did you have again, was it the E50s? My grandad had a pair of them and when he passed away, it was all I wanted from him (and he always said to me when I was a wee lad that I could have them) but my uncle took them and gave them to his sixteen year old son and he broke them...I was so upset because I knew they were my grandad's pride and joy...so I want to get that nostalgic feeling again!
Anyway, sorry for the hyjack!

Been out all day visiting my sister & her family. Anyway, I have the babies of the range, E20.

Yeah, full of nostalgia and as rare as rocking-horse poo. . . .

 

[JoelSim]

In my experience biamping makes a good difference

 

[Dave_]

JoelSim:In my experience biamping makes a good difference

seconded